Subscription Nation

Ownership is so-yesterday. Subscriptions are available for every imaginable service:

• Cooking

• Groceries

• Cleaning

• Transportation

• Cologne

• Furniture

• Wines

The moment I realized that subscriptions were here to stay was when Microsoft Office requires an annual subscription to use their product. Still use Times New Roman 12. I used to save my Microsoft CDs (and the key) so I could reuse them when I got a new computer. Now to seamlessly access my own work across devices, just hit subscribe.

Treasuring possessions has switched to minimalism and on-demand. I never owned a car, always on lease, and now on Uber. Owning a house to grow old in or tend to is seen as a poor use of capital. That money is so much better on Robin Hood. Spotify has all my music which cater to my moods & Apple holds onto snapshots of my most treasured memories that bring back pangs of nostalgia.

What happened to spending weekends taking care of the car?

Spending a weeknight ruffling through old pictures?

Dreams of building that big library in the den?

This can be interpreted as someone trying to stop the march of progress. I am a huge user of these subscriptions. I find it absolutely magical that I can listen to a song online immediately and don't need to rush to the record store or hope Barnes & Noble carries the book I am looking for.

But what are the unintended consequences of subscriptions? Questions and ideas I have been pondering include:

• Are subscriptions (including renting/leasing) masking growing inequality problems? It is tough to save up for a down payment.

• Personal debt (which support some of the subscriptions) are at an all time high.

• What are the consequences of endless choice? In dating and on Amazon.

The jury, in my humble opinion, is still debating.

Yes, I did hit subscribe on the annual Microsoft subscription.

Entropy

The first dictionary definition of entropy is boring. Lots of random equations. However, the second definition fascinates me: "gradual decline into disorder." The most obvious example of this is cleaning. The moment you finish, disorder sets in and before long its like you never cleaned your home. The same can be said about your habits: lose weight, gain it back; become smart, forget; don't invest in a relationship, become strangers. In fact, the decline can be so severe it's like the progress never happened: you become chubby, you are passed over for promotions, you break up. It is a daily struggle to keep aspects of your life from regressing. Ignorance gives entropy permission to steal your hard won gains. It's the law.

Entropy also has another characteristic beyond decline: randomness. How often do we make room for random events derailing our best laid plans? Or how often are we open to a completely random event beyond our wildest plans? Giving yourself a break when something goes wrong and chalking it up to the universe can be liberating. Our logical minds often wants to assign blame or create theories on why things did not go your way.

Next time you want to dive ahead into a new venture, always ask yourself if you can still work to preserve your gains as well as the fortitude to push through random headwinds.

Hyperloop vs. Paris Agreement

When faced with a problem do we innovate or restrain?

Solving problems usually begins with restraint and grit. We draw on our Puritanical zeal: work longer, get up earlier, develop a new skill, cut back expenses, and no chocolate. Restraint is not just related to personal problems; it plays out on the global stage as well.

Problem: Climate Change. The Paris Agreement's core philosophy was restraint by cutting back emissions. Hundreds of countries came together and shook hands on polluting less. When the US recently walked away from the agreement, it was seen as a huge setback. A major country turning its back on future generations.

Problem: Climate Change. The Hyperloop's core philosophy was innovation. The hyperloop sends a vehicle hundreds of miles per hour in a vacuum sealed tube completely avoiding traffic, friction, and air resistance. Faster speeds, less pollution. Rumor has it that Elon Musk was frustrated with traffic one day and wondered how to completely avoid it. It's like having your cake and eating it too.

While innovating might not always be feasible -- we should create thought experiments of hyperlooping the problem. Innovative solutions to make our lives easier. World's information at your fingertips, movies at a flick of a button, and flying like the birds were not born out of restraint. Our efforts do not have to be as lofty- easier ways to lose weight, side hustles to increase income, and learning faster are a meaningful start.

When a problem comes up run a thought experiment: Can I hyperloop it?