Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 1408 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Life After Covid-19 Part 5 – Ask Gramps

Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy. Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1408 of our Trek and time for our Philosophy Friday series. Each Friday, we will ponder some of the fundamental truths and mysteries of life, and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy. As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can ‘Ask Gramps.’  Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, this is not possible. No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask dad or gramps questions about life in many areas.

We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable.  If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com

Last month, we addressed a question that is too broad to answer in one episode. The answer today is the fifth in a series which will continue this week and next on our ‘Ask Gramps’ episodes of how Covid-19 is impacting the long term economic effects in the United States. Please make sure that you download our Friday podcast sessions to follow the complete analysis. Better yet, subscribe to Wisdom-Trek so you can gain a bit of wisdom five days a week. So here is the question:

“Hey, Gramps, I realize that after this whole Covid-19 pandemic is under control, life will take on some sort of normalcy for most people. I can’t get my mind around how life will change with so many people out of work and many businesses not being able to survive. What is your take on how life will be after Covid-19?

Life After Covid-19 Part 5

Our analysis so far has been overall Jobs in Manufacturing, Brick-and-Mortar Retail, Restaurant Industry/Future Dining, and Commercial Real Estate/Offices.  As I mentioned in the past four weeks, I do not have a crystal ball nor a prophetic message about life after Covid-19.  That being said, I do have over 40 years of business and nearly 64 years of life experience, which helps me to see what others may not.

The core of the content today and in subsequent weeks comes from a book and companion blog written by Peter Diamandis. His book, ‘The Future is Faster Than You Think,’ was published in January of this year before Covid-19. Peter has recently also stated that Covid-19 would accelerate his predictions significantly. I recommend his book.

Let me once again offer some perspective. It has been said that crises don’t so much alter the course of history as accelerate changes that are already underway.  Exponential technology has been disrupting traditional industries at an ever-increasing pace.  The pandemic has put these changes into hyperspeed. Never have we had the opportunity to rewrite entire sectors, redefine the problems they address, and reinvent their solutions. This is a scary and also exciting time to be alive!   Any time we have a disaster such as this, there is also unlimited opportunity. The next economic sector we will explore Education: Impact: Perhaps the most dramatically notable effects of the pandemic have been on our schools. Practically overnight, millions of students became experts in “Zoom University.” And to date, roughly 1.38 billion students (primarily children) have been thrust into arguably the most dramatic industry pivot of this century.

Last year, edtech investments soared past $18.66 billion, driving a market shift towards digital learning and personalized classrooms. But as necessity makes way for innovation, the online education market is now projected to reach anywhere from $350-400 billion by 2025, and the numbers are only likely to accelerate.

For years, the education gap has continued to widen, as student debt (primarily in the U.S.) skyrockets, yet a degree’s ROI is questionable at best.

We are now facing a future in which the convergence of 5G, AI, and AR/VR digitizes, dematerializes, demonetizes, and democratizes education.

We may soon be able to offer the same level of personalized education to every single student, independent of socioeconomic status. This is the same way that Google democratized access to information, and YouTube did so for entertainment.

Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Here are some ideas to consider.

(1) AI-enabled one-on-one teaching at home: AI and immersive technologies (primarily virtual & augmented reality) may soon augment your kids’ education, offering personalized content based on student data.

Companies like Affectiva can use the forward-facing camera on an iPad in conjunction with its “emotional AI” technology (out of the MIT Media Lab) to know if your child is excited, confused, or bored. This then allows educators and edtech platforms alike to adapt their education strategy on a personalized basis in real-time, microsecond to microsecond.(2) Gaming As education: Moving towards access to compelling educational games that were endorsed by teachers and educational institutions, would focus kids on the subject matter for hours. Imagine a game that promised the following: “Mastery of this game by your children means they have completed all requirements of the 2nd-grade mathematics curriculum.”

(3) Education as a Subscription: For higher education, the idea that you go to college or graduate school, and then are done with learning for the rest of your life, is no longer valid. As a result, our higher education institutions should consider offering education services as a life-long subscription. When I’m accepted to MIT, it’s an offering that I expect to use throughout my life, taking courses online, in VR, and occasionally on campus.

Next Friday will close out this brief series with a segment about the 20 megatrends for the roaring 20s. It may be a bit longer, but I would like to cover all 20 on the same episode.

Proverbs 3:1-4

My child, never forget the things I have taught you.

Store my commands in your heart.

If you do this, you will live many years,

and your life will be satisfying.

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!

Tie them around your neck as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart.

Then you will find favor with both God and people,

and you will earn a good reputation.

That is a wrap for today’s question. Join us again next Friday for another question on our ‘Ask Gramps’ episode. Our next trek is Mediation Monday, where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life. So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’If you would like to listen to any of the past 1407 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com. I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player so that each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most of all, your friend as I serve you in through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this Trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to ’Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday’! See you on Monday!