Micro Success State of Mind
Hopefully you’ve bought into microcredentialing as a social recognition layer of the value we bring to the world as individuals. So let’s dive down this rabbit hole 🐇🕳️
We’ve explored the vision for microcredentialing, what macro challenges it addresses, including: Honoring our past, valuing our network, continuous validation, diversity of opinion, strengthening institutions. Let’s continue to explore with a focus on wielding this tool for our purposes.
What could we do with a public database of conversations and the value they have to the people around them? Was it Don Draper that said, “50% of marketing is wasted, but we don’t know which 50%” With microcredentialing using the kudos method, we have tactical and strategic ability to dynamically reach individual and group interests. New to town and looking for experience with <esoteric topic/>? Produce and join a validation event, or spend and send a message to that demographic. Have an idea and want to explore with like minded experts? Produce and join a validation event, or spend and send a message to that demographic. Want to explore new applications of <insert cash cow/>? Produce, join, spend, send.. you get the idea 🙂
For the libertarians and privacy minded, zero knowledge proofs can allow this kind of access only with our permission. Combined with Lens protocol, or the like, we can add or revoke data associated with us as we see fit, allowing others’ algorithms, including larger organizations, to see and use only what we’re comfortable disclosing to the world, while allowing ourselves to be more open with those we’re closer to. In other words, “Sovereign Data”.
I am moved by the big moves people make in the world around me, these massive organizational moves that are often attributed to one person. There are certainly exceptional people doing exceptional things, but I often see exceptional things happening around me, things I’ve challenged the lauded with, and who often come up short. Like Paul Erdős we can also travel and contribute in small ways with great people, helping to create great teams. Paul was considered an “Oddball’s oddball” because he focused on the work and not his academic career; Today with microcredentialing eliminating many administrative costs, Paul would be continuously recognized and sought out, giving him real market power and maybe enough cashflow to bring beer and pizza in addition to his beautiful mind.
“What’s your major?”
“What industry are you in?”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Many questions are centered around the assumption of linear progression towards great achievements. We ask these questions because the old system could only validate at these levels, and too much dithering was a “lack of commitment”, not a sign of lessons learned. Microcredentialing allows you to explore and pivot, startups might say “fail fast and early”, a healthy approach to learning along the way because why should we value Sisyphus.. unless they enjoy the process of course 🪨⛰️
This approach to validation continues beyond what may fall between the cracks in academia. Are you “Street Smart”? Are you a parent? Do you have an intuition about certain things?” Do you have a hobby that surprises people with your skill? There will always be far more to learn than we know how to value. Microcredentialing brings to light Street Smarts and useful skills we struggle to quantify. As we submit to each other for judgment and validation of our skills and accomplishments, we can chart a path between “useless skills” and clear value, ending that debate with your grandmother about the value of video games.
Next week, we’ll focus on the details and exactly how different interests can exercise microcredentialing for their own purposes. Stay tuned 📻🔊
