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Matthew Mullenweg: A Young, Vibrant And Successful Entrepreneur

Matthew Mullenweg
Matthew Mullenweg

Young entrepreneurs are always faced with myriads of challenges. These challenges range from insufficient experience to lack of capital, to dealing with stress and depression. They pose a significant threat to the success of their businesses. However, we have seen young minds in the US who have converted their challenges to their business strengths. One of them is Matthew Mullenweg, the Lead Developer of WordPress foundation and Principal at Audrey Capital. He is, no doubt, a successful entrepreneur. Here are some things you need to know about this young and vibrant entrepreneur.

Mullenweg was born in the USA on January 11, 1984. He is an American entrepreneur and web developer. Mullenweg attended High School for Performing and Visual Arts, where he studied jazz saxophone. He proceeded to the University of Houston to study Politics Science. He then left school to pursue a job at the CNET network in 2004. He is prominent for his creative ability in building free and open-source web software, called WordPress. The WordPress Foundation now manages it.

Mullenweg began his web software, WordPress, at an early age of 19. He started this web software with Mike Little, from b2 codebase. Later, he liaised with the original developer of b2 developer, Michel Valdrighi, to build his website.

He was then called upon by CNET to work on WordPress for them in 2004. Then, he decided to leave school in a bid to focus on developing WordPress. He was able to develop the WordPress 1.5 “Strayhorn,” and it recorded a total number of 900,000 downloads.

Furthermore, Mullenweg left CNET, in October 2005, to focus on WordPress full-time. In this period, he was able to build Akismet. In December 2005, he also announced the establishment of Automattic, which is the company behind WordPress.com.

Today, WordPress is a website that enjoys massive acceptance. San Francisco Business Times reported in 2009 that WordPress sites were growing in larger numbers than Google’s blogger sites.

From Mullenweg’s story, it’s apparent that he kept doing what he needed to do as a young entrepreneur. Today, he is a successful young entrepreneur. Every budding entrepreneur should learn from Mullenweg’s life to keep forging ahead and work consistently to achieve greatness.

 

Is America’s Greatest Depression Right Now?

Is America's Greatest Depression Right Now

The great depression has often been attributed to the period between 1929 and 1939. It was a period of a significant decline in economic activity. The worst economic downturn in the United States history, where 1 in 5 Americans was unable to find employment.

If the depression was defined by a rate of the economic downturn that breaches 20% and persists, 2020 is a year of a greater depression. As early as May 2020, the unemployment rate was already 24%, with about 20.5 million jobs lost in April. There has never been such a decline in the space of four months in America’s history.

The 2020 depression wasn’t just an economic downturn; it reflected in Americans’ health. By July 2020, a census bureau survey finds that one in three Americans reports symptoms of depression or anxiety. The figure was thrice the rate recorded in 2019 and the highest in America’s history. The reason was the economic difficulties coupled with the pandemic and its’ restrictions.

“I think I am facing a low-grade depression. I’m waking up in the middle of the night because I am worried about something, or there’s heaviness. I try to make sure I get a workout though there have been periods throughout this season, where I just felt too low”, Michelle Obama admits her low-grade depression in her podcast. As a black American, she had faced some long nights of protest following the death of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd earlier in the year.

Aside from the sudden decline in America’s economy, the United States experienced the largest turnout for a protest in July 2020 after George Floyd, a black American who was killed during an arrest by Minneapolis police officers. Young people marched out in numbers to express their frustration towards systemic racism in the United States. No march in America’s history has recorded such a massive turnout.

The social distancing directive that was issued as a way of curbing the spread of the pandemic prevented people from traveling and seeing their loved ones., Millions lost their jobs, and some thousands lost their loved ones. A greater number appeared on the streets, demanding a better and greater America.

By July 2020, the United States had recorded a quarter of the deaths caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. The government’s slow response to the pandemic was catastrophic. Not a single sector was omitted in America’s greatest depression. 90 years after the great depression, America experienced a greater depression that swept across all sectors.

Serena Williams: More Than A Queen Of The Court

Serena Williams More Than A Queen Of The Court

Strong, fast, and muscular are some of the fantastic attributes of Serena Williams. More often than not, the media has often replaced those attributes with “animalistic,” “masculine,” and “unattractive.” Her opponents often find an excuse in her body shape, but none of these criticisms have hindered one of the world’s most decorated female tennis players of all time.

“I remember the whole stadium was 99% white people, the atmosphere was hostile with loud boos, racial slurs were used, and loud. I could feel it in my chest”. Serena recalled her experience at the Indian Wells in 2001. Her father, Richard Williams, couldn’t forget his memories either. “One guy told me that if it was in ’75, he’d have skinned me,” Richard recalls his experience.

The Indian Wells experience was the first of many racial slurs that have been directed towards Serena. When she is not racially targeted, she was insulted for her highly athletic body shape or grouped under the racial slogan of “angry black women.” In 2004, the President of the Russian Tennis Federation called Serena and her sister the “William Brothers.” The Russian was sarcastically expressing how black women are physically not very different from men, and less attractive.

With all the criticisms often directed towards Serena, she’s continued her 23-year run of tennis career with all her former rivals burning out or retired. She’s been tested for performance-enhancing drugs more than twice as often as her peers. Undoubtedly, her athleticism baffles her critics.

Serena Williams

Aside from her success inside the court, Serena has also been using her fame to agitate against racism and sexism. She often expresses her worries with black women earning 17% less than their white colleagues. Black women are also paid 63% of what men are paid. Serena and Venus Williams are often credited for Wimbledon’s new policy of equal prize money for men and women. Regarding success, the President of the French Tennis Federation admitted the effect of the Williams sisters’ comment on equal pay.

The American tennis star has also been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement that has often protested against systemic racism in the United States. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, also stepped down from Reddit’s board, a company he co-founded to create a representative for a black candidate.

Alexis Ohanian has often expressed his commitment to ensuring that his daughter doesn’t face the discrimination faced by his wife. Alexis and Serena have donated millions of dollars to support agencies advocating equality.

Serena Williams is the queen of the court. But beyond that, she also has a profound impact on young people across the world. Her feats inside the court may be matched years later, but her legacy as a star who committed herself to the fight against sexism and racism will live on.

Facts To Know About The Sexuality (LGBT) Life In America

LGBT

For several years and even till now, America has been known as a very progressive nation in all her dealings – down to even the minutest detail on lifestyle and living. The LGBT community in America has permeated the national consciousness. There has been an obvious change to discriminatory engagements to aid the positive consciousness of sexuality in the US. Societal acceptance has grown over the years, but homophobia still exists and has caused stigma to many, especially the youth.

Facts on The LGBT Community

3.5 percent of the US population have identified as LGBT. Out of these, 42 percent are noted to reside in an environment that is not quite welcoming of their sexuality. It will also interest you to know that 6 in every 10 LGBT students in schools feel unsafe due to their sexual orientation. And 90% of those who disclose their sexuality do so to their very close friends.

However, a larger percentage of adults who are LGBT believe that society has become more welcoming to them as compared to a decade ago. Research still reveals that 80 percent of gay and lesbian youths have confirmed somewhat severe social isolation. Younger folks, who are LGBT and are away from their immediate family, report feeling pretty happy compared to those who are still with their families.

As it stands:

  • Same-sex marriage has been legalized in several states in America.
  • Discrimination of sexual orientation at workplaces is frowned at by the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which was passed at Congress as far back as 2007 in the US.
  • Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity have been covered by the Matthew Shepard Act as approved by the Senate.

Facts on The LGBT Community

But does it really get better for the LGBT community even with all these? It will interest you to know that several American celebrities advocate for LGBT rights and have taken strides for their interests. Some of these celebrities are Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Anne Hathaway, Ellen Page, Kerry Washington, Matthew Morrison, Ellen DeGeneres, etc. They all seek the betterment of the LGBT community as they continually push forward for their acceptance.

In conclusion, with all that said, perhaps it’s a great idea to create an ideal environment for people to live happily with peace of mind and not have to worry about their sexuality. Don’t you think so too?

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Its Myths And Realities

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a set of algorithms and intelligence aimed at imitating human intelligence. The AI field was founded on the assumption that human intelligence “can be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it.” This raises philosophical arguments about the mind and the ethics of creating artificial beings endowed with human-like intelligence. These issues have been explored as myths, fiction, and philosophy since the past ages. Let’s take a look at the myths.

Have you heard that AI will displace humans in all working sectors? How true is this assertion? AI is no different from other technological advances in that it helps humans become more effective and processes more efficient.

AI needs to be thought of as an enhancement rather than complete automation and replacement, thus, helping the human force to work in newer and smarter ways.  Humans simply engage machines to make things easier.

The European Union advocated for artificial intelligence for economic benefits, including “improving healthcare (e.g., making diagnosis more accurate, enabling better prevention of diseases), increasing the efficiency of farming, contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Another myth is that “Cognitive AI” technologies can understand and solve problems like the human brain. “Cognitive” technologies can’t solve problems they weren’t designed to solve. AI cannot make sense of data that is too broad or has not been processed in a way that makes it digestible. Cognitive technologies address problems that require human interpretation and judgment.

Did you ever think that AI algorithms could make sense and interpret all data? The most important input for an AI tool is data, not just data, but the right data. That means the right data is only relevant to the problem being solved and specific to a set of instructions and a domain of knowledge.

AI cannot make sense of data that has not been processed or programmed for specific purposes that make it digestible by the system. An algorithm is a program, and programs need good data.

Here is another myth for you to consider. You need data scientists, machine learning experts, and huge budgets to use AI for business. AI technology does require deep expertise in programming languages and sophisticated techniques. However, the business value lies in using existing AI tools to address components of the application and configuring those components to the business’s specific needs. That process requires less data science expertise and more knowledge of core business processes and needs.

Finally, you may be wary of this myth – AI will lead to the takeover of the human race by superior robotic machines. Physicist Stephen Hawking and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk have made it very clear they believe the danger is real. However, at the moment, it’s highly unlikely anyone would think about building or deploying a machine with the ability to “make up its mind” to hurt and turn against its human creators.

AI will not take over the globe or humankind since it can’t operate devoid of human direction.

Michael Bloomberg: The Inspirational Rise Of An Influential Entrepreneur

Michael Bloomberg

The name “Michael Bloomberg” is not new or strange to Americans and the world at large. He is an influential entrepreneur. His influence is absolutely beyond the business space’s confines. It extends to the corridors of political power in the United States of America. Notably, Bloomberg single-handedly funded the most expensive presidential primary campaign in history, with about $935 million. Read on to learn vital information on Bloomberg’s early life and how he rose to become a very influential entrepreneur in the US.

Michael Bloomberg was born on February 14, 1942, in Medford, Massachusetts. He graduated from John Hopkins University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Immediately, he went to Harvard for his MBA degree. He later got a job at an investment bank called “Salomon Brothers” in New York City. He rose to become a partner at the prime age of 30 because of his extreme brilliance and quick thinking.

Today, Bloomberg is not just a businessman but also a philanthropist and an author. He doubles as the majority owner and Co-founder of the Bloomberg L.P. Again, Bloomberg delved into politics. He was elected as the 108th Mayor of New York City from 2002 to 2013. He held this office for three consecutive terms. He further took a bold step by contesting in the 2010 Democratic Presidential Primaries.

It will interest you to know that in 2020, Forbes ranked Bloomberg as the 8th richest person in the world with a net worth that estimates about $60.1 billion. But he gave away $8.2 billion when he signed “The Giving Pledge.”

When Bloomberg left Salomon Brothers, he was laid off from the investment bank with a $10 million cash buyout of his partnership stake. He used his payoff to set up a data services company called Innovative Market Systems (IMS). He harnessed his insight from Salomon days that “reliable data is essential to a successful trader.” Bloomberg set out to give reliable information to brokers within a speed of light. And they greatly rewarded Bloomberg for this feat.

Many brokers and investors began to patronize “The Bloomberg’s.” They were known for their compact terminals and in-depth Intel on the bond market. The company’s fortunes skyrocketed in the 1980s. This made Bloomberg spread the tentacles of his company to media by launching Bloomberg News and Bloomberg TV.

Bloomberg is not just a business heavyweight but a power broker in the US. Recently, when he was asked about the secret of his success and how he rose so high. He shared a few points. He said every entrepreneur must be able to take calculated risks to achieve success. He was also noted to have said, “luck plays a vital role in success. ” The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Another key pointer to success he mentioned was that persistence pays off. Therefore, every entrepreneur must persist. He said learning must never stop when it comes to achieving success. These points have been pivotal to the overwhelming influence of Michael Bloomberg.

The story of Bloomberg is a great inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs. And every entrepreneur should be encouraged to follow the life and times of this great man. This will motivate them to achieve their desired goals in business.

John Lewis: What A Young Man Should Be

John Lewis

John Lewis will occupy his place in America’s history, right beside Martin Luther King Jr and every other civil rights activist the nation ever had. From a young boy in Troy to the old icon who was tagged the “conscience of the Congress.”

John Lewis was born on Feb 21, 1940, to Eddie Lewis and Willie Mae near Troy. His father was a hardworking farmer who regularly placed John in charge of chickens. John Lewis wanted to be a preacher at a very young age. He may have practiced his oratory when preaching to his father’s chickens, which he loved so dearly.

At the age of 17, John Lewis met Rosa Parks, a major voice in the movement against discriminatory policies in the United States. At 18, John Lewis wrote to Martin Luther King Jr, expressing his desire to meet the civil rights icon. His wish was granted, and Lewis met Martin Luther King Jr in 1958. Talking about the experience in an interview, Lewis said, ” …I saw these two young ministers standing behind a desk, and Dr. King said,” Are you the boy from Troy? Are you John Lewis? And I said, “Dr. King, I am John Robert Lewis”, Lewis recounted. ” I gave my whole name– but he still called me the “boy from Troy”.

Martin Luther King gave Lewis his favorite phrase as advice, “Get into good trouble.” John Lewis had listened to Dr. King and joined the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, but it was after meeting King that his career as an activist took a new turn. In 1961, Lewis was already part of the 13 freedom Riders that challenged the segregated interstate travel in the South.

In 1963, John Lewis had become the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a position he held till 1966. John Lewis traveled from school to school, urging students to participate in the demand for equal voting rights in America. On August 28, 1963, John Lewis spoke for a few minutes before Martin Luther King gave his famous “I have a dream” speech at the lincoln memorial. At 23, Lewis was already demonstrating a fierce level of oratory, addressing the same crowd as Dr. Martin Luther King.

By March 7, 1965, Lewis joined Martin Luther in one of America’s most famous protest. Lewis led the Selma to Montgomery March across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where they were met with force by the Alabama police. The incident became known as the “Bloody Sunday”. Before the age of 26, John Lewis had been arrested 40 times while he also sustained severe injuries. The United States government was forced to abolish the legislation that subjected black people to literacy tests before they could vote. At 26, John Lewis was already a national hero.

Addressing an audience at Harvard, Lewis said, “My philosophy is very simple. When you see something that’s not right, not fair, not just, stand up, say something and speak out. Get into good trouble”. In his last moments, Lewis was pleased with the demonstration that followed the death of George Floyd and the massive protest against systemic racism. In June 2020, less than a month before his death, John Lewis said about the protest; “it was very moving, very moving to see hundreds of thousands of people from all over America and around the world take to the streets– to speak up, to speak out, to get into what I call “good trouble”. Mr. Lewis told “CBS This Morning” in June.

Lewis demonstrated courage, strength, and discontent about the prevailing injustice of his time at a young age. Lewis showed with his life, what a young man should be.

 

Cloud Computing: Benefits And Downsides

Cloud Computing

If you’re not aware of what cloud computing is, you are probably among the 95% of people already using cloud services, like online banking and social networks. Cloud computing is the use of hardware and software to deliver a service over a network (typically the Internet). Users can access files and use applications from any device that can access the Internet with cloud computing.

An example of a cloud computing provider is Google’s Gmail. Gmail users can access files and applications hosted by Google through the Internet from any device.

There is a wide range of companies and industry verticals that use cloud computing, such as Amazon. Small, medium, and large size, public and private companies alike, use cloud computing to reduce technology acquisition costs.

While no storage solution is 100% safe, cloud storage providers can offer a safer and more accessible place for companies to store data than the traditional computing methods. Cloud computing service providers usually maintain multiple copies or backups of the data during instances of security threats, data loss, data breach, etc.

Business Continuity

Protecting your data and systems is an important part of business continuity planning. Whether you experience a natural disaster, power failure, or other crisis, having your data stored in the cloud ensures it is backed up and protected in a secure and safe location. Being able to access your data again quickly allows you to conduct business as usual, minimizing any downtime and loss of productivity.

Flexibility of Work Practices

Cloud computing allows employees to be more flexible in their work practices. For example, you can access data from home, on holiday, and from work (providing you have an internet connection). Resources in the cloud can be easily stored, retrieved, recovered, or processed with just a couple of clicks.

Efficiency and Low Cost

By using cloud infrastructure, you don’t have to spend huge amounts of money on purchasing and maintaining equipment. You don’t have to invest in hardware, facilities, utilities, or building out a large data center to grow your business. You do not even need large IT teams to handle your cloud data center operations. You can enjoy the expertise of your cloud provider’s staff.

According to Bruce Schneier, “The downside is that you will have limited customization options. Cloud computing is cheaper because of the economics of scale. And like any outsourced task, you tend to get what you want. A restaurant with a limited menu is cheaper than a personal chef who can cook anything you want. Fewer options at a much lower price: it’s a feature, not a bug.” He also suggests that “the cloud provider might not meet your legal needs” and that businesses need to weigh the benefits of cloud computing against the risks.

 

Lessons from some admirable American Billionaires

Lessons from some admirable American Billionaires

Over the years, many have grown their few hundred dollars into thousands and millions. And in contrast, others have lost their thousands and millions of dollars. Thus, you might have wondered how the rich remain rich and even get more productive as time goes on. Here are a few lessons from some admirable American Billionaires on what to do to keep the money rolling in.

Bernard Arnault 

With an estimated worth of $72 billion, Bernard believes that “money is a consequence. . . if you do your job well, the profitability will come.” The intent communicated here is straightforward. If you want money, give value! No matter how little you have, think of the value you can deliver to people and watch money look your way speedily.

Warren Buffet 

Perhaps you are aware. Warren Buffet is popularly known as one of the American billionaires who invested his way into wealth. To Buffet, “if you don’t find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” This is a very simple lesson that requires a great deal of intelligence and diligence. Warren’s advice is simply that you should invest what you have in the most profitable business that will yield consistent dividends for you. This way, whether or not you are physically present, your money will continue to flow in.

Jeff Bezos

Although he is recognized as one of the richest men in the world, Jeff Bezos thinks it is okay to be frugal. To Bezos, “frugality drives innovations, just like other constraints do.” The idea is this: try as much as you can to live beneath your means. Do not spend all that you have on luxuries that you can do without. Instead, you should spend money on necessities. And the needs you should consider are the things that add value to you and can drive you to innovation.

These are simple but profound tips that can significantly influence your financial status. With them, you can be rest assured your money problems will be solved in no time.

America First And The New Balance Of Power

America First And The New Balance Of Power

The might and influence of the United States on the multilateral trading system is unrivalled. Trump’s America centered approach may have been the best thing that has happened to the United States in previous years, but the huge cost of Trump’s foreign policy has been the strengthening of a communist regime, an administration known for making draconian policies and gross violation of individual rights.

A heavy critic of the liberal approach of his predecessors to international trade, Trump’s radical approach is just typical of human nature. The desire to place one’s interest as the basis of interaction with every other person is a natural human position, neither does a review of outdated trade agreements violates any international trade law. The problem with this approach is that the world can’t do without a new partner with a more generous approach. In his early days in office, the decision to withdraw from the Trans– Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the review of NAFTA, a trade deal with Mexico and Canada, demonstrated the intentions of Donald Trump.

China’s Emergence in Africa

The decline between the trade relationship between the United States and Africa started before Trump’s administration. Specifically, the decline started in 2011. The major reason for the decline has been a shift in America’s energy demand. In 2008, U.S imported $99.5 billion of oil and gas. In 2018, the figure had fallen to $17.6 billion. The inability of African countries to engage in product diversification also caused a decline in trade between Africa and Europe between 2010 to 2017.

While trade between Africa and Europe declined, trade between China and Africa had reached $166 billion in 2011. China buys more than a third of Africa’s oil to meet it’s growing energy needs. Other factors responsible for the development also include the importation of cheap products from China and the low value of the Chinese currency which made it a beautiful opportunity for Africa to trade. Chinese companies have benefitted from rail and port construction projects in Africa while China has provided loans for infastructural projects in the region. By 2015, Chinese investment and construction in Africa was around $2 trillion according to the American Enterprise Institute(AEI).

China’s Growing Influence With The Gulf States.

The Gulf states have been one of the United States centre of influence and they still remain the biggest trading partner of the region but China’s influence is on the rise. While the United States condemn state sponsored terrorism in the region, China’s non-interference ideology provides a worthy deal for the Arab states. China doesn’t interfere in any of the crisis in the region but conducts trade with a non-interventionist principle. On the other hand, the Gulf states are required to maintain a similar stand on Beijing’s relation with Taiwan, Hong Kong and other internal policies such as the clamp down on Uighur Muslims.

Oil and gas accounts for more than 70% of government revenues in the Arab states and China is the primary consumer. China’s consumption of Oman’s oil has increased from 70% to 90% while China now consumes a third of Saudi Arabia’s oil, up from 13.6%. China’s consumption of Qatar’s gas has also doubled and this sums up China’s growing influence in the region. Beijing’s consumption of oil and gas will likely reduce on the long run and the Gulf states are already making diversification plans following a dip in the oil price in the first quarter of 2020.

The relationship between China and the European Union is also getting better after several crisis. China remains the second biggest trading partner of the EU while the EU remains the biggest trading partner of China. The growing influence of Beijing should worry the United States. The unpredictability of a nation ruled by a communist regime should spread fear and caution.

Realism, nationalism and isolationism are terms used in describing Trump’s foreign policy. In reality, the principles of isolationism made America a great nation and a complete diversion from such policy would create a different America.