Bit Literacy by Mark Hurst

Credit: Bit Literacy, Mark Hurst

"Bit Literacy" is essential reading for anyone who has experienced "digital overload": the daily flood of e-mail, multiple to do lists, a cluttered desktop, documents in various file formats, and the constant distraction of cell phones and other devices. More than a quick fix or another "how-to" guide, the book offers an entirely new way of attaining productivity that users at any level of expertise can put into action right away. This is "bit literacy," a method for working more productively in the digital age, with less stress. Mark Hurst - who has reached hundreds of thousands of readers through his Good Experience e-mail newsletter, Uncle Mark technology guides, thisisbroken.com, and other websites - has revealed the way to survive, and thrive, in the digital age: "Let the bits go." Credit: Mark Hurst

Credit: Bit Literacy, Quote

Ramon Martinez on Real Estate Literacy & Training

Ramon Martinez Joins Sasha in Conversation on Moving Mountains!

Credit: Wholesale Sharks | Ramon Martinez

Credit: Ramon Martinez, Future Sharks

Meet Ramon Martinez, Founder of Ramon Wholesale Sharks

Ramon Martinez or Ramon Wholesale Sharks (best known in the social media world) used to work for people, now he teaches people how to work for themselves. Let go from corporate America, Martinez went from breeding English bulldogs just to make ends meet to running a multi-million dollar wholesale real estate company. Now, he’s giving back by helping others achieve the same success he has.

Ramon was born and raised in Hermosillo Sonora Mexico. He graduated from Alhambra High School & dropped out of Phoenix College. He's worked for such companies as Chase Bank, Wells Fargo & Bank of America. Ramon resides in Phoenix and works alongside his Brother Rodrigo Martinez, his cousin Christian Murrieta, & sister Raquel Martinez. Credit: Ramon Martinez

His appearance on Moving Mountains with Sasha focuses on his early days in corporate america prior to life circumstances challenging him to expand upon his existing business acumen to serve clients in the market. Ramon passionately shares his journey as he navigates through a few seasons of change as he discovers his success in the real estate realm. As a successful businessman, he's investing his time in training future entrepreneurs to capitalize upon their skills on their terms.

Empowering Female Creators

Empowering Women Everyday in Every Way Possible

Credit: Danielle Chiel

The Artisan Nation exists to empower female creators from developing nations. Since you attended an all-girls school in your youth; as well as your mother worked as a pharmacist, what did you learn about female empowerment while growing up?

I learnt that women could do anything. I learnt that if you wanted to know something, go and find the answer.  This was role modeled by all those around me. I was constantly asked questions such as: what is it that you would like? What is stopping you? Why aren’t you doing anything about it? Who is it that you need to ask? Speaking up is in my DNA. My mother was a pioneer in her own right in so many ways.  

What realities do you believe are overlooked within developing nations pertaining to the female population? How did India result being the main focal point for your entrepreneurial endeavors?

If women in rural Indian villages don't comply with something that someone else tells them to do, especially a man, they often face detrimental physical consequences that can leave them with lifelong psychological conditions. They could be beaten or hit, screamed at, and many times this could be amplified even more if they have a father or patriarchal figure in their life who abuses substances such as alcohol, as well. With my endeavors being focused on these women, you know, when they come to work with us it can be the first time that they've ever been taught - not told - what or how to think. Doing so helps them foster and nurture their identity outside of what the forces around them growing up told them it was. They are more than just their family or their job or their upbringing. These aspects of recognizing your identity are common in people in the Western world, but these women in rural villages and developing countries don't often have that balance. So it's my mission to ensure that these women don't stay invisible, to ensure that they have a voice, and to ensure that people know about them.

How can developed nations do a better job contributing their resources and talents to nurture the mental, emotional and physical well-being of these women as valuable members of society? 

Well, the first thing we can do is acknowledge that these people are valued members of society. Their role is not just to be subservient; their role is to contribute to the betterment of the world, the same as it is your role and mine. In order for the developed world to contribute to that role, we can support businesses that employ and offer products made by women in these under served areas. We can also ensure that these ladies are offered full-time employment so that when they come to work, we know that they are compensated well enough to send their children to school and to nurture their own emotional and physical well being, which trickles down to their children and family to offer them opportunities these women may not have had in their youth. We can also offer programs where anybody from the West can meet these women and talk to them about their lives so that we can connect with them and show the world that they're real people with real value. If developed nations don't want to have hands-on emotional or physical support for these ladies, they can still offer their support through avenues like fundraising donations.

Women are educated and guided to take better care of themselves through The Artisan Nation as they become self-sufficient working professionals. This includes the engagement of dietitians, psychologists, physical movement leaders, and advisors that provide financial literacy. 

What was the biggest challenge for your team when executing this specific business plan in the field? 

The biggest challenge really was knowing where to stop. Many of these women have never been given regular work. If they've eaten a predominantly rice-based diet for all their lives, which most of them have, they can come to us malnourished. Those of us in the West know that if we're lacking in vitamin B, vitamin C, or magnesium, that has consequences on how we feel physically and mentally, and can impact our output. If you could imagine some of these ladies feeling this way all the time, they don't know that they’re missing out on a healthy and balanced lifestyle, so it was simply a brainstorming session with a group of people around our table to work out how we could most support these ladies, more than just financially. So, in order to lead a very fulfilling life, we just made a whole list of everything that humans need to flourish like love and a non-toxic support system. They need a roof over their head. They need regular meals and a balanced diet, so the biggest challenge here was actually working out how to connect the separate professionals who can provide all these needs with these women. That's why the Artisan Nation was born because, in reality, we act as a bridge to connect skilled professionals with women living in developing countries.

How do these Indian women transition from being compliant, subservient women into self-thinking respectable beings in society? Do they face any hesitation in embracing these valuable discoveries through learning about self-worth and self-love?

Most of these women absolutely face hesitation in embracing self-worth and self-love, because they were never able to embrace those values in their daily lives. They are told since childhood that whatever they say or do or think is of little value compared to what the men around them think, say, and do. Breaking that cycle of what these women perceive as “normal” is difficult and should never be done alone. That’s part of why Artisan Nation strives to connect these women with the skilled professionals who can help them unlearn their old mentality, instill newer and healthier values of self-worth and self-love, and help them understand those values are not only good to have, but they need to have them in order to live fulfilling lives and help others around them.

Presently there are two villages participating in The Artisan Nation program. What variables were used to determine which villages would initially participate in the program? How do you forecast the future participation of additional villages joining this worthy cause over the span between now and mid-2022? 

We don't discriminate between any of the villages that engage in the program. It's simply a matter of finding people in developing countries to support them. The more people in developing countries we can support, then the more villages come across our board. The only probable variable in determining which initial villages we wanted to participate with was the location because it's really hard to support one village in the north of India and one village down in the South of India with the same programs at the same time with the size we are now. We're starting by supporting all the villages within one geographical area, because that way the professionals we work with to help the women in our program, such as dietitians, can travel from one village to another close by instead of having to travel all over India.

What are some entrepreneurial challenges you faced when setting up KOCO's presence in the first 90 days in India? Were there any new challenges you embraced when implementing the mission of The Artisan Nation during the Covid pandemic? 

Implementing the Artisan Nation was a no-brainer because I knew these women needed help. Having the artisan nation as a bridge to link the skilled professionals and corporations with these women was the easy part. As far as challenges go, it's finding the right corporations and the people within them who believe that giving these women a voice is an important part of their company’s core values, but even properly communicating to corporations the many ways they can help us can be challenging. 

The biggest challenge is to actually find any size company, whether they have 10 staff, or 1000 staff to come on board and take an interest. They just need to actually contact us to find out more about what's going on, even without a commitment up-front. Getting involved is how businesses begin to impact the future, and most customers today are becoming more conscious about whether or not the people and companies they do business with care about other people, even people and communities they aren’t directly involved with. I’m sure there are millions and millions of women around the world that would resonate with our mission and support us within the blink of an eye; all we need to do is find them, to find those people who believe in our mission as being worthwhile. I believe if more people and companies have beliefs similar to ours and truly want to connect with women in these developing countries, the world would be a much more colorful, interesting, and grounded place as a result.

The Covid pandemic disfranchised about 16 million workers within the fashion industry in India. On a global level, what are a few realities about the fashion industry that are misunderstood regardless of the economic climate? 

The fashion industry has the potential to have a significant influence on women and specifically on women in developing countries.  Most of these women are highly skilled and earn their living using their hands.  Artisan products are highly valued and these women have a very strong drive to send their children to school (an opportunity that they themselves didn’t have). I have a very strong background in connecting with others, especially women from developing countries and areas, and helping them to achieve their goals. I believe that, if the fashion industry got behind women from under served and developing areas having a voice and helping them to achieve their goals, even something as simple as a woman being able to send her children to a safe school in order to obtain a proper education, the fashion industry would have the potential to change the world enormously.

The fashion industry, regardless of economics, still has a lot of catching up to do as far as sustainability and human rights. It’s doing better than it was even 5 or 10 years ago, but improvements can still be made for the good of the industry, employees, and customers. I wouldn’t say the barriers to entry for entrepreneurs in India or anywhere else are necessarily high, but climbing over or breaking through those barriers still takes a lot of work, especially for women entrepreneurs in traditionally patriarchal communities. It’s not something anyone should take lightly, but they can be overcome through dedication and passion towards a mission greater than yourself..

Danielle, you uplift and inspire women around the world, who are the women whose wisdom has contributed to your strength?

The women that I work with are my greatest role model. They are resilient, highly intelligent and it is an equal two-way exchange of skills.  

Working in the field and partnering with different personalities demands time and energy. How do you nurture your self-care and emotional growth when not actively working on KOCO and The Artisan Nation?

Besides supporting the women that I work with I swim and make artisan chocolates.  Both enable me to totally switch off.  I also have 2 grown sons that I love to cook for. 

What is the best entrepreneurial advice you've received from another female entrepreneur? 

It’s from Emma Isaacs who runs a large women’s networking group here in Australia. It was, “always say yes and work out how later”.  If my memory serves me correctly, she got this from Richard Branson.

When in doubt, who or what do you turn to that allows you to melt these doubts away?

I have always had mentors around me, so I either turn to my sons, my mentor or the swimming pool. 

You're also an author. Danielle, do you have any favorite books that you enjoy reading? 

The most recent book I read was Powered by Change by Jonathan McDonald.  It has a subtitle of, How to design your business for perpetual success.  I’d highly recommend it. It’s a fantastic basis for thinking and structure.

If you were to reincarnate and return to earth a 100 years later, what changes would you like to see in society?

That all women are empowered and independent and the relationship between people are of mutual respect. 

Please share with audiences how they can support your work.

Learn how the inception of KOCO & The Artisan Nation is driving positive change in India through empowerment of women.

Meet Danielle Chiel, Entrepreneur and Author

#ComingSoon

Entrepreneur and Author Danielle Chiel Joins Sasha on Moving Mountains.

Learn how the inception of KOCO & The Artisan Nation is driving change in India.

Credit: The Artisan Nation

Credit: KOCO, Knit One (garment) Change One (life)

Credit: The Artisan Nation

Meet Edmund McCormack, Founder & CEO of Dchained (Cryptocurrency Literary Network)

Credit: Edmund McCormack

Edmund, welcome to Authors By Sasha. Please introduce yourself and share with us why you decided to transition from working in the tech and media space to focus on creating a Cryptocurrency Literary Network. 

I have been involved in cryptocurrency and blockchain since 2012. The initial draw was the technology and how it can address glaring issues with the current internet model: 1) censorship by governments (i.e. the internet experience of someone in China is much different than you and I; 2) relentless data breaches of governments & corporations by hackers; and 3) lack of consumer data protection & privacy. 

The latter became tangible for me in late 2015 when I was working at Apple and I saw Tim Cook speak about Apple’s rapidly-growing stance on user privacy. Personally, it meant that my days were numbered at Apple as they moved to distance themselves from the advertising world; however, I also realized that the current internet model – where companies & governments store your data on their servers – would need to be disrupted. Blockchain offered the solution, and it would not only disrupt how we surf the web but banking and even the money that we use (i.e. crypto). 

Coincidentally, this is when the crypto market started its historic rally that brought the word “cryptocurrency” and “blockchain” into the mainstream. It brought in droves of investors that “threw caution to the wind” and invested into markets that they didn’t understand from a technical or financial standpoint. Unfortunately, many of those investors were caught off-guard 12 months later when Bitcoin, along with the rest of the cryptocurrency market, collapsed. I can’t blame those investors though because most of the credible sources on crypto were highly technical. Individuals who could understand the financial indicators and updates on development knew that the end was near. With a little information and trusted hub to be a “safe haven,” many of those investors could have mitigated their losses.

Today feels very much like early 2016. Crypto is gaining in popularity, except this time they are backed by major financial institutions and significant development advancements. I wanted to create an online destination that made the information, often seen as intimidating and inaccessible to those outside of tech & finance, available for all. This is where the name “Dchained” came from – unlocking this investment & technology space that could change people’s lives. 

What were the common misconceptions related to cryptocurrency when it was initially introduced in the market? What misconceptions still need to be addressed in the cryptocurrency and blockchain technology today? 

In the early years, cryptocurrency had a stigma of being the currency to finance illegal activity. I’m happy that we’ve out of the “dark days” of the Silk Road, as it becomes further embraced by governments and financial institutions. 

The biggest misconception today is that you need to be technical to invest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The terms "blockchain" and "crypto" sound foreign to many, but so did HTML and IP Addresses in the early 90s (i.e. the internet). While most people still couldn’t explain how the internet works, it's hard to argue that investing in the early players involved in shaping the internet was a bad decision: Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. They're also the #1, #2, #3, and #4 largest companies in the world, in order. This has the potential to match or exceed that investing opportunity (no time travel required).

Dchained provides a platform to educate oneself on cryptocurrency without complexity. Which topic is the most popular within the Dchained community that delivers utility value among members and potential investors? 

By far, most traffic has come to our section outlining Bitcoin. However, it’s been fascinating to see that nearly half the traffic is over the age of 50 to our Bitcoin content. In general, investing strategy for many starts to shift to assets with less risk as the individual moves closer to retirement age. However, this trend makes sense as the yields from Treasury bonds have decreased steadily as the Federal Reserve has increased the supply of money to support the US economy during COVID. This practice, known as quantitative easing, has led investors to seek out two of the most stable investment assets available: gold and Bitcoin. 

Cryptocurrency serves as a potential investment vehicle for investors. What are the top three questions prospective investors should ask, or research, before extending their resources into the cryptocurrency market? Are there any insights you've acquired through your investing activities?

The top three questions that investors should ask themselves: 1) what is your goal and risk tolerance, 2) how diversified do you want to be (i.e. should you invest in an exchange traded fund (ETF) or purchase a coin directly from an exchange), and 3) what trusted sources are available to stay up-to-date.  

My advice to anyone interested in starting, or growing, their crypto investing portfolio is: 1) take the time to learn the fundamentals (i.e. how is Bitcoin different than Ethereum), 2) store your cryptocurrencies on a hardware wallet instead of the exchange you use to buy from, and 3) do your own research before you make any investment decision.

Risk comes with all forms of investment. On a scale one to ten, how would you rate the risk factor for cryptocurrency investments in general? Has the risk factor increased or decreased due to the Coronavirus pandemic? What does the potential forecast of cryptocurrency demand look like in the next five and ten years? 

The cryptocurrency market delivers opportunity at both ends of the risk spectrum. For example, Bitcoin has been drawing praise from major institutional investment firms, such as Goldman Sachs, and publicly traded companies in the face of our current economic situation. Its limited supply and strength in the face of the weak US economic and jobs data have drawn parallels to the stability that gold offers. In fact, MicroStrategy (a publicly traded business intelligence company) exchanged USD for Bitcoin in its reserves to more effectively store value due to fears of USD devaluation from the Federal Reserve’s steps to increase the supply of money to support the economy during COVID.

While I don’t have a crystal ball to predict where prices will go, it’s clear that cryptocurrency (specifically Bitcoin) is being rapidly adopted in developing countries. For example, the rate of adoption of crypto in Latin America has been inspiring as they turn to cryptocurrency as a solution to staggering inflation and increasingly unstable banking systems. It’s also worth noting that there are 2 billion people globally who do not have access to banking systems, often referred to as “unbanked,” but are actively using mobile phones. It will turn a mass amount of people into participants in the global economy, while creating demand on the limited supply of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (increasing the value for investors).    

You've been engaged in the cryptocurrency market for at least a decade. Engagement in this niche requires good sense and implementation of good strategies. What has this form of investment taught you about decision making skills in life and business?

Behind all the acronyms of the cryptocurrencies are people who are leading technology projects. I have taken a focus of trying to invest in technology that I believe can be transformative, and I’ve used this approach to build confidence and conviction in my investing strategies. The crypto market is heavily influenced by emotion, as seen in the last bull run in 2016 and 2017, and there is no shortage of people who will give you their advice. It’s important to remember that there is no shortcut for doing the due diligence, creating a plan, and maintaining composure during short-term challenges.

Investors are constantly seeking opportunities to acquire diversified return on investment in their portfolios. What are the top four types of cryptocurrency popular in the global markets? Are cryptocurrency investments ideal for individuals seeking short term or long term returns?  Is there any way to offset risk for short term losses?

The crypto market has assets that can appease varying levels of risk & reward that investors can incorporate into their overall portfolio. Personally, I think investors should analyze what is the function of the crypto and what it represents.  

1. Stablecoins, which is cryptocurrency that is backed by fiat currency (i.e. USD or British pound) or commodities such as gold, offer a conservative investing opportunity with minimal volatility and modest returns. Given its association with national currencies, stablecoins provide a higher level of stability. 

2. Bitcoin offers a unique opportunity where it’s a proven store of value but it has significant upside potential given its limited supply. The use case where it can be utilized for large-scale payments, such as government to government, draws further parallels with gold.  

3. Ethereum is an investment in whether it will be the future backbone of digital infrastructure. Investments can net higher returns as Ethereum becomes more widely adopted across industries and further development enables further growth for the platform. However, there has been an influx of competitive technologies that are creating a technical “arms race” with Ethereum to provide the foundation for our connected lives.  

4. Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a high risk/high reward investment. Its goal is to remove “intermediaries,” such as banks, by allowing individuals to conduct financial activity through “smart contracts.” Investments resemble the practice of stock-picking as you’re financially back that a specific project or offering will become the leader in its specific sector of financial services, such as lending or earning interest on asset holdings. 

Is there a recommended minimum amount needed to invest in the cryptocurrency market? What type of investment strategies have led third parties to lose money in this specific area of investment?

There is no minimum required to invest, as long as you cover any necessary fees charged by the exchanges to buy the cryptocurrency. With that said, there are a few things to consider. The golden rule is that you do not want to invest any amount of money that could put yourself in financial distress if you were to lose it. Additionally, it’s advisable to utilize a dollar-cost averaging investing strategy where you are investing a consistent amount of money consistently on a scheduled basis. This strategy helps investors avoid mistakes often made when trying to “time the market.” Lastly, it’s imperative to do your research and not invest based on the potential of “missing out.” This led to a lot of investors making poor decisions in the last bull run. 

As a subject matter expert and entrepreneur, how have you built your investment network of highly skilled team members which include lawyers, financial advisors and business leaders? Did you find them or did they find you? What guidance do you have for business professionals building a robust network? 

Over the years, I have met individuals both professionally and personally who provide their clients with advice on cryptocurrency in their respective fields. I’m a client of many of these specific individuals, as I’ve sought advice on topics such as filing gains/losses on my tax returns or how to claim crypto holdings when applying for a mortgage. It’s interesting how people involved in the crypto space have sought to offer introductions to help build the community. I want to help open that community up to those who are now getting involved. 

Some people perceive the cryptocurrency market to be a clandestine network which hosts fraudulent activities. How can prospective investors find a peace of mind knowing their identities and resources will not be compromised when participating in the network? 

The clandestine reputation was deserved in the early days, as crypto became associated with the “dark web,” but the world is a much different place with cryptocurrency today. Large financial institutions are focusing their long-term strategy on building crypto investment options for their customers. The Federal Reserve is collaborating with MIT on if/how they roll out digital legal tender. 

Blockchain, which is built to provide anonymity and security, is looked at as a solution to consumer data privacy. I would ask someone to think about how many times they’ve had issues with illegal activity on their credit card, or even worse if their identity was compromised. It’s extremely easy to do because that information is stored on a physical server that hackers can attack. With blockchain, there is no central target for hackers and its use of cryptography make it almost impossible to breach.

How can this form of investment win over the trust of millionaires who strongly oppose investing in a cryptocurrency market that isn't reliable enough due to its young age, and/or the bad information circulating on the financial platforms online? What are the credible stock exchanges that provide valuable information and services to clients wanting to start their crypto journey?

The opinion of wealthy investors have shifted more in favor of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, more in the last year than the 9 years preceding it. Regulation and policy changes from the US government and financial regulatory groups have set the stage for crypto to become mainstream. Large institutional banks are creating funds dedicated to cryptocurrency, such as Fidelity’s upcoming $1B Bitcoin fund, while several leading players in the crypto market are contemplating the move to becoming publicly traded companies.  

Similar to the stock market and politics, there is no shortage of misinformation and people willing to offer it to you. This is why we wanted to create a platform that acts as a safe-haven, where you can build an education in the overall space and stay up-to-date on the latest developments.

Edmund, do you have a favorite quote or a favorite song? How does it inspire you with the work you do? 

It’s a bit cliché to quote Warren Buffett, especially if you’re involved in investing, but he has a quote that is spot-on in the crypto world. “Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing.” Crypto is dangerous for investors who think that it’s an apples-to-apples type of market with the stocks and bonds. It’s a whole different beast and you have to know what’s a market signal out of all the noise. This is where we come in as we are focused on building a platform where investors can learn about cryptocurrencies and leverage all the services that we offer our members to invest more effectively. 

 Please share with audiences how they can support your work. 

We host a volume of free content and instructional information on our site www.dchained.com.  Also, follow us on our Facebook page facebook.com/dchained as we will be announcing a virtual video workshop on “How to Get Started in Cryptocurrency.”