Retrospective Perspectives 2024/2025

This year saw?global tensions further increasing?and entering a critical phase with a geopolitical climate that’s now as dangerous as it is complex. The question eventually becomes –?where and how to build a future amongst a great many uncertainties?

Of course, much of what we consume virtually is neither real, nor does panic make it so. But our minds don’t know that. We’re tricked into an isolated way of perceiving, thinking and believing. Is it time to break out of such limitations in 2025? If yes, we need to?start facing our fears. And if we don’t, our decision making abilities in times yet to come, could arguably be diminished.

Next to loss of life, the rise of violence (even in previously considered peaceful places) is of great concern. Last year saw the?highest number of state-based conflicts?since 1946. Besides fears for physical safety, mental worries also abound. Losing one’s job because an AI can do it now, isn’t idle fantasy any more. With?inflation remaining stubborn?whilst economies downsize, monetary challenges are far more tangible despite?more money being in circulation than ever before.

“There is no plan B for Purpose.”

When I?evaluated my goals and priorities at the end of 2023, I made it a point to?meditate and reflect. With 2024 in its full swing however, I realized what’s needed is to act. Purpose drives action and actions drive results. Especially complex and hard to qualify fears or worries can easily dissipate when action appears on the scene.?

In my case this meant —

• talking (including blogging, posting, commenting) less;?
• doing more (coaching mature founders and unburdening future generations by mentoring next-gen members how to uncover responsibilities while discovering full potential);
• making a deeper effort for understanding the?why?behind my actions than the what or how.

— which led to a flurry of activity later in the year, for example:

• A next-gen?family-office led private investment club?by experienced entrepreneurs and executives for founders appreciating a sparring partner to analyze, reflect, and grow.
• An?integrated holistic health and wellness clinic?focused on highly personalized diagnostics and treatments with a guided medical travel program to globally leading sites.
• An?international research community?working together to redefine the status quo of “stuck” science by pushing the boundaries using ancient history, culture, and works of art.

Business,?Health?and?Research?have thus emerged as my key themes and I’m grateful for any opportunities to collaborate or partner with people and organizations sharing my values.

Recalling this year also brings up the good medication of bitter memories in the form of lost human principles I had taken for granted my entire life. As usual I made a ton of introductions from “friends” to “friends” and became a (free) “information provider” to people I thought would join my tribe. Sadly (and without expecting a monetary return I must add), the?mere aspect of gratitude?is trying to make an escape from many people’s moral compasses. I realize there is no unselfish good deed, and that any form of expectations and disappointments are siblings. That said, entering this 2025, I would encourage everyone to use the word “Thank you” more often and?pay it forward to others when people have helped you. It’s the simplest and kindest act we have to make the world a better place.

And that we need to do!?

This year saw further leaps in AI to the point that you can’t be sure “what’s human” any more. Whilst no AI has been used in writing this letter, I have no illusion that one of our biggest challenges in the future will be in understanding the then (not so?) subtle differences between what’s “human”, what’s “trans-human” and what’s?“post-human”.

AI is now in a position to self-less-ly rewrite history, quite possibly without anyone realizing it. It’s used to?monitor and detect hate-speech, political adversaries, “improper” behavior?(there was a time when humans held themselves accountable!) across all major online platforms. No surprise that millions of channels, people and topics have disappeared either by being cancelled, deleted or simply by being pushed into oblivion with the use of information overloading algorithms.?

The ability (for someone or something) to edit and change content at a totalitarian scale in any shape, format or delivery mechanism thereby bringing people in “formation”, has never been so easy and so vicious. At the push of a button, chemtrails become contrails, villains become heroes, and the?ordinary law-abiding citizen sits in prison because of an emotional social media outburst.

I believe with 2025 ushered in, we as a species need to work harder on identifying our real origins, not be afraid of capturing the?hidden mysteries of our lost history, and make a genuine effort in re-learning what it means to?both become and be human, especially now that the boundaries between technology, biology, human nature and robotic behavioural patterns have blurred.

By questioning the Source of our Being, we still have the ability to ask fundamental questions which could enable us to discover the real potential we’ve always had.

Therefore, my mission for 2025 is to rise to the occasion and “be and act humanitarian”.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Toby