Modern Samurai | Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World

One of Digital Samurai's primary taglines is learn faster. Einstein said, Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think. Like Einstein, I love running thought experiments in my head and refining ideas that way.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: Martin R Ricketts

Many people think they're thinking when all they're really doing is rearranging their prejudices. To combat that tendency, I try to challenge my suppositions by watching videos from people I don't necessarily agree with.

We were living at an amazing point in history. Information and knowledge has been democratized by Google and YouTube.

That means virtually everyone in the world has access to the 10 million terabytes of information in Google's database, which means knowledge in and of itself is no longer valuable.

In the age of infinite supply, those who learn faster than anyone else and create curated solutions will win.

How do you do that? The name of the game is capturing information and ideas coming into your digital world in the form of notes, images, photos, audio, and video. Then archiving and retrieving that information at will, sharing and collaborating with your team to create products and services of value to your target audience.

He or she who plays that game best does it the fastest wins. if you want to learn more about the best tools to win in the augmented age, Digital Samurai can help.

If you found this video helpful, please like and subscribe.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

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Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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#Einstein #Education #AugmentedAge#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

After years of teases and promises, Matter finally launched in November 2022.

The smart home standard that wants to interconnect all products in your home regardless of ecosystem and manufacturer is officially ready to be used, and many devices are getting updated to support it.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts Source: https://bit.ly/3ZNTKhR

Today, Google has announced that it is also jumping on the bandwagon, stating that most of its great smart home devices and virtually all Android phones are now equipped with Matter.

Google started updating the millions upon millions of Android devices out there and many of its smart home products these past few weeks, and the company says that the rollout is finished as of today.

What's probably most exciting for Android users is that the update will enable support for Fast Pair.

This will allow you to connect a new smart home device that supports Matter with the tap of a button, similar to how you can quickly connect the latest and greatest earbuds and other accessories.

The Google Home app for Android is also introducing support for the standard, which is necessary in order to have a true hub to collect all devices that support matter. On top of that, Google’s smart home devices are receiving support for Matter.

If iOS is more of your jam, things are moving a tad slower, with Google Home for this platform getting Matter support later in 2023.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love. Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒! https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

#Androidphones #GoogleHomeecosystem#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

Introductions are extremely important for your professional life. They are like your new business card.

The first interaction you have with someone will impact how others perceive you, and also the relationship you’ll later have with them. Acing your introduction in office settings will give you a clear advantage.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://bit.ly/3VR6Rwq

Efficient, effective business communication is one of the critical elements of successful businesses. In our system, Business Communications is the third pillar in Digital Samurai's Five Pillars of Productivity.

Also our second Prime Directive addresses communication issues. The Prime Directive States “Communicate with clarity and precision to maximize comprehension and follow through by the recipient.”

It goes without saying that when it comes to networking, no matter what age you are, professional, courteous and genuine respectful communication is important in building rapport so that people get to know, like and trust you.

The importance of congruence between your words, tonality and body language are vital to this end. It is equally important in networking to be able to listen to understand your peers, as well as to speak about you and your business.

When it comes to introducing yourself, and bearing in mind that Jeff Bezos underlined that ‘brand is how other people perceive you when you are not in the room’, simply introducing yourself by name and role is a start and yet may be a lost opportunity if left at that.

Consider which is more impactful, simply describing your role, or being more specific about the problem you solve and who you can help.

In preparation for networking, practice an elevator pitch, which is a short 30 second statement that summarizes a problem you solve and who specifically you can assist through that expertise.

You don’t get long to make a good first impression. What is unique and compelling about the problem you solve? Practice and refine that until you feel you own it with clarity and confidence.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

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#communication #PrimeDirective #JeffBezos #Impression#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

What is an aspect ratio, and why is it important?

The aspect ratio of an image or video is the proportional relationship of the width to the height.

An aspect ratio does not have units attached. Instead, it represents how large the width is compared to the height.

This means that an image measured in centimetres will have the same aspect ratio even if measured in inches or feet. The relationship between its width and height determines the ratio and shape, but not the image’s actual size.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://shutr.bz/3WiIDuq

One of the main reasons why proper aspect ratio is important is that it ensures that the visual content will be displayed correctly on different devices and platforms.

If the aspect ratio is not maintained, the image or video may appear distorted, with parts of the content being cut off, squished or stretched. This can negatively impact the visual quality and overall user experience.

Aspect ratios are a critical part of web content because images must be uploaded at different aspect ratios for various uses, like desktop vs. mobile or blog vs. social media.

The most common aspect ratios are 16x9, 4x3, 1x1, and 9x16, which is portrait mode the sites like TikTok. Observant viewers will note that the 9x16 TikTok aspect ratio is the reverse of a 16x9 widescreen aspect ratio.

Proper aspect ratio is also essential for maintaining consistency across different visual elements. For example, suppose a company is creating a series of videos or images.

In that case, it is essential to maintain the same aspect ratio to ensure they all look cohesive and professional. This applies to presentations, websites, and social media posts, where the image and video are displayed in a specific area. If the aspect ratio is wrong, it will not fit and look unprofessional.

Steven Spielberg once said, "audiences don't notice the attention to detail I put in my films, but they notice if it's not there." It's all about attention to detail, and the best creators know this intrinsically.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

Our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.

The mind of a child is extraordinary. That is why we also suggest you embrace the idea of thinking like a child. Martial artists call that “Shoshin,” which means beginner mindset, the mindset of a child, open to new possibilities, not bound by “what is.”

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://bit.ly/DSS-TheDoctrine-of-One

Children, both boys and girls, are the future of every society, so it makes sense to set aside time to think about how we care for and nurture the world’s children.

Kids tend to do better in school and social settings and have more confidence and respect for others if their education starts early and they are encouraged to try new things and aren't overprotected.

Unfortunately, in some countries, girls cannot go to school and do not benefit from higher education.

There are initiatives such as World Children’s Day, which offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children across the globe.

The International Day for Street Children is another initiative observed on April 12th. The day provides a platform for the millions of children on the streets worldwide – and their champions – to speak out so that their rights cannot be ignored.

Digital Samurai has gone a big step further. As a futuristic thinker and Modern Samurai, my personal story compelled me to address Africa’s staggeringly high youth unemployment rate in 2016. 80% of youth under 30 in many African countries are unemployed.

We teach digital skills to disadvantaged youth in Ghana and the Go Down Slum in Kampala so they can monetize their superpower.

Then, kind of like Uber, we match trained apprentices with creators and entrepreneurs in North America who leverage content production.

So, what are you doing to invest in children and youth? For more information on how you can support our African Apprentice program click the link to get in touch.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#Future #Youth #Shoshin #BeginnerMindset#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

Martin recently had an issue with Instacart so he decided to write them a letter. Writing letters to corporations’s customer service department is good practice for negotiations with clients.

I'm not talking about writing a bitchy Karen letter, I'm talking about constructive criticism with well-reasoned arguments and clear instructions on what you want the resolution to be.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: Letter to Instacart

I generally order from Walmart using Instacart at the beginning of each month. In the last three months, there have been changes to the service, not to the customers' benefit. Initially, when I started using the service, I had an issue and Instacart and instantly refunded me.

The next time I had a problem, it took about three days. And now I find that Instacart prioritizes deliveries based on the tip size.

No doubt, like other customers, I feel nickel-and-dimed by Instacart. I paid the flat fee for FREE delivery; at the time, the marketing suggested that my delivery fee would be zero.

But now there are endless checkout charges, including a delivery fee that isn't zero, a heavy fee, a gas surcharge, a bag fee, a sugar-sweetened beverages fee, and of course sales tax which on groceries is surprisingly one of the smaller fees.

And as if all that wasn't enough, we were then asked to pay a tip for the workers. I understand that many fees are government-mandated such as taxes and bottle deposits.

However, the main reason I don't do the shopping in person is that it's heavy, so charging me a heavy fee is ridiculous. And as for the tip? I think it's disingenuous for companies to ask customers to pay their workers a tip.

Your industry can do mental gymnastics to justify that your workers are not employees but don't make me pay for something that is clearly a YOU problem. Nevertheless, I've been begrudgingly paying the minimum amount in the past.

But today, I was treated with yet another insult. For the first time, I saw my delivery time measured in days, not hours.

Because I didn't comply and pay up the tip amount requested; instead, I paid $5. Then I was informed after instacart took my money, I would receive my groceries sometime between the 5th and 6th of September. Are you freaking serious?

The entire reason I use instacart is because it's supposed to be instant! It's in your freaking name! Why the hell would I order groceries from Walmart through Instacart when Walmart (or Uber or any number of competitors) can deliver them to me faster than Instacart can?

I'm an entrepreneur, so I'm aware of the challenges in monetizing this business model. But if Instacart punishes clients who don't want to cough up yet another fee, one that arguably should be borne by Instacart, then I predict your company will not survive.

Instacart is playing a very dangerous game here. In my view, your quest to tweak your business model has gone wildly astray, and I, for one, will not be part of the experiment.

I want you to refund my money for my current order immediately.

Respectfully,

Martin R. Ricketts

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#InstacartsBusinessModel#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

In this study, healthy adult participants consumed 120 milliliters of goji berry juice daily or a placebo drink for 14 days.

The group given the goji berry juice reported improved energy, ability to focus, enhanced athletic performance, mental acuity, and feelings of calmness and contentment by day 15.

The study also showed improved quality of sleep in those who consumed the goji berry juice, and none experienced negative effects related to drinking the juice.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://bit.ly/3U0sn1q

The physical and mental effort it takes to operate at a world-class level in anything is considerable. More importantly, it requires persistence and a commitment over time.

A tired brain foggy thinking can inhibit your cognitive ability to concentrate, write or perform any number of intellectually challenging activities.

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day. Successful people master the mundane.

Breakfast is necessary since you've fasted all night. If you load yourself cognitively or physiologically in the morning, your stressed brain will encourage your body to produce insulin.

It will take all the blood sugar out of your blood, and then you're finished, wiped out for the day. Then, you may be anxious. If you're anxious, try this fascinating experiment. The next time you're anxious, eat something. Eat some protein and fat. Your brain will work better.

Breakfast may be a tedious exercise for some, but it's critically important, especially as you get older if you want to perform at your best. Take nutrition seriously, and you will have an edge.

An oatmeal cereal with goji berries can really set you up for the day due to its richness in vitamins, minerals and immune strengthening properties. For those of you who struggle with breakfast try a goji berry smoothie.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

In this video Martin talks about Becoming Digitally Agile. An evolution over time. Digital Agility requires the integration of Hardware-software and adherence to wise practices and inspired standards.

We choose products based on their form and function, and how well they integrate into the DS ecosystem.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://bit.ly/DSS-TheDoctrine-of-One

Digital agility is the ability to easily capture, manage, and access digital information and share and collaborate seamlessly and efficiently.

In today's digital age, it is more important than ever to be able to quickly and effectively navigate the vast amount of information available online.

One key aspect of digital agility is capturing and managing digital information. This includes everything from emails and documents to social media posts and websites.

Using tools like document management systems and email organization software, individuals and teams can easily store and organize their digital information, making it easy to find and access when needed.

Another critical aspect of digital agility is sharing and collaborating with others. With online collaboration tools, teams can work together as if they were in the same room, regardless of location.

This makes teams more productive and efficient, as they can easily share ideas and work on projects in real-time.

Digital agility is a crucial skill entrepreneurs need in today's digital world.

To provide an effortless user experience, Digital Samurai only uses the best tool for the job. We call this a proactive wise practice.

Click the Doctrine of One link to learn why we selected the tools in our approved products list and how you can use them in your business.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#DigitalAgility #Archive #Retrieve #Share #Collaborate#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

Gen Z-ers and millennials have been called lazy and entitled. Could they, instead, be among the first to understand the proper role of work in life?

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://nyti.ms/2lTZsQU

Gen Z-ers are commonly misunderstood because they have a very different view of work and how they go about it, contrary to conventional work. Such is the difference that a whole summit was devoted to it to discuss this group and the future of work back in 2021

Lerer Hippeau Investor Meagan Loyst spoke with Emily Chang about the launch of the first-of-its-kind Gen Z VC Summit and the core priorities for this new investing class. She also spoke on "Bloomberg Technology.

I attended the Gen Z Summit in September 2021, and it was refreshing for me because I spend a lot of time speaking to baby boomers and older people who don't get the fact that Gen Z doesn't want the same things. They don't want the nine-to-five work week, the Monday to Friday. They don't want a fixed schedule. They want flexibility.

And most importantly, they want to be Influencers and YouTubers. Now that gets a lot of laughs from many in older generations because they think it's not very serious because of what they see superficially.

But this is not frivolous. This is the way Gen Z interacts. As Meagan said, it's about authenticity. The influencers that are the most successful are the most authentic. They're the ones that resonate with young people, and they understand what they want. It's not the same as selling. It's not even persuasion.

It's about giving them what they want, not what you think they want, or what you want to sell them. That process is a very different way of retailing, but this is the "new retailing."

And it's done through influencers who have like-minds with what the people they're talking to want, and they know what they want because this new crop of influencers is Gen Z.

The future of work is changing. What can you learn from Gen Z-ers that would make you more productive and accomplished in your work?

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#GenZers#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo

In this video, Martin discusses Samurai Thinking MICRO Lesson number one. Why you should eliminate efficiencies until there's none left to remove.

Curated by Martin R Ricketts

Source: https://bit.ly/DSS-TheDoctrine-of-One

Refining tactics and eliminating efficiencies is a crucial aspect of Samurai Thinking. By constantly searching for ways to improve and streamline our actions, we can become more efficient and effective in achieving our goals. This is the essence of Digital Samurai thinking, continuous improvement and attention to detail, no matter how small.

The process of refining tactics involves analyzing every aspect of your strategy, looking for areas where you can cut out unnecessary steps or streamline your approach. It requires dedication and attention to detail, as even minor improvements can add up to make a significant difference. Ultimately, the goal is to reach a point where no more inefficiencies can be removed.

If you want to succeed in your endeavours, you must analyze and refine your tactics constantly, take those learnings and pivot when necessary, and execute with precision and accuracy, which means testing and more testing.

Don't Settle. Do Work You Love.

Design Your Future.

Monetize Your Story

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙊𝙒!

https://linktr.ee/monetizeyourstory

.

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

.

#MonetizeYourStory #MichelleRicketts #DiegoAlcaraz#KathrynAsaroMayers #TishaHammond #DrStephenHobbs#LearnFaster #WorkSmarter #DesignYourFuture#doworkyoulove #DontSettle #DigitalSamuraiStudios#theGlobalInfluencer #MicroInfluencer #InfluenceMarketing#MartinRRicketts #LaptopLifestyle #CreatorCondo