As I drive through my hometown of Künzelsau, I pass a clothing store on the right side of the main street, just past the old town hall. It used to be “Elektro Stein.” Back then, they sold washing machines and, tucked away in the corner, a small CD section. Do you remember the days when we asked for a CD in a shop, only to be told, “Come back in two weeks”? Brilliant. That was everyday life.
And today? Everything’s available at the push of a button (unless your Wi-Fi is acting up). I even once went to Stein with a portable cassette recorder and played a song I had taped from the radio because I didn’t know the name. I really wanted to buy the single. Turns out it was “More than a Feeling” by Boston.
Looking at us as humanity, no one wants to wait two weeks for a CD anymore. We’ve understood that. But what many haven’t yet realized is that the same goes for opportunities. The rules have changed.
Back then, wealth and influence were reserved for a few – those who owned big machines. Everyone else worked for them. That system stuck around for a long time. If you were a band, you needed a record deal. An author? You needed a publisher. In casting shows, a jury decided whether you had “what it takes.” We were dependent – on technology, money, approval. But the era of permission is over.
And today? Today you don’t need anyone to grant you permission. Platforms like Amazon are happy to partner with you. You bring the knowledge, they bring the network. You get paid. You’re not a supplicant anymore – you’re a partner.
So the next time your kids, grandkids, or employees tell you about a dream, please leave those dusty old phrases like “That’s impossible,” “That’s too hard,” or “That’ll never work” in the drawer. That was the old world. Today, you can go live, sell, and share yourself with just one click. The sum of all human knowledge fits in your pocket. Anyone can become anything. It’s no longer about machines or power – it’s about your courage to start.
Keep up with the times. Use these modern tools for yourself. According to my friend and futurist Sven Gabor Janszky, genetic analysis will hit the mass market in 2–3 years. Genetic rejuvenation in 10. Spare-part organs in 15. Medical food – where your toilet analyzes your body and a 3D printer creates the perfect meal – in just 5 years. Gene repair? 30 years. All things we would have called “impossible” not long ago.
Think new. Think bigger. Think further. And in all of this: stay human. Trust your gut. Feel your emotions. Nurture your relationships. And follow your heart – and do your thing. Now.
