The road to writing about Bitcoin has been a long one. In life, each one of us takes a path with unexpected turns and surprises, and my progression on this path was no different. While struggling through trial and error, I discovered tools toward understanding money, price, and value.
Working in various small businesses influenced me: from spending my younger years beside my grandparents at their coffee shop waiting on customers and counting their change, to later working beside my dad at his auto repair shop and learning that it was possible to interact warmly and jovially with customers while directing my attention to their needs.
While working as a real estate agent, I learned to value properties by comparing them to others, making offers and counter offers, and negotiating toward a positive outcome for both parties. The dynamism of these exchanges, while in escrow, fluctuated from one situation to another. This kind of energy, interaction and interplay with people, was fascinating. Earning commissions for work performed was satisfying, and yet, understanding the deeper qualities of value and the conditions for creating true wealth remained elusive.
Readings of monetary theory by the Portuguese and Spanish Late Scholastics and other essayists from the Italian and French Liberal Schools of economic thought helped me continue in my journey. The discovery of subjective value and its relationship to need, desire, and utility was a revelation.
And then came Bitcoin.
I remember when I first heard of it, Bitcoin seemed absurd and silly. It seemed to be a digital conjuring trick. After all, how could something not materially present have an ability to be currency and represent money, let alone have value? And why would I part with the beautiful paper currency for any digital form on offer, regardless of it being centralized or decentralized? These notes are beautiful, with engraved portraits of presidents and rotogravure impressions, are they not? After all, they are official. They inspire confidence through their imagery and connection to history! Don’t they?
But over time, layer upon layer, my appreciation and understanding of Bitcoin took hold.
Needing to share this understanding with others has driven me to learn more and write. Teachers understand this drive, for it animates and motivates them, and me. To see someone experience the “Aha!” moment is seldom matched by any other.
And so, I continue in this quest, grateful to learn and to share with you!