Issue #079: Finding Resillience in Rebellion

What to do with the downturn?

Welcome to 2025, Rebels! 🎉
We’ve got a new name, and with it, a mission: Fight the grind so small business leaders can thrive. Let’s go.

I’m writing this after watching the stock market tank again. People are panicking about their jobs disappearing by the new year. And as I watch the madness unfold, I do what I always do: look for resilience.

Two industries have proven resilient through multiple bear markets. One’s obvious. The other? Not so much.

If I were looking for a job, more clients, or freelance work, I’d study these industries. They’re not just surviving; they’re thriving.

1. AI: The Future Is Now

No surprises here—AI is everywhere. But here’s the thing: it’s not going anywhere. Scientists are predicting superintelligence by 2030. Yes, you heard me right. AI is going to shift the workforce in ways the internet did in the 90s. So, if you’re not already diving into AI, what are you waiting for?

2. Blockchain: The Rebel Economy

Now, here’s the one that might make you roll your eyes. But hear me out.

In the U.S., blockchain and crypto are often portrayed as scams. Why? Because they scare the banks. Blockchain isn’t just about cryptocurrency—it’s bringing finance to the people, and that terrifies the traditional financial system. But here’s the kicker: blockchain keeps on ticking, even when the market crashes. Why? Because it’s outside the current financial systems. The future is decentralized, and blockchain is leading the charge.

Your Monthly Mini-Rebellion Plan

If I were you, I’d dive headfirst into these two markets. AI and blockchain don’t just need techies—they need designers, HR pros, marketers, managers, legal support, and more.

So, if you're worried about the economy tanking, start building resilience into your business. Study these industries now, and you'll have a seat at the table when the revolution happens.

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The Rebel’s Toolkit

• 📖 Tech Agnostic: this new book is on my shelf and I’m eager to dig in. Technology is not just a niche tool, anymore. And with AI hitting the consumer market, our understanding of technology just got way more important, with some people committed to a kind of worship of it. Will you read this book with me?

• 📖 Food for thought: procrastination is not a symptom of laziness. It’s a symptom of anxiety; and when the anxiety of the deadline becomes greater than the anxiety about the task, we see frantic action toward completion. Sound familiar? Check out Laziness Does Not Exist by Dr Devon Price.

• 🎥 The Bankless YouTube channel will help you wrap your mind around crypto and its role in the world.

• 📝 The Onchain Foundation (where I freelance) is specifically designed for entreprneurs who feel in over their heads about blockchain. They publish not just on crypto, but on all blockchain topics as they pertain to business.

• 🎙️ Listen to the AI Podcast by NVIDIA to stay abreast of changes in the AI industry and how they might effect your business.

• 🦋 Follow Audrey Tang on Bluesky. I had the pleasure to meet Tang at BlockSplit last year, though I knew of their work thanks to my research during COVID. They are famous for their revolutionary work as the Tech Minister in Taiwan (and their first non-binary government official). Their posts cover both blockchain and AI.