For the last few days I have been reflecting on how much my worldview has evolved over the last decade, and the shift in perspective has been significant...

The idealism of my youth has been replaced with a more pragmatic view of society in general, and more tolerance towards people with different worldviews. Living among different cultures and not being able to speak the native language, makes you appreciate kindness. Living remotely without utilities, makes you appreciate modern civilization. And living someplace where offending someone can prompt a visit by local officials, makes you appreciate individual sovereignty. The way we become better people is by having the freedom to explore and experiment, and that is just not possible in many countries. 

Living Abroad

Those who have lived abroad often most appreciate what America represents...

In 2007 an AV Integration company in Vancouver fast-tracked a Canadian work visa, due to a shortage of qualified Canadian home automation professionals. Despite their efforts to keep me as an employee, I returned to Texas. The entrepreneurial spirit I had experienced in the US, seemed much less prevalent in Canada.

The same realization hit 10 years later while living in Thailand. The Thai-US treaty of Amity eased things for Americans, but the barriers are still much higher than in the US. It's good for Thailand to prioritize its own people and ways of doing business. However, it became clear that the venture I was pursuing would be far more viable in the US.

Alex Karp summarized some of what I experienced in a recent interview with Bill Maher. The US is far from perfect, but as Alex puts it, "No one in this country cares how crazy you are if you deliver." That environment is a large part of why America created so much technology and wealth over the last 80 years.

 

Real Hope

Yes, the US is far from perfect. And while it's good to want to make things better, we have to learn to distinguish truth from rhetoric, and try to view situations from multiple angles.

While living in Thailand, a copy of "Killing Hope" was left on the bookshelf of a house we had rented. After reading it I became saddened and angry, wondering why we spent so much time, energy and money trying to undermine people who just wanted a better life for themselves. What I didn't understand at the time was the even greater destruction that those forces could have unleashed on the world. Hate and anger cloud judgement, and violent revolutionary movements tend to destroy the people they claim to liberate.

Thailand's own history, under King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), shows the value of resisting such threats. Thailand not only survived multiple communist insurgencies, but became a major manufacturing hub, and is one of the most stable and technologically advanced economies in Southeast Asia. 

I visited Laos while living in Thailand. I spent two weeks in mainland China, lived in Taiwan, and visited Hong Kong several times. The same people and cultures, on different paths for generations. I will leave the comparisons for anyone who makes the trip themselves, but will only note which direction people have moved, when they have the choice. And the fact that I have a choice, is definitely something to be grateful for.

Moving Forward

After years focused on writing and metaphysical exploration, I am transitioning back into technology. The same first principles thinking that informed my earlier work in automation and lighting is now being applied to a new venture.

Both entrepreneurial freedom and the current emphasis on re-shoring advanced manufacturing, make it possible for people to bring amazing things into the world. And for the opportunity to spend the next chapter of my life making light, I am very grateful.