Dear Innovator,

As long as I can remember, I have always believed in “anticipating the road ahead” as a smart career and business strategy. I learned from mentors to be prudent about change, and I have always been fascinated and driven by innovation, anyway.

In 2006, prior to Facebook launching, I remember how curious and eager I was to learn the changes online with viral videos, blogs, social communities and more as the world was innovating.

Well, it’s that time again. Anticipate the road ahead.

Last week I received an email from one of my topline colleagues who is a thought leader in the video and online marketing space. She was promoting this week’s 5-day Virtual Symposium – the Web 3.0 Future hosted by Ryan Levesque, another business thought leader. Have you seen the promos?

When she sends info about the latest changes online, I read and take note. I have been seeing bits and pieces of “Web 3.0” but not really understanding what exactly it is. Do you know what it is?

So, I read further in her email:

“If you do business online, you can’t afford to stand still and stick your head in the sand right now. We’re shifting from Big Tech to Data Privacy, from 3rd Party to Zero Party Data, from Algorithmic Choice to More Individual Choice, and from Spying to ASKING…

And with all of the changes, you might be wondering, “Where do I even get started? What do I need to be doing RIGHT NOW to prepare?”

I recommend being prudent about change that is coming sooner than you realize. I have no idea yet how this will affect you, me, us – but given the Metaverse is a real thing and is the next iteration of the Internet, we better take notice and educate ourselves as business owners.

In short, Web 3.0 is the next version of the World Wide Web based on blockchain technology, which incorporates concepts such as decentralization and token-based economics. In other words, cryptocurrency.

It’s all quite confusing, but so was the Internet back in 2006 when everything was moving online and social media became the new marketing and PR.

Venture capitalist firms traveled to Washington, D.C. in October 2021 to lobby for the idea as a potential solution to questions about regulation of the web, with which policymakers have been grappling.

Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, dismissed Web 3 as a “venture capitalists’ plaything”. Dorsey opined that Web3 will not democratize the internet, but it will shift power from players like Facebook to venture capital funds.

Hmmm, sounds complicated.

See for yourself. The web 3.0 summit started Monday, but you can still join and watch the replays. Here is a free invite to the virtual summit. I have enrolled to be able to attend at least a few of the 1x day webinars.

Let’s be educated so we can join in conversations and make good choices for our success.

To the road ahead, xo

Marla