A Few of Today's Reads (Thursday, July 3, 2025)

Is Austin Still the Tech Utopia It Promised to Be / The Art of Elite Communication

What's Happening Today: Thursday, Belarus Independence Day, Rwanda Independence and Liberation Day & India Kharchi Puja expected earnings from FingerMotion, Park Aerospace, Methode Electronics and Kalvista Pharma

---

• EXCLUSIVE - Is Austin Still the Tech Utopia It Promised to Be?: Austin’s tech scene, home to Tesla, Apple, Oracle, and xAI, employs over 160,000, with a low 3.5% unemployment rate. It’s a magnet for coders and data scientists, with AI roles projected to grow 15% by 2030. But AI is a double-edged sword. McKinsey estimates 5–10% of tech jobs—8,000 to 16,000 roles—could vanish by 2026 as tools like GitHub Copilot automate coding and chatbots like those from xAI handle customer service. (Ken Rutkowski)

• AI-Powered VTubers Earn Millions, Redefining YouTube Stardom: Bloo, an AI-driven VTuber, amasses 2.5 million subscribers, generating seven-figure revenue through gaming videos. As AI fuels a VTuber boom, concerns over "AI slop" and misinformation highlight the need for discerning content consumption. (CNBC)

• Cutting Methionine May Slow Aging, Fight Cancer: Reducing dietary methionine, an essential amino acid, could shield against cancer and aging, with Vilnius University scientists pioneering a method to track its effects. A 2013 study showed an 80% methionine cut in rodents extended lifespan, igniting curiosity about its role in human health. (NewAtlas)

• EXCLUSIVE - Conquer the Fear / Unleashing Your Entrepreneurial Fire: Fear is the silent assassin of ambition. It lurks in the shadows, whispering doubts that paralyze even the boldest dreamers. For first-time entrepreneurs, fear isn’t just a feeling—it’s a wall between you and your empire. But here’s the truth: fear can be conquered. With 90% of startups failing, yet those iterating on customer feedback being 3.6x more likely to succeed, the path to victory is clear—act, learn, and charge forward. (Command & Scale)

• Lucid Dreaming Unlocks Skill Practice in Sleep: Lucid dreamers can hone tasks during sleep, boosting waking performance, says neuroscientist Emma Peters. Yet, frequent lucid dreaming may disrupt sleep quality, highlighting a delicate balance between dream control and rest. (Popularmechanics)

• Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Deaf Toddlers, Teens: Gene therapy restored 62% of hearing in OTOF-related deaf patients within a month, with kids aged 5-8 showing the best results. This breakthrough, using a virus to deliver a functional gene, offers hope for curing genetic deafness. (The Conversation)

• EXCLUSIVE - The Art of Elite Communication / How Leaders Speak to Shape the World: In 2025, communication isn’t just a soft skill—it’s the currency of leadership. Data from LinkedIn’s 2024 Most In-Demand Skills report reveals communication as the top skill recruiters seek for the second consecutive year, with 57% of global employers prioritizing it above technical expertise. A 2025 Pumble report underscores this, noting that 64% of business leaders believe effective communication boosts team productivity, while 55% of recruiters rank verbal communication as the most critical skill for candidates. (Ken Rutkowski)

• ChatGPT Guides Risky DIY Cosmetic Procedures, Alarming Experts: Redditors are turning to ChatGPT for advice on self-administering facial fillers, despite a study showing AI chatbots give over 30% incorrect medical advice. This dangerous trend underscores the need for professional medical oversight to prevent harm from misguided at-home treatments. (futurism)

• Tech Billionaires Launch Erebor to Revive Startup Banking: Palmer Luckey and tech titans like Peter Thiel back Erebor, a crypto-focused bank aiming to fill Silicon Valley Bank’s 2023 void with stablecoin-backed services. Targeting startups in AI, crypto, and defense, it promises robust, regulated financing despite past stablecoin failures like TerraUSD’s $45 billion crash. (Tomshardware)

• Geologists Rediscover Lost Pontus Plate After 160 Million Years: Spanning 15 million square miles, the Pontus tectonic plate, lost to subduction, was pieced together from oceanic rocks across Japan to New Zealand. This breakthrough unveils a hidden chapter of Earth’s history, reshaping our grasp of ancient plate dynamics. (The Brighterside)

• App Overload Stifles Productivity in Digital Workplaces: Workers toggle 3,600 times daily across apps, losing five weeks yearly to context-switching, a Harvard study reveals. Experts urge smarter tool use—personalized strategies and AI integration could streamline workflows and curb app fatigue. (Emergingtechbrew)

• Apple Tests iPhone Fold Prototypes for 2026 Launch: Apple’s iPhone Fold, now in Prototype 1 testing since June, targets a 2026 launch with a crease-free 7.58-inch display. This sleek, titanium-bodied device promises to redefine foldables, sidestepping early rivals’ flaws. (9to5Mac)

• Hiking Surges Globally as Outdoor Passion Grows: Hiking captivates millions worldwide, with Japan leading at 63% of people hiking occasionally, per a Statista survey. From Brazil’s vibrant trails to Sweden’s serene paths, this aerobic escape into nature boosts well-being and fuels adventure. (Statista)

• States Reclaim Power as NGO Influence Wanes Globally: International NGO growth stalled at under 5% from 2010-2020, as governments curb their influence through restrictions and funding cuts. Once heralded as global change-makers, NGOs now face skepticism and repression, shifting power back to states and threatening liberal norms. (Foreign Affairs)

• Specialize Deeply to Land Your Dream Tech Job: SJob seekers should master one technology to stand out, says Rahul Pandey, as diluted resumes listing many skills often land in the “maybe” pile. Committing to a niche like Rust or Python can spark hiring managers’ enthusiasm and secure a tailored role. (IEEE)

• Financial Crime Drains $3.1 Trillion from Global Economy: Organized crime, led by fraud, siphons $1.96 trillion annually, fueling a $3.1 trillion financial crime epidemic, per Nasdaq’s 2024 report. This hidden scourge, spanning money laundering to human trafficking, demands urgent action to protect economies and communities worldwide. (Visualcapitalist)

• Screen Time Boosts Brain Health in Retirees: A surprising study reveals screen time may enhance cognitive health for older adults, potentially reducing dementia risk. Researchers found that regular device use among those over 50 correlates with sharper minds, offering a compelling reason to embrace tech in retirement. (Kiplinger)

• Algae Bioplastic Powers Self-Sustaining Mars Habitats: A new algae-based bioplastic fosters self-replicating habitats for Mars, thriving in the planet’s thin, CO2-rich atmosphere, says Harvard’s Robin Wordsworth. This sci-fi-inspired solution could slash costs and enable sustainable human colonies on barren worlds. (Cosmos)

• Milk Outshines Water for Superior Hydration, Study Finds: A University of St. Andrews study reveals milk hydrates better than water, thanks to its proteins, fats, and lactose. These nutrients, along with electrolytes, slow stomach emptying, keeping you hydrated longer and combating issues like constipation and dizziness. (Good Is)

• Startup Bioprints Dog Skin, Aims for Human Organs: Lithuanian startup Vital3D is crafting 3D-printed wound patches for dogs, targeting a $2.1B market by 2030, as a step toward revolutionary human organ transplants. CEO Vidmantas Šakalys envisions viable organs in a decade, tackling a crisis where only 10% of transplant patients receive organs annually. (The Hustle)

• Today's Photo, Image, or Video of the Day: It’s crazy. Tina Turner did this without a harness, in heels, and at the age of 70

• Notable Statistic: Age when they became billionaires

• YouTube Worth Watching: Making Disney's Newest Cruise Ship in a Two Centuries-Old Shipyard| Making the Wish

• Ken's Book Pick: No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention

• Ken's Website / Tool: TinyAdz is real ROI, no scams—ads that work. Google, Facebook, and the rest? Total garbage. They’re built for VC-funded startups burning cash, happy to lose $10 for every $5 they make. Screw that.

Billionaires Who Started as Small Business Owners and Time to Achieve Billionaire Status

This report analyzes the journeys of self-made billionaires from the top 50 of the Forbes 400 list as of September 2024. It highlights the small businesses they started, the companies they built into billion-dollar enterprises, and the time it took to achieve a net worth of $1 billion or more. Each billionaire's timeline is based on when they first started their small business and when they appeared on the Forbes 400 list with a net worth of at least $1 billion.

Key Findings

1. Earliest Starters:

   • The earliest small business ventures began in 1958, with Donald Bren founding the Bren Company and John Menard starting Menards.

   • These ventures took the longest to reach billionaire status, with 43 and 43 years respectively.

2. Shortest Time to Billionaire Status:

   • Jeff Bezos (Amazon) achieved billionaire status in the shortest time, taking 4 years from starting Amazon in 1994.

   • Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) followed closely, reaching this milestone in 5 years from 2004.

3. Longest Time to Billionaire Status:

   • Stephen Ross (Related) took 35 years from 1972 to 2007.

   • Eric Smidt (Harbor Freight) took 40 years from 1977 to 2017.

   • Donald Bren (Bren Company) and John Menard (Menards) each took 43 years from 1958 to 2001.

4. Common Industries:

   • Technology and e-commerce dominate, with examples like Amazon (Jeff Bezos), Google (Larry Page), and Facebook (Mark Zuckerberg).

   • Other sectors include retail (Target - George Dayton), finance (Citadel - Ken Griffin), and manufacturing (Broadcom - Henry Samueli).

5. Timeline Breakdown:

   • 1950s-1960s: Early starters like Donald Bren (1958) and Phil Knight (Nike, 1964) laid the foundation.

   • 1970s-1980s: Growth in tech and finance with Microsoft (Bill Gates, 1975) and Oracle (Larry Ellison, 1977).

   • 1990s-2000s: Boom in tech startups with Amazon (1994), Google (1998), and Facebook (2004).

   • 2010s-2020s: Continued success with SpaceX (Elon Musk, 2002) and Nvidia (Jensen Huang, 1993).

Detailed Timeline

• 1958: Donald Bren (Bren Company) - 43 years to $4.4B (2001); John Menard (Menards) - 43 years to $2.7B (2001).

• 1964: Phil Knight (Nike) - 32 years to $5.3B (1996).

• 1972: Stephen Ross (Related) - 35 years to $2.8B (2007).

• 1975: Bill Gates (Microsoft) - 12 years to $12.8B (1987).

• 1977: Larry Ellison (Oracle) - 16 years to $1.8B (1993).

• 1981: Michael Bloomberg (Bloomberg) - 15 years to $1.8B (1996).

• 1985: Jensen Huang (Nvidia) - 24 years to $2.7B (2017).

• 1991: Henry Samueli (Broadcom) - 9 years to $1.1B (2000).

• 1993: Larry Page (Google) - 6 years to $1.8B (2004).

• 1994: Jeff Bezos (Amazon) - 4 years to $1.6B (1998).

• 2002: Elon Musk (SpaceX) - 17 years to $2.1B (2012).

• 2004: Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) - 5 years to $1.5B (2009).

Conclusion

The data illustrates a wide range of timeframes, from as little as 4 years to as long as 43 years, to achieve billionaire status from a small business start. The tech sector stands out for rapid growth, while traditional industries like retail and manufacturing often require decades. This diversity underscores the varied paths to wealth creation through entrepreneurship.