Amid countless challanges awaiting solutions, how does one find a real issue to solve? Maybe it is about identifying the issue that has most significantly impacted one's life. This is easier said than done.
Our startup focuses on identity, but was identity the most impactful issue in my life? Interestingly, I possessed an Indian identity card, Aadhaar, at around 12 years old, and a passport even before that. So, I wasn't part of the global population struggling without formal government identification.
However, the real challenge was experiencing an identity crisis despite having an identity card. This might sound like a joke, but it's far from it.
In a world undergoing rapid change, our concept of identity remains old, tied to notions of nationality, gender, and ancestry. If this seems doubtful, consider taking a look at the information on your identity card: your name, father's name, gender, date of birth, and nationality. These might uniquely identify you, but do they encompass all that you are?
Historically, empires and kingdoms valued ancestry and discouraged cultural assimilation. Yet, in today's internet era, geographical and ancestral boundaries are increasingly irrelevant. Innovation and learning transcend these limits, suggesting a broader identity as citizens of Earth, facing global challenges collectively.
My upbringing influenced my potential until the internet introduced me to broader horizons. In one of his interviews Steve Jobs said, "Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you, and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use." Believe it or not, for a kid who grew up only understanding the things they couldn't do, this had an unimaginable impact on me. However, I won't lie; it took me a really long time to believe in this statement.
Now, I see the real issue as empowering everyone to recognize their limitless potential through a new understanding of identity.
This mindset assumes that those connected to the world would not dream of starting environmentally harmful ventures, such as another plastic manufacturing facility.
The next write up will include the details of what we are trying to achieve.