About
“This too shall pass.”
—Persian proverb
To the sublime thinkers: Let’s explore the architecture of the future. Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter. Never miss an update.
What is Sublime Notes?
It’s a newsletter about how the past and present events are shaping our future. I focus on the quiet but fast-changing Big Five Trends: Finance, Demographics, Climate, Transport, and Energy, and how they influence human relationships and actions. Which in turn, influence our cultures, future risks, as well as future opportunities.
What will you read about?
The story arc guiding Sublime Notes starts with this question:
What will the world look like in 2040?
To answer that question, I spend an ungodly amount of time absorbing ideas from a kaleidoscope of sources. Published academics, books, friendly conversations, heated debates, contemporary literature, timeless writings, pop culture, fellow Substackers, the entire news spectrum.
Few sources are left unturned.
Blazing fast changes in technology, shifting cultural norms, a changing climate, and a global economic system that seems to be in the ICU. It’s hard to keep track of them all. But all these factors have enormous impact on our lives over the next 18 or so years.
So this is my attempt to digest, deduce, and understand.
Then plan. And then act.
Full disclosure: I am no clairvoyant—and don’t own a palantír.
So my default approach is to study the one thing that rarely changes: human nature. Human nature in 2022 hasn’t changed much since 1022. And in 3022, I presume human nature will still largely remain unchanged.
The underlying premise of Sublime Notes is therefore this—
Our systems and our world(s) are run by human beings: They have desires, needs, fears, and wants. They have strengths and weaknesses. They are creative but have stadium sized blind spots. And when you look closely, there is rationality in their irrationality. When we forget this, bad things tend to follow. When we understand this premise, prosperity and good times tend to follow.
This newsletter seeks to explore the Big Five Trends that are shaping the future while maintaining respect for the human actors influencing them.
I will be sharing the ideas that are at the forefront on my mind.
Is Sublime Notes for you?
If you have a curious mind, then yes.
I’d love to hear from you and engage with you—in spite of and because of our differences. Hit reply and we’ll get dialogue started.
You want sublime, reflective essays that explore how past and present events are inseparable from future.
I’m here to give you that—to the best of my ability.
Who am I?
I’m Kelvin—I’m currently tapping into my background in engineering and growing a five year old business in a field that I’m deeply fascinated with. I call Melbourne home and grew up an Arsenal fan in Nairobi. I consider myself a life long learner and enjoy thought provoking reads over a good strong cuppa.
Current projects:
Company: Building Makao, a sustainability and building science consultancy firm.
Ongoing: Sublime Notes, more to be announced soon
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who share your interests and curiosity.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
Many thanks,
KM
