A Stupefying Period In History

Similar to the Greatest and Silent Generations, who were born before 1945, we are living in unprecedented times. Luckily, this particular Universal Year cycle happens every 81 years, so most of us only have to navigate times like these once in our lifetime. More importantly, humanity is shifting from self-centered interests (19) to collective interests (20). The shift to a more collective interest has been happening subtly since 2005.

The emergence of Airbnb, Wikipedia, and the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe was notable. From 2005 to 2009, Myspace was the world's largest social networking site. Then there are the global social networks Facebook and Twitter, which have connected the world.

The secret to success in 2026 is originality! Offering original services and products that have never been seen before.

Pay attention to the technology changes big businesses are implementing from August 2025 to April 2026. 

• Customers will become their own cashiers, as the new Sam's Club Scan and Go feature, available within the store's mobile app, will replace traditional checkouts.

• Amazon's plans for "Prime Air" delivery drones, which would deliver packages directly to customers' doors within 30 minutes, have launched in selected cities.

The world is at a turning point that will last for another 75 years, and within this period, autocratic leadership will eventually give way to more egalitarian leaders worldwide.

We're sure you've noticed that the world around us is becoming increasingly louder, and chaos and uncertainty are creating confusion and disarray. Although 2025 and 2026 are the most extreme years of this new nine-year cycle that is upon us, this isn't a short or easy shift. Over the next seven years, we will need to rely on our instincts and seek guidance from those around us to get through this bewildering landscape. It feels like a game of wait-and-see, where outcomes remain unclear and muddled. 

Yet, as October approaches, a brief reconstruction will begin, hinting at the potential for what should and can be radically changed, or what must be completely overhauled. Nonetheless, the path ahead remains turbulent, with lingering concerns that may rattle our individual and collective stability until September 2026.

Some promising new startups, technological innovations and regulations may flounder, struggling as they try to take flight or take longer than expected to find their footing and become established. At the same time, many well-established companies and institutions must adapt and evolve to survive in this new era.

The challenges are enormous, but with determination and strategic action, success can be within reach. In the meantime, many states, cities, countries, and corporations will find themselves suddenly in the media spotlight for something that is unreasonably or absurdly extreme, or for having incurred enormous net losses. 

We've listed only a few possibilities below.