the movement
Our history and challenges
with innovation
with innovation
Hello everyone,
There's a quote I've heard multiple times regarding people who dive into something new:
There's a quote I've heard multiple times regarding people who dive into something new:
"You can recognize a pioneer by the arrows in his back."
- Beverly Rubik, Ph.D.
Scientist, educator, author
- Beverly Rubik, Ph.D.
Scientist, educator, author
This quote is about the people who tear down all of the obstacles for others to follow:
They're like the Amazon guides in the Brazilian rainforest hacking through the brush so others have a path to follow. Their job is sometimes hard. They are forced to go into situations where few have been before and just having to figure it out on the fly. They have few reference points to go from and have to think on their feet.
They're like the Amazon guides in the Brazilian rainforest hacking through the brush so others have a path to follow. Their job is sometimes hard. They are forced to go into situations where few have been before and just having to figure it out on the fly. They have few reference points to go from and have to think on their feet.
The Movement project has been like a long journey into a rainforest
Attempting to create something this ambitious -- with a commitment to never accept capital from investors so that the platform could belong to and be controlled by the platform's users -- has meant that we've needed to be resourceful.
We needed to invent solutions every time an obstacle appeared that didn't seem to have an immediate solution.
We needed to invent solutions every time an obstacle appeared that didn't seem to have an immediate solution.
The pioneers get the arrows
Often, the arrows come from people that don't understand a new invention because, of course, they haven't seen it before. If they had seen it, well, it wouldn't be a new invention, would it?
The arrows often come in the form criticism.
Sometimes an insult, a damnation, calling the invention a hoax, a trick, illegitimate.
Indeed, criticism is what comes to some people's minds when they don't understand something and need a quick way to post something on the web that helps them communicate:
The arrows often come in the form criticism.
Sometimes an insult, a damnation, calling the invention a hoax, a trick, illegitimate.
Indeed, criticism is what comes to some people's minds when they don't understand something and need a quick way to post something on the web that helps them communicate:
"This makes me mad because I don't understand it"
"I don't even think it's a real thing because I've never seen or heard of this before"
"I don't trust their intentions. This must not be legit"
Mobile apps
Instead of employing many application developers, the Movement invented the idea of enabling and asking others to build apps for the Movement platform.
Almost immediately, a number of application developers called the idea impossible. "Why would I want to write code for someone else's social network?"
Today, no one questions the benefit of apps – to a platform – to developers -- or to consumers.
What was once called a scam by (quite literally) hundreds of people -- sending such comments to the Movement or posting them all over the web -- is now used by virtually every social media platform in existence.
The idea happily lives on as the Movement's U.S. patent number 20090063178 A1
Almost immediately, a number of application developers called the idea impossible. "Why would I want to write code for someone else's social network?"
Today, no one questions the benefit of apps – to a platform – to developers -- or to consumers.
What was once called a scam by (quite literally) hundreds of people -- sending such comments to the Movement or posting them all over the web -- is now used by virtually every social media platform in existence.
The idea happily lives on as the Movement's U.S. patent number 20090063178 A1
Question:
Can you even imagine your mobile phone without apps?
Can you even imagine your mobile phone without apps?
The address book import
With not having a marketing budget, a Movement community member had the idea that the company should develop the ability for users to sign into their web-based address books (such as on Hotmail, Yahoo mail etc.) and invite their friends with just a few clicks.
The idea was for users to simply provide their email login and password and the Movement platform would show them their address book. With just one click, users could send an invitation to some or all of their contacts.
At first, about 1 percent of people that successfully provided their login and password to import their contacts hit the "send" button without paying attention or quite understanding what they were doing.
Afterwards, some of that small percentage suggested that the Movement must have hacked into Hotmail or Yahoo's email systems to access their address book contacts, which of course did not happen.
Today, every web portal of any significance in the world uses this technology to allow their users to import and invite friends.
Indeed, this approach was THE way that Facebook grew to what it is today. Just try registering for a new Facebook account and -- on the very next page -- Facebook will ask you for your email login and password to invite your friends from your web-based address book.
But back then, when the Movement was first to do this, you might think that the Movement was the devil, based on what a very vocal group of people – who had never thought of or seen such functionality – were posting all over the web.
On a related note: Aside from some people being upset by the innovation, a much larger number of people actually loved the invention. As a result, the Movement broke the world record for fastest product customer ramp in history – shattering the earlier records set by Hotmail and Napster as reported by USA Today, CNBC and Fast Company.
The idea was for users to simply provide their email login and password and the Movement platform would show them their address book. With just one click, users could send an invitation to some or all of their contacts.
At first, about 1 percent of people that successfully provided their login and password to import their contacts hit the "send" button without paying attention or quite understanding what they were doing.
Afterwards, some of that small percentage suggested that the Movement must have hacked into Hotmail or Yahoo's email systems to access their address book contacts, which of course did not happen.
Today, every web portal of any significance in the world uses this technology to allow their users to import and invite friends.
Indeed, this approach was THE way that Facebook grew to what it is today. Just try registering for a new Facebook account and -- on the very next page -- Facebook will ask you for your email login and password to invite your friends from your web-based address book.
But back then, when the Movement was first to do this, you might think that the Movement was the devil, based on what a very vocal group of people – who had never thought of or seen such functionality – were posting all over the web.
On a related note: Aside from some people being upset by the innovation, a much larger number of people actually loved the invention. As a result, the Movement broke the world record for fastest product customer ramp in history – shattering the earlier records set by Hotmail and Napster as reported by USA Today, CNBC and Fast Company.
Mobile billing
Once upon a time, most web users didn't have credit cards or any other way to pay for things electronically.
Without offering users the ability to pay for things electronically, the Movement wouldn't be able to build an economy. And of course, at its core, an economy is what the Movement is.
Among many other ideas, the community had the idea of allowing users to use their mobile phone numbers as if they were credit cards.
Doing that would require permission and integration with mobile phone companies around the world, an incredibly difficult challenge for any company.
The Movement tried for many years to convince mobile phone companies around the world to allow it to plug into their billing systems and – finally, after many years – it started to have success. Watch video clip on this topic
Among many other ideas, the community had the idea of allowing users to use their mobile phone numbers as if they were credit cards.
Doing that would require permission and integration with mobile phone companies around the world, an incredibly difficult challenge for any company.
The Movement tried for many years to convince mobile phone companies around the world to allow it to plug into their billing systems and – finally, after many years – it started to have success. Watch video clip on this topic
Just like the "address book import" invention, here too some users (about 1 percent of those who tried it) couldn't believe their eyes when charges (for services they signed up for) actually ended on their mobile phone bills.
Today, mobile billing is commonplace and everyone's seen it.
It generates billions of dollars for hundreds of tech companies such as Apple and Google, all social networking companies and all mobile phone companies around the world. It's a convenient way for consumers to pay for apps on their phones, as well as conduct transactions within apps.
The Movement's mobile billing innovation is honored by the industry as the Movement's U.S. patent number 20080233918 A1
It generates billions of dollars for hundreds of tech companies such as Apple and Google, all social networking companies and all mobile phone companies around the world. It's a convenient way for consumers to pay for apps on their phones, as well as conduct transactions within apps.
The Movement's mobile billing innovation is honored by the industry as the Movement's U.S. patent number 20080233918 A1
Did you know?
Back then, the governments of almost every country on the planet reached out to the Movement for guidance on how to regulate the new mobile data space, prompting the Movement to author the "Mobile user bill of rights," which was eventually adopted by virtually all regulatory agencies in the world.
Back then, the governments of almost every country on the planet reached out to the Movement for guidance on how to regulate the new mobile data space, prompting the Movement to author the "Mobile user bill of rights," which was eventually adopted by virtually all regulatory agencies in the world.
Virtual currency
The Movement needed a new form of money – an electronic form of money – so that people could more easily exchange things of value.
The invention? Virtual currency.
Today, the world is abuzz with excitement about cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
But just a few years ago, Bitcoin was being called a scam by lots of people – even by the CEO of Chase Bank:
The invention? Virtual currency.
Today, the world is abuzz with excitement about cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
But just a few years ago, Bitcoin was being called a scam by lots of people – even by the CEO of Chase Bank:
«Bitcoin is a fraud »
Only a few weeks later he took his words back – even committing to spending millions to embrace Bitcoin.
Bitcoin is simply virtual currency – another invention of the Movement. Says who? Says the United States Patent and Trademark Office: the Movement's U.S. patent number 008036685 A3
Bitcoin is simply virtual currency – another invention of the Movement. Says who? Says the United States Patent and Trademark Office: the Movement's U.S. patent number 008036685 A3
"Use Advertising NOW, pay LATER"
How do most large web portals (such as Google and Facebook) generate most of their revenues? By opening up their website's economic opportunities to large corporations. That is, by selling advertising.
That means that, fundamentally, those companies are in the business of unlocking economic opportunity to corporations.
With almost the exact opposite approach, the Movement was created to unlock economic opportunity for ordinary people, not corporations.
To stay true to that mission, the Movement has never allowed corporations to purchase advertising in the Movement – ensuring that the entire ad inventory is exclusively available for consumers to utilize.
But unlike corporations, most consumers don't have large budgets to spend on advertising. So, what can the Movement do to help them?
The Movement has been testing a way for consumers to use advertising now but pay for those ads later – after they've had a chance to earn revenues using those ads.
How has the testing of this product proceeded, thus far?
At first, everyone loves the product! As they see their earnings grow, before paying for ads, well, it's breathtaking.
Later, when the charges actually need to be paid, well, there seems to always be that 1 percent that become upset.
And so, once again, that 1% that cannot understand how they can get charged for something that they were allowed to use for free -- even after they agreed to "Use ads now and pay later" -- are concluding that the Movement must have been trying to steal from them.
The result?
After trying everything -- for nearly 3 years -- the Movement decided that it simply cannot help that 1% to either understand the "pay later" part, or choose to simply not use the product.
Therefore - as of late 2017 - this innovation has been shut down for ALL new citizens that are signing up. It's really very sad: 99% of new users suffer because of the 1%, but unfortunately this is the reality we must live with.
That means that, fundamentally, those companies are in the business of unlocking economic opportunity to corporations.
With almost the exact opposite approach, the Movement was created to unlock economic opportunity for ordinary people, not corporations.
To stay true to that mission, the Movement has never allowed corporations to purchase advertising in the Movement – ensuring that the entire ad inventory is exclusively available for consumers to utilize.
But unlike corporations, most consumers don't have large budgets to spend on advertising. So, what can the Movement do to help them?
The Movement has been testing a way for consumers to use advertising now but pay for those ads later – after they've had a chance to earn revenues using those ads.
How has the testing of this product proceeded, thus far?
At first, everyone loves the product! As they see their earnings grow, before paying for ads, well, it's breathtaking.
Later, when the charges actually need to be paid, well, there seems to always be that 1 percent that become upset.
And so, once again, that 1% that cannot understand how they can get charged for something that they were allowed to use for free -- even after they agreed to "Use ads now and pay later" -- are concluding that the Movement must have been trying to steal from them.
The result?
After trying everything -- for nearly 3 years -- the Movement decided that it simply cannot help that 1% to either understand the "pay later" part, or choose to simply not use the product.
Therefore - as of late 2017 - this innovation has been shut down for ALL new citizens that are signing up. It's really very sad: 99% of new users suffer because of the 1%, but unfortunately this is the reality we must live with.
How do we move forward?
Today, the Movement community of citizens, crowdsourced workers and employees are busy attempting to do what MANY people have said cannot be done: Completing the building and fusing together of a social network, a marketplace, cryptocurrency, an educational system, transportation system and political system.
Imagine if Facebook merged with eBay,
and then the combined company merged with Uber, and then a bank, and then a university -- and perhaps even a country (so that it could use their political system)
and then the combined company merged with Uber, and then a bank, and then a university -- and perhaps even a country (so that it could use their political system)
Now, imagine if the entirety of that combined company and product was owned and controlled by the platform's users, not rich investors – both the company and its currency: 100 percent owned by the people it serves.
That is precisely what the Movement is attempting to pull off today.
Wait a minute:
This community thinks it can build ALL of that without a penny in investor capital...
... saying No to generous offers from the world's most sought-after investors -- watch related video clip....
... when the companies the Movement is looking to displace have EACH accepted billions of dollars from investors to build their products?
Impossible right?
That is precisely what the Movement is attempting to pull off today.
Wait a minute:
This community thinks it can build ALL of that without a penny in investor capital...
... saying No to generous offers from the world's most sought-after investors -- watch related video clip....
... when the companies the Movement is looking to displace have EACH accepted billions of dollars from investors to build their products?
Impossible right?
The road ahead
How will it go? We're not quite sure.
But here's what we are confident about:
· We'll give it all we've got
· We will make mistakes. We'll likely fail a few times on the road to each "success"
· We will likely be called some bad names by a small number of people. Those will hurt
· We'll get up each time we're knocked down
· We won't stop trying until we succeed
Do you consider yourself a big thinker? An "early adopter"?
Are you able to sometimes believe in what you can't see right in front of you?
If you answered "no" to one or more of those questions, may we suggest that the Movement may not be for you – at least not right now, at this moment? If you come back in just a year or two -- after we've had a chance to iron out some issues – the Movement might be perfect for you.
And if you answered "yes" well, you just might find yourself right at home with the people that are currently engaged with this platform.
Can you imagine….
…personally playing a growing and important role in the creation of a world that has less injustice, more equality and a better future for humanity?
Together, if we can succeed in our mission to help billions of individuals – people that live on $2 or less per day – to live a better life, would it all have been worth it?
If you can picture that future, we think you'll agree that any level of effort, any number of arrows and short-term pain will have ultimately amounted to an acceptable price to pay.
With your help, we're now closer than ever to accomplishing that mission.
But here's what we are confident about:
· We'll give it all we've got
· We will make mistakes. We'll likely fail a few times on the road to each "success"
· We will likely be called some bad names by a small number of people. Those will hurt
· We'll get up each time we're knocked down
· We won't stop trying until we succeed
Do you consider yourself a big thinker? An "early adopter"?
Are you able to sometimes believe in what you can't see right in front of you?
If you answered "no" to one or more of those questions, may we suggest that the Movement may not be for you – at least not right now, at this moment? If you come back in just a year or two -- after we've had a chance to iron out some issues – the Movement might be perfect for you.
And if you answered "yes" well, you just might find yourself right at home with the people that are currently engaged with this platform.
Can you imagine….
…personally playing a growing and important role in the creation of a world that has less injustice, more equality and a better future for humanity?
Together, if we can succeed in our mission to help billions of individuals – people that live on $2 or less per day – to live a better life, would it all have been worth it?
If you can picture that future, we think you'll agree that any level of effort, any number of arrows and short-term pain will have ultimately amounted to an acceptable price to pay.
With your help, we're now closer than ever to accomplishing that mission.
Welcome to the jungle
The journey won't always be smooth.
In fact, it will most certainly be bumpy since we're not done roaming the roads less traveled – or the roads never traveled before.
You'll likely get a few arrows in your back. Those will hurt. Think you can handle it?
Perhaps it won't hurt as bad as it might seem like it will, because we now have a support system of literally thousands of people who, over time, little by little, have become accustomed to receiving those arrows.
In fact, it will most certainly be bumpy since we're not done roaming the roads less traveled – or the roads never traveled before.
You'll likely get a few arrows in your back. Those will hurt. Think you can handle it?
Perhaps it won't hurt as bad as it might seem like it will, because we now have a support system of literally thousands of people who, over time, little by little, have become accustomed to receiving those arrows.
So you won't be alone.
The community will be there for you, to help pull out the arrows from your back.
Want to learn more about The Movement's history? Watch the 3-PART video series below
Please note that parts 2 and 3 will play automatically after the previous part ends
Please note that parts 2 and 3 will play automatically after the previous part ends