Why Everything Feels Unprecedented and What It Means for Your Money
It feels like every week, there’s a new headline claiming something “unprecedented.” Unprecedented inflation. Unprecedented political tension. Unprecedented strikes, protests, or scandals. The word has become so common that it’s almost lost its meaning but what it really shows is how unstable things have become across politics, economics, and culture.
The use of the word “unprecedented” has quadrupled in the last two decades. In fact, Oxford named it their word of the year in 2022. And it’s not hard to see why. Just look around: world leaders stepping down in France, Japan, and Lithuania; major protests erupting across Europe and the Americas; and billionaires like Elon Musk and Larry Ellison holding more wealth than all billionaires combined in the year 2000. The world feels tilted and people are trying to find their footing.
We’re Living Through a Time of Constant Upgrades and Constant Anxiety
Let me put it this way: we’ve had 80 years of nearly uninterrupted economic growth. That’s longer than any civilization in modern history has experienced. Wages grew, technology exploded, and living standards soared. But now, the system that built that prosperity is showing cracks.
The global labor market has turned into a pressure cooker. Everything is competitive — from college admissions to housing, jobs, and investments. Meanwhile, the cost of new technology keeps rising, but its real benefit to society is questionable. And as older leaders continue making decisions that primarily serve their generation, younger workers are left paying the bill.
That tension between what we’ve gained and what we might lose is fueling the sense that everything is “unprecedented.”
What Video Games Can Teach Us About the Economy
Strangely enough, the video game industry might be the best metaphor for our current economy. The industry now makes three times more money than film and music combined. It’s massive. But for players, it’s not necessarily more fun.
Competitive gaming has become so extreme that most players get crushed before they can even enjoy it. Sound familiar? Just like in real life, a small group of top performers dominate the system. A 2006 study found that only 2% of players ruin the experience for everyone else and the same could be said about financial markets or politics. A few players at the top shape the rules for everyone below.
To cope, people start cheating or paying for shortcuts think microtransactions in games, or credit-fueled lifestyles in real life. Instead of enjoying the process, people spend money just to keep up appearances. That’s not entertainment that’s exhaustion.
We’re Richer Than Ever But Feel Poorer Than Ever
It’s wild to realize that global poverty is at historic lows, and yet dissatisfaction is at record highs. Living standards have gone up almost everywhere, but people feel more trapped, more anxious, and more hopeless than in decades past. Why?
Because when everyone’s doing better on paper, the comparison game gets worse in reality. The internet and social media pour gasoline on this fire. Every day you’re bombarded with curated success someone’s vacation, someone’s new car, someone’s crypto win. It’s a never-ending highlight reel that makes your progress feel insignificant.
The irony is that the media system built to connect us is actually designed to divide us. The old saying “if it bleeds, it leads” has turned into “if it triggers, it trends.” Algorithms feed us outrage because outrage keeps us scrolling and scrolling keeps us consuming.
How to Build Stability When the World Feels Unstable
Here’s the thing: none of this means you’re powerless. It just means you need to approach your finances and your mindset differently than past generations did.
When uncertainty is the new normal, you can’t afford to coast. That’s why I tell people to focus on three key things:
- Own assets that produce cash flow, not just assets that depend on hype or appreciation.
- Stay liquid, so you can take advantage of opportunities when others panic.
- Limit exposure to fear-based media, because it manipulates your financial emotions more than you realize.
History moves in cycles, and this “unprecedented” cycle will pass too. The people who come out stronger will be the ones who stopped chasing perfection and started mastering discipline.
Unprecedented times aren’t a reason to panic. They’re a reminder that old systems break before new ones emerge. The question is whether you’ll be a spectator or an investor when the next chapter begins.
All writings are for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not provide investment or financial advice of any kind.
