Explaining stuff to a 5-year-old
I've started this blog as a way to explain things in a simple way, kind of like talking to a 5-year-old. My best friend had a terrible brain injury a few years ago, and I want to help her understand and process things more easily.
Syria's Backpack is OFF! Yay!
Okay, imagine Syria is like a little kid who really, really wants to play, but they have a big, heavy backpack filled with rocks. These rocks make it super hard for them to run and play with their friends, or even get yummy snacks. The backpack is called "sanctions," and it means other grown-ups wouldn't let Syria buy fun toys or important things, or even sell its own cool drawings to make money. It made Syria feel sad and lonely, and it was hard for them to fix their broken toys or build new LEGO castles. But guess what?! President Trump, who is like a very strong grown-up, just said, "WHOOSH!" and took that heavy backpack off Syria! Now Syria can run and jump and play again! It's like now, Syria can get new crayons, build bigger and better LEGO castles, and even get yummy ice cream! Their friends can come over and play too, and help them fix their toys. It's still going to take a little time for Syria to get super strong and happy again, like when you're a little sick and then you get all better. But taking off that heavy backpack is like giving Syria a really, really big hug and saying, "You can play now! We're here to help!" And that makes everyone who loves Syria feel super, super happy, like getting a giant bouncy castle for your birthday! Yay!
Strong Pound Power! (More treats from other places!)
Imagine the money in your piggy bank, that's the British pound (£). Sometimes, one British pound can buy more things from other countries than it could before. That's like your £1 coin suddenly being able to buy two stickers instead of just one at the shop! When this happens, we say the pound is strong. Now, why is this a good thing? Shopping from other countries becomes cheaper! Imagine your mum or dad wants to buy a toy car made in Japan. If the pound is strong, they won't have to spend as many pounds to get that same toy car. It's like the Japanese shop is having a sale just for people with British pounds! This means we can buy more fun things, or even important things like food and clothes, from other countries without spending too much money. Holidays to other countries become more affordable! If your family wants to go on holiday to Disneyland in America, and the pound is strong, then your pounds will go further there. Things like ice cream, souvenirs, and even the tickets might not cost as many pounds as they used to. This means you might get to do more fun things on your holiday! Things made in the UK might stay at a good price. Sometimes, things made in the UK use parts from other countries. If the pound is strong, these parts become cheaper, which can help keep the price of things made here in the UK from going up too much. So, a strong pound is like having a superpower for your money when it comes to buying things from other countries or going on holiday! It means your pounds can buy more, which can be good for families and for the country. However, it's a little bit like a seesaw. While a strong pound is good for buying things from other countries, it can sometimes make it a bit harder for companies in the UK to sell their own toys or other things to people in other countries, because our things might look more expensive to them. But overall, for buying things from abroad and going on holidays, a strong pound can be a good thing!
Big Countries Arguing About Stuff
Imagine you and your friend both have toy factories. You make toy cars, and your friend makes toy airplanes. Sometimes, you like to trade! You give your friend some of your toy cars, and they give you some of their toy airplanes. This way, you both get to play with different toys! This is like countries trading things they make with each other. The United States makes lots of things, and other countries like China also make lots of things. They often trade with each other. Now, sometimes, countries disagree about trading. Imagine your friend suddenly says, "Your toy cars are not as good as my airplanes, so you have to give me two cars for every one airplane!" That wouldn't be very fair, would it? A trade war is a bit like that. It happens when one country thinks another country is not trading fairly. So, the first country might say, "Okay, if you're going to be like that, then we will charge extra money for all the toy airplanes we buy from you!" This extra money is called a tariff, and it makes the airplanes more expensive. Then, the other country might get upset and say, "Well, we will also charge extra money for all the toy cars we buy from you!" So, both countries start making things more expensive for each other. This can make it harder for people in both countries to buy the things they want. For example, if toy airplanes become very expensive in your country, kids might not be able to buy them anymore. And if toy cars become very expensive in your friend's country, then kids there might miss out on playing with cars. Right now, the United States and some other countries are in a kind of trade war. They are charging extra money for some of the things they buy from each other. They are hoping that this will make the other country change their trading rules so that everyone thinks it's more fair. It's like a big argument between countries about sharing their toys nicely! Hopefully, they will find a way to be friends and trade fairly again soon so that everyone can get the things they need and want without being too expensive.
Let Me Tell You About Llama 2! 🦙
Hey there! Imagine you have a super-smart friend who loves to help you with all sorts of things - that's kind of like Llama 2! It's a special computer friend made by the same people who made Facebook (they're called Meta now). What Makes Llama 2 Special?I t's Like a Super-Smart HelperIt can understand when you talk to itIt can help you write stories and answer questionsIt's really good at being friendly and safe It's Free to Share Unlike some other AI friends that are kept secret, Llama 2 is free for everyone to use and shareThis means lots of people can work together to make it even better! It Comes in Different Sizes Think of it like t-shirt sizes - from small to extra large (7B to 70B)The bigger ones are better at harder tasks It's Very Careful and SafeIt's trained to be friendly and non-toxic It tries to give helpful answers that are safe for everyone Think of Llama 2 as a really smart digital friend who's always ready to help you learn, write, and create things! 🌟
Neolithic Revolution
The Neolithic Revolution was a big change that happened in how people lived a long time ago. Before the Neolithic Revolution, people were nomads, which means they traveled around a lot to find food. They would hunt animals and gather plants that grew wild.But during the Neolithic Revolution, people started to settle down in one place. They learned how to plant and grow their own food, instead of just gathering wild plants. They also started to keep animals, instead of just hunting wild ones. This is called agriculture, or farming.The Neolithic Revolution happened at different times in different places, but it started around 7000-1700 BCE. It was a big change because it meant that people could stay in one place for a long time, instead of always moving around. This led to the development of settled communities, and eventually of cities and states.So, the Neolithic Revolution was a very important event in human history. It's when people first started farming and keeping animals, and when they first began to live in settled communities.
Intuition
So, you know how sometimes you just know things without having to think about them? Like, you know that your favorite toy is probably in the toy box, or that ice cream tastes good. You didn't have to sit there and think, "Hmmm, where could my toy be? Maybe the toy box..." No, you just knew to look in the toy box. And you didn't have to try ice cream and then think, "Hmmm, is ice cream yummy or not yummy?" No, you just knew it was yummy as soon as you tasted it. That's kind of like your intuition working. It's like a special kind of knowing that you don't have to think about. And it can help you figure out all sorts of things, like where you might have left something, or what might happen if you do something. It's like having a little voice inside your head that gives you clues and helps you make good choices.
Glymphatic System
You know how sometimes you get all dirty and sweaty when you play outside? And then you take a bath to get all clean again? Well, your brain has its own special way of getting clean too. It's called the glymphatic system. Imagine your brain is like a toy room that gets messy with toys all over the floor. The glymphatic system is like a magic broom that comes out when you're sleeping, and it helps sweep away all the yucky stuff that builds up in your brain when you're awake and playing. Just like how you need to take a bath and go to bed to feel fresh and ready for tomorrow, your brain needs the glymphatic system to work properly when you're sleeping so you can think clearly and have lots of energy to play the next day. ```
Blockchain
Alright, let's think of blockchain like a magical notebook. Imagine you and your friends have a magical notebook where you write down everything you do when playing games together, like who wins, who loses, or who gets how many points. This notebook is special because once you write something in it, you can't erase or change it. Everyone has a copy of this notebook, so if someone tries to cheat by changing the score in their notebook, everyone else will know, because their notebooks will still have the original score. Blockchain is like that magical notebook for grown-ups. It's a way to keep track of things, like money or important information, that's safe and can't be changed without everyone knowing. This helps people trust that everything written in the "notebook" is true!
European debt crisis
Alright! Imagine a big box of toys that a group of friends share. Each friend promises to bring a toy every week so everyone can play. But one day, a few friends forget to bring their toys and keep borrowing from others. Soon, there aren't enough toys for everyone to play and some friends get upset because they feel it's not fair. The European debt crisis is a bit like that. Some countries in Europe borrowed too much money and couldn't pay it back. This made it difficult for everyone in Europe to share money and work together happily. So, they had to find ways to help each other out and make sure everyone brings their "toys" back in the future.
Dopamine
Imagine you have a little helper in your brain called Dopamine. This helper's job is to make you feel happy and excited when you do something fun, like eating your favorite ice cream or playing your favorite game. When you do something you like, Dopamine gives you a tiny high-five, making you feel good and want to do it again. It's like your brain's way of saying, "Hey, this is fun! Let's do more of this!" So, Dopamine helps you enjoy things and motivates you to do things that make you happy.
Scarcity
Alright! Imagine you have a big box of crayons, but there's only one red crayon inside. Everyone wants to use the red crayon because it's great for drawing apples and hearts. But since there's only one, not everyone can use it at the same time. That's what we call "scarcity." It means there isn't enough of something for everyone who wants it.
Crypto
Imagine you have a special kind of money that lives inside a computer. This money is called "crypto," and it's like magic coins that you can't touch but can use to buy things or save for later. There are different kinds of these magic coins, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. Sometimes, grown-ups like to choose which magic coins to keep because they think one might be the best to help them have lots of money in the future. It's like picking your favorite toy to play with because you think it's the most fun. So, they decide which magic coin they want to save, hoping it will help them a lot later on.
Hooks
Okay, let's think about storytime. Imagine you're listening to a bedtime story, and there's a part in the story that makes you go, "Wow! What happens next?" That exciting part that grabs your attention is like a "hook."In marketing, when someone is telling a story about a product or a brand, they use "hooks" to get people really interested, just like that exciting part of a story. These hooks make people want to listen more, learn more, or even buy something because they're so interested in what's going to happen next. It's a way to make the story super exciting and fun! The hook sets the stage for everything else and can make all the difference in getting people interested and excited!
Scaling
Imagine you're using your money to get more kids to come and play with your toys. You have three main goals, or "buckets," for how you want to spend your money: Prospecting: This is like trying to find brand-new kids who have never seen your toys before. You want a big part of your money (about 75%) to go here because finding new kids is how you grow and have more fun playtimes. Remarketing: This is like reminding kids who have seen your toys before to come back and play again. If you spend too much money here, you won't find many new kids, and things will stay the same. Acquisition: This is like making sure the kids who come to play really like your toys and want to play more often.In the first phase, you need to figure out how much money you're putting into finding new kids (prospecting). If most of your money is going to reminding kids to come back (remarketing), you won't find many new friends, and you won't be able to grow and have more fun. So, to get bigger and better (scale), you need to make sure you're spending enough money on finding new kids and not just reminding the same kids to come back. This way, you can have more friends and more fun!
Meta & Google working to closely
Imagine you have two friends helping you sell lemonade: Meta and Google. Meta was trying to sell to kids who didn't like lemonade, so you decided to let Google try instead. Google is now going to find new kids who have never tasted your lemonade before; this is called going after "cold traffic." Now, if Meta was having a hard time selling lemonade one week, it doesn't mean Google should also have a hard time. They are two different friends with their own ways of finding new kids to try your lemonade. If they both struggle at the same time, it might be because they were trying the same thing or talking to the same kids too closely, rather than finding different kids. So, it's important for both Meta and Google to have their own plans and not just copy each other, so they can each find new kids who will love your lemonade!
Paying to much for first time Customers
Paying to much for first time Customers Imagine you have a lemonade stand, and you're trying to get new kids to come and buy your lemonade. If you keep trying to get the same kids who don't like lemonade, it's like you're using up all your lemons and sugar without selling much. Because of that, you'll need more lemons and sugar to make more lemonade for new kids. But now, getting those new kids to come and try your lemonade will cost you more time and effort. It's like needing to work harder to find kids who really like lemonade because you spent too much time with the kids who didn't. So, if you keep focusing on the wrong kids, it makes it harder and more expensive to find new kids who will actually enjoy your lemonade and buy it.
Poor Audiences
Meta is you, and you're trying to show your toy cars to other kids who might want to play with them. But instead of showing them to kids who like toy cars, you're showing them to kids who prefer dolls. So, not many kids are interested, and you're using a lot of energy for nothing. That's what it means when Meta "wasn't going after a good audience." Now, Google Ads is like another kid trying to help you. They have 12 different ways to show your toy cars to other kids. But if they keep showing them to the same kids who don't really like toy cars, it's like trying to get the kids who like dolls to play with your toy cars again and again. So, Meta spent too much showing the toys to the wrong kids, and now Google is going to spend too much doing the same thing, showing the toys to the kids who aren't that interested.
Change your budgeting
The Pareto Rule, or the 80/20 Rule, is like noticing that a small number of your toys (20%) are the ones that lots of kids love and buy the most, making most of your money (80%). Here's how you can use this idea to help your toy shop grow: 1. **Focus on the Popular Toys**: Spend more money advertising the top 20% of your toys because these are the ones that bring in the most kids and make the most money. This is where you should put a big part of your advertising budget. 2. **Spend Less on Other Toys**: The other 80% of your toys aren't as popular, so you spend less money advertising them. You still show them to kids, but not as much as the popular toys. 3. **Prospecting with Top Products**: Use your best toys to find new kids who will love them. By spending a lot of your budget on finding new fans for these popular toys, you help your shop grow because these toys are what kids want the most. By following this strategy, you're using what's already working well for your shop to keep growing and getting more kids excited about your toys!
New Google Strategy
Imagine you have a toy shop, and you want more kids to buy your toys. Here's a smart plan to do that: Switch How You Advertise: Instead of using a big fancy way that tries to do everything (like Performance Max), use a simpler way that focuses on showing your toys to kids who are looking for them (like Standard Shopping Campaigns). This helps you focus on what works best. Spend More on What's Important: Use your money to show off the toys that everyone loves the most. These are your top-selling toys, the ones kids always want. By spending more money advertising these toys, you'll get more kids excited and wanting to buy them. Focus on What Made You Popular: Think about the toys that helped your shop become popular in the first place. Spend your money promoting these toys, not the smaller accessories or add-ons that don't sell as well.This strategy is like putting your best foot forward. By showing off the toys everyone already loves, you'll get more kids interested, and your toy shop will do even better!
Meta Overspending
Imagine you have a big box of toy cars. The "topline metrics" are like counting all the toy cars you have. Now, when you talk about "spend differences," it's like saying how many toy cars you gave away or traded with friends. "Revenue differences" is about how many new cars you got from your friends in return. "Returning customer differences" is like noticing how many times your best friend comes back to play with your toy cars. So, if you notice that even when you gave away 40 out of 100 toy cars, you still have enough to play with and your games are just as fun, it means you had more toy cars than you really needed. Just like Meta, if they spent less money and your business was still doing well, it means they were spending too much before.