Society, parents, children or the boss will define what responsibilities we should own. Some decisions we make dictate follow-on responsibilities; bills demand payment, children demand raising and cars demand maintenance. One aspect is the responsibility you have to contribute to the world, that which only you can deliver. This may very well be far beyond a job task or family responsibility. The days of narrowly defining people are over. The Internet has been built by people showing up to provide value and delivering what was once unthinkable. Many have thought that the golden age of the Internet is over, the boat has sailed, but they are wrong. I have been listening to The Inevitable, by Kevin Kelly, regarding "the deep trends in the next 20 years that will shape your life". As an aside, listening to an audio book about the future and the prevalence of driverless cars in the midst of a DC commute, does provide a ray of hope. Artificial intelligence is pervading our world and will free us from mundane jobs and give rise to humans providing value and bringing their interests and talents to bear in ways considered inconceivable today. Much in the same way, a farmer from 100 years ago would evaluate many of the jobs today. Your job of approving or denying an application form will be processed by an instance of artificial intelligence that knows all details of the client, what they can afford and what level of risk to the company they represent. You will have the responsibility to contribute and add value in ways that are truly human. You have a perspective on life to share and there is a world waiting. It is time to be responsible, leave the binge watching to others, cultivate your talents and pursue your curiosity; tomorrow needs them.

What responsibility are you ducking? Where do you need to embrace what is yours and step up? What frightens you about the next 50 years? What excites you about the next 50 years? How do you think your job will be done in 15 years? What can you set aside to pursue your curiosities and talents? What fears do you need to confront as you take responsibility?