What the heck is SWIFT • 2 min of peace • Reason for action

Something you've been wondering about, a peaceful experience, and a call to action.

Thing 1: What the heck is SWIFT?

You've seen it everywhere this week.

You: What is SWIFT?

Google: Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication

You: Thanks for nothing.

Google: You're welcome.

So what the heck is it and what's the big deal?

It's a way banks from different countries handle cross-border payments. A key part of the global financial system's plumbing.

It doesn't transfer or hold any funds, so why is it this important?

Let's pretend you're one of the cool kids. (no need to pretend, Z).

You have a group chat where everything important happens.

One day, you have a meltdown and other cool kids decide they don't want to deal with you. They kick you out of the group chat.

You no longer have access to any of the chats you've had with your friends, business partners, clients... All the notes, files and images you shared and they shared with you - gone.

This happens with a country's foreign funds and the ability to transact with others, when they are cut off from SWIFT.

(source 1, source 2, source 3)

Thing 2: The most peaceful video you'll see this week

It's been a crazy week. You could use 2 minutes of peace.

I got you.

Put some headphones in and take a 2 minute mental health break.

Thing 3: Thoughts and actions

Our nervous system leaves no fossil record of our thoughts, feelings or ideas, except those which are transformed into actions.

- Andrew Huberman

All your thoughts, feelings and ideas are just temporary flickers of electricity. The only way to make them into something worthwhile is to create something based on them.

You're not punished for your thoughts, but you're not rewarded for them, either.

Time to transfer my thoughts into actions and pause this killer deep house remix and get some rest. Another week awaits.

Cheers, Zvonimir