This is an op-ed by Mickey Koss, a West Point graduate with a degree in economics. He spent four years in the infantry before transferring to the Finance Corps.
It may sound counterintuitive, but in the last four years of my service in the US Army, I’ve primarily been a customer service specialist, whether it’s handling pay issues in the military payroll as a commander, or handling travel or budget issues as a controller in an operational unit.
Lately, I’ve found myself asking more questions of clients than they’ve been asking me. I’ve come to realize that many people don’t really understand the problems they face. Because of this conundrum, the questions they ask me when asking for help may not yield an answer that actually solves those problems. I’ve come to realize that a big part of my job has become uncovering actual problems, so that I can fix them at the root.
Herein lies the common thread I’ve found with “orange pilling” and teaching people about Bitcoin. Just like a soldier who approaches me, asking a completely nonsensical question, your friends and family may ask you weird questions, too — without really understanding the problems Bitcoin is trying to solve.
As stewards of the Bitcoin space and de facto ambassadors to our dating circles, I see the role of Bitcoiners as similar to that of a customer service professional. People don’t understand the monetary system, let alone the problems they face inside. (Insert a potentially overused analogy about asking a fish for water here.)
Instead of blindly answering questions and taking them at face value, I challenge you to dig a little deeper next time. Help your curious friend understand what he’s asking. Help them uncover issues they didn’t know they cared about. Help them ask the right questions. Otherwise, their problems may never be resolved.
This is a guest post by Mikey Koss. The opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.