Dust in the wind

I

In 2019, I lost my job at WeWork. In that dark moment, I started writing. Along the way, a publisher took a risk on a first-time author. A year later, my book hit #1 on Amazon.

Like Dust in the Wind, life can change directions in an instant. But life’s toughest moments can be a great source of learning. The end of one chapter is the start of another.

II

In 1987, a young British singer named Rick Astley took the world by storm with his infectious hit, "Never Gonna Give You Up." With its catchy melody, smooth vocals, and upbeat lyrics, the song quickly became a global sensation. Astley's boyish charm made him an instant icon, and "Never Gonna Give You Up" soared to the top of charts worldwide.

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Rick Astley's music videos were a staple on MTV. His concerts were packed with adoring fans. The song's popularity seemed unstoppable.

But as the years passed, "Never Gonna Give You Up" faded from the limelight. New genres emerged, and Astley's style fell out of favor. The once-ubiquitous song became a nostalgic memory, a relic of a bygone era.

However, in the mid-2000s, "Never Gonna Give You Up" experienced an unexpected resurgence. Internet pranksters began using the song's music video as a bait-and-switch prank known as "Rickrolling." Unsuspecting victims would click on a link only to be greeted by the opening notes of Astley's hit song.

The meme spread like wildfire, and suddenly, "Never Gonna Give You Up" was everywhere again – not as a musical sensation, but as an inside joke for a new generation. Astley embraced the meme, performing the song at live events and even Rickrolling the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Today, "Never Gonna Give You Up" exists in a strange limbo—a once-mainstream hit turned ironic meme, its original context is primarily forgotten. The song's popularity has faded, replaced by a new, tongue-in-cheek appreciation.

III

Sears was once considered the undisputed king of retail. Founded in 1893 as a mail-order catalog company, Sears became a fixture in American life. With its iconic "Big Book" catalog and sprawling department stores, Sears was the go-to destination for everything from clothing and appliances to tools and toys.

Throughout the 20th century, Sears rode the wave of American prosperity. As the middle class grew and suburban life flourished, Sears expanded its empire, opening hundreds of stores nationwide. The company's name became synonymous with quality, value, and convenience. Generations of Americans turned to Sears for all their household needs.

However, with the rise of e-commerce and competitors like Walmart and Amazon, Sears' traditional business model was under pressure. The company needed to be faster to adapt, and its once-loyal customer base began to drift away.

As years passed, Sears' popularity declined. The company's massive store network became a liability, and the brand's reputation for quality and value faded. By 2010, Sears was a shadow of its former self. Its stores were empty, and its shelves bare.

In 2018, Sears filed for bankruptcy. The company that had once dominated American retail was now little more than a memory. Sears's rise and fall remind us that even the mightiest giants can crumble if they fail to adapt to the times.

IV

Few inventions have experienced a rise and fall as dramatic as IBM’s floppy disk. Born in the late 1960s, the floppy disk was a portable and reliable way to store digital data. With its flexible magnetic surface encased in a protective plastic shell, the floppy disk quickly became a standard in personal computing.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the floppy disk reigned supreme. Its distinctive whir and click became the digital age's soundtrack. Software, documents, and precious memories were all entrusted to these thin squares of plastic.

But with the rise of CD-ROMs, USB drives, and cloud storage, the floppy disk was relegated to the sidelines. Its once-impressive storage capacity of 1.44 MB became laughably small in a world of terabytes.

By the 2010s, most computers had abandoned their floppy drives altogether. An entire generation of digital natives would grow up never knowing the satisfaction of sliding a disk into a drive. Today, the floppy disk symbolizes a time when the digital world was still new.

The floppy disk’s legacy lives on in the save icon of countless software programs, a visual reminder of a technology that once changed the world before disappearing into the mists of history.

V

In the 1990s, Blockbuster was a cornerstone of American lives. The video rental chain was a fixture in strip malls and shopping centers nationwide. Families would flock to Blockbuster on Friday nights, eager to browse the shelves for the latest Hollywood releases.

At its peak, Blockbuster boasted over 9,000 stores worldwide. The company's name became synonymous with movie nights, and the act of "making it a Blockbuster night" became a cultural touchstone.

However, the rise of streaming services and the increasing popularity of low-cost rental options put pressure on Blockbuster's business model. As the years passed, Blockbuster's relevance faded in the face of new, more convenient alternatives.

In 2014, Blockbuster closed its corporate doors, marking the end of an era. Today, the name lives on in a handful of independently-owned locations. The company that had once dominated the home video market now little more than dust in the wind.