A Rebel Force Awakens

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….pan the Star Wars quintessential song.

Episode 2020. A rebel force awakens. It is a period of civil unrest. As rebel forces are pushed apart by the dreaded COVID19 pandemic, some tech empires gain power while others spread fear and false news, hurting and enslaving the middle class. With limited travel and economic shutdowns and seeing the eventual endgame where a new system is created where freedom was lost, choice minimized, and power consolidated to a few, a group of people gathered to band together and fight back.

You may not have known this, but you’re a heroic star in today’s movie. In American mythology, it’s always been about good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and freedom vs. enslavement. These themes are woven throughout our culture and society as we are drawn to charismatic characters to root for and stand behind. There is a protagonist and a group against them. I’ve loved Star Wars since I was a little boy. Growing up and even now, I’ve seen the theme of lone individuals trying to make their way in a crazy world, having dreams of a better future, and struggling with obstacles and challenges along the way just like Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.

None of us could have foreseen what 2020 was going to bring or how it was going to affect our society, culture, globe, and life. Historic unemployment, a global shutdown, total economic disaster, and business closures happened all at once. Everything that is fragile was being exposed – fragile systems, business plans, peace, and relationships. Yet there was an incredible opportunity bestowed upon us for those who were willing to search to find it.

Why is it that we never hear about the opportunity – the good amidst the chaos of 2020? The news doesn’t like to talk about anything positive because fear sells. Volatility is always discomforting but it also presents a great opportunity. Have you seen the opportunities this past year has brought us? E-commerce growth went through the roof like a parabolic curve as we accomplished 10 years of growth in the span of 60 days! The wealth that has been created in the e-commerce ecosystem is remarkable. The world is being remade around us.

Historically, the U.S. was once based primarily on the agriculture industry. Over the course of several centuries as advancements were slowly made people had to see their future differently and thus retrain and re-engage to take advantage of the new opportunities that had been created due to automation and technology. These changes brought massive improvements in prosperity and quality of life. They took decades to unfold and allowed people the time to adapt and retrain.  However, changes that took centuries to slowly unfold in the past are now taking months due to the rapid acceleration of technology shifts in our society. This rapid rate of change is causing incredible social unrest and instability. It’s happening so fast people can’t adapt. They feel it. One Harvard Business School professor talking about the issues facing a government in Africa said, “You can focus on helping the next generation or people living today but you can’t do both. You have to make a choice and they are deciding today is a lost generation.” So what happens to the people struggling today? I strongly believe the playbook for jobs and careers and the way we engineer our lives is different from what our parents and grandparents were taught. It is a new game today with new rules! Ignore them at your own peril. As a father of six, I think of this often as I help my children navigate the changing career landscape they will face.

With that said, here is the unfolding landscape around us. Amazon is becoming one of the biggest juggernauts of our time. We are watching a wave of job destruction because of what Amazon is doing. They’re not just a bookstore or retailer; in fact, they have become an economic Kraken with tentacles in every aspect of the US economy. The tiny online book retailer has grown with the aid of government subsidies, tax breaks, and protection into a big tech Kraken that dominates retail, cloud computing, logistics, and delivery systems, web service, and more. Federal governments around the world understand the issue and have launched investigations into uncompetitive and anti-trust business practices that are hurting others in the economy. Last year, they had 85% of retail sales online for Christmas shopping. This tiny start-up took one small step year after year, and now they’ve reached total domination and taken over many aspects of our society. They proudly proclaim they are creating many entry-level jobs but fail to highlight they are also destroying many small and medium-size businesses around the country which are the backbone of most local communities. Business leaders are talking about those who got “Amazoned” and are hoping THEY don’t get “Amazoned” in the near future.

We have seen this past year that tech companies like Amazon and Facebook, and their anti-competitive practices are becoming a threat to democracy. We don’t have a level playing field and it is hurting Mainstreet. We are living in an extremely divided country so when ultra-conservative Republican Senator Ted Cruz and socialist progressive Democrat Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez agree on something we should take note. They both agree that big tech is out of control with too much power.

Remember in Star Wars: A New Hope, Darth Vader and his evil forces had immense power in the Death Star and forced Princess Leia to watch the destruction of her planet. Obi-Wan Kenobi on the Millennium Falcon said, “I feel a disturbance in the force.” Many of us are feeling a similar disturbance in the world right now. Luckily, a rebel force is arising and saying, “We’re going to fight back!” Spoiler alert: it’s you, Bonvera! We have agency, the ability to think and act differently, and the ability to choose a new path for our families and businesses.

In the midst of all this change, we have come together as a team inspired to engineer a company to be different. Together our team is building and engineering Bonvera to weather the storms of today and tomorrow. We are poised for growth and ready to help people who are looking for a different path. So what are we doing at Bonvera and what do we stand for? We’re an e-commerce company crazy enough to think we can disrupt the status quo in both the e-commerce and gig-economy revolutions. We believe people are tired and ready to take the power back. We believe people understand the power of their vote with their wallets. We know people want to support small and local businesses by putting those dollars to use in their own communities and putting more money back in their own pockets instead of big tech. We know people want clean, healthy, life-changing products that are socially and environmentally conscious while also empowering the workers and producers of those goods and services. We know people want to support their local hometowns and small and medium-sized businesses that are the backbone of the economy. We know people want to do good in the world and support organizations doing the same. We know people are concerned about the concentrated wealth and power of big-tech and how it is being used against them.

I want to congratulate the Bonvera family– as a business owner or as a customer! You have leaned in and have done an astonishing job this past year. In the midst of a challenging year, we’ve launched products, hired people, and developed new services. We had to get the job done, no matter what was going on around us. Too many people and families were counting on us to lean in and LEAD during times of adversity. We did not sit back waiting for the storms to pass. So thank you for putting on the mantle of leadership by leading from the front. You shared hope, optimism, courage, and vision when people needed it most! When the world was full of fear and uncertainty, you have faithfully served in your communities and you have made an impact. Bonvera is creating an ecosystem where the average American and small business owner can succeed.

We’re not a home-based business, we are a “Home IS Business” where you have complete control and protection. Instead of others profiting from all the spending that goes through your home we believe YOU should profit. For those who have been with us…thank you! For those longing to make a difference…welcome home!