Mr. Berry graduated from Punjab University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree and ended up heading down an entrepreneurial path where he’s remained focused in the advertising technology space for almost a decade.
Agam Berry is no stranger to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies and has been an advocate of the industry since 2013 and a supporter of the Bitcoin Foundation.
What attracted you to digital currency and when?
During the summer of 2013 I started doing my initial research on Bitcoin. I heard about it from a friend which led me to reading forums and eventually watching every YouTube video I could find on the topic.
I was fascinated with the possibilities digital currency such as Bitcoin could provide users in areas of the world where banking systems do not exist or make it extremely difficult for people to utilize.
In many areas of the world, reliable banking and stable currency rates are taken for granted. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies help level the playing field in that respect.
I’m an advocate of decentralization and blockchain technology. Bitcoin is simply one application which serves as both a currency and a store of value which make it extremely versatile. The possibilities for future technology applications to be developed are limitless.
How does a typical work day flow for you?
I live in New York city and they say, “it’s the city that never sleeps”. That holds true in my world. I’m the type of guy who goes to bed late and is up before the sun comes up.
I’m awake at the crack of dawn and the first thing I do is check my phone. It’s a bad habit, but I need to know what’s going on in my world as it relates to business emails, text messages, and one of my guilty pleasure, Instagram. After that, like any seasoned marketer I check stats.
I’m usually in the office early because I believe the speed of the leader sets the pace of the pack. If I’m not there early to set the tone for my team, I’m not setting the best example.
During the work day, I’m really focused on tasks at hand and being as efficient as possible. Phone calls and unnecessary meetings can alter the productivity of my day so I try to avoid them whenever possible. If business can be handled over email and nothing is lost in translation, I’d rather spend my day tackling an inbox rather than conference calls which tend to drag on.
Most evenings I’m still in the office. If you want to be successful in any business or to remain competitive in New York City, you need to put the time, energy, and focus into your business. Success doesn’t come easy.
Every now and then I’ll leave the office early to enjoy one of the many awesome restaurants New York City has to offer with friends or people in my industry.
How do you see blockchain technology improving life in the future?
This is what’s exciting for me. I mentioned earlier, Bitcoin is simply one application of blockchain-based technology. The ability for people to access data on distributed and decentralized platforms which are secure is a game changer. If I were to make a comparison, it would be like how cloud storage changed the game for where data is located and accessed by everyday people.
Much like the many data storage companies which have emerged and disappeared, I predict we’ll see a lot of that with blockchain tech companies as well where only a handful will be standouts and life changing for general populations.
What’s one think you’ve learned since you got started with digital currency?
I’m a data guy and love numbers and statistics. This is both a blessing and a curse for me. One thing I’ve learned is that it’s not helpful or productive to constantly check the pricing of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or whatever coin you’re holding.
Constantly checking is a compulsive behavior and won’t help you in the long run. If you believe a cryptocurrency’s value will rise over the long-term, do yourself a favor and stop checking the price every 10 minutes.
What’s one piece of advice you can share with others?
Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful. This isn’t my quote, Warren Buffet said it.
The quote above holds so true as it relates to cryptocurrency. The fear of missing out or “FOMO” as many people like to say can be such an incredible motivator to take, potentially, the wrong actions.
Most people hate losing and being wrong more than they love winning. Professional traders and seasoned business professionals typically do the opposite or nothing at all when faced in those situations.
Every move that’s made is calculated, planned, with the script that was laid out ahead of time, and based on reliable data.
Don’t call an audible because someone swayed you in a different direction. Other’s may have an agenda different than your own so be careful where you get your information from. Always do your own research, even if you’re a beginner.
Last, and arguably most important, if you feel the need to decide quickly (i.e. “buy now or miss out forever”) catch yourself in the moment and sleep on it for 24-hours after doing your research.
When it comes to trading, and investing, doing nothing is usually better than doing something when you don’t have a strong basis to make a move. It’s especially true when the decision is triggered entirely on impulse so try to catch yourself in those moments whenever possible.
Update: Agam Berry recently co-Founded Quantified Commerce. Check out his interview with Corporate Ethos to learn more about Quantified Commerce and his operations in India.
