New Book to Onboard to & Educate About Cardano's Ecosystem

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Derek Hopkins

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

18000

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

3

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will publish a book that provides an understandable guide to blockchain & cryptocurrency with real-world stories that use the Cardano ecosystem as the model for explaining fundamental concepts.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The book's content will be modified only by the authors.

[METADATA] SDG rating

4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

10 - Reduce inequality within and among countries

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

We will publish a book that progressively explains the opportunity of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency using Cardano as the demonstrated model. The book's initial draft is written, including eight chapters with 36,375 words. You can read the intro here.

This book is an invitation for people who are curious about Cardano to learn more. For those new to crypto altogether, it illustrates the vision of a world changed by blockchain. For the established crypto participant, it offers a deeper dive into lesser-known concepts that develop a more robust perspective. 

The writing is meant to be inviting, accessible and engaging for a layperson. It cuts through the noise and the chatter and gets directly to the essential information so readers can feel more confident about their understanding. 

The book covers these topics: 

• Blockchain is a disruptive innovation set to change how the world transacts.
• The technology accomplishes new capabilities we haven’t previously experienced. 
• The Cardano ecosystem has diverse participation opportunities and new ways to evaluate them.
• The shift from centralization to decentralization can remedy some of our most significant global challenges. Cardano is spearheading this example.
• Blockchain will address and overhaul our current identity crisis, including identity theft and cybercrime. Cardano examples are presented.
• Some of these projects focus on dramatically improving conditions in developing countries, which enhances the quality of life for all of us.
• New industries, career paths, and integrated sectors are forming in the collaborative environment of an open-source ecosystem, featuring novel positions in Cardano.
• There are endless ways to learn more and get involved in an emerging industry.

Each chapter will cover one central concept integral to seeing the value of blockchain technology's purpose. Cardano will be presented as the model ecosystem in each chapter. 

Readers will understand the circumstances that have led to the development of Blockchain and the scope of the solution by looking at relevant historical innovations that have emerged to serve the widespread need, accomplishing similar leaps in our collective capability. And, experiential anecdotes and current real-world examples will illustrate how the Cardano blockchain can improve quality of life for everyone. 

At the end of each chapter, readers will be pointed in the direction of relevant Cardano-related tools, resources and projects to expand their discovery. They will visit an online repository of links and documents to serve their learning process. 

The content invites the reader to consider the wide array of career opportunities available in Cardano. For example, we highlight real-world concepts for entrepreneurs, developers, innovators, investors, legal, financial and small businesses, among others. 

As readers advance through the material, they delve deeper into Cardano’s opportunities according to their interests. 

We will publish the book in digital and print form and produce an audiobook with the author as narrator. The book’s content will be “living,” meaning we will regularly update, add to, and adapt the digital versions and editions over time as the Cardano technology stack evolves.  

How do you perceive the problem you are solving:

We have been encouraging individuals into the Cardano ecosystem since 2018. We understand that there are several significant barriers to entry when someone is considering whether to enter the Cardano Web3 ecosystem. People often struggle with the decision to get involved for these reasons:

1. They feel uncertain because mainstream sentiment about crypto and blockchain is uninformed or cynical. This is especially true for Cardano. 
2. They lack the time to do the deep research required to participate safely & securely.
3. They have uncertainty about whom to trust as a reliable source of information.
4. They lack access to clear, progressive education about how to successfully take part.
5. They don't understand that blockchain, specifically Cardano, creates the opportunity for sovereign wealth and self-sovereign identity.
6. They have the impression that crypto is a scam or that someone will scam them (FTX had a dramatic impact here).
7. They have personal experience losing money in crypto, or they know of someone who has lost money.
8. They feel uncomfortable managing their own assets because they are conditioned to rely on third party middlemen and web2 solutions. 

Because people are engaged in learning through storytelling, our approach with this book was to demystify complex concepts with real-world examples. The stories and examples in this book bring people and situations to life. The technical explanations become digestible when overlaid with actual examples of the changes taking place. This book takes readers on a journey that overcomes these objections and develops confidence by telling the author’s story and interweaving relevant anecdotes from real people.

What are your reasons for approaching it in the way that you have?:

Our intention is to make this content accessible and digestible for readers. Each chapter builds on the previous so that the material gets increasingly technical as the learner progresses. 

The book’s contents are the aggregation of eight years of personal experience in the space and several years of experience educating new and established crypto enthusiasts one-on-one, in consulting groups, and via our YouTube channel, Cryptofluencyio. We have proven this curriculum to be the MVK (minimum viable knowledge) people need to proceed with confidence, avoid scams and utilize Cardano’s diverse offerings. 

BOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction: Read Here

Chapter 1: Desire to Succeed

• Soda Pop Opportunities
• Striving to Be Successful
• A Word on Money vs. Purpose
• $100 Per Coin in 2012
• A New Direction

Chapter 2: Seeing the Light

• A Disruptive Innovation Accessible to Everyday People
• The Biggest Opportunity of a Lifetime
• The World Wide Web and the Internet of Things
• Unexpected Adaptations

Chapter 3: The Transformation of Transactions

• Value Exchanging Hands
• The Evolution of Exchanging Value
• A Chain of Blocks on a Network of Nodes
• Mining vs. Staking
• Looking Forward

Chapter 4: Working For vs. Working Towards: Centralization and Decentralization

• Why is Centralization Such a Prevalent Model?
• Centralized vs. Decentralized Examples
• Cardano's Example: A Third-Generation Decentralized Blockchain
• Decentralized Governance Building in Action (Catalyst)

Chapter 5: Owning Your Identity

• Krishna's Story vs. Debbie's Story
• Defining & Documenting Identity
• Under-connected & Overconnected: Two Troublesome Identity Liabilities
• Cardano SSI Solutions

Chapter 6: The Privilege of Building and Protecting a Portfolio

• Accepted vs. Accredited Investor
• Participating in the Market
• The Age of Cost Averaging
• Finding & Utilizing a Cardano Wallet

Chapter 7: Angst, Analysis & Alt Coins

• Understanding Seasons with Technical Analysis
• Alt Coins: All But Bitcoin
• Fundamental Analysis: The Key to Understanding
• Conversion & Consolidation

Chapter 8: Diversifying Your Portfolio

• Cryptocurrency Coins and Tokens
• A Categorical Approach to Diversifying
• Cardano Native Token Categories
• Layer One Solutions vs. Layer Two Solutions
• Project Visions for Change

Afterword: “It Changed My Life”

Who will your project engage?:

This project will engage anyone who is curious about the opportunity of Cardano, interested but hesitant about taking part, and dedicated to learning. 

It is particularly intended for:

• Those who are intrigued by the idea of Cardano and want to take part wisely but don’t quite know what it is and what it will do.
• Those who are actively taking part in other ecosystems but don’t understand the superiority of Cardano’s blockchain ecosystem.
• Those who have acquired crypto assets but are not taking part in any of the opportunities that the Cardano ecosystem provides.
• Skeptical friends and family members of those who have become involved in the blockchain space, especially Cardano. 

We expect that the book will be a resource that current and future Cardano enthusiasts can share with friends, family, and interested contacts to encourage thoughtful, prepared involvement. 

We will continue to host Cryptofluency events, presentations, and offerings in person and to connect with the global crypto community through our YouTube Channel, X, and relevant partnerships. 

How will you demonstrate or prove your impact?:

We will make the book available on Amazon in digital and print formats. We will also produce and audiobook available on the major audiobook platforms.

The powerful analytics tools Amazon provides will help us to understand who is reading and how they chose this book. We will proactively request reviews and feedback from readers on their experience with the book.

We will also invite readers to connect with us for 15-minute free consults so we can learn more about who they are and how the book served them. 

And, the book will be paired with an online resources page on our website where readers can find engaging content, interactive experiences, videos and links to the Cardano ecosystem protocols for deeper learning. Our website’s analytics will give a solid perspective on the directions readers found most interesting. 

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

This book is designed to make the case for Cardano. It will bridge not-yet-involved readers to becoming well-informed decision-makers. That means it invites new users into our space. For established Cardano community members, the advanced chapters encourages utilization of the more complex Cardano ecosystem instruments. Readers gain confidence and are empowered to benefit from expanding their participation. It also supports the ecosystem so that emerging Cardano Native Token projects can grow. 

Finally, the book provides a way for our community members to provide their extended communities with a helpful resource, which contributes to grassroots marketing among the networks of users who find their learning valuable. A book is an inexpensive tool that is easy to share and distribute to new learners quickly and effectively.

How will you measure this impact?:

We will measure the impact of the book's reach by:

• Monitoring the quantitative data in our Amazon account about book reach, readers and impact. 
• Capturing contact information from readers who choose to utilize the online resources that align with the book.
• Offering 15-minute windows for consultations with readers who provide their information via our website.
• Requesting personal testimonials from readers who have chosen to review.
• Soliciting regular feedback from readers about their involvement. 
• Using our Channel & platforms to measure the reach and success of our marketing and promotional efforts for the book.
• Presenting qualitative data in the form of compelling stories from readers as follow-up content on these same media.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

We have been participating in the cryptocurrency space since 2017. When we discovered Cardano in 2018, we became enthusiasts because of its attention to detail, scientific peer review process and security standards. We've been active ever since.

Derek has spent over ten thousand hours reviewing whitepapers, actively participating in the ecosystem’s projects and protocols, and listening to thought leaders across the space. He enjoys distilling complex concepts into understandable content and creating educational videos for the community. Nadia spent a year working in Project Catalyst and has written extensively about the crypto space and produced over 200 videos for the Cryptofluency channel.

Demonstrated Knowledge & Consistency:

We have a proven track record of producing educational content for the blockchain community specific to Cardano. Our team has shown expertise in the cryptocurrency space evident in our existing YouTube content. We are active in continuing to educate ourselves and have been participants in the technical education and programming offered by Cardano protocols. 

A True Story:

We lived the story of transformation and growth with Cardano that the book is telling. We have been developing and refining the proposed book contents in real-world conversations and have an online platform designed to house compatible resources and further its reach. We have been mentoring and coaching new members to the space for multiple years, fielding diverse questions and helping participants to grow their positions, update their tools, and upgrade their understanding as the technology emerges. 

Strong Community Relationships:

Our long-term involvement in the Cardano space has blessed us with many meaningful relationships with founders, developers, professionals and peers across projects and protocols. We will utilize the expertise of our crypto family to enhance the materials as we complete them. We intend to leverage community involvement by interweaving insights from topic experts where relevant and incentivizing feedback from community members willing to test drive the content once it’s produced. 

A Finger on the Pulse of Cardano:

We do Cardano full time, stay up to date on emerging opportunities, and are active in the different Discord communities that serve our greater Cardano community. 

Experience Stewarding Individuals & Communities:

Cryptofluency offers personalized consulting and memberships that include regular updates. We have experience in being accountable to a community that learns from us, and we are enthusiastic about witnessing lives change for the better. 

Please include the steps or processes that demonstrate that you can be trusted to manage funds properly:

Appropriate, Accountable Milestones: For this proposal, we have set milestones that make us accountable to compensate professionals for services that progressively lead to the publishing of the book. All proposal funds go towards expenses that move the project forward and make us responsible to the people completing the milestone stage.

Experience Holding of Funds: We have a high discipline for stewarding funds safely and transparently, and intend to use that same acumen in managing the Catalyst funds. We utilize multiple Daedalus, Nami, Eternl, Gero, NuFi, and Lace wallets for our own portfolio. Every six months, we update and protect the private keys of each wallet we handle, following the best security practices. 

Dedicated Wallet: We will create a dedicated wallet for this proposal's Catalyst funds so that the wallet can be transparent to the community and funds can be deployed upon the completion of the related project milestones.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

1. Completion of book edit with (1) a professional editor, (2) a Cardano developer from a technical perspective and (3) a Cardano SSI or governance expert from a content digestibility perspective
2. Edits and feedback from these four sources have been received and implemented. Book is ready for publishing. 
3. Edits are made available for inspection and review. 

1. (1) Book cover design finalized and all digital and print layout designs completed. (2) Website page is designed with corresponding links and content. (2) Audiobook recorded and produced.
2. Book is in final production and ready for upload pending SEO application. Audiobook raw edit completed. Website page completed.
3. Book final draft complete, Audiobook record complete, Website page live.

1. (1) Book uploaded to Amazon (and potentially additional online locations) for publication. All promotional content (decription, marketing components, SEO, etc.) is complete. (2) Audiobook uploaded and available.
2. Cardano community is invited to engage with the book. 
3. Book is launched and available for purchase. Audiobook is complete and available for download. Marketing posts begin and continue. 

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Derek Hopkins: Lead Proposer

Derek Hopkins is the founder of Cryptofluency with proven expertise in the Cardano ecosystem since 2018. He will oversee all book content, ensure quality of information, and maintain the highest excellence in presenting the information to readers. Derek will also perform the read of the book for the audiobook version.

Derek will serve as liaison to the Cardano community, sharing updates and project milestones via the Cryptofluency channels. He will connect with other team leaders to broaden the reach of the opportunity across our diverse Cardano communities.

Nadia Hopkins: Writer & Liaison

From the beginning, Nadia Hopkins has been involved in Derek's cryptocurrency journey in the Cardano ecosystem. Nadia’s professional background includes marketing and ghost writing, and her role has been to translate Derek's story and expertise into the outline and completed chapters of the book. Nadia will serve as the liaison to the editors, designers and SEO professionals as the book comes to print. Nadia will also oversee the website development for the project.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

TOTAL REQUEST: ₳18,000 

Labour & subcontracting costs: ₳15,000

• Professional Book Editor: (36,375 words at $.09/word) ₳6,000 
• Cardano Developer Technical Feedback: (36,375 words at $.05/word) ₳3,600
• Cardano SSI or Governance Content Feedback: (36,375 words at $.05/word) ₳3,600 
• Book Cover & Graphic Design ₳800
• SEO Descriptions & Amazon Content Writing ₳500 
• Miscellaneous Subcontracting Costs ₳500 

Overheads: ₳3,000 

• Audiobook production rental costs: (6 Hours at $200/hour) ₳2,500
• Miscellaneous equipment costs ₳500

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Cardano Ecosystem will benefit from these value adds:

• An understandable, relatable and sharable resource fit for the layperson and the experienced cryptocurrency enthusiast.
• A book that speaks to the everyday potential user and encourages them with accessible language, real-life scenarios and a true story of regular people just like them. No technical jargon! 
• An influx of well-informed, well educated enthusiasts into the Cardano ecosystem
• A more intimate familiarity with the Cardano blockchain and its superior approach among motivated readers taking the time to educate themselves.
• Increased participation in the Cardano ecosystem’s CNT protocols, governance offerings and community overall.
• An inspiring example of the true power of participating in Cardano.