What do you really know about the world?

I want to give you a challenge.
You probably won’t make it.

The challenge in itself is easy.
The implications might be a bit harder to grasp.

What I want you to do is this. Next time you travel, take a quiz and see if you know some basic facts about that country. That’s it.

Your first question now is likely: “Why should you do this?”

The answer to that question is simple. We are all living in a global, interconnected world and you know nothing about it.

If I asked you to put 8 small figures, each representing 1 billion people and place them on a world map, I am willing to bet that you would put at least, 1 billion people on the wrong continent. Think about that for a moment. 1 billion people.

Understanding where people live, gives you a better understanding of the world.
I want to make that even more concrete and instead focus on a specific country.

Why do you want to visit a country? To get away from the life you have, or to learn about other cultures, places and people.

If you want to get away, it doesn’t matter where you go.
If you want to learn, why not start before the trip?

So the night before you leave, take a quiz and learn about what percentage of people in that country are using the internet, how many successful startups they have or what share of the nation’s economy originates from tourism.

Knowing that will make you appreciate that country more and help you avoid making any foolish remarks.

Your next question should be: Where can I find these quizzes?

There is an independent foundation called Gapminder. They have been working for over 20 years and asked over 10,000 questions to people all around the world. On their website, you can find a quiz for every country on the planet.

The first country you should start with is the one you are living in right now.

I took the test for Sweden, since I’ve lived here all my life.
7 questions and I didn’t get a perfect score. And that is ok.
Because now I know.

Taking these tests will make you humble, confident and curious at the same time. You realize how little you know about the world, how much you have learned and how much more there is to explore.

When you have taken the test, ask your friends, parents, teachers or bosses and see if they know more or less about the world than you do.

Want to learn more about me,
send med a DM on LinkedIn

Until next time!
Daniel - The Talking Bridge

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