Meet Robert Perhamus

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robert Perhamus. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robert below.

Robert, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?
I noticed the median family income in Upland was just $80.000. We earned this much in 1985 when when our 4 br home cost $120000. (now $800,000. College was free. So sad that future generations may not be able to afford the American/California dream. Our 2 kids went to UC’s. doing well now in their mid 30’s. But what about the other half that are not living the Cal dream?

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
People live longer than they used to. I was taught that one generation is responsible for making life better for the next generation. It seems that things have gotten much more difficult for younger generations-the cost of living, college and housing in California have gone up much more than incomes.

I did some reaseach on the maker movement and makerspaces and saw them as a great way for people to earn extra side hustle incomes
According to the Global Map of Makerspaces, there were an estimated 14,000 makerspaces in the world as of 2022. Of these, about 7,000 were located in the United States, followed by 2,000 in Europe and 1,000 in Asia. The remaining makerspaces were distributed across other parts of the world.
The number of makerspaces has been growing rapidly since 2000. In 2006, there were only about 100 makerspaces in the world. By 2012, the number had grown to over 1,000. And by 2022, the number had grown to over 14,000.
The growth of makerspaces is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing availability of affordable tools and technology, the growing popularity of DIY culture, and the increasing demand for skills in STEM fields.
Makerspaces offer a variety of benefits to their members, including access to tools and technology, opportunities to learn new skills, and a community of like-minded people. Makerspaces have been credited with helping to boost innovation and entrepreneurship, and they are increasingly being used in educational settings.
Here are some of the demographics of makerspaces:
Age: Makerspaces are popular with people of all ages, but the average age of a makerspace participant is 25-34 years old.
Gender: Makerspaces are more popular with men than women, but the gender gap is narrowing.
Race: Makerspaces are more popular with white people than people of color, but the racial diversity of makerspaces is increasing.
Education: Makerspaces are popular with people with college degrees, but they are also becoming more accessible to people with less formal education.
Income: Makerspaces are popular with people with higher incomes, but they are also becoming more accessible to people with lower incomes.
Makerspaces are an important part of the global innovation ecosystem. They provide a space for people to learn new skills, collaborate on projects, and share ideas. Makerspaces are helping to create a more skilled and creative workforce, and they are making innovation more accessible to everyone.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I knew engineering and manufacturing, but it was empathy for younger generations in the local area that inspired me the most. So sad that many younger people won’t live the California Dream as I did.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Many Peter Drucker books, with a central theme tat companis are resposible to their people and their communities and the impotance of innovation and entrepreneurship.

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