Over the past decade at Improbable and now with Somnia, I have worked on solving some of the hardest problems in the new digital age. We’ve learned a great deal from powering massively multiplayer video games, immersive virtual events and defense simulations so sophisticated they got me sanctioned by Russia…

But in the process of building tools for virtual worlds, we discovered something far more foundational: The infrastructure we needed for the metaverse turned out to be exactly what businesses need to operate in the AI era.

Like many, we expected that the surge of interest in the “metaverse” in 2021 would be a tipping point. After all, we’d been working on persistent virtual spaces since 2012. But the deeper we got into the problem, the more we realized the infrastructure wasn’t ready. Virtual worlds that allowed thousands of people to move freely across different platforms with their identity and assets intact simply weren’t feasible with existing systems.

Blockchain, on paper, offered the right ingredients: user ownership, decentralized control and the ability for different developers to build on shared standards. However, when we tried to use it for real-time interaction, it collapsed under the weight. These systems were too slow, too expensive and entirely unsuited to applications that needed responsiveness.

Imagine trying to run a Zoom call where every frame of video had to be verified by thousands of computers before it could appear on screen. That’s what we were dealing with.

Eventually, we faced a choice. Either continue building applications on infrastructure that couldn’t support them — or build the infrastructure ourselves. What we ended up creating, Somnia, started as a necessity for gaming. But it has become a blueprint for how business will operate in a future shaped by artificial intelligence, digital identity and real-time interaction.

Related: Is Metaverse the Future for Business?

The new demands of digital business

Three trends are colliding to reshape how modern organizations operate. First, AI is no longer just a chatbot; it’s an actor. Agents powered by large language models are starting to participate in digital ecosystems. In our testing, we’ve seen AI agents generate thousands of transactions per second simply through their interactions with each other and with users.

Second, digital ownership is shifting from a niche crypto concern to a mainstream expectation. People increasingly want control over their digital identities, possessions and reputations — and they want these assets to persist and travel with them.

Third, businesses are shifting from transaction-focused to relationship-focused models, where continuous engagement in digital environments drives loyalty and growth.

The infrastructure to support this convergence didn’t exist. So we built a system that could process over one million transactions per second, about 20,000 times faster than traditional blockchain systems. To put this in business terms: Imagine the difference between a corner store that can serve 50 customers a day and a Walmart Supercenter that can serve 50,000.

Beyond gaming: Business applications and cultural impact

This leap in performance has implications that go far beyond gaming and drive real business outcomes. Retailers can track inventory changes across thousands of stores in real-time for a fraction of a penny per update. Manufacturers can build secure, verifiable supply chains that don’t compromise speed. Financial institutions can process compliance checks, document verification and settlements with both transparency and efficiency.

But the bigger shift is cultural. As AI begins to automate routine tasks, we are entering what I call the “Fulfilment Economy,” as mentioned in my book Virtual Society: The Metaverse and the New Frontiers of Human Experience. This is not just about productivity. It is about meaning. People are looking for purpose, community and creativity in the digital environments where they now spend increasing portions of their lives.

AI helps by saving time and taking on the burden of process, allowing us to focus our energy on more valuable activities. These environments go beyond entertainment. They are places of work, collaboration, identity and economic activity. In many cases, AI agents will participate alongside us.

For businesses, this presents a strategic shift. When your users don’t just consume your products but contribute to and build on your platform, your role changes. You’re no longer just a provider; you’re a host. Your brand becomes part of an ecosystem — one that thrives on participation, portability and interaction. Supporting this shift requires infrastructure that can scale in real time, preserve ownership across environments and connect disparate platforms into a single seamless experience.

Related: The Future of Business in the Age of Technology

What comes next

Most business leaders aren’t thinking about blockchains, consensus algorithms or transaction throughput — and they shouldn’t have to. What matters is whether your company is ready for a world where intelligent agents transact alongside humans, where users carry persistent digital identities between services and where engagement happens in real time, not just during scheduled interactions.

The hype cycle around the metaverse may have passed, but the vision of shared, persistent, intelligent digital environments is more relevant than ever. What started as a solution for virtual worlds is now becoming the foundation for how businesses will deliver value in an interconnected, AI-driven future.

For years, leadership development has focused on hard skills like operations, finance and technical know-how. But today, there’s growing recognition that soft skills — especially emotional intelligence (EQ) — are just as vital, if not more so. EQ isn’t just about being “nice” or managing conflict — it’s about cultivating trust, improving communication and building resilient, high-performing teams.

In a fast-changing workplace where expectations are rising and retention is a top priority, EQ has become a business imperative.

Self-awareness beats spreadsheets

Emotional intelligence starts with self-awareness. Leaders who understand their own emotions are better equipped to manage stress, give feedback and respond thoughtfully in challenging moments. And yet, many overestimate their emotional awareness. In a survey of more than 1,000 professionals, 20.6% of men and 17.1% of women believed they were more emotionally intelligent than their behavior suggested. That gap matters because blind spots in leadership often become pressure points across an organization.

Building EQ involves engaging both verbal and nonverbal communication skills. This means not only listening and adapting but also reading emotional cues, responding empathetically, and modeling openness. It’s less about control and more about connection.

Related: Stop Losing Your Best Employees with These 3 Retention Strategies

Don’t just know it — practice it

It’s not enough to understand EQ in theory. Like any business skill, it takes action to develop.

Leaders can strengthen their emotional intelligence by:

• Participating in coaching or mentoring programs
• Joining leadership development cohorts that include peer feedback
• Having real, honest conversations with employees about emotional wellbeing

The most effective organizations embed EQ into their culture, starting with hiring. When emotional intelligence becomes a hiring lens, companies reduce mis-hires and build more cohesive teams. Ask candidates how they navigate disagreements, respond to constructive feedback, or bounce back from failure. Their answers reveal more than technical skills ever could.

Emotional intelligence isn’t optional at the top

Leadership isn’t just about setting strategy — it’s about setting the tone. Executives who lack EQ often struggle to inspire trust or connect across teams. They may deliver results in the short term but fail to build sustainable momentum.

In contrast, emotionally intelligent leaders:

• Attract and retain top talent
• Understand team dynamics and resolve conflicts early
• Foster a culture of psychological safety and high performance

These leaders also lead by example. When executives participate in team trainings or feedback sessions, it sends a powerful message: growth is for everyone, not just junior staff.

Related: How to Create a Winning Employee Retention Strategy

Empathy is the new currency of culture

Today’s workforce expects more from leadership: more empathy, more flexibility and more humanity. They don’t just want a job — they want to feel seen, valued and supported.

When companies prioritize EQ, employees respond with higher engagement, better communication and deeper loyalty. That’s not just good for morale — it’s good for business.

The result? A workplace where people thrive, performance improves and culture becomes a competitive advantage.

EQ is the edge

Emotional intelligence isn’t a bonus trait — it’s a leadership essential. Developing it takes intention, but the return on investment is exponential. Stronger teams. Smarter hiring. Greater retention. Better results.

When EQ becomes the standard rather than the exception, everybody wins.

Andrew Herr spent years advising Navy SEALs, elite athletes, and Fortune 500 executives on how to maximize performance under pressure. From the battlefield to the boardroom, one problem kept coming up. “Travel wrecks me,” his clients told him.

And they weren’t exaggerating. According to industry data, 93% of long‑haul travelers report experiencing fatigue, malaise, and impaired concentration from jet lag.

That frustration led Herr to create Flykitt, a system designed to eliminate jet lag and help travelers stay focused and functional. It’s now used by professional athletes, executives, and anyone who’s tired of arriving in a new city wiped out before the work even begins.

Herr recently joined me on the One Day with Jon Bier podcast to explain the real reason for the lag in jet travel—and why the usual fixes rarely work.

The problem starts with cabin pressure

Jet lag isn’t just about adjusting to new time zones. It starts before you even land.

“When you’re flying, you’re usually going to about 8,000 feet of relative air pressure,” Herr explains. “That drop in pressure and the lower oxygen level cause inflammation, which lowers your energy levels, disrupts sleep, messes with your joints, causes anxiety, and stops your circadian rhythm from resetting.”

That’s why you feel so foggy and stiff after sitting on a plane, even if you didn’t fly overnight. “It’s not just the dry air,” he adds. “Flying causes your body to fight itself.”

Related: 6 Tricks to Tackling Jet Lag

Sleeping the whole flight isn’t enough

Travelers often think that as long as they sleep during the flight, they’ll rally once they land. But even beyond the inflammation, Herr warns that mistimed sleep–and even too much–can leave you just as jet-lagged. For example, if you sleep at the wrong time or too much, you won’t fall asleep the next night, and then you’re in trouble. To feel great, it’s about syncing your rest timing to work with your body’s internal clock.

In the Flykitt jet lag app, the algorithm calculates the ideal window to fall asleep, based on your flights, your arrival time, and your body’s rhythms, all personalized to you. “We guide you on optimal sleep timing and supplements to block the inflammation and get you to sleep the exact right amount on the plane,” Herr explains. “That helps you adjust smoothly to the new time zone when you land.”

The goal isn’t just to get rest. It’s about recalibrating your body to adapt from where you’ve been to where you’re going.

Caffeine isn’t the solution

Many travelers rely on coffee and other caffeinated beverages throughout the day to get them through but Herr says this can be the wrong tactic. When your body is inflamed and your sleep-wake cycle is out of whack, a lot of caffeine can amplify the problem. “It might even make it worse if you’re already inflamed or anxious,” he says. So, Flykitt includes a special circadian reset mix that includes just the right amount of coffee to optimize how you feel without overdoing it.

Flykitt will also roll out what Herr calls a “focus module”—a structured set of tools designed to support mental clarity and energy. It will combine short breathwork exercises, stress relief techniques, and brain-supporting supplements to help your system rebound naturally.

Related: Do You Drink More Coffee Than Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Other Creative Leaders?

Recovery can take longer than you think

Jet lag doesn’t hit all at once, and it doesn’t resolve itself after one night of sleep.

“What people notice is, even after they get to the new location, they still feel off,” Herr says. “They’re not sleeping well, they’re not digesting properly, they feel brain fog, and their mood’s off.”

Many travelers assume the body will naturally bounce back the next day. But Herr says that misconception leads to more problems. “Most people wait until they feel terrible to take action,” he says.

His advice: Don’t wait until you’re wrecked. Do the work upfront and avoid the crash. Flykitt’s recovery protocol starts the morning you leave and continues for 36 hours after landing.

Jet lag is not inevitable

Most travelers accept jet lag as just part of the deal. You fly long hours, you feel awful for a few days, you power through. But Herr says it doesn’t have to be that way.

“We’re finding people in a spot where their whole routine is disrupted, so they’re used to feeling terrible,” he says. “And when they feel the impact of what using the right tools at the right time can do for sleeping better, eating better, and managing stress, it clicks.”

Flykitt’s approach is built around that moment of clarity—when people realize they don’t have to lose days of productivity or enjoyment just because they crossed a few time zones.

“You can struggle through it,” Herr says. “But why would you when you don’t have to?”

Related: This CEO Says the Secret to Growth Is Knowing Who You’re Not For