Some items never go out of style yet lend themselves to countless iterations — each cooler than the last. Converse All Stars are one example, coming in a variety of colors and materials that even sometimes collaborate with other brands and artists. This summer, you can get your hands on another timeless classic: the Casio G-Shock watch. For some people, a watch approved by Navy SEALs is a selling point, but others may be picturing a clunky timepiece that’s more practical than visually appealing. Pioneered by Japan’s Kikuo Ibe after dropping and breaking his own pocket watch, G-Shock watches all have one thing in common: resistance to stress, shock, water, and pressure. But that’s where the similarities end. Whether you’re looking for something classic and stylish, a murdered-out black model, a bright Gorillaz (or even another band collaboration), you’ll find it in the G-Shock line. The originals go for a pretty penny, but re-creations can be found as well that maintain those classic ’80s lines, and who would have thought those would be in style again?! YOU CAN’T BEAT THIS WATCH Actually, Go Ahead and Try. The G-Shock Will Wait
Electric vehicles seem to be the future — at least energy companies think so! Whether you’re looking at investments by the “Big 3” automakers in Detroit, casting an eye toward Tesla’s undeniable success, or wondering if Japanese automakers are about to relive successes similar to the 1980s, it’s an exciting time in the industry, and headlines reflect that. But as exciting as the consumer market is, there’s a $260 billion market that’s hardly ever talked about: the use of electric motors in commercial vehicles and industrial equipment. Anybody who knows about tractors, busses, and semitrucks will tell you they’re far from clean-burning. Proterra wants to change that, and they’re already the top electric bus maker in America. But their real value is battery technology. The power and torque of electric motors has been well-known for decades; an electric Tesla will outperform almost any other vehicle its size. The limiting factor is the battery — and that’s even more valid when you’re applying a lot of torque (as with a backhoe or skid loader) or trying to move a lot of weight (like a semi does). Proterra is a true “heavyweight” as an already-profitable manufacturer that’s building the batteries America will need to drive the next century of progress, especially with FedEx pledging to be 100% electric by 2030 and the government offering incentives all over the world for similar goals. Proterra is also involved in the other half of battery technology — the charger. Charging infrastructure is practically nonexistent when it comes to powering up the kind of batteries needed to drive a train or dig up tons of earth. In order to be successful, Proterra will need easy, cheap ways for the makers they supply to keep their batteries topped off, and they know it. For the EV industry heavyweights, the 2020s will be the decade that changed everything, and Proterra will be part of the reason why. PROTERRA, THE EV HEAVYWEIGHT YOU’VE NEVER KNOWN
From salt and surf to sand and sun — to rocks and knocks — G-Shock is summer’s watch, no matter what you have planned.
The 17th century was a time of change and upheaval all over the world. England saw kings killed, tyrants overthrown, and decades of civil war. The wars of religion that began a hundred years before continued to kill thousands across Europe. And in Japan, on the other side of the globe, a period of unrest came to an end in the bloody Battle of Sekigahara — where the most famous samurai’s career first began. Miyamoto Musashi is known for having fought and won over 60 duels in his lifetime, many of them with a bokken, or wooden practice sword. Toward the end of his illustrious life, he retreated to be alone with his thoughts. This became a Zen retreat that saw him living in a cave and writing “The Book of Five Rings.” From the Battlefield to the Boardroom, Musashi’s ‘The Book of Five Rings’ HARDENED SAMURAI WRITES CLASSIC BUSINESS BOOK
Although he pioneered several fighting styles in his life, Musashi wanted to communicate more than just physical technique. Like Sun Tzu before him, his interest was philosophical as well as martial. From discussions of timing to the mindset of an opponent — or even an ally — business leaders have long found relevance in Musashi’s words.
It’s an entertaining, short read, but like the best Zen texts, the words will leave you deep in thought.
855-455-5035 AZCOMP Technologies www.azcomp.com • 3
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