In 1890, Vasily Zvyozdochkin, a wood turning craftsman, carved the first set of Matryoshka dolls from a design by Sergey Malyutin. Matryoshka are Russian wooden dolls with smaller dolls stacked within the bigger ones. They are also known as nested dolls or babushka dolls. Matryoshka dolls are a traditional representation of the mother carrying on the family legacy through the child within her. Furthermore, matryoshka dolls are used to illustrate the unity of body, soul, mind, heart and spirit.

The core principle of the Matryoshka doll is found in its design. Each doll is perfectly suited for the place it occupies and the outer and inner dolls are not interchangeable. Just as each doll is nested – one inside the other – so it is with Generations.

Layers

Every generation carries within it a new generation, and as each new generation is birthed, it is planted in the system of the preceding generation. What each generation does in its lifetime is the foundation that the new generation builds upon. For example, the computer as we know it today had its beginning in the 19th century with an English polymath by the name of Charles Babbage. A mathematician, philosopher, inventor and mechanical engineer, Babbage originated the concept of a digital programmable computer. His design of the Analytical Engine was the starting point of all the essential ideas of modern computers.

From the time of Charles Babbage, computers have spanned three generations. The first generation, from 1937 – 1946, ushered in the first electronic digital computer which could only perform a single task, and had no operating system.

In the second generation, from 1947 – 1962, computer programming languages were developed. This generation of computers had memory and operating systems. Storage media such as tape and disk were added and put in use.

The third generation, from 1963 to date, brought in the invention of integrated circuit; making computers smaller, more powerful and more reliable. In 1980 Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS-Dos) was born and in 1981 IBM introduced the personal computer (PC) for home and office use. Three years later Apple gave us the Macintosh computer, paving the way for the MacBooks and now iPads with integrated keyboards that function almost like a computer.

The accomplishments of generations past are the stepping stones for future generations. And like a Matryoshka doll, each new layer builds upon the one before it.

Passing On The Baton

All generations have systems that influence the trajectory of nations. These systems include Business & Economics, Media, Government, Education, Religion, Family, and Arts & Entertainment. As an individual you are uniquely designed with gifts, talents, and aptitudes that must be activated in a specific system to advance humanity forward. This is how you take up your role in shaping history and pass on to the next generation your batons of vision, creativity, innovation and artistry.

As the current generation it is our time now to be industry leaders in pursuit of building a bigger and brighter future for those to come. We are the carriers of greatness and the earth is waiting for us.