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FUT UR E F OC U S
Jim Carroll observes, “Some
people see a trend – and see a
threat. Innovators see the same
trend – and see an opportunity.”
He believes we need to
acquire ‘business agility’. This
empowers us to respond to
fast external trends in order
to spot opportunity, ward off
challenge and align resources
for fast success. Farmers, who
maintain this is not relevant to
them, make a mistake. This is
exactly why some for example,
have successfully embraced the
futures trading platforms while
others stand by frustrated and
negative. Farmers also need
to keep abreast of the rapidly
changing consumers – their
tastes, food trends and those
social networking trends which
are influencing food purchasing
decisions – often with some
serious misinformation!
How do we achieve this
business agility while we contend
with issues which make us feel
burdened and overwhelmed? We
re-focus on the big picture and
get a vision for our operations
where we can thrive within
the change. Carroll says issues
we could focus on are:
• Rebuild our competitive
intelligence capabilities;
• Abandon tradition and
get more projects going
on the leading edge;
• Be decisive;
• Be innovative;
• Develop unique
partnerships and mix
different generations
together;
• Adapt to new
technology – rapidly!
Bill Gates has said we always
overestimate the rate of change
that will occur in the next two
years – but we underestimate the
50
rate of change which will occur
over 10 years. Ten years ago
there was no twitter, no Amazon
Kindle reader and face book
was used mainly by university
students – even apples and iPads
were the playground of few - and
yet today they are critical tools for
everyday life. There is no doubt
that we need to keep our finger
on the pulse of change. A few
changes mentioned in Carroll’s
‘25 Trends for 2025’ are:
• Cash will have all
but disappeared;
• Africa will have ceased to
be ‘a rural continent’ due
to massive migration and
urbanization. The majority
of the world’s population
will live in less than 30
mega-cities by 2025.
• Mass urbanization will
force vertical expansion and
‘skyscraper’ technology.
• Life expectancy in the west
will increase while in Asia,
Africa and the Middle
East it may decline.
• A new business model will
emerge with small groups
of people focused on goals,
ideas and innovation.
Think BIG. Be small!
• Healthcare will be redefined
as bio-connectivity will see
small chips under our skin
to monitor our vital signs.
• These same chips will be
embedded in plants which
will report if they need a
nitrogen boost or a drink
of water. Farmers will
have instant ‘analytical
dashboards’ to monitor
health, growth rate and
maturity of their croplands.
• Re-generative technology
will mean most energy will
be reused and recycled.
• Paper will belong in
Februarie/Maart 2015 • SENWES Scenario
‘the olden days’.
Education will shift to
‘just-in-time’ knowledge.
Opportunities will
depend on the ability to
get the right knowledge
at the right time for the
right purpose. University
degrees will be obsolete.
• Sub-Saharan Africa will
emerge as the world’s new
China with fast paced
advancements in water
osmosis, desalinization and
micro-weather control.
In spite of the pace of change,
the key to happiness, resilience
and staying-power remains in
our own hands. The Hudson
Institute names 10 qualities of
self-renewing adults. They:
1. Are value driven – time
is organised around
critical priorities.
2. Are connected to the world
– caring, communicating,
networking, and seeking.
3. Make moments for quiet –
solitude brings perspective.
4. Pace time well – life is about
more than work! Quality
and integrity matter.
5. Get into Nature – use
it to renew one.
6. Make time to be creative and
playful – enjoy being alive!
7. Adapt to Change – always
pursue the best options.
8. Learn from the down times.
9. Always stay in training
– learning awakens us
to new possibilities.
10. Are future orientated – look
for ways to deepen our
experiences and make a
difference to our world.
Sometimes it all seems too
much to contemplate. Years
ago Pieter Dirk Uys declared:
‘Adapt – or die!’… We just didn’t
understand how right he was!
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