Chaos is a friend of mine. —Bob Dylan Our world is in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, as discontinuous change tosses even the strongest of us on its waves. Destruction hits us from all fronts, from natural disasters to economic ones. Spending time and energy to think creatively right now may seem crazy, even […]
The Future of Sustainable Business Is Flexible
New research from Catalyst confirms yet again the importance of flexible work arrangements (FWA), and not just for women with children, a common misconception. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the only companies able to consistently attract and retain top talent, regardless of gender, are those offering some form of FWA. Further, the research shows that […]
Communities of the Future
In Will Doig’s article “How to Solve the Boomer Retirement Crisis,” he defines this “crisis” as an unprecedented number of retirees moving away from cities, making “caring for aging boomers vastly more complicated.” The rest of the article then focuses on how cities can be made more attractive to retirees. I agree with many of […]
Customize Your Future
There’s an exciting theme running through news articles, blogs, and various recent studies. From articles on remodeling or technology to studies of the future of the workplace, one idea keeps resurfacing: customization. We’ve discussed how this applies in the workplace (e.g., “A Future That Works”) and in tailoring our communities (e.g., “Communities of the Future”), […]
Leaders as Storytellers
McKinsey & Company research has probed gender diversity in business worldwide and developed many excellent data points to support the benefits of more women in leadership as well as what it takes to develop more diversity in our organizations. I highly recommend that you read the full report here. One major takeaway I found interesting […]
Caution vs. Hesitation
There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the first move—and he, in turn, waits for you. —Marian Anderson Before making any big change in our lives—particularly before reinventing ourselves, our work, our world—it […]
Taking the Long View
Many companies hire young people to increase short-term profits. Generally, younger people will have less experience and therefore work for less money, and insurance is usually less costly for a younger employee. These businesses may also believe they are taking the long view, hiring people they won’t lose anytime soon to retirement or health problems, […]
What Does “Reinvention” Mean?
I use the word “reinvention” often because it is a necessary process for most of us as we go through transition—career transitions; life transitions, such as entering midlife or beyond; relationship transitions; and the transitions we face in our lives, work, and businesses from the epochal changes the entire planet is undergoing—economic, environmental, social. But […]
Second Verse, Same as the First
Kathryn Welds recently wrote an enlightening analysis of Robin Ely’s survey of Harvard Business School women graduates. One would think that women’s situation in the workforce would have changed since they were first admitted to Harvard’s B-School in 1963. Unfortunately, not so much. We’re still seeing the same refrain, over and over again. Women are […]
Intergenerational Businesses
The media, academia, and research firms are dipping into futuring by discussing the question, “What will companies do when Baby Boomers step down?” The latest attempt to answer this is found in a report by researchers at Cass University in London, “After the Baby Boomers: The Next Generation of Leadership.” Their findings are interesting, particularly […]
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