Change is imminent. Change is constant. Change is exciting and change is scary.
We have a lot going on this year - an election, interesting weather patterns, the
Olympics and Para Olympics, and the phasing out of things that are SO last year.
Unexpected Change
I recently attended a conference and heard Kevin J Fleming, an educational
futurist, state that we are doing a great job of educating our current graduating
classes on how to succeed in 1986. Ouch! He offered that we must change the
way we educate for our future or stop sending young adults to outdated
universities because the earning power no longer supports the degrees they are
in debt for. He offers that we are stuck in old thinking and his data was sobering.
Accepting AI and Neuroscience
Another futurist, John Sanei, offered the neuroscience behind taking time to
imagine the future we want and meditating to listen for the answers we need -
both to differentiate ourselves from AI as we tackle global challenges. His point
was that the only way to stay competitive was to use AI for its intellect and logic
and use our unique thinking, personalities, and heart to make all services and
produce have a human application.
Puzzling Take Away
The question I came away with was, ‘How do we stay ahead of change like John offers
instead of being reactive and stuck in old thinking as Kevin offered?’
That question is challenging many who run a business and need to hire talent that
will help them pave the way forward. I too had to look at metrics and results and
while I love sharing my life in my monthly newsletter and my open rate is greater
than many, it doesn’t convert to new connections. Auditing my metrics was
enlightening and I am challenged with what I learned at this conference.
For example. After researching what my clients now prefer to receive and read,
the conclusion remains we have too many things clogging our inboxes, including
newsletters we happily sign up for yet no longer open or read. (That may include
my own - ouch.)
What’s next?
Several people I met raved about shorter formats they pay for that deliver exactly
the information they need to kick off their weeks when leading their teams and
organizations.
If you have read this far, an announcement of what the future of this newsletter
will be soon. I’m still undecided about what change is needed to deliver critical
information to those I serve. Stay tuned.