We're living in interesting times, huh? And that title is quite an undertaking for a blog post, but I'm going to give it a shot.
The geopolitical landscape continues to shift. The world is getting safer...and more dangerous...depending upon the context. I like to think that, in general, the world is headed toward greater overall democracy and free trade, but I'm sure there are others who could make a good argument that this isn't the case. There's a continual race going which will decide whether we'll live in a world of generally good, friendly relations or whether someone will ignite a power keg that will send it all spinning. I always operate from the position of the former.
Next is the economy. Globally, we're in a rut. Few countries seem to be doing that well. And the US in particular (the world's largest economy) is sputtering along looking for its way. Statistics show it's in the worst condition since the Great Depression and consumer confidence is low. Still, unlike past downturns, we have the most educated and productive workforce in history. And all the financial leveraging tools are in place once the economy starts going north.
Finally, there's marketing. We are living in an unprecedented time of advanced communications. With the tools now available, particularly online, we're able to communicate in mass inexpensively. Gone are the days of expensive newspaper and yellow page ads. We're now living in the world of the iPhone, websites, facebook, twitter, blogs and text messaging. And before the year is out, there will be advances and shifts there too.
It's mind-boggling trying to decipher and find meaning in all the changes going on around us. How does one harness it all? How does one operate effectively? Where do we put our energy as we navigate through the waters? I think the best answer is- 'don't ask...just move forward'. And put a little less glib, my advice is to welcome the changes and become a change agent. Write your blog posts, send a tweet, write an article, and pick up the phone...we'll all come out better than we were before.
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