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The Future Looks Pretty Much Like the Past...


...only different. In his new book "Sonic Boom: Globalization At Mach Speed" author Gregg Easterbrook gives us five things to think about during these trying times:



  • Climate change will change everything. High-latitude regions win.
  • Manufacturing will be obsolete. Even China will lose factory jobs.
  • College is our secret weapon. The U.S. has more great colleges than the rest of the world combined.
  • Women will double the world's supply of ideas. Doubled brainpower = 2X the solutions.
  • Militarism will decline. Market share matters more than territory.
Easterbrook predicts a "...chaotic, raucous, unpredictable, stress-inducing, free, prosperous, well-informed future...so cover your ears!"

"Sonic Boom" looks like an interesting addition to my "to-read" shelf.

Thinking about health care, though, that fourth point - women doubling the world's supply of ideas - intrigues me. Health care providers' workforce is predominately female, yet, as an industry, it would earn few nominations as especially innovative or idea-driven. The mere presence of large numbers of women in the workplace clearly isn't sufficient. A critical part of the equation is leadership that engages the talents and ideas of the ENTIRE workforce, giving all not just a fair shot at contributing, but the obligation to do so.

So how will a generation of male leaders (executives and physicians) respond? Were it up to me, I'd put the nurses in charge.


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