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Privacy Regulation Update: The Doors Are Locking on User Data – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

Privacy Regulation Update: The Doors Are Locking on User Data Issue 62: June 30, 2022 We have frequently written about how the digital privacy and data environment outside of the US is being transformed as a result of international government efforts to enact policies and regulations that seek to protect its citizens and their privacy. The EU community is leading the way on these initiatives, and we caution all organizations to be aware and forewarned about the changes as they…

2022 Mid-Year Prediction: Unintended Consequences – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

2022 Mid-Year Prediction: Unintended Consequences Issue 61: June 23, 2022 Over the past two years in discussions with clients and the 2040 team, I have continued to raise the point that ” it ain’t over until the lady sings.” Many have already sung with sighs of relief and many more have yet to sing. In either case, the songs increase anxiety and confusion when the last notes are ambivalent, and the outcome is not assured. The Center Will Not Hold…

Always Start with a Strategic Premise – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

Always Start with a Strategic Premise Issue 60: June 16, 2022 You’ve developed an aspirational strategic plan that is going to help you crush it compared to your competitors and allow the organization to expand its customer base and be more relevant to existing customers. The direction of the plan and its goals seem to address the declining performance of existing business lines and offerings by developing a new model. You’ve worked on it, honed it, and vetted it with…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: How Illusion and Delusion Derail Organizations

How Illusion and Delusion Derail Organizations Issue 56: May 19, 2022 Two colleagues just attended their monthly executive committee meeting. One is the chief revenue officer of the organization, and the other is the head of marketing. The organization is struggling with diminishing membership revenues and sponsorship sales are running behind. The salesperson gave an upbeat, optimistic presentation asserting they would close the revenue gap by the end of the quarter. The marketing executive had a completely different take on…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Why Does Context Matter to Every Individual and Organization?

Why Does Context Matter to Every Individual and Organization? Issue 54: May 5, 2022 In times of uncertainty and ambiguity, context is essential to providing clarity in communications and interpersonal relations – both personal and professional. It has become a challenge to understand others when there is an abundance of misinformation and personal spin on the facts. Even more confusing, history is recorded according to the historian’s context, which can be a highly personal interpretation. Worst case, the lack of…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Why Do We Struggle with White Space?

Why Do We Struggle with White Space? Issue 51: April 14, 2022 Here’s an existential question: How do you fill an empty/white space? Spoiler alert: First, ask yourself is it worth filling? Second, is what you’re filling it with valuable, relevant and meaningful? Lastly, don’t hold back if you’re worried whether the full space is going to be accepted by others or will we be ridiculed and sequestered to the back of the room. Too often our default behaviors kick…

Attaining Goals: What Holds You Back? – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

What Keeps You from Attaining Goals? Issue 50: April 7, 2022 Any transformation, transition or change requires setting and attaining goals. But does the end justify the means? In other words, do we focus so acutely on the goals we set that we lose sight of whether the goals move us forward to what we aspire to? How do we ensure our goals are worthy and relevant? How often do we mistake a goal for intention?  A goal has a…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Do You Measure by Outputs or Outcomes?

Do You Measure by Outputs or Outcomes? Issue 48: March 24, 2022 How do you and your organization measure accomplishments and achievements? In an Industrial Age mindset, output was believed to be the only measure as maximizing production efficiency became something close to a religious mantra. In today’s Knowledge Age era, outcome, actually accomplishing a strategy or goal is the real measure that determines outcome not output. In a marketplace that values what an organization stands for and its effect…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: The Power of Positive … and Negative Thinking

The Power of Positive … and Negative Thinking Issue 43: February 17, 2022 What have we been told since kindergarten? Believe in the power of positive thinking! For many, positive thinking is an intuitive attitude reflected in a state of mind and behavior. The optimists, who are inclined to be hopeful and expect good outcomes, live this credo daily. Wake up with positive thoughts and positive outcomes will result. The skeptics, who are inclined to doubt or question any belief…

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Inflation + True Value

Inflation + True Value Issue 41: February 3, 2022 This is the first time since 1982 that inflation has grown at such a fast pace and become such an urgent short-term issue for so many organizations and individuals around the world. It is clearly affecting consumers forcing them to make fundamental changes in their choices and their overall lifestyles. The consumer who is now having to be more discerning about their own expenses contributes to a set of challenges faced…