Reflections on getting old

It is the beginning of March. Spring is in the air. The sun is shining, and the garden is starting to bloom. Every morning we are now greeted by the chorus of the birds that have come back from their winter retreat. It is the perfect time to sit, think, reflect on the future and soak up the energy of growth and renewal.

Getting oldIn this case, I was thinking about renewal in the context of my age. I was born in 1965. So, I started reading a book about getting old. “From strength to strength“, I also had a conversation with ChatGPT, studied some other technologies and re-acquainted myself with Sadhgure.

Wisdom

The book was depressing in the beginning. Apparently, innovation and entrepreneurship are fluid-thinking concepts. I deeply disagree. I have come to the conclusion that old is awesome. If a ChatGPT can get an MBA from Wharton, there will be an urgent need for wisdom, crystallised intelligence, slow flow, analogue, reflection, deep work and second-stage thinking. Wisdom as the counterweight to the pancake mind. There is some serious dumbing down going on.DisruptionCombine that with some of the deep issues that we are facing (read “Deep Adaption“, collapse is an option), how to consider the impacts of technology abstraction (playing LEGO with AI, software and soon other technologies such as robotics and ubiquitous fabrication). Innovation or steroids and fundamentally different business models.

Sensemaking

If you want to grow, renew and spend some time on sense-making, here are some options. Or give me a call. Always happy to chat.

• Bookbuzz (problem-solving, better and quicker than McKinsey)
• Strategy development (future focussed coaching)
• Speaking (always the latest business thinking)

If you want to work on crystalising your own thoughts and share them with the world,  there is always Bookin8days (four, two-day mini-retreats combining thought leadership, book writing and business coaching).