It’s easy to forget
that our modern world is the way it is
because we invented it.
It’s easy to forget
that the tool we invented to do a job
is not the job itself.
It’s easy to forget
today’s company with shareholders and employees,
was a tool to create factories.
It’s easy to forget
that even today’s democratic UK
was mostly invented between 1836 and 1928.
Remember, our job is to invent the right tools for tomorrow
(not just polish antique tools)
by letting go the old job the old tool was invented for.
What if …
The job that companies are tools to do
(create economies of scale and reduce transaction costs)
is losing relevance; and the new job is
productivity in a world of flat economy of scale, zero transaction cost.
The job that universities are tools to do
(mass production of experts owning costly knowledge)
is losing relevance; and the new job is
developing adults collaborating around freely available knowledge.
The job that leaders and managers are tools to do
(build the road to the future and organise others to follow)
is losing relevance; and the new job is
to inspire hope and curiosity to explore the future.
The job that I am here to do
(Be a stable grown up, independent and wealthy)
is losing relevance; and the new job is
to keep growing up, keeping up and transforming my world.