The Energy Fractal

Today we celebrate. Thirty years ago, with some trepidation, we introduced our Energy Fractal - the practical key to driving performance and profitability in teams and organisations - to three hundred senior banking executives. It was a revolutionary step. We broke from the traditional linear approach to engineering high energy leaders, teams and organisations. Instead we applied the three essential natural laws that have driven the universe for fourteen billion years. Built into our Energy Fractal.

Since then we have shared our methodology with thousands of leaders and their organisations, driving innovation, intelligence and creativity, and most importantly profitability.

Today we have the science-based tools for both measuring leadership team potential energy - we use the GC Index for this, and our own Organisation Energy Instrument to assess kinetic energy, or energy in action - as well as our powerful and globally unique Energy Fractal Methodology to unleash higher levels of system energy and performance.

We now know that the energy fractal is the real engine - the power and the genius of the universe - that drives everything from the big bang to the continuously emerging and unknown future. And apart from electrons and galaxies it drives every aspect of our civilisation as well. This includes all leaders, teams and organisations of course. (Note. The bank above became the Best Company to Work For, a year or two later.)

It's a new year and a good time to celebrate the Energy Fractal with a little Douglas Adams-esque whimsy.

The Energy Fractal: Or, Why the Universe is Always Busy Doing Something Ridiculous

Let’s begin with a simple truth: everything happens because of energy. From the hyperactive antics of subatomic particles to galaxies swirling in what can only be described as a cosmic waltz, energy is the stuff that keeps the universe from sitting quietly in the corner with a cup of tea. Without energy, the universe would do... well, absolutely nothing. Which is terribly boring. And the universe is not one for boredom.

Now, here’s the kicker: as soon as something happens, entropy shows up uninvited, like that one relative who always ruins family dinners. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is its calling card, and it dictates that energy must be wasted. Always. Inevitably. This is why your coffee goes cold, your car breaks down, and your sock drawer is never in perfect order. Entropy is the universe’s way of saying, “Nothing lasts forever, darling.”

But here’s where it gets interesting. While entropy is busy making a mess of things, there’s a loophole. A delightful little cosmic quirk that lets life, stars, and the occasional clever idea exist: repetition and recursion. When energy flows in and a system keeps doing something over and over—like the Earth spinning, cells dividing, or humans making terrible puns—something miraculous happens: evolution.

You see, with enough energy and a bit of persistence, systems can defy entropy just enough to create new levels of complexity. Think about it: the universe started as a hot, dense nothing, then turned into a swirling mass of somethings—stars, planets, life, Wi-Fi. Evolution is essentially the universe’s way of upgrading its operating system, patching bugs, and adding cool new features.

Here’s where the Energy Fractal comes in. Imagine a self-replicating pattern that takes energy, turns it into complexity, and repeats the process endlessly. It’s the ultimate cosmic cheat code. This fractal works everywhere, from electrons bouncing around to galaxies colliding, and, yes, to Homo sapiens, who are still trying to figure out how to use it without breaking something.

But there’s a catch (because of course there is). If you stop feeding energy into the system, entropy wins. The pattern falls apart. Complexity unravels. The sock drawer gets messy again. However, when you introduce fresh energy and keep things repeating—whether it’s a habit, a star, or a particularly stubborn species of ape—you create something that must evolve. And when it evolves, it doesn’t just survive; it thrives, creating new levels of order, intelligence, and occasionally a good soufflé.

In short, the Energy Fractal is how the universe keeps itself entertained. It’s the dance between energy, entropy, and evolution, a never-ending cycle that’s been playing out since the Big Bang. And it’s not just some abstract cosmic principle—it’s everywhere. In your body, your brain, your society, and your coffee machine. It’s the very essence of why things happen.

So next time you’re marveling at a sunrise, brainstorming your next big idea, or wondering why the universe insists on being so maddeningly chaotic, just remember: it’s all part of the Energy Fractal. And the best part? You’re in it, you’re part of it, and you’re helping it evolve.

Just try not to spill your tea along the way. That’s entropy’s job.

Our prediction and an invitation

The current media-hyped AI frenzy will pass. Until a few days ago the giants in this sector needed a nuclear power station to keep growing. In the meantime a few lads in China have created a worthy competitor - deepseek - with a few old transistors and a budget of about ten dollars. We need to watch this space as the game is just beginning. However the universal power and reality of the Energy Fractal will prove to be the real genius in the universe.

Contact me if you would like to know more about the true power of the Energy Fractal and how it can revolutionise the energy, performance and profitability of your organisation.

John Raddall, CEO Quanta Consulting

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