Is this generation of humans keeping up with all the changes impacting careers, business, and society, created by our fast adoption of technology?

Welcome to the second installment of "The Business Brief" We live in complicated times. The world is living with a lot of uncertainty but history has shown us that we always adapt, evolve, and overcome. This issue covers work, economics, politics, retailing and technology. In addition to a little bit of sarcasm and fun.

The question in the main headline above is intentionally placed there to provoke thoughts and the impact this continuously changing and disruptive world is having on everyone. The opportunities in careers, business and society are not all equal. Interestingly it wouldn't happen if it were not for our adoption of technology, a specific point which filters through this issue. For reference, I also use the term human quite extensively. Why? Because everything effects our human lives and humanity.

"Technology is not a human, it is an asset in your business, intended to help humans turn the right decisions into competitive strategies faster. At least for now."

About two years ago I took a couple of programs at MIT on Machine Learning, AI, and Robotics. Not to become an expert, but to learn from the real experts. They confirmed what I thought about the future of these technologies in business, work, and life in general. Experts and academics agree that technology will eliminate jobs that I refer to as the analog world. We will see a more diverse and complicated digital world. They also agree that new jobs will be created. The go-forward challenge is can everyone learn the necessary new skills to stay employed? And how much is the pandemic-driven economy coupled with the continued disruptive innovation and technology also making workers rethink their futures? It plays on workers' minds because of what they've heard and know about their internal business transformations. Good and indifferent, nevertheless it comes as no surprise workers are looking for change. Key Learning #1: If you are not up to speed on technology take the time to understand it.

"Are humans quitting their jobs before this pandemic economy and the next stage of technology makes that decision for them?"

In short, I am going to answer this question by saying yes. People are leaving because they see something that no longer fits their long-term plans. Key Learning #2: No matter where we choose to work today change will always follow us. That was one of the best lessons that I learned early in my career. "Don't wait for anyone to tell you where and when your next move is coming from." You own that! Every article I've read about the Great Exit has me intrigued with one question in mind. What have employers done to deserve this? Better yet, what haven't they done to deserve this? And then I remembered a song by none other than the Pet Shop Boys band. The song??What have I done to deserve this??Just click on the highlighted words to listen. The lyrics are fitting. Imagine your employer singing this, "You always wanted me to be something I wasn't. You always wanted too much, oh oh." How true! That's part of the problem between organizations and their relationships with their employees. Each has become displaced and disenfranchised by the other. One or the other is no longer in the inner circle. Yes,?"Meet The Fockers"?came to mind as well, so I've added a clip of how the inner circle can be used to manipulate. If you decide to listen to this, think cultures as the inner circle, sometimes toxic or effective.?Then again perhaps technological transformations do have something to do with exits.

Legal - Employment "The Right To Disconnect" From Work

While job satisfaction, workplace conditions, and toxic leaders are common themes for departures. I believe that there are other drivers. Job security, working from home, and having a greater work-life balance are significant. Case in point the Ontario Government in Canada has just passed a law for employees to have?the right to disconnect. In translation, you don't have to answer those emails or calls on your days off. Maybe! Employers will be scrambling to improve their company's work-life balance. And there is more to come on this one.

Some stats (US based) keeping in mind all of this was in 2019 pre-pandemic

• Dynamic Signal (2019): 63% of US workers are ready to quit their jobs due to stress.
• Randstad (2019): ?Around 46% of workers are considering joining the gig economy.
• Gallup: 51% of US workers are mentally “checked out” at work.

I am convinced that many executives and managers are seeing the changes coming to workplaces. It's not rocket science. It is very likely that many workers are or will be thinking about their next move over the next 12 months. Especially in this uncertain environment. Key Learning #3: Simultaneously ask yourself what gaps are missing between your own current capabilities and those needed in the future? Besides, we have entered an era where the need for continuous personal development just went up 1000% in importance. It's the right plan to stay in the game.

"We humans didn't just create this new retail world, and its upheaval. Much to our surprise we have also redefined the workplace, the types of jobs available and what it means to have a career today. After all we bought all the smartphones, tablets and apps."?

About twenty years ago, a TV network had done an episode on Nordstroms shoe sales associates who were earning up to $100k a year! Shoe sales staff were delivering shoes to customers' offices and homes. Customers were raving about the service. It sparked a whole generation of service-minded experiences for other retailers. So what has happened to this world of service? Most of what has and continues to occur in retail and other service-based businesses are generally self-inflicted. Who is driving this service change? Consumers are or should I say technology users. Just wait till the Metaverse get's into the workplace. It's already started, more on this next week.

"What consumers were thinking in July and now another variant."

In July of this year, during the Delta variant, we conducted a poll with a question. "Which of these describes your sentiment when it comes to your preferred shopping experience?" Slightly over forty percent said that "Convenient & Fast Service" was their number one preference, followed by "Neither it is about Price," which was 33.4% of respondents. Only 11.9% want "Personalized Service," and 14% want an Online (e-commerce) shopping preference because they don't have time. We've seen what these changes have done to retailing. And we know what it means to other sectors like buying eyewear or a car, and I believe call centres are a frustrating point for consumers as well. At least they are for me.

As I have said in a couple of my books. The introduction of the Smartphone (iPhone) in 2007 liberated consumers from their offices, homes, and computers. It changed everything. Turning mobile phones into handheld supercomputers, there is very little that you can't do. There is likely an app under development if we can't do it yet.

We as consumers, are driving all the changes that are affecting the future of work, careers, industries, and everything else. Companies are chasing the digital trail we are leaving behind. Key Learning #4: We can't impact and influence a changing world if we don't understand its cause and effects.

"Meanwhile many retailers are only half way through this transformational journey, thousands anxiously struggle to evolve from Web1.0 and leap frog into the Next Generation of Retailing."

I know you will tell me that we are already into Web2.0, but you would be surprised how many businesses are not. I know of chains that have more than 100 stores that are archaic. They are still in an analog-physical world instead of a Digital-Physical one. Growth for organizations unable to make that next leap is limited. But some acquisitions in 2021 driven by retailers that have already made that transformational leap successful are on the move. Read more?here. They are setting the stage for a new future. It seems consolidation is the strategy to contain costs structures and gain more control over supply chains. Ultimately, keeping good brands alive.

Over the last two decades, retailers have faced incredible challenges. Others have tried to redefine direction for them, rethink the future. Some have also attempted to express it as a dystopian world taken over by conglomerates. They may be right, if we lived in a sci-fi drama with only a few characters. Either way, this industry has been overwhelmed by change and obliterated by following the wrong strategies or discovering the right ones too late.

As long as humans seek more simplification in their lives, greater convenience, and a lot less friction, this will be the accelerator for business growth. This will impact more consumer-facing businesses with far too many friction points and those disrupted by innovation and creative destruction. The drug store, auto sector, and eye-care sectors are examples of where more change is coming.

"Three global threats not to ignore with the potential to suppress economic recoveries and stop the world from developing and benefiting every human."

China has its sights on controlling the South China Sea and taking over Taiwan. This island nation has never been a part of China. Learn more?here. Obviously, the world worries about what's next? China already lays claim to parts of the South China Sea and badgers fishing vessels. The second geopolitical threat is Russia and Ukraine. Russia has been building its military presence on the border, and it has received stern warnings to back off. Learn more?here. Incredibly, Russia could be a more positive and powerful ally in Europe and the world if it simply stopped its aggressive approach to dominate Europe and meddle in world affairs. The third is this virus. It is as stubborn as old political biases. Besides all promises of normalization, it is clear we won't be partying like it's 2019. Couple that with inflation, and it is creating havoc with investor and consumer confidence which isn't a good sign. Learn more?here. It is time we began to build the world with Covid and adapt to these changes to avoid dragging out difficult economic times. Finally, all of these have one thing in common they can derail our economic recovery. Imagine a political conflict in Asia that can shut down supply chains more severely than the pandemic. All industries need to reconsider some sort of reshoring.?

Other things in the world to watch for:

US: Inflation and higher wages consumer impact, Read more here

India: Salesmen threaten to disrupt supply chains. Read more here

Canada: New concept stores without staff Aisle24 expanding in Canada Read more here

World: Omicron- will likely impact supply chains further, the world waits to see if vaccines are effective Read more here

Why in the world did I write these books?

Honestly? I was really?horrified?by a lot of what I was hearing and reading as strategies and direction for any business that served the public. None of it made sense to me. Twenty-five years of leading businesses and brands globally from startups in foreign countries to turning around country businesses, you just can't sit quietly and pretend you agree, that's just not good leadership. Besides, I was never one to hold back and not ask a leader the question he hoped no one would ask.

If you are interested The Great Transition The Emergence of Unconventional Leadership (here) or my latest book The New Bricks & Mortar Future Proofing Retail (here)

You can also listen to me along with #TheBusinessOfRetail podcast crew. (here)

I would also like your feedback on this newsletter. And please forward it to anyone you believe would benefit.