Monthly Bulletin December 2024

Steve’s thoughts

The last Bulletin for the year feels like a good place to reflect on 2024 and a peak at 2025.

There are so many things I am grateful for, and equally so many things that I wanted to get done by now.

I’m not sure if it’s a function of my age, or that this year has been the busiest year since I launched Inspiring Business in late 2019, but this year felt like it flew by. I’m sure like me, January 2024 had a list of things to get done and mapped out. I found it challenging not to be swallowed up by the volume of change and information that pours into my world every day.

One area that I pursued with relish was Conscious Awareness. It’s a fascinating subject and as I develop my knowledge and how to apply it to my life and business I hope to share it in my messaging in 2025.

Not coping with the volume of information

My biggest challenge this year has been to filter the vast amount of information that flows in every day. It’s a conundrum because I want to be up to date with the latest business practices to help me run my business, and be a resource for the people I engage with.

I value the knowledge and information I receive from people who I know, like and respect. But unfortunately the majority of emails are unwanted ‘sales’ pitches. I’m expecting the volume to increase with the use of AI.

Speaking of AI, it’s another conundrum. I believe AI is a fantastic tool for sourcing information and improving processes. I am at the tip of the iceberg understanding how AI can have a significant impact on how I operate my business and the advice I give. But in the same breath I can imagine how this could get out of hand and contribute to another flood of digital noise under the guise of technological advancement.

It’s a very deep rabbit hole and it feels very reminiscent of the advent of the internet in the late 90’s and how that revolutionised business communication. You could make money on the internet then by teaching how to make money on the internet. I am seeing the same with the volume of AI “How to’s” and the “6 Steps to success” flooding the airwaves.

Analogue is making a comeback

Just like fashion, some things that were cool in the past are making a comeback, because they are different. Expect to see an increase in the amount of real mail arrive in your letter box.

Before the internet the only way marketers could get to you was through newspapers, magazines and TV advertising. And of course “Junk Mail”. Mail Order houses stuffed our letter boxes with printed brochures where we could ‘order’ through the mail.

I expect it will be a bit more sophisticated and clever in the approach and I have no doubt AI will play a part in finding out what to send.

Human Connections

I’m not sure about this. I hear a lot of talk from people saying that we are less connected now than ever, even though we have a network of communication tools that provide instant access to each other. And this ‘effeiciency of communication’ has had the unintended consequence of ‘disengagement’.

I get it, it’s much easier to send a text or email, but what is lost is the ability to include the nuances that go with a message that is complex. English is a difficult language and easily misinterpreted, and when digital is used as the main communication medium in business it will always cause issues.

I’m hoping that there will be experiments with the concept of doing it ‘old school’. Talking!

Just like in the 80’s and 90’s when Friday was ‘mufty’ day where you could wear casual clothes to work, what if we experimented with no digital day. Where you can’t send a text or email to send a new message. It has to be a phone call or a face to face. Or you have to leave your phone outside the meeting room. I can see some of you sweating with dread at the thought of not being connected at the hip with your phone.

It’s amazing when you tell a joke in person, you don’t have to say lol at the end.The response tells you straight away whether it was funny or not.

Excited to see what the next generation will do.

There is a clear generational change coming as the Baby Boomers take their leave and go off to do less business stuff and more lifestyle pursuits.

I’m keen to see what the next generations will step in and experiment with.

There is likely to be a continuation of the growth of digital opportunities, but as the non-digital businesses, like manufacturing, start to change hands I wonder what the difference in leadership and management will be.

I don’t have a definite read on this, but I have an inkling that it will be more lifestyle based.

What I do predict is that there will need to be very different in the way of managing staff. The days of “Do it my way or the Highway” will alienate the staff as they are already showing signs of wanting purpose and impact to be at the centre of why they come to work.

This is an anathema for most of the business elders, but it’s becoming a more common theme of the emerging leaders.

What I also know is that because managing this way hasn’t been done before, there will be mistakes and unintended consequences.

Every generation has it’s brilliance and also it’s failings.