just finished reading Inevitable Surprises by Peter Schwartz. Disappointing because I really wanted to dislike it, and it wasn't that bad. Wasn't that good either. I guess it's a useful round-up of things to think about in the future. But like all GBN things there seems to be this huge gap between the scenarios they describe and the practical world we live in. Not that I'm questioning their scenarios; they're always very informed, thoughful and imaginative. But one can never quite see what you're supposed to do about it. Perhaps it's because I'm a person and not a large organisation. They'd probably say it's a failing in me. That I'm not being imaginative enough.
I have a weird relationship with GBN, I went to a number of events through my boss and my company. And I found them really interesting in the abstract, and the website was full of provocative debate. But the events were always very off-putting. Maybe because I'm chronically unsociable, I didn't get much out of the social side and the 'learning journeys' always put me off. The worst moment was a learning journey in San Francisco at the height of the dotcom boom. The little group I was in; venture capitalists, corporate executives, senior NGO people, were supposed to go and visit various non-profits including a women's shelter. I just found the idea depressing, all these tossy business people peering at people like they were anthropolgical exhibits. I just ducked out. Didn't go back. Stupid really, but I hated their whole vibe.
Maybe it's changed now, I should revist the website and see.
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