Growth through leadership
14 October 2002

John Naisbitt was in town last week speaking to a congregation of Asian business leaders. This is of course the author of Megatrends and Megatrends Asia and has been described as the world's best known futurist.

True to his reputation, Naisbitt's speech was insightful, articulate, inspiring, humorous and philosophical. No reports or paraphrasing of his presentation could do this great trend-forecaster sufficient justice, but I would limit myself to one idea I picked up, or I think I picked up - the one on growth and leadership. What follows is my interpretation of the idea rather than a report of what he said.

Naisbitt pointed out that economic growth was a relatively new phenomenon, one that had only been around for two centuries. Before that, people lived in a largely predictable environment. Life was rather orderly. Economic growth is a consequence of increased human activities following increased population, because people were living longer, but more importantly, a consequence of advances in technology following the industrial revolution.

The industrial revolution however was not accompanied by social and cultural revolutions or changes that would be necessary to enable mankind to take full advantages of technological advances. Fortunately, in a free market, changes will take place anyway, with or without the people being aware of the changes or wanting the changes. The market place will self-organize and self-correct to produce a future in which the people could capitalize on technology, resulting in growth and an improved human race.

Communities which ride on technological advances and changes would do well, while those that cannot tend to suffer. This is where leadership comes in, particularly in bad or uncertain times. Strong leadership would provide a community a focus and the necessary steer. Governments with leadership tend to nurture and encourage entrepreneurship, which would in turn stimulate economic growth.

Rotarians are business and professional leaders and are by definition entrepreneurs. Now is the time they stand up and be counted. Now is the time they show their mettle.