Think: In the 1800’s, technology (especially farm equipment and later tractors) helped countless young men get off of the farm and spend more time in school. In the 1900’s, advances in electricity as well as inventions such as the washing machine, stove, and vacuum cleaner helped many young women spend more time pursuing educational endeavors. In many places around the world, including Africa, too many young people still spend too much time engaged in grueling physical labor. This is will soon change due to technological progress and the world will be better because of these coming advances.

Think Harder: What is the future of cities after the pandemic? It is a great question and this article provides a handful of helpful ideas and suggestions. Whether you currently work or live in a city or whether your business has office space in a city, this is an issue worthy of thinking harder about now.

Think Smarter: Climate change has replaced the pandemic as insurer’s biggest worry. Cybersecurity is a close second. If you or your business aren’t taking both issues seriously you could soon find yourself without insurance because insurers are becoming increasing reluctant to provide insurance to those who don’t have clear and credible plans to address both threats. It is time to think smarter about both your plans to curb carbon emissions and cybersecurity.

Think Different: I have written about the metaverse in the past, but it is a term that may soon find its way into popular media. Some have described the metaverse as “a set of virtual spaces where you can create and explore with other people who aren’t in the same physical space as you.” Others have hailed it as the “successor to the internet.” Although neither the term nor the set of technological tools that will bring about the metaverse are yet fully developed, it is not too early to begin thinking about the platform.

Think the Unthinkable:  The people closest to the ground in the global supply chain–seafarers and truck drivers–are warning of a “global transport system collapse.” To better understand the severity of the situation consider this disturbing fact: At the peak of the Covid crisis, 400,000 seafarers were unable to leave their ships–many for as long as 18 months. Unfortunately, this is still happening and when these workers finally have the chance to get off their ships many may not be returning to this line of work. (If you are in the supply chain industry, it is time to begin thinking about contingency plans.)

Afterthought: “If you want something you have never had, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done.”–Dave Ramsey