What George Clooney, Woody Allen, and Quentin Tarantino Have In Common That Should Change Your Life

Are we living totally distracted lives? Are we able to think deeply and reflect meaningfully on the rhythms of our lives, or are we being hurtled on waves of information that take us away from the moments of our lives that we'll never get back? It's a loaded question, I know; but it should be one that gives us all pause. 

An article in the Washington Post lays out several studies, one in 2003, another in 2014, and a recent one showing that students who use laptops in class actually perform worse than those who don't. A new study conducted by MIT at the United States Military Academy compared the exam results of students in classes that allowed laptop use and those classes that prohibited them. An economics professor allowed 1/3 of his economics class to use laptops to take notes, another 1/3 to use tablets, and another 1/3 to use no technology at all in the classroom. The students who were prohibited from using laptops had an average score 18% higher than their lap-top wielding counterparts. The research also tested tablet-only classrooms, but the result was not markedly different from the laptop classrooms. And even though students were not allowed to check email or play video games, the technology still seemed to interfere with their learning. 

The study in 2014, performed by a researcher from Yale and another from Princeton showed that students who used laptops in classrooms retained less information than those who used longhand; that somehow in the process of typing, there wasn't the strong neural connections to the learning than those who went through the process of writing. One insight was that students tended to type out the lectures word for word, whereas those writing in long-hand had to process the information into their own words, which required a higher level of thinking than simply flicking ones hands across the keys. 

Such insights seem to be intuitively understood by a number of famous writers and even movie producers. George Lucas maintains he has avoided the Internet for 15 years. The prolific movie producer, Woody Allen--whose made a movie a year for the past 50 years, it seems--doesn't have a computer, doesn't use email, and has a "limited-use cellphone." Similarly, George Clooney doesn't use a computer, and Quentin Tarantino writes all his movies by hand in fresh notebooks and black and red pens. The same can be said for the Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin, and the proliferous Danielle Steele. 

What these, and many other, writers understand is that their work requires tremendous focus: all you have is a blank sheet of paper to stare into and create an imaginary world with. If you are distracted at all, you're done for. 

So how is that different from any other activity that requires focus? It doesn't. And this study by MIT is on the way to proving it. And not only are there continuous reports and studies emerging about the distracting nature of technology, there are others claiming that our brains are literally being re-wired, such as the book The Shallows by Nicholas Carr that argues that as we're surfing the net and googling ourselves into oblivion, we're losing our ability to think deeply. 

So what to do? We live in an emergent technological age. There is more technology today than at any other time in the history of the human race. And we have only lived with the Internet for 25 years, and with remote devices about 15 years, and the results of all this technology use will not be in for another 20 years when we look back and see how it's all changed us. We are becoming a different species. In many ways, the past 30,000 years of human existence are being rewritten: when once we were largely agrarian people, now the majority of us couldn't light a fire from scratch, or hunt and cook basic food. In fact, the most deaths in the wild are caused from starvation in spite of the ample availability of food. 

So what do we do? We have to somehow reclaim our lives, our memories, our focus, our reliance on the knowledge and wisdom passed along from generations of people who have lived before us. We have to have greater discipline over our technological tools. We have to see them as they are, and not what we want them to be. As Wired Editor and famous techno-thought-leader Kevin Kelly argued in his book What Technology Wants, we have to think of technology as an overgrown hedge and just cut it all back to a manageable size. We have to in the meantime reclaim our lives, and have our heads in the present moment of relationships and memory making (not picture taking) and reflection; we need to have computer prohibition movements in our lives and homes--at least for a time--in which we unplug ourselves from them and breathe in some fresh air without the positive ions from a computer screen. We need to reclaim our sleeping patterns by turning our phones off and refusing to stare at their screens when we can't sleep. 

Our children is another issue. I've written before about the importance of shutting off the television, and about executives of the fortune 5 tech companies who don't let their kids use tablets or iPhones or computers; whose grade five children have never done a Google search. Are we getting the picture yet? This stuff that we take for granted and spend tens of thousands of dollars on is compromising our lives. And there are those, like the celebs above, who understand this reality, and a vast majority of those who don't. 

Consider us warned. The data are out there. We are waking up to this reality. We now know. But will we listen?...

14 Things About Eating Gluten-Free That You Really Need To Know

I like dessert--particularly cake and cookies. When I'm at a function, and there's a big rich-looking gluten-free chocolate cake, I gravitate right to it and cut myself a big wedge. Now I haven't been diagnosed with Celiac disease, I just happen to like how gentle a gluten-free cake or cookie can be on my stomach. And a gluten-free dessert is healthier than its gluten counterpart--isn't it?  

Here are 10 things about gluten free you didn't know, but definitely need to:

1. About 35,000 Canadians have been diagnosed with celiacdisease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by the protein. 

2. Between four and seven million Canadians are “gluten avoiders,” choosing gluten-free products because they believe that it’s a healthier choice.

3. A landmark study by researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax, published in the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research in 2008, revealed that gluten-free foods were, on average, 242 per cent more expensive than their “regular” counterparts, and up to 455 per cent pricier in some cases.

4. A newly published study by the Dieticians Association of Australia quantifying the cost of gluten-free foods shows a family with two children can pay up to 17 per cent more for a gluten-free diet, with the cost blowing out for single men on welfare, and thus "demonstrates for the first time that a gluten-free diet is a significant financial burden for many Australian family types”.

5. In 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a regulation that defined “gluten-free” for food labeling. This regulation provided consumers the guarantee that the gluten-free food they purchased was indeed gluten-free. Gluten-free is a claim that is used by manufacturers voluntarily, but if it is used, it must conform to the FDA regulation of less than 20 parts per million (ppm) gluten. (Burdock Group)

6. Canada's gluten-free industry, in 2014, was $500 million annually.

7. The US gluten-free industry in 2014 was $4 billion annually. 

8. The British gluten-free market is worth approx US$500 Million annually and forecasted to grow to US $1Billion by 2017 

9. Unless you have celiac disease, a gluten-free diet can actually damage your health, according to Dr. Norelle Reilly, of Columbia University Medical Centre, in New York.

10. Gluten free packaged foods frequently contain a greater density of fat and sugar than their gluten-containing counterparts. (Dr. Norelle Reilley)

11. Obesity, overweight and new-onset insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome have been identified after initiation of a gluten-free diet" (Dr. Norelle Reilly)

12. A gluten-free diet adopted by people not diagnosed with Celiac disease, “also may lead to deficiencies in B vitamins, folate, and iron, given a lack of nutrient fortification of many gluten-free products” (Dr. Norelle Reilly).

13. There is no evidence that processed gluten free foods are healthier nor have there been proven health or nutritional benefits of a gluten free diet. There are no data to support the theory of intrinsically toxic properties of gluten in otherwise healthy adults and children. 

14. Gwyneth Paltrow, Posh Spice, Miley Cyrus, tennis star Novak Djokovic, Russell Crowe, Bill Clinton, Ryan Gosling are all celebrity advocates of a gluten-free diet. The author has yet to uncover evidence of endorsement monies from gluten-free corporations to these and other celebs. 

If you think you have Celiac disease, it is advised to consult your doctor for a proper prognosis. If you just enjoy eating gluten-free because you think it's better for you, or it's cool, or because your favourite celebrity endorses it, think twice. There's no issue with enjoying it from time to time at your family cook-out, but there can be health and financial ramifications from uncritically eating a gluten-free diet that are indeed unnecessary. 

These 6 Kinds Of People Will Thrive In A Post-Economic Collapse Society

There is growing tension in the global economy as of late. Many bankers and analysts and journalists are forecasting a major economic crisis for sometime this year--perhaps the Fall--as the world is poised for some kind of economic reset. 

But what would that really mean? We are already in the midst of a transition to a new civilization, as I've written before, but do we really understand what it would mean if what know about economics and money and the exchange of goods and services would crumble--if those systems we have relied upon for half a century were to be somehow reset. 

Right now, most people live in urban environments, contrary to where the majority of North Americans lived 50 years ago, namely rural areas. And most jobs have 'transitioned' from manual labour to 'knowledge work', that is, performing various roles that require working with information rather than, say, soil and seeds. This has created a system of reliance upon mass produced, mass farmed food products, and mass transit systems through which to ship it. The problem is, it's unsustainable. If the economy were ever to crater, and those 'services' went bankrupt, where would the food come from?

I've also written about the importance of up-skilling by taking college courses, etc, to stay requisite to the demands of a rapidly changing economy and work force. But that response might, however, be too late. Already we're seeing headlines like that from Financial Times that instate a call to action over the automation of jobs--and it's not just manual jobs, but knowledge work as well! 

So let's say come fall we hit an economic crisis of crises, and the economy falls apart. Who will be on the right side of that catastrophe? The following are the top-rated jobs in the event of an economic collapse (inspired by a great little article at All Self Sustained:

1. Gardener, Farmer, Horticulturist:  These are people who have knowledge of food production. I drove past a mennonite field on the week-end, in which a number of farmers were ploughing using horses--talk about master farmers! Anyone with skills in providing food will be very busy during the next economic collapse.

2. Anything to do with Water: From treatment to procurement to sourcing to storing, people will need water, and it won't be available for purchase in fancy plastic bottles. Additionally, waste management, plumbing, and construction skills to build these systems will be critical. 

3. Builders: Those who can build shelters, especially with natural materials and means will be in high demand. If you've ever seen the TV show "Live Free or Die" you know what I mean. Imagine living in a time of complete scarcity and trying to build some shelter--without modern tools? Those who are able to build homes, shelters, barns, etc will be very busy. 

4. Alternative Energy: We'll need energy--that's for sure. Barring there isn't access to oil and gas, we'll need to heat our homes. Those who understand how to build solar panels and create geo-thermal systems, among other solutions, will be in high demand.

A Forest Dweller, from the TV series Live Free or Die

5. Protection and Security: In the event of a collapse, there will be chaos. The super-rich are already preparing for this by building high-end bunkers and 'panic rooms'--in fact, industry sales have increased 30% over the past year alone. If you're a police officer, and/or have military experience. you will be highly valuable for helping people feel safe, as well as provide security systems that will ward off looters and other criminals. 

6. Medical professionals: This is pretty obvious when you think about all the various things that could  go wrong, and how people's safety could be compromised. Consider also what happens when pharmaceuticals are scarce and millions of people on anti-depressants are in cold turkey mode. People who can care for others' physical well-being will be in high demand.

If you're able to care for basic needs, you'll be in a good position to transition to this new civilization. For the rest, if you're reading this and wondering how to up-skill, consider taking one or more of the above skills and learn them. Gardening is one easy first-step: you can grow one in your backyard and practice. Other skills might take some time, such as building and nursing, but there's value in it. 

10 Things Every Soccer Mom and Dad Need To Know About The Perfect Game

It's summer soccer season, and for all those who not only pay the high price for admission to the perfect game but also give up two plus nights per week watching your kids, this is a big thumbs up for your courage and self-sacrifice--even though it gets you out of the house and some time to catch up on hourly shifts in Facebook traffic, and perhaps post some glam-shots of your son or daughter. One of the most difficult things about being a soccer parent is realizing that your child is not you and you're not your child--it's hard behaving ourselves sometimes, especially when the coach isn't playing your kid, or the ref is acting like a time-bomb, or the coach on the opposite team has something in for your child (happened to me once--in U5, of all things!). 

Hence, to celebrate the opening of soccer season, and as a refresher, here are some rules of engagement for soccer moms and dads everywhere:

1. Be positive: It's not the World Cup or the Euro Cup, or the English Premier League Championship--it's your kid's soccer. They're going to feel as good about their performance as they believe you do. Be good and positive. If you're in a grouchy mood from work, kick a ball around a bit on the sidelines, or do some chin-ups at the cross-bar of one of the empty goals. Positive support of the coaches and refs is important also: if you call the coach a doofus, what do you think your child will call him or her?

2. Children play for their enjoyment not yours: Guess what--your kid's soccer isn't about you. They're not showing up to give you a show and make you feel like you're nurturing the next Lionel Messi--you're most-likely not. Let your child have fun, regardless of how that effects performance on the field.

3. Encourage rule-keeping: One of the big take-aways of sports is learning to play by rules in a group.  Your child will have to have this skill growing up--even if part of that skill is knowing which rules to break at which time. Boundaries are important. Even if you want your son to be the next Donald Trump or your daughter to be the next Marissa Mayer, it's important that they learn to play by the rules--at least when they're 9 years old. 

4. Be present: The number of parents I see at games with their heads down staring at their mobile devices while their child is kicking butt on the field is astounding--not to mention looks absolutely ridiculous. It's a beautiful evening, you're there with your child--it's a good time to be present for him and her and put your phone away. 

5. Don't play movie trailers: Yup--I was on the sidelines just this evening when a couple of soccer moms stuck up the movie trailer for some romance comedy as loud as they probably played AC/DC out their Camero window in high school. First time I had experienced that--crazy. For the love of all that's good and decent in the world, keep YouTube off--or at least share headphones.

6. Applaud all good plays: I know, it's hard: the opposing team's secret weapon just ripped-curled a brilliant strike past your son in the top corner of the net. You have to admit it was an extraordinary play. Applaud your son's effort and the child who scored Beckham style: it'll make your kid feel better about letting it in, and you'll keep the game in better perspective. 

7. Reward effort, not skill: It's typical of parents to tell their kids how brilliant or gifted or skilled they are; but guess what? It messes them up, leaving them to think that if they screw up once or twice they're no longer smart or skilled, so they try less and less. The best thing to do is tell your child how hard he/she worked, how much effort you saw them put in, and how the more they try and work hard, the better they'll get. That's how winners think.

8. Don't be a car coach: It's easy to slip into coach mode on the way home from the game, telling your child what he/she should've done, how they could've improved their scoring chances, how they're played too far back in goal, and so on--but it's not good for your child's esteem, and it puts you in the position of judge and critic rather than supporter. It's best to, again, to reward the effort, the hard work; to reflect on those plays in which he/she really played hard. All that other stuff will just sound critical, and possibly demoralize your child. 

9. Leave coaching to the coach: "Run to the net!" "Get in position!" "Take it up!" "Shoot it!" "Support! Support" "Pass pass pass!" What's a child to do with all that shouting from the sideline? The coach yells "Pass!", you yell "Shoot!" and the child thinks "Get me outta here!" I've done it; I've seen others do it; and it's just not great. Even if you think the coach is a bit too passive, it's best just to  let him/her coach your child. They often have a much better attitude about it than you do, and are there to provide a context for your child to have fun. Tell your when he/she has had a nice play, but leave it at that. 

10. Rise to a higher level: Sport is important for building the body, heart, and mind--it's why humans have had some kind of competition for millennia. As you're taking your child to soccer, share with them the importance of being a good sport, of playing competitively but with dignity, of having honour and a strong sense of solidarity and camaraderie--these are the higher ideals of sport; those universals that transcend scoreboards and media attention. Teach them the importance of failure in overcoming boundaries; of effort in the face of adversity; of greater victory that comes even with defeat. As you raise your children to that higher level of ethics, of those universals that transcend a particular game, soccer and those evenings on the field will take on a completely different resonance: for it won't be about you, it won't be about Wednesday evening at 6:30--it'll be about authentically being human, and sharing that humanity with your child. How much better can it get than that.

8 Easy Things To Do When You Just Need Some Sleep

We all need a good night's sleep. How often do you hit the sack totally exhausted, at whit's end--especially if your a parent of young children--only to find you feel much better the following morning? This all sounds axiomatic, but sleep is becoming harder to come by these days. In a study by Statistics Canada, the longer hours you work, the less you sleep. As well, if you are a parent, you sleep less than those without children. If you are married or live with a partner, you sleep less than those who live alone. If you feel rushed at least several times a week, you tend to sleep less. All these factors lead to less sleep. As well, more people are using electronics in bed, which are also contributing to disturbed sleep patterns, and thus less sleep. 

So what can we do to get ourselves calmed down and ready for bed? What are some good  soporifics (sleep inducers) that can help us? 

1. Technology: This is a big one. We are so accustomed to using technology that we don't realize its effects on sleep patterns through radiation and other means. Turn off your wifi before bed--or just leave it off when you aren't using the internet. Also, keep cell and cordless phones away from your body, unless they are completely powered off. Don't use your tablets and phones in bed. Avoid any bluetooth technology as well in and around your bed or body. Shut down all bluetooth on your devices if you are leaving them on. 

2. Electrical devices: Keep all electrical devices away from your sleeping area, including TVs, refrigerators, WIFI modems, stoves, stereos, phones, etc. 

3. Hot water and honey: The elixir from bees is an amazing soporific. Dilute a tablespoon in some hot water and drink before bed. Apparently the glucose in the honey will signal to the brain to turn off the neurotransmitters linked to alertness.

4. Warm milk: A classic--for those who aren't lactose intolerant, or who are but don't mind. 

5. Half banana, handful of almonds: combination of tryptophan, carbs, and magnesium might do the trick. Substitute cherries for bananas, which will release melatonin.

6. Complex carbs: It's probably why many people like to snack on potato chips before bed or a bowl of cereal. The body produces serotonin as it breaks them down.

7. Deep breathing: Sometimes our brains are so fried from work that we can't settle it down. Deep breathing can relax the mind and body. 

8. Reading: This is a favourite of mine, but the choice of book is critical: nothing scary--it'll give you nightmares; something lengthy, and convoluted; a book that is interesting enough to keep you reading, but long-winded enough to put you to sleep, such as a biography or a history of some major battle. 

5 Things To Do When You Feel Like A Complete Loser And Nothing's Going Right

So you're bored tired and sick. Nothing's working for you. You feel like a wreck and can't get a clear idea through your head. You've got deadlines and projects lining your cubicle, but can't get your head into it. If you were a baseball player, you'd have struck out every time at bat; if you were an engineer, your bridge would've collapsed; if you were a painter, you'd try to peddle a blank canvas off as just darn good post-modern art; if you were a salesperson, you'd be offering people money to buy your product; if you were a cartoon character, you'd be E-Ore; if you were in a movie, it would be Dumb and Dumber. Woody Allen put it best: I never want to be part of a group that considers me a member. Well this is you. What are you going to do about it?

1. Sit back: Ok...you've got stuff piling up everywhere, you have demands on you from deadlines to picking up the kids to walking the dog--and you can't see your way through it. It's ok. Sit back, relax. Life isn't about that deadline or all those responsibilities seemingly hanging over your head--it's really just perspective. 

2. Breathe: When you breathe, you bring oxygen to your brain. When you're stressed out, cortisol rushes from your kidneys to your brain causing temporary brain impairment--yes, you actually become dumber! Breathing is going to get oxygen back into your brain, and will help calm the nerves. Now don't breathe yourself into hyper ventilation--just breathe.

3. Look inside: You're all stuffed up in your head--you've got issues pressing down on you from all sides, and your brain is rushing through databases of worries at a terabyte per nanosecond. Get out of your head, and look inside--into your heart. What's going on? How's it beating? What does it want? Does it want the same as your head? Chances are, it doesn't. It's hard to get your heart and your head together--they're often on entirely different wave lengths. Our head is all about our egos, which makes screwing up difficult--we all do everything we can to preserve that fragile little image we manufacture every waking moment of our life. The heart often wants something else: community, to be loved, to love others, to live for purpose and meaning, to be in the moment. When you look inside your heart, you see things that you couldn't when you were all in your head.

4. Be grateful: There's so much research coming out about the importance of gratitude. Even while you're sitting in that pallid cubicle at work, or reading this on your iPhone in a packed out subway train, you have so many things to be grateful for. Look at those things--inside. Now count them. How many can you count? 3, 5, 35, 100? Can you keep going? Breath, life, health, a job, family, an amazing partner or spouse, sunlight--on and on you can go. Continue looking in; continue being grateful. 

5. Put it back in perspective: You've sat back, breathed, looked inside, and noted what you're grateful for. Now you're ready to put it all back in perspective. Does that project you're in really seem that important to lose your health over? Do your responsibilities from picking up kids to cooking to walking the dog open to you opportunities to build your relationships with those you love most? Have you found a quiet moment of solitude that has opened you to a different way of experiencing life? Continue breathing; continue looking in your heart; continue being grateful... 

See--things aren't that bad. In fact, they're probably pretty good. They probably could be a whole lot worse--something definitely to be thankful for. Now return to your work, your obligations, your to-do list; but do so with that grateful heart. 

10 Simple Ways To Prepare For The Future For Those Who Aren't Prepared

Most of the posts on this blog have a thread running through them that when reflected upon reveals a disquieting state of affairs: that we are transitioning to a new society. There is so much change going on all over the world that trying to unpack it results in something more akin to misrepresenting the flickers of light on the surface of the ocean for the very ocean itself. In most areas of our civilization we are seeing rapid change. There are many very credible sources claiming that the world is teetering on the edge of economic crisis. As one writer observed in Prepper Fortress, 

Countries are starting to fall like dominos. Argentina, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Portugal, and Spain have gone into economic collapse. Europe is entering their economic collapse this very weekend, as a bank holiday was declared and haircut announce on all bank deposits. Italy is very close to an economic collapse. 

You don't have to look far in the news to see this; in fact, if you do a gut-check, you can sense that things aren't good--and that's a mild way of putting it. 

As we're in transition, it's time now to begin preparing your plan. If you had to endure a power-outage for 12 hours, would you be prepared? What about a 72 hour food shortage? Are you in the right physical condition to face challenging times? Are you reliant on prescriptions? Are you addicted to drugs and/or alcohol? Are you in a financial position to survive a month or two without a job? Do you have things that you can barter in an emergent collapsed economy? These are things that you should be thinking about now when there's time.

Below is a quick list of things to get you started in your preparation, if you haven't already. And while Canada hasn't been impacted as much as Europe or the US, it is plausible that as a system we are so intertwined internationally that what happens to one will inevitably happen to us. It might not, but it's important to be prepared.

There are a number of great websites out there with very specific and well-documented information, some of which I will link to here. My purpose for this post is to get you thinking about it, and begin the process of researching for yourself and getting prepared in the best way you can. It doesn't mean dashing off right now to build an underground bunker surrounded with barbed wire and 24/7 surveillance; but it does mean giving some thought and putting some resource aside for the right time.  Maybe you're the kind of person who loves serving others--this too will help you.

1. (Re-)Build Family Ties: Having strong family bonds in times of uncertainty is vital; you never know when you will be needed, or when you will need the help of a loved one. If you have fallen out of communication with some of your family, or have moved away from them, consider ways of getting closer with them. 

2. Build Community: Having a strong community of friends and relations is also important. A strong community is built around trust; and when the world is uncertain, it's important--as the case with family--to have strong bonds with non-family members. Social capital in a collapsed economy is a tremendous asset; being alone in such times can be fatal.

3. Learn to Grow Food: If you haven't done so already, start a garden. It's a good time to do it when food is still in relative abundance--you can practice techniques, and not worry if things don't turn out. This is one of the most important ways you and your family will survive in a period of collapse. Chickens and rabbits are very good sources of food. If you don't know how to do it, there are plenty of resources out there to get you started.

4. Get a Personal List: Survival expert and acclaimed author, James Wesley Rawles--whose work in this area is prolific--suggests having a personal list of items that you have stored away, such as prescription glasses, prescription drugs, comforts, birth control, a small library of books, etc.

5. Get In Shape: If you are carrying extra weight, lose it. If you are inactive, get out there. Begin to build your strength and endurance a bit. I'm not saying you need to run 10K every day; but get out for a walk once a day and cut down on junk food--you'll notice a difference. Self-sufficiency and maintenance take a great deal of on-going strength. 

6. The Basics: The Economic Collapse blog suggests the following basics: 

• an axe
• a can opener
• flashlights
• battery-powered radio
• extra batteries
• lighters or matches
• fire extinguisher
• blankets
• sewing kit
• duct tape
• tools

7. Upskill to Usefulness: Do you know how to farm? Learn. Do you know how to service your car? Learn. Do you know how to build stuff? Learn. 

8. Build a home-business: If you are good at farming or fixing cars or renovating and repairing homes, you might consider starting a home business that can be used to generate income in the event companies start laying masses off. Being self-sufficient financially will be important.

9. Self-reliant: This is not to suggest being a 'selfie' or holding the false belief that you don't need anyone; rather, it's important that you learn to do things yourself, such as grow food, repair things in your house, etc. During a collapse, the services we take for granted will most likely not be available. 

10. Stay Informed: It's important to begin now--if you haven't already--to understand the times we're living in. Story after story, I read that we are in the midst of a transition to a new civilization. Will it emerge out of crisis? I don't know. Will it be a completely different world? Yes. Look around: politics, technology, environment, economics--every part of our world is in tremendous flux. Do research daily; follow both conventional and non-conventional media sources; read books; and above all, keep your eyes and ears open. Ask yourself: given the data I've read, where do I see this whole thing going over the next 3-5 years? And what would I need to prepare for if the scenario I just surmised came true? If you don't trust your own predictions, check out those of others, staring with the links throughout this post. 

Don't believe me? That's ok. I'm not saying that tomorrow is going to be doomsday; but it's hard to ignore what's going on around us; and being prepared for several different scenarios is always a good thing. If you're skeptical, do the research yourself and keep an open mind. As with all issues in our world, you'll see a spectrum of beliefs and strategies. The key is to find the thread that connects them all, and test whether that thread is plausible. If it is, then your next step is to get a list together. Hopefully this post helped start the whole process.

Computer Devices Soon To Be Obsolete--Welcome To The World Of AI

I sat in an IT meeting one day with some of my colleagues, during which one of them claimed that Apple was planning to phase out the laptop computer in place of ever-powerful tablet computers. It's a strange thing to think about: that device you've used for the last 15 years suddenly and slowly being phased out. Back in the days of laptop glory, many of us would be hard-pressed to think of anything other than working on a laptop--that was before Steve Jobs stunned the tech world with the iPhone and then, in spite of it being the model upon which the iPhone was built, the iPad. (I love the story of the advent of the iPhone: Steve Jobs stormed into Apple HQ and threw his phone on the table--"This thing is crap! We've gotta design a better solution to this--I can't bare to use it another day!" Title of story: How discomfort is the mother of innovation.)

Google made headlines today when its CEO Sundar Pichai claimed that mobile devices would soon be phased out, replaced by some kind of artificial intelligence that would organize one's life. Sundar was referring to the shareholder's letter written yearly by Sergey and Larry. The letter, posted up Google's Blogger site, starts off with a window back in time when in 1998 Larry and Sergey began Google search 30 million people were using the Internet. Today, the number is 3 billion. And in those days it was a laptop-driven world--the laptop was the symbol for information mobility, until the mobile device that created the conditions for Google search to absolutely serge, as the billions coming online placed greater demands for finger-tip control of information. As Larry and Sergey note:

The mobile phone really has become the remote control for our daily lives, and we’re communicating, consuming, educating, and entertaining ourselves, on our phones, in ways unimaginable just a few years ago.

But it's not stopping there, for this year alone people will be taking more than 1 trillion photos and uploading them onto some kind of cloud system. As well, there will be continued demand for maps that provide myriad metadata not just about location, but when the best time will be to go to place X. Technological demand is driving this surge of information facilitation that Google is known for. Indeed, Larry and Sergey--and many others who are futuristic in thinking--see a day when screens will fade out:

Looking to the future, the next big step will be for the very concept of the “device” to fade away. Over time, the computer itself—whatever its form factor—will be an intelligent assistant helping you through your day. We will move from mobile first to an AI first world.

Google isn't the only company investing in the development of AI. For instance, according to Bloomberg, Toyota is going to invest $1Billion to create an AI research institute that will focus on AI and robot technology. Elon Musk and Venture Capitalist Pieter Thiel have have launched OpenAI for which they've secured "at least $1Billion." And Mark Zuckerberg's goal for 2016 is to build a simple AI that will run his household for him and help him do his work. Indeed, the kinds of things some technologists claimed would not be possible for AI 5 years ago have already been accomplished. We are in a time of transition from computer devices to Artificial Intelligence, whether we're ready for it or not.

Is having some kind of AI manage your home and work a sign of greater freedom or one of greater subservience to technology? Already, since the mobile phone has taken over the desk-top telephone (the landline), we are more connected than ever, and thus more on-call than ever. Perhaps this is what Zuckerberg wants from the AI--to foist all his chores on it so he can free up head space to do other things. But is it a freeing up of headspace or just another burden? Already I feel my devices have taken over my life. I'm more wired up than ever, and I consider myself to be a bit of a Luddite. 

Having an AI hang out with you like a personal assistant handling all your stuff could become annoying, like that cling-on you want to ditch but can't; like someone who knows all your whereabouts and goings on, and thus to whom you are fully indebted--imagine the power this AI eventually will have? 

Already it's claimed that there's enough data on your laptop to clone you. How much will an AI have? And don't think fro a minute the AI will stagnate in its knowledge and ability; for while you're growing more cognitively lazy--how many of you can ream off your friend's phone numbers, or even your own, without checking your phone first?--your AI will be gaining intelligence at an exponential rate that will ultimately surpass your intelligence. Remember the words from Bill Gates himself that graced the front cover of Ray Kurzweil's The Singularity is Near? To paraphrase, he said either we enhance our intelligence through technological interviention or we will be over come by artificial intelligence.

You might think I'm out to lunch. You might think I need to dawn my aluminum hat and join a Mennonite village somewhere and push pens across paper to the glow of candle light, but this is where it's all going; and Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, and Bill Gates, and Ray Kurzweil know it, and that's why they're planning for it as the zeros and ones form neat little lines of text across this screen. We could be designing a greater culture of leisure or, in the words of Musk, "summoning the demon." 

Elon Musk: We're summoning the demon

The Google founders are not stating anything new--those of us who follow these matters have seen the writing on the wall for some time. But that now we are in a time of transition to this new technology, those who want to be on the right side of change--in the words of Al Gore--will need to be asking themselves how these new technologies will be forcing changes on their lifestyle, business, and living.And already we're seeing this transition to a new technology disrupting the social order: McDonald's announced it will be cutting back cashier jobs as they roll out self-serve kiosks. Even high-risk investors are looking to AI to offer them the best financial advice--in the words of one AI hedge-fund start-up CEO Ben Goertzel, "If we all die, it would keep trading." 

What are the risks? What are the opportunities? What do I need to be prepared for? Am I willing to accept this technology? Do I have a choice? These are questions people like Musk and Page and Brin are asking; they're the questions that are driving elite think tanks like the World Economic Forum and Singularity University; they're the questions that those who are running these technologies have been asking for the last 25 years through their scenario planning and long-range forecasting. 

To many, such questions have been the stuff of science fiction; but now we are fully in transition, and the future is rushing at us faster than ever--well, the passing of objective time hasn't changed, but our orientation to it has as we've been driven more and more by machines; and there's no sign in sight of it ever slowing down.

China May Just Be The New Juggernaut Of The Global Auto Industry--Here's Why

When I was a consultant at the World Economic Forum in 2005, one of the big issues of concern to global elites was the rise of copyright theft in China. Mega companies that had set up shop in China to take advantage of cheap labour were suddenly losing sleep over the inevitable transfer of IP to savvy Chinese computer and auto manufacturers. There were endless strategies tossed around, but everyone in the room knew it was futile--that eventually IP was going to be 'stolen' and copycat products were going to start popping up. 

Putting aside the surging trade deficit inherent in Chinese/American trade, China is making headlines for its "copycat" automobiles poised to offer serious competition to western manufacturers. The nightmare surmised at Davos has been realized indeed.

In a recent article from NBC News titled, China's Copycat Cars Compete with Western Giants, attention is paid to the uncanny resemblance of some of the Chinese companies' vehicles to those of their western counterparts, such as Toyota, BMW, Ford, and Jaguar.

One vehicle is the Chinese Landwind X7 that elicited the ire of Jaguar Landcover's CEO who chided Landwind for its "copy-and-paste" jobs. Eventually, the Jaguar Land Rover had to admit that Chinese copycats were just part of being a major player in China, and that imitation remains the finest form of flattery.

Hm--this Landwind X7 looks stunningly like a Land Rover...

Yet another example is the Lifan Panda that is a copycat competitor to the adorable Cooper Mini--though 'panda' sound even more adorable I must admit. The design is not the only point of competition--the price is significantly lower. The EV version of the Panda (330 EV) starts at $15,400; but it's the gas version whose price comparison is much more striking: the Lifan Panda 320 is priced at $7,150 in China versus a starting price of $20,700 for the Mini. 

The Lifan Panda--at $7,150 who wouldn't want one?

One of the things the Chinese do amazingly well is riff off American trends and take them to the next level. And whether it's the super popular TWSBI fountain pen (raved over by fountain pen aficionados), or the Cowin X3 SUV, crowdsourcing is a way Chinese manufacturers can get new designs and prototypes to market faster and with tremendous success.

The Cowin X3 SUV the result of crowdsourcing

Indeed, with copycat innovation, crowdsourcing, and the billions of dollars pouring in and out of China, American innovation may have to take some advice from China's playbook--who's playing whom is the real question. 

Just this past week, multibillionaire Chinese tech CEO Jia Yeuting claimed that Apple is outdated. Imagine that--one of the hallmarks of American innovation lambasted for being outdated. Jobs rolled in his grave. Incidentally, Yeuting's LeSEE was unveiled ahead of the Beijing auto show, and, according to him it is designed to rival Tesla's Model 3. 

LeEco's LeSEE is the competition to Tesla's Model3.

But this is the new face of innovation, and it's no longer a western one. Could this be a sign of things to come? I believe it is. As China buys up more American companies, and amasses greater fortune while the US economy slumps under recession, a lacklustre dollar, and overwhelming trade deficit, the signs of a new top dog for innovation are becoming stronger--and they're emerging from the east. The Davos folk back a decade ago saw it coming--or did they?

The Black Hat Is The Great Killer Of Innovation--Here's Why

Innovation is a disruptive act--it's about creating something new that will upend your competitors, or provide a solution to a nagging problem. 

In my experience, having worked in many teams seeking innovative solutions (from global think tanks to small groups of social entrepreneurs), I have found one common thread that is an innovation killer--the black hat. 

Suppose you want to grow a plant--say basil. You take the seedling home, then set it down on the floor and crush it with your foot. This is what the black hat does to a new idea--it kills it, and thus prevents it from growing to its fullest realization.

A great book on the black hat syndrome 

Many people don't realize this. They want to be practical. They want to be matter-of-fact. They want to be rationalists. But when it comes to innovation, you don't want that in the early stages of the play--and indeed innovation is a kind of play (and as such it can be fun too!). 

You can pin-point those who are good at innovation--they're the ones dipping into all kinds of areas of research; they're the ones who bring copies of Wired Magazine and Adbusters to strategy meetings; they're the ones who ask, "What if we...," and don't care how crazy or out of left field the suggestion is; they're the ones who are ridiculed for having their head in the clouds, for being dreamers, for being unrealistic. 

The problem is, there are very few people who can really occupy this space of innovation. Why? Well, it partly has to do with education. Education has traditionally not taught innovation, but rather conformity, complacency, and compliance. As a child, you entered the education 'system' highly creative, and graduated with very little creative functioning. That's what the system was built to do: manufacture people who can take orders, find the glitches in the system, and remove them. 

Innovation requires not conformity but a kind of cognitive dissonance--a way of breaking out of conventional thinking and solutions to find and embrace something new. But don't lose heart if you're one of those no-nonsenec conformity types, you can become a better innovator. 

The first lesson is to throw out the black hat. I've worked with many groups who immediately go to black hat thinking just when a new idea comes up. The most flabbergasting word that I hear during an innovation session is "No," followed up with "We can't do that," or "That won't work," or "That's not possible." When you have a group of people functioning that way, innovation is nearly impossible. 

What you need are different' kinds of statements: "Let's try it," or "It might be crazy enough to work," or "We can find a way to make that happen." When you have people with that kind of attitude in your innovation session, it's amazing what can be created. 

What is at the root of the black hat? Failure. People are averse to failing--it's how they were educated. You remember getting questions wrong on the test? Was anyone there congratulating you on the super-awesome attempt at an answer? Nope--you were given a mark that determined your future. And from that and other experiences, you developed a tough skin--failure was not an option, even if it meant opening up new possibilities for your life.

And that's another thing you've got to do to get innovative: create a culture of failure. You've got to allow people to fail. You've got to allow yourself to fail over and over again. It doesn't mean you become unscrupulous in your decisions, but you try to push your creative boundaries to the point where you are not afraid of making a mistake. If you make a mistake, you try again; if you fail, you try again. Failure is a detour to success, not a death sentence. 

When people are free to fail; when there is a culture of acceptance around failure, then people will be freer to jump into the waters of innovation without pushing the black hat down over their eyes. When people are free to fail you won't hear the word "No" as much; when people are free to fail, statements like "Let's try it," or "I think we can make that work" become commonplace. 

These two things--black hat wearing and fear of failure--will kill innovation. If you want to jump start your business or your project team, talk to you people about these two innovation killers, and come up with strategies to suspend the black hat and enhance the tolerance of failure. 

Then, when you've got the idea and it's growing and you're ready to take it to the next level, you can call in the black hat wearers; now you need them, because having analytical people who can delineate risk and loopholes, are very important--but not too early in the process. And you need to at this stage push the solution to failure and see where you need to strengthen it, because that's how you're going to make it solid and robust and efficacious--but not too early in the process when it's merely a seedling. 

These are just a couple of observations I've made when working with creative teams, and how you and your organization can enhance innovation and begin to create solutions beyond your wildest dreams.