Some thoughts

First, I'm really bad at posting regularly. I inevitably build up a pile of draft posts which never get seen because they reference events that are no longer current, or because I never get around to finishing them.

Second, there was a business conference somewhat recently in the UK called "The Big Rethink" (http://www.economistconferences.co.uk/redesigningbusiness/home) If nothing else, I think we can take away the 4 big future trends stated by Robin Bew:

1. The Shift to Emerging Markets
2. The Rich World's Aging Population
3. Carbon Pricing
4. A Lack of Capital

Basically, the game's a lot harder now than it used to be, and it's just going to get harder. Not only do you have to make stuff, you have to do it with less, and you have to do it responsibly. That's probably the way it always should have been, but coming from where we are now, it will certainly be a challenge.