A Whole New Mind is a great book by Dan Pink, depicting the 21st Century Landscape and the kinds of skills that will be critical for success. Pink insightfully develops his point of view through the use of the left brain-right brain analogy; describing the current workplace as linear, logical, and dominated by "left brain type" activities. Pink says the emerging workplace will be one where "left brain thinking is necessary but not sufficient" and the "right brainers": the creative types, the artists, designers and storytellers will rule the 21st century business world.
Wikipedia summarizes the book as following:
A historical narrative starts the book outlining four major 'ages':
Agricultural Age (farmers)
Industrial Age (factory workers)
Information Age (knowledge workers)
Conceptual Age (creators and empathizers)
The fourth stage is where Pink focuses and how businesses can be successful.
Pink references three prevailing trends pointing towards the future of business and the economy: Abundance (consumers have too many choices, nothing is scarce), Asia (everything that can be outsourced, is) and Automation (computerization, robots, processes). This brings up three crucial questions for the success of any business:Can a computer do it faster?
Is what I'm offering in demand in an age of abundance?
Can someone overseas do it cheaper?
When these questions are present, creativity becomes the competitive difference that can differentiate commodities. Pink outlines six essential senses:
Design - Moving beyond function to engage the sense.
Story - Narrative added to products and services - not just argument. Best of the six senses.
Symphony - Adding invention and big picture thinking (not just detail focus).
Empathy - Going beyond logic and engaging emotion and intuition.
Play - Bringing humor and light-heartedness to business and products.
Meaning - Immaterial feelings and values of products.
A Whole New Mind is a great book by Dan Pink, depicting the 21st Century Landscape and the kinds of skills that will be critical for success. Pink insightfully develops his point of view through the use of the left brain-right brain analogy; describing the current workplace as linear, logical, and dominated by "left brain type" activities. Pink says the emerging workplace will be one where "left brain thinking is necessary but not sufficient" and the "right brainers": the creative types, the artists, designers and storytellers will rule the 21st century business world.
Comments
hmm, it's a neat idea but
hmm, it's a neat idea but I'm skeptical. First, aren't these conceptual age "senses" already a trademark of successful commodities beyond the arts and entertainment industry, such as cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. It seems as though these businesses already exist, but in an upscale niche market.