For over 1000 years Icelandic farmers have had a symbiotic relationship with eider ducks. They create shelters (‘Skjól’) for the birds to keep out predators. In May and June, the birds arrive to lay their eggs in these man-made sanctuaries, while farmers keep a watchful eye over them. After the eggs hatch and the birds leave to return to fishing, the farmers collect the down lining in the abandoned nests and process it into the most desirable natural materials for bedding. […]
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Fear of uncertainty costs industry over a trillion dollars every year. You don’t have to look far for hyperbolic predictions about the ‘most uncertain times ever’. Even relatively conservative sources, such as The World Uncertainty Index call our present moment, “the most uncertain time in human history”. […]
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We like stories about people going through rough times, and rising like phoenixes from the ashes, having faced their nemesis and grown as people. We see ourselves in this, given that we have our own calamities and we recognise that life is neither easy no black and white. The question surely is how do these people succeed? Is it through excellence or some resilience? […]
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In our rapidly evolving world, where technology and automation have become integral parts of our daily lives, it’s essential to pause and reflect on the kind of society we want to create. The traditional economic model, centered on efficiency and profit, has often neglected the fundamental element of humanity. However, there’s a growing movement advocating for a paradigm shift towards a more human-centric economy that prioritizes people’s well-being and fulfillment over pure economic growth. […]
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Today, the key to resilience is creativity. The top 20% of firms, including the firms in Figure 1, are resilient because of their embrace of a culture of creativity. As a result, they are more valuable, and are growing faster, than the bottom 80%, and hence more resilient.[…]
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Back when we were babies, every day was an opportunity for exploration. These journeys seemed endless. At first, we explored our crib. Then, we ventured out and began to navigate the floor. Eventually, we discovered that kitchen drawers were filled with items to examine with our hands and mouths. As we began to walk, more terrains opened up to us: the velvety sand at the beach, the soft grass in the park, and the glistening snow in a field. It was continuous exploration. […]
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The velvet curtain is drawn aside and you survey the room nervously while entering. The space is small and dim, lit only by soft candles emitting subtle aromas of sage. There is more purple velvet tapered to the wall, this time laced with small golden trim and accented with intricate embroidery. The air is warm, but not stuffy, and something about it seems intentionally messy. In the middle of the room sits a crystal ball. […]
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India made a strong post-pandemic recovery, leapfrogging the UK to become the fifth largest economy in the world. This essay delves into the role that Self-Help Groups (SHGs) based in India played in achieving this remarkable turn-around. The unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic required a major reassessment of existing management principles and strategies. […]
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