Economy of scale, strength in numbers, linear growth.
Out of the 7 Billion of us, almost half live in the cities (hints: pollution, traffic congestion, high crime rate, time crunch, shrinking quality of life, more opportunities but unsustainable).
I read about China’s sewer cooking oil, crocodiles roaming the streets of Bangkok, and tent city on Wall Street.
In Micro Trends, the author mentions niche markets like knitting, which command 1 percent of the larger market.
Harley Davidson is now targeting women (empty nesters whose OK’s are critical before husbands can “buy to be wild”).
Near where I live, a new store has just opened. It is called “Halloween Express”.
They cherry-pick the 7 Billion-dollar seasonal costume and candy markets.
Or, take virtual Job Fair. More candidates can visit the “booths” while HR and recruiters can make the most of their day. Fewer people are working and those who do, handle more work. The net effect has been productivity increase.
99% of 6 Billion in 1999 is less than 99% of 8 Billion in 2025. Too many people living too long creates capacity crunch. To solve this, we have to move to virtual world (social media and rural broadband are in).
Population grows linearly, while tech has shot up in hockey stick curve, creating an ever widening “digital divide” (lady old lady, driving while texting???).
Enter the rising costs of health care. A nightmarish scenario.
I don’t believe Social Security will pay out as planned.
They will move the lamp-post, in the hope that those of us who don’t go to the gym will die before the first checks are cut. Even when they did arrive, the adjusted for inflation amount will barely be sufficient (I read about a retiree couple relocating to Nha Trang and getting by on their meager income).
To find the silver lightning, we must look at new comers to the party.
They are eager, enthusiastic and resourceful. Our next billion of knights will have arrived by 2025.
Not long ago, when Bill Gates made his visit to Vietnam where young students said they all aspired to be mini-Gates.
I hope the same can be said about Steve Jobs, whose penchant is in product design, where Art intersects Technology. Design something people and yourself would want to have. New thoughts for a new world. Micro trends for a macro world.
Thang Nguyen 555 