Last month I had several heated conversations with my significant other over the abortion law signed May 15 in Alabama, which – if passed – would permit abortions only if the mother's life is at risk or if the fetus cannot survive, and not in cases of rape or incest. My ire against the decision stems from the fact that it has been made primarily by men, a group that does not represent those whom the law primarily impacts. My partner is fervent about the fundamental notion of humanity and the protection of the unborn child.

Purpose as the reason for action or existence has remained consistent over centuries. It’s where and how people and societies locate their purpose that has evolved over time. As we consider the state of our government and the present and future state of work, we see that the impetus to pursue purpose has not changed, but how and where we find it has.

Over the past three years, the trust of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) has declined. In 2017, the Edelman Trust Barometer unveiled that only 53% of respondents showed trust in NGOs, a notable decline from a peak of 66% trust in 2014.¹ NGOs were not alone in this decline; levels of trust fell across all four institutions – NGOs, businesses, media, and government. Perhaps that is because, despite the reductions in perceived credibility, many companies continue to align themselves with NGOs because they are established organizations with clear processes, head-counts, rules, and regulations.

Current approaches to cybersecurity are not delivering strong results. Many organizations continue to view cybersecurity as a cost rather than a strategic and necessary investment to mitigate risk. Despite rising levels of data breaches, the potential loss of millions of dollars and critical damage to brand reputation, many business leaders have either not opted in or been able to allocate the right resources at the right levels. [i]

Toffler Associates recently conducted a study that surveyed global executives and found six major forces that are influencing industry's future operating environment. They provide insight into what is causing change in your environment, for your organization, and what your organization needs to understand and plan for. The factoid examples represent developments that will impact and shape the future we will come to know.

Organizations can no longer rest on segmentation in an era of widely accessible individualized data. Access to technology, the vastness of networks, and the convergence of people and ideas has changed the way customers behave.  To truly understands what drives your customers, forget about age, gender, and racial divisions – its about experience.