December Newsletter : On What I Learned in 2006
If there was one thing I learned in 2006 it was that good things take time. . and cliches have their uses.
For me 2006 was the year of the book [8 Tribes: the hidden classes of New Zealand]. Now I understand what Jane Austen meant by "scratching away at this little piece of ivory". I discovered the deep joys - and frustrations - of creative collaboration and I loved shepherding our little book through the publishing process. Long-held dreams were fulfilled.
If you have the stamina and the time, publishing your own work is hugely satisfying. And very 21st century. Generation C, man.
2006 was also the year the New Zealand economy refused to tank. I feel so fond of it now because I predicted that it wouldn't and once again, my source data - the people of New Zealand - have proven very robust.
For some years I've taken comfort in the knowledge that my predictions for economic growth have been more accurate than most economists - particularly as mine are based almost entirely on the expectations of ordinary people. Every year now I make a point of checking in with Rod Oram because he has a similar 'on the ground' sense of the economy - even though he takes an entirely different set of soundings. If we agree, we're usually right - so far.
2006 was a 'tipping point' year for two important future influences: climate change and new media. Finally both can go mainstream.
Climate change will find its place not just because Al Gore has scared the bejesus out of the chattering classes with his film The Inconvenient Truth, but because it has become THE symbol of our relationship with the earth. Hey, we're sorry. We want to help. Please let us make amends. As L V Martin says "it's the putting right that counts".
You can't imagine LVM letting the climate get so far out of whack before he intervened [I always imagined him to be a manicured lawn kind of guy]. But since we have, we're motivated for action. We want to hold a working bee or an earth clean-up. But that's just us. The British want to do the decent thing while keeping a stiff upper lip. The Australians are passing a law to confine climate change to offshore islands only. And I think the Americans are looking at some combination of missile defence, asteroids and Bruce Willis.
Meanwhile 2006 was also the year that new media converged and shapeshifted. Radio NZ began to podcast, a newspaper group bought TradeMe, the Air Force created a fantastic interactive game to aid recruitment, 42 Below hit the big time on the back of cheeky virals. This will be big, people.
But don't get too hung up on the compound effects of podcasts, blogs and virals. Remember how pundits cast about for the "killer app" of the Internet, while completely overlooking email and pornography. Human nature is a powerful force and a great leveller.
So if you're thinking about adding GPS capability to a car, cellphone or handbag, recognise that it's not about the cool technology, it's about knowing where your teenagers are, never losing your keys and an end to front seat navigation spats. Absolutely essential.
Recognise that broadcast television as we know it will die, not becase the programming is particularly shallow, but because it's way too inflexible in its use of your time. Now that you can buy or download TV series, why would you make a date with a telly? [My holiday rainy day cocktail of Boston Legal and three series of the Gilmore Girls, a case in point.]
Finally, don't dismiss the interactive games of PC, Playstation, X-Box and now Wii as toys. They're just beginning to show their potential. Expect them to be used more and more in education, marketing and art - the cornerstones of the information economy.
So have a great break. Come back refreshed. Plant trees if you've travelled overseas, buy an iPod if you don't already have one, and see if you can get that great new book on the hidden classes of New Zealand - what was it called again?
2007 will be an even better year I feel. The signs are good.
Cheers
Jill
PS Read about Generation C at trendwatching.com and idealog
Jill Caldwell is Director of Windshift Communications Ltd. Click Here to contact Jill directly This is a free monthly newsletter provided to direct subscribers and legitimate Windshift contacts only. No further use is made of subscriber information. [Copyright Windshift Communications Ltd 2006]
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"Climate change will find its place not just because Al Gore has scared the bejesus out of the chattering classes with his film The Inconvenient Truth, but because it has become THE symbol of our relationship with the earth. Hey, we're sorry. We want to help . . . "