"A Whole New Mind" by Daniel Pink

This week I read a new book, "A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future" by Daniel Pink (Free Agent Nation). This tome gives the reader a new way to see the world, and a new way to use your brain!

A Whole New Mind kicks off with the history of "ages":

1. Agricultural Age (farmers)
2. Industrial Age (factory workers)
3. Information Age (knowledge workers)
4. Conceptual Age (creators and empathizers)

It is the fourth stage (Conceptual Age) where Pink explains how people and businesses are successful. The author points to three current trends that are guiding the business and the economy.
1. Abundance (consumers have too many choices, nothing is scarce)
2. Asia (outsourcing)
3. Automation (computerization, robots, technology, and processes).

Based on these trends and there are three questions that business-people should ask themselve in order to improve their results:

1. Can a computer do it faster?
2. Is what I'm offering in demand in an age of abundance?
3. Can someone overseas do it cheaper?

If you can answer any of these affirmatively, then creativity becomes a competative advantage, differentiating you and your company/products from comoditities. (By the way, you, the business person, are a comodity unless you diferentiate yourself, too. Ouch).

So how what do you need to know and "sense" to stand out? :

1. Design: This is beyond function. Engaging the sense.
2. Story: Stories are added through narrative to your business offerings, products, service. Not just the benefits, features, arguments.
3. Symphony: Invention and big picture thinking (compliment to a detail focus).
4. Empathy: Engaging emotions and intuition, not just logic and calculation.
5. Play: Humer and light-heartedness have a place in business and in products.
6. Meaning: A life with more empathy and play, more feelings and values, is needed to help us relax, enjoy life. This helps us fully use the capacity of our intellect. There are many approaches to life, and you should enjoy it!

"A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future" has many ideas that can help in business or many aspects of life/work.