Crisis in Eurozone, falling confidence in Euro -- default by Greece with impact on economy of Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy and rest of Eurozone. Long term economic impact on single currency area, inflation rates, interest rates, growth rates. Leadership, managing rapid change in a globalized digital world. High velocity decision making with multiple strategies for growth in different circumstances. The world is changing faster than you can hold a board meeting. Shortened production cycles. Accelerating change and business transformation.

Singapore along with the rest of the region has continued to enjoy strong economic growth, despite the obsession of Europe and America with a so-called global economic meltdown. Singapore is a natural hub for the region. It boasts the biggest and busiest port in the world, a huge airport, highly skilled workers, superb infrastructure and world-beating digital networks. Singapore business district contains regional headquarters of many of the largest multinationals, with specialty areas in banking, IT, telecom and international trade.

The $40 trillion green tech revolution could transform the future of our planet, with innovations that will provide answers to global warming if rolled out on a large enough scale.

Impact of technologies already available in energy industry, water conservation, carbon reduction, recycling, power transmission over long distances, alternative power generation, buildings management.

Why governments are changing interest rate policies and targeting slightly higher inflation rates. Risks of targeting inflation rates as low as 2% with little room for macro-economic shocks or deflationary events. Predictions by many economists have been unreliable in the 2008-2011 global crisis, partly because economists tended to underestimate the financial and political complexities. Challenges to global economy and vulnerability of some developed nations to deflation, despite short term inflation caused by higher oil prices and other commodity shortages. Economic outlook for US and Europe in the midst of urgent attempts to avoid another recession.

An average person in the world uses 1,000 cubic metres a year for growing food, hygiene and drinking – equivalent to 40% of an Olympic swimming pool.

Yet 4,000 children die every day because the water supply is unclean and 40% of the world do not have access to tap water – even though many of them own a mobile phone.

If the poorest nations gain a standard of living equivalent to wealthy nations today, then water demand will be three times the figure of 3,350 cubic kilometres seen in 2000.

Here is a strange thing:  the paradox of innovation: CEOs often complain about lack of innovation. Workers often say leaders are hostile to new ideas.  But what exactly IS innovation?

A common frustration for managers is finding better, practical, low cost ways to get the job done - but a common frustration for workers is being asked to do stupid things in an inefficient and life-wasting way. Workers can then be labelled as obstructive and uncooperative, while management is heavily criticised by them for being out of touch, heavy-handed, arrogant and ignorant. That’s why innovation workshops are often electrifying

Most marketing directors find other people's marketing messages irritating, whether TV ads, direct mail campaigns, SMS marketing, outbound call-centre marketing, billboards, press ads, mobile marketing. Consumers are increasingly fed up too. Get ready for the biggest shifts in marketing strategy for a generation - forced on the industry by the ever-growing influence of social networks, coupled with online search, impatient and intolerant consumers...and by massive overload with general advertising noise. Getting noticed means more than shouting louder. The future is about personal relevance, information and revelation as you become a consumer guide along their journey of life. It means a radical rethink about command and control, blockbuster campaigns.

I wrote this back in June 2006 – about the future of Europe.  Judge for yourself against the realities of Europe’s challenges as they are today:

Believe in what you sell and others will too. I often say this: Life’s too short to sell things you don’t believe in. Slick campaigns attract attention and boost sales, but selling as a career is hardly a mission in life unless you are convinced of the value of what you are promoting. Integrity matters when you sell: only sell what you would sell to your own friends or family. How to apply this to more powerful marketing, selling, slogans, better campaigns.