
Thought Leader History Forum
This is a transcript recorded and edited with great flair by Ed Harris, of a talk that I had the privilege to give in September 2019 at the August gathering of the Thought Leader Forum. The event was Chaired by my very capable and good friend Christian James. It was one of the most enjoyable and board reaching speeches that I have ever given, thanks to the engagement and brilliant questions from the gathered members. Hence my desire to share its content with you all.
Introduction
The well-known expression “Build it and they will come” takes on an entirely new meaning. This phrase originally refers to the creation of a compelling gathering place. In the context of the cycle of empires, this could be taken to mean rather that once you build a position of stultified encumbrance, energetic, creative disruptors will come after you and, according to David’s analysis, almost invariably unseat you. You could imagine a brick wall holding out against attackers. The wall may be strong but it is static and cannot hit back and will eventually crumble when persistently and imaginatively attacked. The everyday examples of this are legion - look at what low cost airlines have done to national flag carriers, or what so many service-related technology platforms like Uber or Just Eat have done to traditional players.
However, we are really looking at something far more serious than the fact that British Airways now looks more like Ryanair (if you are sitting in the back). It is quite something to sit down to a sumptuous meal in the comfort and elegance of the Cavalry and Guards’ Club only to be told that, within five or six years, we could be facing a third World War unleashed by China on the West. It is hard to imagine a much more chilling thought and this may be an extreme scenario, but not an impossible one - and, to make matters worse, we have unwittingly, or at least carelessly, done it to ourselves.
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Correction: The webinar The Real Crash Is Now! is tomorrow the 7th May, not the 5th as was stated on the last alert. Find out more here >














