At the beginning of every year we all try to set up new goals and imagine a year where we really overcome all obstacles. I think that we all have been there, in the place where nothing from what we planned happens and where setbacks really pull a good one on us.
Can we see into the future and set realistic goals? Sure. Even big businesses do this. With the fast pace of social media evolution ( or involution as some might argue) everything moves online. After the pandemic a lot of individuals had a taste of the good life at home where you can work in your pijamas while munching on potato chips. Where is the social game in all of this? Behind the screen. Some employers dream of making people going back to the office while some fully embrace the idea of cutting costs and keep them working at home.
For me personally I admit that seing how everything moves online is frightening when it comes to the human aspect of it. If everything moves online...how will we hone our social skills? Imagine a world where you do not need to go shopping or to visit a doctor, where everything gets delivered at your door while you don’t have to do any physical or emotional effort. I believe that going digital is awesome as we all taste from the benefits of making money online but I also admit that there is a feeling of restlessness from the entire thing. I come across fewer and fewer people who can hold a genuine conversation. I see people on the streets with their eyes glued to the screens. Children fall into this pattern from a younger age. Are we really doing the right thing by moving everything into the online realm?
When I look to the other side I can also easily pull out arguments which are in favour of all of this. People who are shy can easily make friends online and meet them in real life (even at Hivefest, right?). The world of education is open to everyone, regardless of race or social status. If you have an opinion and a TikTok account you can speak your mind. If you have a disability you can easily order online and have everything that you need right at home. If you feel shame about visiting a therapist in your hometown you can have online therapy sessions right in the comfort of your home.
Reading the Forbes Magazine, the november 2024 romanian issue, made me realize that big corporations are also thinking about which way to go. 90% of the marketing budget allocated by Automobile Bavaria went to digital marketing in 2024. This should tell us something. Many businesses, regardless of the domain, focus on digitalization in the upcoming years. Does this mean that some people will lose jobs while companies try to become efficient and adapt to the trends that humans themselves have installed in the social system? I believe that anything is possible. I believe that AI and digitalization could have the potential to do as much harm as they could do good. A lot of people are caught up in drudgerous activities that require no creativity but sheer robotic repetitive tasks. Maybe some of these people could have the chance to find something else to put in their energy and make money.
I admit that it was a pleasure and an intellectual feast to read all of the interviews in this issue. Top leaders in all sorts of fields shared their worries, insights and plans for the future. It is definetely worth the time to understand their perspective and add it to the overall picture of what 2025 will look like for the future of business.
