The traditional economy is often referred to as The Titanic Economy by clever types like economists and technology experts at places like Oxford University and MIT. 

It’s a great metaphor when you think about it: 

The Titanic, like the traditional economy was at it’s time state of the art in every way. Both were built a long time ago and at times when it seemed like both were indestructible - they would just work forever. 

In both cases something came along that exposed a design flaw.

With the Titanic it was an iceberg. First of all warnings were not heeded - a lookout actually saw the berg at a time when it could have been avoided. A mixture of arrogance and total belief in the vessel’s indestructibility caused the warnings to be ignored. 

Sometime later - by which time it was too late - the problem was acknowledged but The captain then discovered that he couldn’t turn the ship fast enough to avoid the iceberg.

Still - this was the Titanic - surely a mere iceberg can’t sink it. The rest is tragic history. 

The old economy’s iceberg was recession (they came — they went - they came back) but that was just the tip. Technology is the bigger problem just under the surface. 

The other awful factor in the Titanic disaster was that there were not enough lifeboats. The designers just didn’t imagine ever needing them so they included far too few. 

Again that’s similar to the economy and the systems that were put in place to make it work - education, training, business and employment - welfare, pensions, healthcare…. All built to work with a “jobs for life” system that just couldn’t predict something like the internet coming along.

And again - not enough Lifeboats. No room for people who aren’t able to function in a brand new system where everything has changed. Where their jobs and businesses are replaced by technology. 

Governments admit that they are not ready. Educators admit they are not ready.

Luckily though there are lifeboats being built. There is access to new education - to new possibilities for re-skilling and adapting to the new, digital economy. 

And the best news of all ……

These lifeboats aren’t just a temporary fix - to take you to a temporary place of safety. 

They can take you to a much better place than you were before - like many of the people who bought a ticket for the Titanic hoped they were headed.

Working in this new economy is just better than working in the old one! 

There is no ceiling to what you can earn. There is much more time freedom and lifestyle choice.

Get on one of those lifeboats today by joining the SFM and DEA - HERE 

More on the Titanic tomorrow (It’s kind of an obsession of mine for many reasons) 

Cheers