Be grateful for the bumpy ride

  • Author: Kevin Gaskell
  • London, UK
Read the news article

Kevin Gaskell seems to be meeting more and more people in business at the moment who are concerned that the economy is a bumpy ride and unpredictable.  You can certainly feel a lot of turbulence in the air; Brexit, Trump, FX rates, inflation, Russia, Middle East, fake news etc. The truth is that if you could fly up to 100,000ft and look down at the last 50 years you would see that this level of disruption is actually quite normal.

The new normal
Over the last half century there have been over 400 financial crises – 35 of those have been in major economies. At the same time, the level of international trade has grown from $1 trillion to $30 trillion. This level of growth, and the supply chain development needed to feed it, offers a massive range of opportunity no matter what your business does. If we spool forward just 10 years it is forecast that by 2025 The Internet of Things will consist of 1 trillion connections and be a $6 trillion market.

Be grateful for the bumpy ride

More turbulence, more change – and more growth on a bumpy ride.

In other words, the current level of turbulence is good news – for those companies and organisations able to think forwards and recognise how lucky they are to be living in a period of such exciting opportunity.

Be an agent of change
This is the opportunity that visionaries, entrepreneurs and inspiring leaders look for. They recognise that they are lucky to be living in a time of change. New markets, new technologies, new opportunities. In this new world, it is not about looking for market share, it is about looking for opportunity share. Scanning for new business prospects, thinking in different ways, inventing new services and processes.

Whatever your role in your business or organisation, you have the opportunity to be an inspiring leader on a bumpy ride.

To encourage your colleagues or team to consider different possibilities – and to dare to dream about what could be possible; this is about changing the mindset and seeing turbulence as an opportunity and not only as a threat. Recognising, for example, that the European market will still exist in 2 years’ time and, while it may be different, it will still be there. It’s about encouraging new thinking within your organisation to determine how to be fast enough, and flexible enough, to get to the new market before others do.

Think differently, share creatively
The key to new thinking is the creation of a leadership culture which invites every member of the team to bring their ideas to bear. People are incredible. Give your team the permission to dream. Invite them to remove self-imposed limitations and constraints to reach new markets – or to compete more effectively in changed markets – and ideas will begin to flow.

This new world can seem strange and threatening but ignoring it won’t make it less so. Turbulence is energy. Look at major turbulence as freely available energy to drive the game forward. Be grateful that you are living in a period of energy and opportunity.

Do not consider it threatening. Instead consider it exciting.

If there’s one thing you should do today…

So my message is: embrace the change. Don’t think of the current turbulent bumpy ride situation as an opportunity to be a harbinger of doom, think of it instead as a stimulating opportunity to move forward in your business with energy, creativity and enthusiasm. And most importantly, free up the constraints around your team to allow them to bring those fresh and inspiring ideas to the table.

Written by KEVIN GASKELL

View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter

Speaker Listing

Further articles you may enjoy:

  • (24)

Dunder Mifflin Leadership Wisdom Part Two – Recognition is the Fuel of Motivation Welcome back to the Dunder Mifflin School of Leadership, where we draw inspiration from the legendary antics of The Office’s Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, Dwight Schrute and the rest of the zany cast. A very quick recap of last week’s note – these […]

  • October 5, 2023
  • (6)

Hispanic Heritage Month 2024, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, offers a unique opportunity to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. This month-long celebration began as a week-long event in 1968, initiated by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and later expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover […]

  • October 16, 2024
  • (38)

Connor Fields More Than a Champion, A Symbol of Resilience and Peak Performance When it comes to selecting the right speaker for your next event, you’re not just looking for someone who can fill a time slot—you’re searching for someone who can inspire, connect, and leave a lasting impression. If your audience values grit, resilience, […]

  • May 5, 2025
  • (13)

Unlocking Success: The Power of Booking Top Keynote Conference Speakers in San Francisco Introduction: Conferences play a pivotal role in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Choosing the right keynote speakers can significantly impact the success of an event. In the vibrant city of San Francisco, California, renowned for its innovation and diverse industries, […]

  • January 22, 2024
  • (13)

Tom Goodwin: The Trends Futurist Redefining Marketing and Innovation In a world obsessed with following trends, Tom Goodwin stands out for questioning them. He’s not the kind of speaker who walks on stage to reaffirm what everyone already believes. Instead, Tom challenges assumptions, pokes holes in comfortable narratives, and demands that we look at the […]

  • May 1, 2025
  • (3)

I recently stayed at a five-star hotel and found a major marketing problem lurking in the wardrobe in my room and then realised everything you do is marketing Upon check-in I was welcomed enthusiastically, and my membership status recognised with a room upgrade.   I was even presented with a welcome gift to thank me […]

  • January 16, 2023
  • (39)

“Technology is exponential but humans are not and can do great things, but it does not WANT to do great things – it does not want anything” says Apple’s CEO Tim Cook (a quote I have often used in my talks). Technology is a tool not a purpose – see my ‘carpenter and the hammer […]

  • January 9, 2023
  • (116)

The Dark Side of Motivational Speaking: When Inspiration Becomes Manipulation Motivational speaking is a billion-dollar industry, built on the promise of transformation, success, and boundless personal growth. Audiences flock to these high-energy events, hoping for that one insight that will change their lives. But beneath the surface of encouragement and empowerment lies a darker reality: […]

  • February 3, 2025

Subscribe to our Newsletter and get connected:

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated.

We use Brevo as our marketing platform. By submitting this form you agree that the personal data you provided will be transferred to Brevo for processing in accordance with Brevo's Privacy Policy.

Our Mission:

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025.  Designed using Voxel

Speakers Inc Logo 2024
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.