Why The Netherlands looks like Singapore and what that means. Singapore is the size of the province of Utrecht. Aside from a favorable location, a highly educated work force, a stable government and reliable authorities, the country has little. Call … Continue reading →

Beyond the goal lies the destination. The beginning lies near the end. – Lu Tzu – An organization needs to stay open, even if the instinctive response to impending jeopardy would be to turn inward and close off from the … Continue reading →

Developments in world-class cities like Shanghai and Singapore seem to move faster than the speed of sound. Willie Yeo from Human Insight and Harry Starren from De Baak share their international observations with managers and entrepreneurs who want to refine … Continue reading →

We learn by making distinctions. When using our analytical skills and while we’re making distinctions, we learn and we lose. Taking things apart surely creates insight. Children take things apart all the time… and, so, these little monsters learn. They … Continue reading →

If I had to choose between science and art, I’d choose art as being the obviously higher of the two. For me, it’s a personal blend of science, craft and the unique that can only be defined as art. It’s … Continue reading →

The Dutch Elite shouldn’t question what’s wrong with the people, because there’s not much wrong there. They should take a more critical look at themselves, because the discontentment that exists has been created largely by the failure of the elite. … Continue reading →

The ability to hold two opposed ideas at the same time, and still retain the ability to function. – F. Scott Fitzgerald – Remaining open, especially in the face of jeopardy, is the hardest thing there is. That takes character: … Continue reading →

Why does everything move faster when you get older? How much longer does the journey take for one who does not know the way? ‘Warning! Caution can be hazardous’ ‘If we want things to stay as they are, things will … Continue reading →

We are always ready for this challenge: “to conquer ourselves”.   You parked your car near the map of the municipality. You got out to see where you had to go (I am talking about the days before the TomTom). … Continue reading →

We can all reason, because we learn that at school. But we have trouble fantasizing – because we go to school. Most predictions do not come true. And even demographic predictions are invariably way off. As soon as human behavior … Continue reading →