As February is about to launch, and seeing February as my Birthday Month, I am taking on a time of both Celebrating and Recalibrating, if you will. In The Gorilla Way last month, I finished with, “For me, in a world in grave need for genuine and high functioning Unity, there is much out of my control. But, I can be that 900 pound Gorilla advancing the notions of Character and Purpose for a better world forward. I can be TUG, The Unity Guy… championing that better world; Humans Together Strong. Therein, I find my power; through my choice of thought, will and action. All of that is to say that I hold that finding Solid Purpose matters. Going forward, I will indeed be posting monthly as I am embark on this next Leg and Chapter. I now quietly and affectionately refer to this Blog as Barry’s Little Bold Blog lol. And, here… I will be sharing on my own Studentry around exploring and advancing our best selves for an ever better world and future… for us all. Onwards.” Indeed, I will be reflecting on my own conscious choice of thought, will and action forward… towards ever greater Solidity.
Also, in Re-Treat to Advance, I noted that I will be taking February 1 through May 2 as a 13-Week period of Themed Days. I recommend the read and reflect; I truly and humbly do. That said, it is a time for me to have some fun digging deeper into 7 areas of personal exploration, dedicating a Day a Week to each, still accounting for daily Boxing, and managing Life lol. But, this time will be a time of Re-Treat… looking inward and outward, exploring with Curiosity.
That said, also in Re-Treat to Advance, I noted that here I would be addressing the first of 12 Questions for Compelling Clarity. The First Question is “What are the Signs of a “new world” for me?” In other words, what is my new reality I am needing to face at this time and space? What is telling me things have changed?
SWOT it Out
It is really about engaging thought around changes that will be fuel for added thought in getting clear on my current Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. As a business educator, I have taught on SWOT as a tool for examining where we are in order to strategically look, plan and act forward. Strengths and Weaknesses are internal to us. They are what we do well or not do well. They can be knowledge, skills, abilities, Character, systems, processes and resources, including Resourcefulness. Weaknesses are what we might be currently somehow lacking. Opportunities and threats are external to us. They are competitive, economic, demographic, technological, socio-cultural and poli-legal. To draw upon the Wisdom of Epictetus in saying, “The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…”… Opportunities and Threats are outside of our direct control or influence. Strengths and weaknesses are within our control. But we need be aware of each.
The First Question, Internally
With that in mind and heart, that First Question is again “What are the Signs of a “new world” for me?” This Question precedes any SWOT analysis. For me, it speaks to identifying what has changed so that I can better address the next 11 Questions to help identify potential strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats… and forge an intention forward. That said, in answer to this First Question… for me… over these last 2 Years, Life has brought considerable change, internally and externally. Internally, there has been conventional retirement from full time teaching though I have been engaged in part-time contract teaching ever since as I adore teaching. There has been the news of Cancer and the subsequent addressing of the same with surgery completed successfully and with recovery underway. There has been “aging”, whatever that means. It certainly does not mean anything about being over some hill. I have always seen Life as a mountain to climb, not some hill followed by descent. There is a lot still in the tank and much more climb to be made, so to speak. Still, my body has a new two years on it, again whatever that means. As well, in some ways, there is an ever deeper sense of calling to even greater fulfilment and Purpose growing through it all. Ultimately, inwardly and internally, in answer to the First Question of “What are the Signs of a “new world” for me?” … I would suggest three significant changes… that conventional retirement from full-time teaching, the successful addressing of Cancer, and the adding of two years with an increasing call to Purpose.
The First Question, Externally
Externally, the world has changed certainly for so many of us. Since childhood, I have been a curious Soul, and Curiosity can be a real Strength in exploring things and building our sense of Wisdom in practice. That said, as I engage such, I find that the World Economic Outlook states…
- For January 2026,,, Global growth is projected at 3.3 percent for 2026 and 3.2 percent for 2027, revised slightly up since the October 2025 World Economic Outlook. Technology investment, fiscal and monetary support, accommodative financial conditions, and private sector adaptability offset trade policy shifts. Global inflation is expected to fall, but US inflation will return to target more gradually. Key downside risks are reevaluation of technology expectations and escalation of geopolitical tensions. Policymakers should restore fiscal buffers, preserve price and financial stability, reduce uncertainty, and implement structural reforms.
Beyond this summation, population trends in the world… are interesting with a seeming slowing in growth, and that “aging” thing if you will (which by the way I do not see as a bad thing lol)… but also with a shift in the youth population globally.
In addition, I am considering the words of Prime Minister Mark Carney in sharing his considered and thoughtful perspective on the world recently at Davos. Indeed, I am considering other sources for information on changes in the world such as the World Economic Forum and the Global Goals…. Community Accounts NL.. and what was once known as The Conference Board of Canada. And the UN… and more. This does not demand of us copious amounts of time and effort, but finding sources of reliable information that can fuel our Understanding of the externals that matter to us. Taking some time to do such is a wise investment, as is finding reliable sources of information. For me as The Unity Guy with a global mindset, the above sources and others matter. They are worth my time, personally and professionally.
Changes Afoot
These are sources of signs for a world that is changing geopolitically, economically, demographically, technologically and socio-culturally. The world into which I was born had 3.5 billion people and there were 3 primary spheres of influence… NATO, the USSR and China. Star Trek in the 60s modelled this with the Federation, the Klingons and the Romulans. The 90s saw something of a change in same with the Berlin Wall coming down and the EU starting to emerge. Actually, Star Trek mirrored this in the 90’s with DS9 and many more protagonists. But, I digress lol. 911 brought changes too. Now, we are seeing shifts in population, economics and so very much more. As I approach the age of 6-6, I see a world that has evolved not unlike the shifting of an iceberg before it turns. We have seen changes over the years, but I sense the iceberg is about to turn. In answer to the question “What are the Signs of a “new world” for me?” … I see seismic shifts geopolitically, economically, demographically, technologically and socio-culturally.
The advent of AI and robotics, the changing geopolitical landscape, the state of the global economy and trade, the changes in demographics around the world, the socio-cultural changes within countries and beyond… all are signs of seismic change. But Marcus Aurelius said, “Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the Universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are, and to make new things like them.” He also said, “Keep constantly in mind in how many things you yourself have witnessed changes already. The Universe is change, life is understanding.” And, he said, “Why should anyone be afraid of change? What can take place without it? What can be more pleasing or more suitable to universal nature? Can you take your bath without the firewood undergoing a change? Can you eat without the food undergoing a change? And can anything useful be done without change? Don’t you see that for you to change is just the same, and is equally necessary for universal nature?” Change is Life, Life is Change… and how we respond is what matters.
To Come
That said, what is not part of that First Question but will be addressed in the upcoming 11… is the idea that I have of taught on for years in Strategic Leadership… the fundamental process of that SWOT Analysis. While there are multiple models out there for analyzing strategically, I adore the SWOT for it’s visual Simplicity in addressing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. That will be fleshed out more over the next 11 Questions. This First Question is about simply identifying what has changed. SWOT will help me determine what has changed for the better and worse.
Yes, I was born into a world of 3.5 billion people with 3 “superpowers” in NATO, the USSR and China. I find myself in a world increasingly polarized, and sifting through and towards a new sense of order. The forces of both Disintegration and Integration are underway towards some kind of new order in the world. We have always had changes in world order. Those who get suspicious of the term “new world order” might need to step back and understand that the history of humanity has been replete with changes in world order. One is now afoot, I believe. But, we get to help define it. It is not simply a top down process. Again, I digress a bit lol. This first Question in asking “What are the Signs of a “new world” for me?” is really about first seeing if the game is changing enough for me to figure out how I better engage a new world forward. Indeed, it is. In any given situation, we need to assess same. For me, I see a world changing in 5 arenas… geopolitically, economically, demographically, technologically and socio-culturally. I see my own Life too as changed, following cancer surgery, and a new working reality. So, yes, the signs are a pointing to me needing to ask the next 11 Questions… to come.
Over these next 13 Weeks, I will be walking through those other 11 Questions for Compelling Clarity… to explore my best and solid response to a world that has changed for me. I will be posting Weekly through here, plus 4 Monthly Newsletters on LinkedIn. All in all, I think it important to be more surgically aware of what has changed internally and externally. Ignorance is not bliss. It is avoidance. Me ignoring something going on in my body would not have allowed us to catch the tumor early. Ignorance is not bliss but it can be the kiss of death. That said, getting good information can help us avoid both apathy and overwhelm because we are taking control of what we can by planning and responding our way through. My experience with Cancer attests to this. Getting good information gives us more personal power in responding to the world as we know it. Such Clarity advances our Solidity. My humble suggestion right now is ask yourself “What are the Signs of a “new world” for me?“. Start there. My other humble suggestion is follow me with these next 11 Questions for your own Compelling Clarity.
Peace, passion, purpose and prosperity…
Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.
CONSIDER
Developing Leadership Character – Ivey Business Journal
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ― Anne Frank
“Waste no more time arguing over what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” — Bahá’u’lláh
