Imagine A World...

Imagine a world where everyone does their best. People consider others at all times and try to predict the consequences of their own choices. Drivers are always vigilant, accepting that errors happen to both them and others, keeping safe distance, allowing for the unforeseen. Roads are planned and built with due diligence, enabling predictable maintenance and minimising emergency repairs. Customer service is painless because processes are designed ahead of time, making every interaction efficient and focused on lasting resolution, not: swift completion.

Imagine a world clean and tidy, because everyone cares. People take responsibility for their own surroundings, acknowledging that continuous, small contributions make it possible to maintain order. Things are where they should be, because they are returned to their default location after use. Everybody recycles their rubbish to the best possible standard. There is no litter on the streets so street cleaning is needed less often - and maybe your council tax can be cheaper.

Imagine a world without waste. Digital technology replaces paper. No letters need to be sent, no envelopes to be discarded (and remember to tear off the plastic window, it can't go into paper recycling!). Repeat prescriptions don't need to be printed (you won't need to remember where you put them next month). People shop for groceries with a list to hand, having planned meals for several days. There is no stockpiling because everything is available on demand and you don't care about bundle deals and larger packages for less. You don't buy what you don't need. Storage is much less of a problem.

I can already hear you saying 'Yeah, but...'. This is very reasonable: the world isn't like that. But it doesn't mean that it couldn't be. If things were set up correctly from scratch, if rules were drawn early enough and everyone was clear about the benefits of adhering to them, then there is no reason why it wouldn't work. There is, obviously, no way to redraw the whole world from scratch, not on the global level. Who would even be in charge of such a mammoth task? Could it be done fairly, taking into account everyone's circumstances? And in the end, people wouldn't comply anyway. But on a smaller scale, why not? On a personal, household, business or community level, change can happen much easier, although not instantaneously. With honest analysis to start from, focussed on acknowledging inefficiencies, and a clear picture of a world without them (and all the benefits that come with) plus effort and commitment, change is possible. Better is possible. Tidier, more considerate, more efficient. Happier. Cheaper.

Let me take you on a dream journey. I'll tell you about the concepts, principles and best practices that can help design such (almost) ideal universe. In the meantime, you think about the world as you know it - be it your daily life, business, community, school, you name it. What is it like now? Is it at its best? Could it be improved? Hopefully, by the end of our journey, you will have the answers and all the enthusiasm for change. Then I'll know I've done a good job.