Insights
James offers a scientific perspective—rooted in physics, chemistry, biology, and neurology—to explain the trends and events that are reshaping businesses, economies, societies, and cultures. His insights help leaders in the commercial, public, and social sectors develop a deeper understanding of the cognitive connections that are profoundly impacting every aspect of their organizations, their communities, and the planet we share.
The Moment We Stopped Learning
Our discomfort with ignorance begins early. Embracing not knowing may be the most important skill for parents, educators, and leaders in a rapidly changing world.
Your Swiss Cheese Brain
The brain excels at learning but resists unlearning, locking in beliefs to conserve energy. To adapt in a changing world, we must reopen gaps, question assumptions, and stay flexible.
Learning to Stand on Level Ground
The world isn’t collapsing—it’s reshaping itself. The real question is whether those who once benefited most from the old order are willing to evolve with the new one.
The Companions We Take For Granted
In a world obsessed with growing faster and standing out, there’s wisdom in the things that grow slowly, stay rooted, and hold their place.
That’s Weird! The Brain’s War on Different
We like to believe we’re open-minded, but the moment something looks different, our brains start protecting us from it. Understanding that instinct is the first step toward overcoming it.
The Future Needs Lawyers, Not Investors
When profit tries to own justice, we all lose something that cannot be bought back.
So, You Want To Be A Speaker?
How one USB stick and an Escape key nearly ended my career. Twice.
How to Stand Out When Everyone Has the Same Information
The future doesn’t belong to those who know the most, but to those who know what matters.
Let’s Stop Pretending: Trust Doesn't Mean Anything
It’s the most overused word in business—and the least understood.
Where Growth Really Happens
A gardener’s secret to building organizations that actually grow.
The Abbreviation of Everything
We’ve made life faster and easier, but in cutting everything short we risk cutting away the very work that makes us human.
The Future No One Is Prepared For...Is Here
We’re making real decisions based on fake crowds. Bots, trolls, and rage merchants can now manufacture outrage and false consensus overnight — and leaders who don’t question it risk steering by ghosts.
The Cost Of No Shame
We once blushed when we crossed a line. Lately I wonder what happens when no one does.
Are You Too Fast Or Too Slow?
Leaders fail not because they misjudge the future, but because they misread the present.