Innovation, open minds key to unlocking city’s potential
INNOVATION and communication are the key to unlocking Nelson Mandela Bay’s economic potential, according to global change guru Michael Jackson, who addressed some of the metro’s best business minds.
Armed with a simple message and charismatic approach, Jackson took to the stage at a business breakfast at the Summerstrand Hotel on Friday hosted by Kamva Leadership Institute.
He urged about 100 business owners and representatives “to brush their teeth with the other hand”.
Jackson said individuals had become complacent and it was only through the collaboration of the business, municipal and residential sectors that the city could reach its full potential.
“Our brain is our own worst enemy because we rely on it, yet it is only focused on preserving itself and as such hardly interferes with the usual order of things,” he said.
“By brushing your teeth with the other hand, you disrupt the brain’s usual thought patterns, forcing it to readjust and open to new ways of thinking.
“I want you to apply this concept – we need to disrupt the ordinary order of business as well to achieve a different result.”
Jackson’s 15 years of experience has seen him become one of the foremost international businessto-business speakers.
Performing at more than 160 conferences around the world annually, he speaks to audiences ranging from factory workers to heads of state.
His short address was met with resounding applause and was followed by an interview he conducted with mayoral committee member Andrew Whitfield on his thoughts about the Bay’s economic future.
Whitfield echoed the sentiments of Jackson, stating that the metro had the potential to be the destination of choice for future investment in the country if the various sectors played an integral role in shaping its economy through an innovative approach.