Reflections 28 February

Patterns have been on my mind this week. In the seemingly everchanging swirl of things going on, it seems to me there are some patterns coming to the surface. It may be that they just resonate with me, and I don't know how many other see them, but I think they're worth a short riff.

In any era, there is the age of the expert. It's not at the beginning, because at that point there's no shape, just an emerging pattern. It develops as the pattern becomes clearer, and thrives when it's in focus. It is when experts are valuable, add value and thrive. It overstays its welcome in the decline, when the arrogance and hubris of the expert lends them confidence that the change is an anomaly, and things will get back to the normal of their lifetime. They become extractive of value, not generative.

Right now, I think we're in such a period. It shows unconsciously in the language of leadership. We have our Chancellor floating an idea of incentives to make Britain "a magnet for talent" as though someh…