World in Motion

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:46:00 -0500

by Craig Berger and David Hoffman

When we were in college, things were different. Craig graduated 7 years ago; David, 25 years ago. Each of us lived then in a world that was our only normal. Intellectually, we knew things would change; but at some deep emotional level, we took for granted that they would be the same forever, and that only we would change.

In the world Craig took for granted 7 years ago,

There was little talk of "the economy" or a weak job market upon graduation.

The only way to see and talk to another person, in another place, in real time, was using teleconferencing computer software.

E-mail was typically returned within 24 hours.

Gas above $2.75/gallon was considered to be extremely expensive.

It was widely viewed as implausible that somebody other than a white man would be elected President in our lifetimes.

In the world David took for granted 25 years ago,

Everyone knew that the biggest threat to the security of the United States was the Soviet Union.

Receiving a long-distance phone call was a big deal (partly because long-distance calls were so expensive to place).

Typing by touch was not an essential skill.

The only way to search for a job or a graduate school, aside from attending career and graduate fairs, was to use printed materials: newspapers, magazines, brochures. The library was an essential resource for these things.

When people graduated from high school or college, they kept in touch with their best friends, but nobody else. There was no practical way to stay connected with peers who had been merely casual friends or acquaintances.

Your world, which may seem pretty stable (aside from increasingly impressive video graphics and iPhones), is changing too--even faster. Can you envision the worlds you'll be in before too long: the world of 7 years from now, and the world of 25 years from now?