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Sovereignty, economics and the future
So I'm having the Brexit debate with my mother. Actually, I'm not sure it really counts as a debate if you're both talking at the same time, but you know what I mean. She's 71 and worried about sovereignty and immigration. I'm concentrating on the economics.
I made the point - very eloquently, I thought - that Brexit would mean the next couple of years looking a little complicated economically.
She said "Don't you care about the long term?"
I said "Not really - I might be dead in the long term."
She said "But your children won't be."
OK, one nil to her, but I'm still undecided.
Taking the plunge
It did all get me thinking though. Change is no fun at all and it gets more difficult as you get older. Like jumping into a cold swimming pool, it takes a bit of effort. You have to force yourself to do it. And yet, invariably, it's not nearly as bad once you're in.
It's the same in business. We've spent the last 15 years building up an amazing business. To the outside world it looks like an easy ride and, personally, I long for a pipe and slippers type of existence. And yet the rate of change is ridiculous. Taking maternity coaching online, opening offices in Australia and Hong Kong, reinventing the emergency childcare service, starting eldercare in Ireland, opening our first 3 tuition centres...
It's tiring, invigorating and unfortunately necessary. It just never ends.
Adaptability and the unadaptable
What about kids - how well do they cope with change? Some much better than others, is the reality, and it's not all to do with confidence and stable families.
Here's my observation. I know lots of expat families that work for big multi-nationals. Every few years, they pick up everything and move. Their kids might have the odd social challenge, but they also grow up into the kind of people who thrive on change. Throw everything into the air and start again - no problem!
And the more traditional families brought up in the family house, attending the same school surrounded by the same set of friends? Well, for that bunch, change is always going to be a bit more difficult.
My parents still live in the family house I was born in. No wonder I'm finding the whole Brexit thing so difficult.
Ben Black
