Our economy is on a small-ish roller-coaster, but what is often ignored is that the roller-coaster has long been operating far above ground-level in Australia. We have an enviable economic status worldwide. It is close to three full decades since Australia last entered a recession. The GFC hit with full force in September of 2008 – 11 years ago!

Australian annual economic growth has slowed in recent years, bringing to some a sense of gloom and even unfamiliarity. There are now many who have never experienced a significant economic downturn in Australia through their whole careers – whether as an employee, a business owner, a politician, or an organisational leader.

There is (to my mind, needlessly alarmist) talk of upcoming recession for Australia. National retail figures for July indicate a downward spend Australia-wide. However, there are indications from some of my sources that retail spending has increased through August and into September. It may be that as the general population receive a bonus in their tax returns it may provide a micro-stimulus to spending. There are, of course, numerous other factors impacting our overall economy. It is the cross-impact of different factors that is, however, creating the analytical uncertainty and negative interpretations of trends.

In the face of economic uncertainty, however, what can be our local response?

July 20, 2019 (at 10:56 pm US EST) marks the 50th anniversary of the first footsteps of man on the moon. In Perth it was 10:56 am on July 21 when Neil Armstrong stepped on to the surface of the moon.

How is it that 50 years ago, people with just a bunch of brains, slide rules and computers filling whole floors with less computational power than a wristband fit-bit were able to hurl themselves into the void and softly land on a small alien world?

And if they could do it then, why is it so hard for people to get things done now?

It was Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, Prussian Army Chief of Staff during the 19th Century, who stated that “No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.”

His line has been adopted and adapted many times over in everything from boxing to business. Despite that, many businesses and organisations persist in spending inordinate amounts of time, money and resources in detailed long-range planning that ends up being worthless past the very first stage of implementation.