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In 2016, Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, asserted that we are entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Starting with the First Industrial Revolution that took place from the 18th to 19th centuries in Europe and America, each revolution is identified with a transition to new manufacturing processes and advancements of technology. As an example, the Third Industrial, or Digital, Revolution which began in the 1980s is marked by moving away from analog devices. Paul Harris and his friends started Rotary at the tail end of Second Industrial Revolution to deal with changing society. Dr. Schwab believes that this new revolution is distinct from the Digital Revolution due the fast rate of change, wide extent of change, and the full inclusion of change. Almost every industry in every country is experiencing disruption.
Punit Renjen, CEO of Deloitte Global, gave some advice for business leaders facing the challenge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in an article titled, What Today's Business Leaders Can Learn From The 1953 Mt. Everest Conquest. Mr. Renjen identifies two decisions that Sir Edmund Hillary made before he attempted to climb to the summit of Mt. Everest. These decisions lead to him writing, “Strategic alliances and ecosystems can help individuals and organizations accomplish what they cannot achieve on their own.”
Rotary is founded on strong alliances. When the four men first met in Gustave Loehr's office in the Chicago Loop, fellowship and business networking were factors for meeting. As more businessmen joined the group, the members learned together how to grow and prosper in an era of interchangeable parts in manufacturing, expansion of communication and transportation networks, and introduction of electrical power. As they found success, they gave us the legacy of Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best.
As an international, English-speaking Rotary Club, we are uniquely placed in many ecosystems. There are social issues in each of our communities. Through our mini-grant program, you can help make a difference for someone in your community. By sharing your Rotary stories, you may give someone that one piece of information that s/he is missing to address a need in his/her community. We are faced with disruption and uncertainty each day. By working together as Club and assisting the Rotary Clubs in our communities, we can achieve things that no one has ever done before, our own Mt. Everest.