While an ophthalmologist recalibrates eyeglasses’ lenses to achieve immediate clarity of vision and/or better vision in the longer term, the Cambridge dictionary defines recalibrate as “to change the way you do or think about something.

Oftentimes, many do not take the time or find it important to go for eye checks, forgetting that eyeglasses need recalibration periodically to achieve better vision. This complacency, in keeping the status quo or being nonchalant about an optician’s visit, is based on the thought that “I can still see, so why do I need a check-up?”

This misconception is something that I can identify with, as early last year, I went for eye testing and a new pair of glasses after a few years of putting it off. My new pair of glasses made me realise my lack of clarity in vision hitherto and all the finer details that I had been missing. Interestingly, the new glasses gave me a new look and psychologically, a better perspective to my world.

So, what’s all this about?

Some 10 years ago, during my days as a visiting instructor at the University of California at Riverside, teaching on the Digital Economy, I coined the term ‘digital impact’ which I defined as the growing dependence of world’s citizenry on digitally-driven technologies.

Fast forward to 2017, I began crusading Building Borderless Businesses, often raising quizzical questions from some of my associates.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, massive opportunities have been presented to many actors in the marketplace. So, how can these opportunities be capitalised on?

Breaking Out of Our Comfort Zone

Moulds can be hard to break but it is pertinent for every organisation to expand its horizon, going beyond the orthodox. This requires seeking new and/or enhanced experiences, which can come through offering different products and services, targeting different audience groups, communicating different messages, and employing different performance indicators.

Seeing Reality with a Fresh Pair of Eyes

Governments, businesses, and communities need to see reality with a fresh pair of eyes, not just the heightened state of digital awareness today, but the need to translate this observation into digital opportunities. This requires a dumping of limiting mindsets (adopting what I call ‘borderless thinking’), a paradigm shift in government policy (adopting a reengineered approach) and changing business rules of engagement (to adopting a disruptive approach).

Moving from Traditional to Opportunistic Positions

It behoves everyone, especially entrepreneurs, leaders, and influencers, to move from traditional positions to opportunistic ones. This includes adopting more hybrid thinking, factoring both marketplaces and marketspaces in growth plans, and providing services in-person and remotely.

Re-Education

It requires a re-education to understand that productivity and wealth creation is less about hard work and more about smart working.

Embracing Digital Technologies

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies like blockchain technology in business processes will accelerate value creation, e.g., exploring the potentially immense benefits of digital currency in business transactions.

Rebranding and Repositioning

Finally, for many businesses, being relevant and scalable may require rebranding and/or repositioning. It's not just about automation but also innovation. An example would be positioning businesses to tap into the leads generating and business scaling power of LinkedIn and growing organisational influence using today's social media.