Can man live by bread alone? This rhetorical question has its roots in the Bible where related phraseology is found three times and the intent is spiritual not physiological. But, the rhetorical question has gained a life of its own and does speak to the issue of our need for food and the rise of agriculture, a massive global industry.

Better living through chemistry. That phrase has its roots in the trademarked advertising slogan "Better Things for Better Living...Through Chemistry" that DuPont (actually, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company) introduced in 1935. Dupont dropped "Through Chemistry" in 1982 but the phrase, "Better living through chemistry" lives on and, indeed, speaks to the global chemicals industry which has roots in petroleum and other natural resources.

Reach out and touch someone. AT&T introduced this identifiable slogan in 1979 as competition arose when the telecommunications industry (there was no internet, no cell phones then) was being untethered from government regulations (and a monopolistic industry structure). There are many variations on this theme which are juxtaposed (in my mind) to Google's admonishing "Don't Be Evil". (I know the story but what are they thinking now?) Alas, I digress. My point here is that the Electronics industry has grown rapidly (no kidding!), still is growing and seems central to our lives. But, is it?

The answer is yes. But, it's never that simple. And, that's what we'll begin to explore for these industries.

A chicken is interested in the person who wants bacon and eggs for breakfast but the pig is committed. It's a light quip (for all but the pig!) but it makes a relevant statement about what underpins our actions and how often we can overlook the significance of the events we can trigger.

My intent is to start looking at the industries that exist because of the needs we have and the wants (or desires) that we are able to fulfill. In other words, we don't drive cars because they exist but cars exist because we need transportation and we, collectively, have found a way to harness the power in petroleum for a mechanical system that affords a more economical means to satisfy our needs. I'm being very brief here and know that I could comment on horses, wagons, watercraft and more but I'll let it suffice that you, dear readers, will allow me to build upon this premise, from the perspective I have chosen, without getting into the weeds (for now…).

What is that we need? What desires do we have the luxury of affording? We need food, shelter and clothing? And, Maslow tells us that we have a hierarchy of needs that veer into social psychological and spiritual realms. Way down the road, I may venture into some of Maslow's more subjective ideas but for now let's focus on objective matters where this blogs audience generally focuses its attention.

And, on we go to begin our discussion.....

Earlier this week, I posted a reply to a CR4 question about whether it was better to major in chemical engineering or mechanical engineering. The asker had an interest in the oil & gas industry and, at present, there is a demand for chemical engineers in that industry so that leads to one answer. But, there are plenty of opportunities for mechanical engineers and engineers of every shape and flavor in the oil and gas industry! So, I suggested that the person assess their own personal interests and, in so many words, find a good balance between their own interests, abilities and energy and the needs of the marketplace. For someone who is probably about 20 years old, it would be a horrible situation to spend the next 40 years doing work they did not enjoy.

I also raised the issue of taking courses beyond the core curriculum, meaning for a mechanical engineer to take some higher level chemical engineering classes. And, from my perspective, it's really important to remember that four years of college education are merely a foundation and represent only the beginning of lifelong education. As the college president commented at my daughter's graduation, the awarding of degrees is done at a "commencement", a beginning, a going-forward and not an ending by any stretch of the imagination.

Last night I was on the golf course in the company of two college students. We had a great time (thank you). One of these fellows is a Mechanical Engineering student who has just finished his junior year. He's been working with a major manufacturer during school breaks and has now joined them for a six month assignment. This so-called "co-op" (co-operative education) assignment is similar to something I did in school and I think it's a very valuable and relevant part of the educational process. And, even though he's just starting, he shared an interesting insight.

He said, "Well, I'm not doing very much engineering work." Oh? I wasn't surprised by his comment and I've heard it from other new engineers, too. Ah, but you are doing important work! And, while you may not be developing a lot of mathematically-derived process improvements or new products, that kind of work may come in time. At the moment, he is developing other skills relevant to progress that are certainly applicable to industry (his current role), to research, academia and any other endeavor he chooses. Communication is essential to success!

I had also commented on the CR4 reply that it was important to place a fair emphasis on non-technical pursuits as part of lifelong learning. As I've come to learn, communication is more than just sharing facts with other people. It's also requires understanding, different perspectives and experiences and it's very much about building trust. By studying history, literature, theater, the arts, music, religion, politics and more, we gain perspective and insights that can build our self-awareness, our understanding of others (something like walking in their shoes) and our ability to truly engage others in communication that is effective.

It never ends! And, it never should…..

Please read this free and insightful report from McKinsey & Co.: Disruptive Technologies: Advances that will Transform Life, Business, and the Global Economy. You will be glad you did. (Note: there is a link to an Executive Summary and a Full Report; the full report is long but well worth your time.)

I'm going to be very brief here in my remarks. The report is long and speaks for itself; I would rather you read it than my thoughts on the matter. Suffice it to say, once in a GREAT while, a knowledgeable group of individuals will undertake a thoughtful review and present information of value in a logical and inspiring manner. And, in this case, the information is of incredible professional value to the CR4 audience.

In a nutshell, McKinsey's team has assessed various technologies currently being developed and presented information on the twelve that they believe meet the following criteria:

• High rate of technology change
• Broad potential scope of impact
• Large economic value that could be affected (by 2025)
• Substantial potential for disruptive economic impact (by 2025)

The twelve technologies are:

Let it never be said that people in need cannot be served, that there are insufficient tools or that we lack enough opportunity. Go forth and make it a better world.