Good morning to you all of you, and I hope you're all engaged in something passionate today. I have finally broken down and purchased an iPad! I am thrilled with it, in large part because of a very pleasant surprise, I have access to some business magazines and thinkers, because, "there's an app for that!"

One example will suffice, I've downloaded an app on micro strategy, albeit, published by a group who do micro strategy. Fair enough, and what struck me as I read through their overview documents was the sheer volume of adoption of so-called mobile technology. Their take is that we are in the 5th major technology cycle of the last 50 years; from the 1960's and mini-computing, through the 80's and personal computing, the 90's and desktop internet computing and now mobile technology. In the set "mobile technology" we have smart phones like the iPhone, the Nexus One and the Blackberry, as well as the iPad, and similar devices. The key finding is simply the amazing rate of adoption of mobile technology. There are 8 times as many iPhone and iPod Touch users  as there were AOL users 9 quarters after launch. There are about 60 million users of iPhones and iPod Touch right now. How big would that number be, if we added only Blackberrys

At least two fundamental questions arise for leaders. One how is our organization responding strategically to people being able to access data immediately, people being connected with each other over great distances, and so collaborating on decisions everywhere from grocery stores to factory floors, and an apparently ever increasing number of people using these devices in addition to and instead of desktop or even laptops? What's the impact of this 5th technology cycle on your business? Secondly, what's the impact on our leadership practices given that so many of us are now connected while mobile. What does performance management look like 5 years from now? How do we lead through a mobile device, or is that even possible? Or, might we recognize that as much as technology has changed our businesses and our economics, in the end we're still humans, needing to be honoured, respected and included in the group? We're still moved by story, still compelled to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of our children and grandchildren. We're still driven to find meaning in our lives and there may not be an "app for that." I am learning though to be pleasantly surprised by what is possible!

I hope each of us has an opportunity to be surprised this week!