America. Time to stop talking, start listening?

In 1970, there were three major cities with populations of 10 million people or more: New York, Tokyo and Osaka. So America represented 33% of the world’s major urban centers.

By 2010, there were 23 such major urban centers. Two were American, New York and Los Angeles. Put another way, America now represented 11.5% of the world’s major urban centers.

By 2030, just 15 years from now, studies indicate there will be 37 cities with populations of 10 million plus. America will have two, New York and Los Angeles, the rest of the world, 35. So America will then represent less than 5% of the world’s major urban centers.

The implication of this massive urban shift is quite simple. There are and will be a lot of big cities with big resources and big ideas. The smugly superior American world mindset needs a lobotomy to build mutual trust, to compete, to survive and thrive.

Perhaps, we should start now? Perhaps, we are already late to the party? The world is no longer waiting on us…despite what we think, or what we tell ourselves.