A timeline
Coming from a background in marketing and research, in 2004 Michael founded a consultancy specializing in demographic shifts and social trends called The Nexgen Group.
Michael’s first book The ‘New’ Rules of Engagement was the culmination of a 3-year study of the key drivers of youth culture around the world. With an emphasis on the values and attitudes of Millennials, this 2007 release focussed on helping business leaders, educators and parents better engage a younger generation.
In 2009 and 2010, Michael went on to release a range of gift books called Memento and Wisdom which were designed to bridge the generation gap in families by helping parents pass on their stories and life lessons to the next generation. Building on the international success of this giftbook range, Michael created an online memoir-writing app for parents called Histography.com.
Michael’s third bestselling book Winning the Battle for Relevance was a landmark title that explored why even the greatest businesses and institutions become obsolete and how others could avoid their fate. Drawing on research tracking 500 of the world’s most iconic brands over 5 years, Michael outlined a range of strategies for organizations and businesses who are committed to staying ahead of the curve by re-inventing themselves before they are forced to do so.
In 2016 Michael's research emphasis shifted to focus on the key habits and mindsets that enable organizations and individuals to stay at the cutting edge over time. He released his fourth bestseller Momentum: How to Build it, Keep it, or Get it Back in October that year. Receiving wide acclaim worldwide, Momentum outlined a simple but powerful formula for staying on a growth trajectory and ensuring that a success groove doesn't become a rut.
Michael's 2018 bestseller How to Prepare Now for What's Next was a revealing glimpse at the key trends that will shape the coming years including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and nanotechnology. This book explored the technological shifts and social changes that no organization or individual can afford to ignore and offers a practical game plan for thriving in an age of disruption.
In 2019, Michael released two books in quick succession. His 7th book Teaching for Tomorrow focused on the education sector and explored the key paradigm shifts that policy makers and classroom educators will need to make in order to equip today's students for tomorrow.
Michael’s 8th book The Case for Character examines the latest consumer trends data and highlights why transparency, trust and clarity of purpose are increasingly essential for any business or institution. This book offers a blueprint for becoming an individual, brand or organisation that stands for something - and reaps the rewards of doing so.
In April 2021, Michael released a digital book called The New Now which examined the 10 trends that will dominate a post-COVID world and how leaders and organizations can gear up for them.