GET SPA BUSINESS
magazine
Yes! Send me the FREE digital editions of Spa Business and Spa Business insider magazines and the FREE weekly Spa Business and Spa Business insider ezines and breaking news alerts!
Not right now, thanksclose this window
NEWS
Wellness is up for reinvention, says GWS keynote John Kao
POSTED 10 Nov 2020 . BY Megan Whitby
John Kao is a GWS advisory board member, MD and best-selling author specialising in innovation and enterprise transformation Credit: Global Wellness Summit
John Kao, MD and best-selling author on innovation and enterprise transformation, believes the wellness market is ripe for innovation and transformation.

Speaking at the 2020 Global Wellness Summit, he predicted that once the pandemic resolves, there will be a massive outpouring of energy towards wellness and wanting to reinvent the way we live.

“It’s been a time of figuring out what’s important and what can be left behind, a time for reorganising ourselves and introspection,” he said, “within this lies tremendous potential.

“This means wellness is up for reinvention and that there’s real potential to create new sources of value.”

Kao was keen to state that now is not just a time of disruption, but also a period of discontinuity. The difference being that disruption is short-term and discontinuity is pervasive, meaning we’re not going to go back to conditions as normal.

“This indicates a new way of doing things that implies the need not just for improvement-oriented innovation, but reinvention-style of innovation.”

He believes this means there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur and innovator because it’s meant there’s a palpable dynamism in the early stage venture business.

Kao’s contacts in the early-stage venture capital industry say money is being invested like there’s no tomorrow and that people are coming up with business plans left, right and centre.

“This isn’t surprising because it tracks with history that major companies – such as Apple – got formed in times of recession and disruption and discontinuity, because these conditions mean there’s a fundamental humility in how to do things and openness to new possibilities.”

In Kao’s opinion, reinvention doesn’t happen when we sit as an expert.

He referenced a Zen Buddhist concept – called Beginner’s mind – which has a saying that in the mind of the expert there are many opinions and in the mind of the beginners there are few, therefore all new things begin with a beginners mind.

In essence, if you want to reinvent the bridge from today to the desired future, you have to have the openness to consider the possibilities with a blank sheet of paper.

He summed up by saying that the future of wellness looks bright, highlighting the significance of the summit, its research and the Global Wellness Institute's effort to reinvent the notion of wellness and wellbeing for the 21st century.
RELATED STORIES
  2020 Shark Tank of Wellness competition winner hopes to help more people eat ‘food without fear’


The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has announced Krysta Mendes Silva as the winner of its fifth annual Shark Tank of Wellness competition.
  GWS report details top wellness trend predictions for 2021


The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has unveiled its latest trends report containing its top nine wellness trends for 2021.
  Global Wellness Summit 2021 to be hosted in Tel Aviv this November


The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) today announced its 2021 conference will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, from November 15-18 at the Hilton Tel Aviv, set on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
MORE NEWS
Equinox tells HCM it plans to fight $11.25m race discrimination ruling
Lifestyle brand Equinox has told HCM it plans to fight a ruling by the US courts that it must pay pay US$11.25m to a former employee who claimed she was discriminated against due to her race and gender, saying it "vehemently disagrees with the jury’s finding".
Hadi Teherani-designed alpine nature spa opens at Hotel Krallerhof in Austria
Austria’s five-star alpine wellness retreat Hotel Krallerhof has been updated with a new nature- centric glass-fronted spa, Atmosphere by Krallerhof.
Wellness gets wild as JW Marriott safari retreat opens in Masai Mara National Reserve
JW Marriott has branched into the luxury safari segment with a wellness-forward retreat property in one of Africa's most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions.
Architizer celebrates best of spa and wellness architecture at 11th Annual A+Awards
Global online architecture platform Architizer has spotlighted innovative spa and wellness architecture concepts around the world as part of its 11th Annual Architizer A+Awards.
+ More news   
LATEST JOBS
+ More jobs  

FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Spa Life 2023 set to inspire resilience and reinvention
The Spa Life UK Convention – the UK's leading networking and business development event for spa and wellness professionals – is back this year with a renewed focus on resilience and reinvention. [more...]

How spas can tackle the current financial climate
Oliver Cahill, managing director of Premier Software part of Journey Hospitality, is well- versed in assisting spa operators world-over. As spa professionals and clients tackle the current cost of living crisis, we ask Oliver his supportive perspective. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Crown Sports Lockers

Crown Sports Lockers has designed, crafted and fitted bespoke timber furniture for spas, hotels and [more...]
Sommerhuber GmbH

Sommerhuber specialises in the manufacturing of heat-storing ceramics for spas. [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
 

+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

01-04 Jun 2023

Rimini Wellness

Rimini Exhibition Center, Rimini, Italy
11-14 Jun 2023

W3Spa EMEA

Le Meridien Lav, Split, Croatia
+ More diary  
 
ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
 
SPA BUSINESS
SPA OPPORTUNITIES
SPA BUSINESS HANDBOOK
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2023
News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Wellness is up for reinvention, says GWS keynote John Kao
POSTED 10 Nov 2020 . BY Megan Whitby
John Kao is a GWS advisory board member, MD and best-selling author specialising in innovation and enterprise transformation Credit: Global Wellness Summit
John Kao, MD and best-selling author on innovation and enterprise transformation, believes the wellness market is ripe for innovation and transformation.

Speaking at the 2020 Global Wellness Summit, he predicted that once the pandemic resolves, there will be a massive outpouring of energy towards wellness and wanting to reinvent the way we live.

“It’s been a time of figuring out what’s important and what can be left behind, a time for reorganising ourselves and introspection,” he said, “within this lies tremendous potential.

“This means wellness is up for reinvention and that there’s real potential to create new sources of value.”

Kao was keen to state that now is not just a time of disruption, but also a period of discontinuity. The difference being that disruption is short-term and discontinuity is pervasive, meaning we’re not going to go back to conditions as normal.

“This indicates a new way of doing things that implies the need not just for improvement-oriented innovation, but reinvention-style of innovation.”

He believes this means there’s never been a better time to be an entrepreneur and innovator because it’s meant there’s a palpable dynamism in the early stage venture business.

Kao’s contacts in the early-stage venture capital industry say money is being invested like there’s no tomorrow and that people are coming up with business plans left, right and centre.

“This isn’t surprising because it tracks with history that major companies – such as Apple – got formed in times of recession and disruption and discontinuity, because these conditions mean there’s a fundamental humility in how to do things and openness to new possibilities.”

In Kao’s opinion, reinvention doesn’t happen when we sit as an expert.

He referenced a Zen Buddhist concept – called Beginner’s mind – which has a saying that in the mind of the expert there are many opinions and in the mind of the beginners there are few, therefore all new things begin with a beginners mind.

In essence, if you want to reinvent the bridge from today to the desired future, you have to have the openness to consider the possibilities with a blank sheet of paper.

He summed up by saying that the future of wellness looks bright, highlighting the significance of the summit, its research and the Global Wellness Institute's effort to reinvent the notion of wellness and wellbeing for the 21st century.
RELATED STORIES
2020 Shark Tank of Wellness competition winner hopes to help more people eat ‘food without fear’


The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has announced Krysta Mendes Silva as the winner of its fifth annual Shark Tank of Wellness competition.
GWS report details top wellness trend predictions for 2021


The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has unveiled its latest trends report containing its top nine wellness trends for 2021.
Global Wellness Summit 2021 to be hosted in Tel Aviv this November


The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) today announced its 2021 conference will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, from November 15-18 at the Hilton Tel Aviv, set on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
MORE NEWS
Equinox tells HCM it plans to fight $11.25m race discrimination ruling
Lifestyle brand Equinox has told HCM it plans to fight a ruling by the US courts that it must pay pay US$11.25m to a former employee who claimed she was discriminated against due to her race and gender, saying it "vehemently disagrees with the jury’s finding".
Hadi Teherani-designed alpine nature spa opens at Hotel Krallerhof in Austria
Austria’s five-star alpine wellness retreat Hotel Krallerhof has been updated with a new nature- centric glass-fronted spa, Atmosphere by Krallerhof.
Wellness gets wild as JW Marriott safari retreat opens in Masai Mara National Reserve
JW Marriott has branched into the luxury safari segment with a wellness-forward retreat property in one of Africa's most renowned wildlife and wilderness conservation regions.
Architizer celebrates best of spa and wellness architecture at 11th Annual A+Awards
Global online architecture platform Architizer has spotlighted innovative spa and wellness architecture concepts around the world as part of its 11th Annual Architizer A+Awards.
Wellbeing strategist Dr Glenda Rivoallan to keynote Spa Life UK 2023
Industry event Spa Life UK is back for 2023 from 2-4 July at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel.
Kelleye Martin named spa director of The Houstonian’s Trellis Spa
Iconic Texas hotel and wellness destination Texas The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa has announced the appointment of Kelleye Martin as the new director of its Trellis Spa.
+ More news   
 
FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Spa Life 2023 set to inspire resilience and reinvention
The Spa Life UK Convention – the UK's leading networking and business development event for spa and wellness professionals – is back this year with a renewed focus on resilience and reinvention. [more...]

How spas can tackle the current financial climate
Oliver Cahill, managing director of Premier Software part of Journey Hospitality, is well- versed in assisting spa operators world-over. As spa professionals and clients tackle the current cost of living crisis, we ask Oliver his supportive perspective. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Crown Sports Lockers

Crown Sports Lockers has designed, crafted and fitted bespoke timber furniture for spas, hotels and [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

01-04 Jun 2023

Rimini Wellness

Rimini Exhibition Center, Rimini, Italy
11-14 Jun 2023

W3Spa EMEA

Le Meridien Lav, Split, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2023

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS