Terry Murden: The heroes, villains – and lessons we'll fail to learn

Published on Friday 25 December 2009 19:49

THE first decade of the 21st century is just about done. So how will the noughties be remembered?

Fundamentally these past ten years have changed the way we communicate and have accelerated the growth towards a global economy.

But some things never change. We have not learnt the lessons of earlier generations when it comes to avoiding bubbles. They always burst and, despite the best intentions of regulators, they'll going on being created and bursting.

The decade also brought us new words, new industries and a crop of stars and villains who no doubt started the new century with no idea how they would end it.

So, with the lights on the noughties beginning to fade, here is a run through some of the highlights of a decade that some will celebrate and others would rather forget.

Top performers

Larry Page and Sergey Brin brought us Google, turning all of us into instant experts on any subject from soya bean crops to Third Division football. They also created a new verb. You can't meet anyone now without being googled.

Steve Jobs, the Apple founder, inspiration, etc …Without Jobs there would be no iPod, iTunes or iPhone. He should patent the word "icon" as he's earned that status by the way in which he's changed the way we listen to music. To complete his superhuman status, Jobs survived cancer and a liver transplant.

Biggest downfall

It has to be our own Sir Fred Goodwin, who led Royal Bank of Scotland to the top of the hill and led it down again. After snapping up NatWest and moving into China, RBS had given Scotland a truly global player. By 2007 Goodwin was on top of the world. But the collapse of Lehman Brothers exposed the folly of his move on Dutch bank ABN Amro. The market collapsed, taking RBS with it. Goodwin clung on, but was forced out. Had he gone gracefully and without that fat pension he may have been forgiven. Attacks on his home may have been unforgiveable but showed the extent of public anger at bankers' greed.

Most irritating hero

Has to be Michael O'Leary, boss of Ryanair who not only exhibited an eccentricity more akin to a circus act, but brought new meaning to the term no-frills airline by making money from the "extras" – passengers squirmed when he suggested charging for visits to the toilet. Even so, O'Leary has been instrumental in developing cheap flights for all.

Daftest jargon

From "going forward" to "blue sky thinking" we've "gotten" some awful expressions that confuse and exasperate in equal measure. Scots firm Craneware provides "automated revenue integrity solutions". Er, what? It's some kind of software for payment systems. Solutions has become one the buzzwords of the decade and is often used by those who ought to be providing a service.

Only last week, an airline spokesman said passengers would be asked to "deplane". Get off would have been better.

Most loved and loathed

The supermarkets. Take your pick from the big four that now not only dominate grocery shopping but have also made huge inroads into fashion, books and financial services. Tesco is often named as one of the most admired British brands, mainly because it's pretty damn good and has done what so many British firms have failed to do: achieve success overseas. But its detractors hate the way it has ruined local businesses and turned shopping into a bland, uniform experience.

Another Bric in the wall

At the turn of the century Britain and America still harboured the ridiculous idea that they could continue to rule the world. Brazil, Russia, India and China had other ideas and as their economies have emerged they will steadily tilt the balance of economic power to their advantage.