Member-only story
Imagining a Better Future: Keys to Human Progress
Playing it safe will lead to the decay of human progress. The way to a great future is through innovation and creativity.
This may sound like something from the dawn of time, but it has never been more true in today’s world. Innovation and creativity are at the heart of our economic recovery, our environmental sustainability, and all aspects of human progress.
What amazes me most about this is that we have so much talent — yet some people seem determined not to use it. We’re stuck in a rut: too many people are just going with their gut instead of using their heads or their hearts; others seem paralyzed by fear and uncertainty; still, others want to keep playing it safe rather than taking risks or experimenting with new ideas. But if we don’t use our talent, we will lose it.
What’s not clear is whether we can find our way out of the rut, or whether we’ve become too comfortable in doing things the same old ways. We’re facing a tough battle with competing forces that are fueling a vicious cycle of decay. These are scary times, but they also offer opportunities for positive change if we seize the moment and focus on making things work rather than just talking about them.