You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. 

~ R. Buckminster Fuller

Capitalism is always touted as being the most successful driver of the economy; actually that’s a myth. It is human ingenuity. Big corporate is an evolutionary experiment along with socialism, capitalism, democrat, republican, left wing and right wing.

They are all a product of someone’s mind, which creates models to save us having to think so much. But evolution doesn’t stop, and these models shouldn’t stay, as Buzz Lightyear exclaimed, “to infinity and beyond!”.

Take away a one-sided ideology and you unleash rampant resourcefulness and ingenuity. People begin to think holistically again, take responsibility and become more adaptable.

The environment has become endangered; politics pointless, religion redundant, the education system erstwhile and the economy is exhausted.

We are in the midst of a perfect storm aimed squarely at the trembling status quo. The institutions can’t fix the challenges from within, because the change agents would have to make themselves redundant in the process.

In this transformation age, new technologies are displacing workers faster than the old economy can find new uses for them. This uncertainty has created lots of new opportunities which have yet to be discovered. They come cleverly disguised as problems, the more there are, the more solutions are required.

But who is going to find them?

Enlightened Entrepreneurial Leaders (EELs)

Two hundred years ago, the majority of people were entrepreneurs. Now that trend is returning. A lot of the larger institutions now look outside their walls for expert help and new ideas.

People also prefer to work for themselves because it allows them to live purposefully and with more freedom. This transformational age has kick-started the EEL revolution.

But to succeed in the present economic climate, the new breed of entrepreneur will have to be highly differentiated, principled and heroic. They will not be competing on price, but on values.

EELs will initiate new ideas and behaviours. They will look around their environment and notice something which bothers them. Then they will fix it or improve it. Others will turn their skills and passion into something that serves others.

Wherever you find yourself and whatever you possess now is all that you need to create meaningful work.

There is nobody coming to save us but our own initiative. It’s up to you to take action, responsibility, and the economy to the next level.

‘Everybody wants to get enlightened but nobody wants to change.’  

~ Andrew Cohen

Why enlightened?

We have been trapped in a delusion, like being plugged into the ‘Matrix’ for so long, we have become disconnected from reality and the choices available to us. If you ask someone to draw a line from A to B, then ask them to do the opposite, you get more of the same; a straight line.

Ask people to think innovatively and first they will push the boundaries. Then a breakthrough will uncover a completely transformative solution. We just need to ask the right questions.

In a highly connected world, business and society should be aligned. We need sustainable systems which move away from ego- centric towards world-centric behaviours.

EELs have a rational, modern, and well-informed perspective which transcends ego, fear and delusion. It means not reacting to the challenges we face with fear but responding effectively.

Why entrepreneurial?

EELs emerge from within the population on demand to changes in the environment.

They are often involved in the ‘creative destruction’ of old systems, before introducing radical innovations to business norms.

Open minded and creative, EELs make connections across seemingly unrelated events or sectors. Basically, entrepreneurs are great problem solvers.

When you are inspired by some great purpose … dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

~ Patanjali

Why leadership?

Because never has there been a time when we need more inspired and purposeful leadership; as opposed to some authority that uses their position to fix the system.

We are all products of our environment, but EELs reject the idea that we have to be victims of circumstances. EELs move towards the unknown and explore, they make things happen.

They will arise from every sector and every level of society. They are not just going to change the way business is done, they are going to transform it.

It takes confidence to offer and execute creative solutions to complex challenges which take people outside their comfort zones.

You’ll never be certain that your attempt in business will work, but you can be certain that doing nothing will never work.

To be continued…

(Stay tuned for my next article in which I’ll be exploring the Universal Product Cycle of everything.)

~

Editor: Andrea B.