Listening to his speech yesterday, I of course heard his words through the filter of all that I’ve researched and written over the last three years. Obama’s speech drove home the point that we need to acknowledge, value, and connect with the broader social landscape at all levels of society.
As individuals… to stay current, be informed, and access a full range of (human) resources–and to feel part of something bigger than ourselves.
As commercial enterprises, institutions, or organizations… to promote participation and engagement, spur innovation, and inspire loyalty in customers, colleagues, and constituents outside our own walls.
As nations… to deal with, and help find solutions to, global problems that requirer the understanding and insights from people who often have little in common but much at stake.
These ideas are not knew. Since the Sixties, pockets of thinkers across many disciplines have called for more collaboration and connection. But the fact that a powerful man whose background and success (so far) epitomizes the wisdom of reaching across traditional boundaries, sends a powerful message about how we need to view ourselves and the people around us. It’s a matter of survival.
