We have been living in a nation that is part of a global economy that has been all about "speed" - both in how we "grow" money/wealth and how we "grow" communities. That is not a natural process and although we were very good at this race - the race has now stopped. In the last 60-70 years, our focus has been on "stuff" and how we can pay for "stuff". Middle class got squeezed out because "stuff" actually cost more than most people could really afford. I am as guilty of that as anyone and yet if I looked at my status - I would be considered upper middle class most of my life. I am well educated and have earned high 5 low 6 figures for most of the last 20 years and yet if I look around at how I live - what I own, I bought it with money that was someone else's - mostly banks and credit cards. How can we possible expect an economy to grow and strengthen when the platform that it is sitting on is smoke and mirrors. The platform has finally gotten so heavy that it no longer supports us. We are finally starting to realize that not only can we not afford "stuff", but the natural resources that we are using to make/drive/fuel "stuff" is actually going to have to be paid for - in some form or fashion. This is a huge course correction. Not insurmountable or impossible, but requires a definite mind shift and business as usual will no longer make the grade. Lots of opportunities, lots of lessons - some hard, but not a doom and gloom scenario. Just a big ol' wake up call. New definitions will be created, new business models will be developed and the unconscious "speed" path that we have been on for most of the last 60 years now has to learn how to slow down.

Pollution, both air and water, density beyond the breaking point, natural resources being used faster than can be imagined – all issues that need to have solutions found. We can learn from this focused effort.

I guess the bad news, from my perspective is how we – as the United States – plans to compete. Most of China’s efforts are financed by their government, so the ability to move fast and identify solutions is a powerful one. What will the future look like if/when China becomes the next super power – and that power has a strong sustainability component? I want this country – my country – to compete. I want us to focus on solutions to the complex problems that face the planet, but we need to do so with an overarching perspective of the economic values of these answers. I hope we can find our “entrepreneurial” hats that we are known for and really do what we do best – be creative, think out of the box, and do so with a strong sense of the economic bottom line. Lots of “food for thought”, that is for sure.

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net