“A Rose by any other name:”

It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the tsunami of negativity trumpeted by all sorts of media. Yes, times are very rough and we are in a severe crisis on many levels. And, its more important than ever that we sharpen our focus on finding solutions. In order to do that, however, we must maintain a belief that solutions are possible, and that belief is under assault. So, it helps to find influences and ideas that can strengthen our belief that solutions are possible.

I discovered a surprising source of optimistic influence the other night whenI happened to flip the channel on my television to the Charlie Rose show. Rose’s first guest was former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger. The second guest was Professor Michael Porter from Harvard Business School. Two individuals from different walks of life but each renowned as a thought leader.

Kissinger, who had just returned from Russia, explained that no one has ever accused him of being overly optimistic. He went on to point out however, that the nature and severity of the challenges faced by nations today is creating an unprecedented pressure toward cooperation. He explained that this wasn’t a function of ideology or philosophy but rather a purely Machiavellian force. When asked by Rose to name this emerging era Kissinger responded, that we might call it “The Age of Compatible Interests.”

The next guest, Professor Porter, focused more specifically on economic, financial and business issues, but the essence of his argument was strikingly similar to Kissinger’s. He suggested that the crisis is severe enough that there’s a reasonable chance that it will inspire much greater cooperation as it spurs innovation. He explained the need for a an integrated national economic strategy that included much more focus on developing our education system, especially K thru 12. Porter was clear that solutions are possible and that he was guardedly optimistic about our future.