We are the superheroes

It is often tempting to sit back and let someone else take responsibility, to let someone else lead.  To let our doctor take responsibility for our health.  To let our employer take responsibility for our income.  To let our politicians take responsibility for our environment.

After all it is what we were educated to do.  We were educated to do what we were told, to conform, to obey.  Like the buttons on many websites still say - “submit”.

We were educated in a system that was designed in a time of industry, a time of empire.  When the fiction of the patriarchy of authority was still plausible.

We find ourselves living in a world that the designers of our education did not envision and for which, therefore, our education did not prepare us. And our children are still, largely, being prepared for the same non existent future that we were.

We live in a time that is dense with challenge, economic, environmental and spiritual.  The apparent certainties of a “job for life”, a “bountiful nature” and theology are over.  We have reached the edge of the cultural map we were brought up with.  That culture has few answers here.

We have to take responsibility for the reinvention of our institutions and enterprises; education, health, finance, justice, peace, government, business, transport.  We have to reinvent them to reflect the needs of a global community living on a finite planet.

I spoke at a conference last week to a group of sustainability practitioners on the vital importance of leadership.  How it is no longer enough simply to identify the problems.  How we have to solve the problems in commercially AND environmentally sustainable ways.  How we have to be the ones to take the responsibility to lead the implementation, and how that means going beyond our comfort zones.

The counter cultural message, and this is the really important bit, is that this is not only good for us as individuals, it is good for us as a society as well AND it is good for business.

One of the key trends identified in the just out and catchily titled StartupNation Q3 Marketing Trends e-Report is “the value and effectiveness of “authenticity.” People are tired of being “marketed to.” Instead, they want to connect with real people and real companies that care about the world and care about people. “

We expanded on this topic when I was interviewed for an exciting documentary project called “The Lifeline” ( I will shortly have some clips from this on my web site).  The core belief is that as soon as enough people truly know who they are, and have the confidence to be it, without fear or compromise in all situations.  As soon as enough people are authentic, then our society will become peaceful, sustainable and fulfilling for all. 

What is the tipping point?  Maybe as little as 25%.

Key to reaching this tipping point will be an education for children that builds confidence rather than conformity.  A report by the NSPCC in the UK this week finds that 32% of 11-16 year olds say “they feel sad, depressed, lonely, worried, stressed, scared or angry most of the time.” The proportion increases to almost half for girls aged 14 to 16, with only one in five of those children surveyed saying they felt mostly secure.

This is why A Mentor for Every Child is so important.  (If you happen to be in Mallorca tomorrow and want to find out more - we are having an AMFEC lunch event.  If you want to know more e-mail me.)

The path to peace is for all of us to start by discovering who we truly are, to know the purpose of our life and our values, to live them and to become confident in living them - at work, at home and everywhere.

As soon as enough of us do that - everything changes.