BECAUSE I CAN: Reality, Fantasy and Sustainability, Part 2

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

- Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) (1904 - 1991)

In Part 1 of Reality, Fantasy and Sustainability, I presented the notion that sustainability relies upon two seemingly paradoxical ideas:

1.) Learning to distinguish between elements of reality and fantasy, and

2.) Blurring the lines between the two.

I focused on the first idea of learning to distinguish between the “worlds” of reality and fantasy and presented the following diagram to illustrate a few points:

The first point is that we as individuals serve as a gateway between these two worlds and our minds are where they meet. Secondly, the world of fantasy is limitless and cannot be changed (or like a planet’s gravity it holds too much relative influence for us to change). Thirdly, our minds act as a filter and allow us to perceive reality while “channeling” fantasy. Fourthly, for us to change our reality (which I argue is desperately in need of changing), we must change our minds. Lastly, mistakenly viewing reality as immutable can lead to higher levels of escapism, introspection, distress, depression, defiance and a host of other “flight or fight responses”.

In Part 2, I would like to concentrate upon the many ways we have found to positively blur the lines between reality and fantasy and make them work for us. Why?

Because I can.

Why “Sustainability”?

I think it’s important to first clarify what I mean by “sustainability”, because I think this word is misunderstood and overused. As of late, the word “sustainability” has come to mean having to do with the environment, especially when it comes to the generation of power and/or pollution. Webster’s defines sustainability as “to keep up or keep going, as an action or process”. I look at sustainability in the context of the furtherance in the evolution of the human race.

Before the human race first appeared on this planet, the various flora and fauna evolved using what Darwin called “survival of the fittest”. Early humans lived by these means as well in a competitive environment where every species had to fight for survival. Over time, however, humans developed the ability of higher-brain functionality, allowing us to tap into realms of fantasy to improve our standing in the food chain. It allowed us to innovate and develop tools, weapons, societies, means of transportation, scientific breakthroughs and the arts. Beyond competition, we found that if we agreed to work together, we could accomplish more cooperatively and earn our places at the top of the food chain.

But with our new understanding and dominance of the planet, we have hit a plateau. We have won the contest through cooperative means yet there are still the old signs of competition everywhere; sometimes friendly, sometimes not. The professional sports industry thrives upon “healthy” competition and what we deem to be rules of “sportsmanship”. Our economy also thrives upon what we like to think is “healthy” competition, but in light of our recent global economic crisis, we have seen signs of humanity turning on itself through greed and abuses of power.

If we begin to step back and look at the “unreality” of the “reality” we have created we might see that if we took the sum of all debt in this world in relation to all the potential earnings of the world, our global economies are in the red without any means of ever paying it back. With this in mind, we should realize that the system we created is not sustainable and will only continue to cause humanity to eat itself alive. We even have historical precedence of such a thing happening: the Rapanui people of Easter Island, the Mayans of Central America, the Anasazi of the American Southwest, the Mali & Songhai of Western Africa.

The “Beauty Part”

While we have historical precedent of humanity wiping itself out, we also have precedent of utilizing elements of fantasy, through innovative means to solve real-world problems. Here are just a few examples:

Strategic & Goal Planning

Any successful organization must have an idea of where it’s going and how it’s going to get there. A strategic plan with subsequent supporting goals provides the roadmap by which the organization gets from Point A to Point B. Most experts will tell you that starting out in such a process requires a certain time set aside for visioning and dreaming (fantasy) outside of the normal flow of day-to-day business. Once we determine the direction, we begin identifying all the obstacles and risks (reality) associated with causing our plans to fail. Knowing the obstacles and risks, we can then derive solutions to overcome them (fantasy) and subsequent goals and action steps (reality).

The Internet

There is no doubt that the Internet is one of humankind’s most significant achievements. What started out as a military project has blossomed into a virtual world (fantasy) unto itself that has allowed us to bridge long distances over short periods of time to reconnect with long-lost friends and colleagues (reality), keep in touch with family overseas (reality), develop commerce (reality), promote ourselves (reality), our products and our services (reality), develop new business models (reality) and collaborate (reality). Unlike the real world of real estate which is experiencing its own challenges at the moment, real estate on the internet is relatively cheap. Anyone can establish their own presence and be who they choose (for better or worse). And while most social media organizations have yet to monetize the operations, social media remains the largest draw to the internet today.

Credit

Sure…credit markets are tight now and they, along with other debt-based financing tools are what got us into our global economic crisis to begin with, but there is something extremely useful to getting what we want now (reality) by utilizing a scheme of imaginary credit (backed by real and sometimes, imaginary money) and a repayment scheme (reality) when we lack the real money we need.

CAD/CAE/CAM

When we want to present a new product idea, we must present a proof-of-concept or prototype. In the old days this was costly as one would have to construct the product first to see if it worked as planned, which took time and considerable expense. In today’s world, we can utilize computer-aided drawing/computer-aided engineering and computer-aided manufacturing to create a virtual drawing board (fantasy) to which we apply the known laws of the physical universe (reality) to test and refine it. Once satisfied with the result, we can bring it forth into reality.

Virtualization

To support a virtual world of collaboration, innovation, commerce, etc., we need to support such an ecosystem with real hardware. Unfortunately, real hardware like servers, routers and switches rely upon an increasing a mount of physical space, controlled environments and power consumption, which is all costly (in real money). Current trends in computing show a movement towards virtualization through such products as VMWare’s VSphere and Microsoft’s Hyper-V which allow for the reduction in the number of servers via software tools. Cisco’s relatively recent release of Data Center products focus on ways of not only creating virtual machines, but also virtual disk space as well as virtual memory when needed.

My Conclusion

I believe that we are now standing at the crossroads of humanity, and have only two options: change or die. As a parent of three children, I choose the former.

To do this, I feel that there are several metrics that have not been established into the mainstream that would allow us to better monitor our progress towards sustainability. The first of which I mentioned in Part 1 of this series: hours spend doing escapist activities. This measures an organization’s (company, government, network) ability to truly get buy-in for their various initiatives. A high figure is an indicator that the current direction does not benefit all constituents, the environment for supporting innovation and creativity is lacking or the rules/policies may be to constrictive and controlling. A low figure indicates that most constituents agree with the direction, innovation and creativity is supported and there is less need for controls as all constituents do not need to be forced into compliance. I do believe that this indicator can be too low and that there is an acceptable operating level that would need to be established under empirical studies.

Another metric that I have mentioned in the past is Relationship Capital which is based upon individual perception of all members of a network (see January, 2009’s Relationship Capital in the Workplace for more on this subject). As the saying goes, “perception is reality” therefore I believe this metric can also be used as an indicator.

There are still another missing piece of the puzzle not answered here, such as knowing when an organization (or an individual) is too lopsided in either reality or fantasy to ensure its own sustainability. I have developed another tool called Wingspan^TM which I plan to introduce in a future article which addresses this.

I believe that with such metrics in place as well as fostering an environment of open-mindedness, where we replace the negative connotations of “idealistic”, “pie-in-the-sky”, “not based in reality” and “airy-fairy” to describe ideas and worse yet, people with “visionary”, “innovative” and “creative”, we can all make a positive move towards sustainability. Why?

Because we can, and more importantly, because we must.

Adam J. Kovitz is the Chairman & Founder of The National Networker Group of Companies, which publish The National Networker, provide member services and consulting as well as branding and social media domination.

Hire Adam to speak at your next conference by emailing info@thenationalnetworker.com.

Follow Adam on Twitter!

The Emergence of the Relationship Economy

Relationship Capital is the cornerstone of the Relationship Economy, which RNIA defines as “a measurement assigned to individual and organizational entities based on the relationship interactions between them, and the interactions they have internally.” I am proud to have contributed discussion of the Ten Laws of Relationships Capital to The Emergence of the Relationship Economy, now out as an eBook and in hardcopy. With a forward written by Doc Searls (of Cluetrain Manifesto fame), it is being considered a “must read” for anyone responsible for the strategic direction of their business. If you would like to purchase your own copy of The Emergence of the Relationship Economy, please click here.

Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free For Your TNNW Newsletter and THE BLUE MONDAY REPORT! - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies
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BECAUSE I CAN: Reality, Fantasy and Sustainability, Part 2

BECAUSE I CAN: Reality, Fantasy and Sustainability, Part 1

“All the works of man have their origin in creative fantasy. What right have we then to depreciate imagination.”

- Carl Jung (1875 - 1961)

In December as the weather gets colder (especially for us in the Northern Hemisphere) and the year winds down, there is the tendency to get somewhat introspective. Aside from the regular balancing act of getting into the “Holiday Spirit” whilst managing year-end business activities, this year many of us in the U.S. and abroad are faced with the harsh economic realities of the “noble experiment” of a U.S. democratic/capitalistic society gone out of control.

Despite efforts of the Obama Administration to curtail this crisis, the U.S. faces the highest unemployment rate in 26 years (over ten percent). This, in turn, is feeding into a major housing crisis with millions loosing their homes. Furthermore, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue and are even escalating. Of course we cannot forget the attempts to reform the multi-billion dollar medical industry, of which debate still continues in the Senate. And of course economic crisis isn’t just happening in the U.S., but the rest of the world – just take a look at recent events in Dubai, as well as changing climate conditions.

So who, in the long term, will be paying for all of this? Taxpayers like you and me and our children, their children, their children…that is, provided we have jobs and homes.

With all of this in mind, it’s hard not to turn inward and/or introspective when those around us wish us “HAPPY HOLIDAYS!” or “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” when many of us are just hoping we don’t give our loved ones the gift of debt this year.

I, myself, wonder at what point do we take a serious look at what aspects of our plans for economic recovery are real and which ones are not? I believe, wholeheartedly, that for the sake of posterity, we must have a serious discussion about reality and fantasy and their impact upon global sustainability.

Why?

Because I can…in fact, I will attempt in this article and in my next to prove two seemingly paradoxical ideas that are key to sustainability:

1. Learning to distinguish between elements of reality and fantasy (this month), and
2. Blurring the lines between the two (next month).

The Distasteful Notion of “Fantasy” in an Adult-oriented World

As adults who deal in important things like running businesses, paying bills and taxes, dealing with contracts, understanding international trade, quantifying risk, overcoming objections, finding alternative sources of energy, swaying public opinion, managing projects, curing contagions, driving through traffic, assessing damages, valuating stocks and financing enterprises we don’t have time for such trifling things like fantasy. Fantasy is usually relegated to either children (where it rightfully belongs), the crunchy granola-types who gather in drum circles around a campfire and sing “Kumba-ya”, “geeks” who read comic books, Walter Mitty-esque folks who don’t have a clue, artists or the red light district world of sex, “marital aids”, fetishes, latex, lace and leather. In short, fantasy is looked down upon and has no basis in real world of business.

In fact, in one of my more recent articles: A World Without Money, Part II, I had the audacity to engage you, our reader in a “flight of fantasy” (I thought I had cleverly disguised it as a hypothetical line of reasoning) and would have gotten away with it if not for a comment from Allan Elder, Instructor at University of California, Irvine and Owner, No Limits Leadership, Inc.:

“This idea is so full of impossibilities it's not worth considering even if we can.”

Thank you, Mr. Elder for setting me straight and proving my point as only the Owner of No Limits Leadership, Inc can.

The Importance of Imagination

For kids, on the other hand, it is perfectly legal (and more importantly, accepted) to discuss such issues as which princess is the prettiest, whether Superman or the Hulk would win in a fight, how many pieces of pizza one can consume at a meal, how much of a jerk the Gym teacher is, which Transformer one wants to be when they grow up and what color should one paint the sky today; green or purple? Kids are even encouraged to use their imagination.

So if we really want to prepare our kids for the real world, shouldn’t we be dissuading such abhorrent behavior?

Not according to WholeFamily.com. According to early childhood specialists and child psychologists, children who are encouraged to use their imagination more are:

1. Better at solving problems
2. Better at dealing with difficult feelings
3. Better at handling stress
4. More creative on average, and
5. More intelligent on average.
   

One of the best examples of this are when, in movies, TV shows or books, when the heroes of the story are struggling to come up with a way out of their toughest dilemma ever and the innocent child archetype comes up with a “so-simple-only-a-child-could-think-of-it” solution.

But what if a child talks about real world issues or offers a real world opinion? Do we write it off as simply “cute”? Do we discount it? Do we consider them too young to have any say?

When Does Childhood End?

At what point, however, does a child graduate into being an adult?

According to some traditions, it’s thirteen. By law in the U.S., it’s eighteen, although gambling and consumption of alcoholic beverages isn’t allowed until twenty-one and renting a car at twenty-five.

Never at any point in my life do I remember any graduation ceremony in which I was told that I could now:

• Be seen and heard
• Talk to strangers
• Bite off more than I can chew
• Stop using my imagination and face reality.

According to popular psychological thought, we have three major elements of our personality that are developed at various stages in our journey through life: the child and the parent are two of them, and often times, at war with each other. The free-thinking, fun-loving “child” loves to explore, emote and imagine in true fantastic form whereas the “parent” is into rules, laws and regulation thrives in the seemingly-real world. The third personality is the “adult” which provides the more rational and logical means of settling the disputes between the other two and provides balance and a truer sense of realism than the parent.

The need for the human mind to sustain itself implies the delicate balance between these two “worlds”. What this implies is that since fantasy is infinite, it cannot be changed as it is limitless, but changing reality through the lens of our mind means changing our mind. This also implies that reality is mutable and perhaps not as real as we think.

One other crucial and applicable point: when “reality” is perceived to be constrained and immutable, the mind changes in ways that lead to introspection, depression, defiance, etc. When these conditions become extreme, the fight or flight response is triggered.

The Upside of Troubling Times

Question: What is the one thing you want to do when you are financially-pressured, stressed and/or depressed?

Answer: Escape

If I had one prediction to make for 2010, it’s that more of the world’s citizens will be looking for ways to escape their current situation. Escapism will be on the rise.

Webster’s Dictionary defines escapism as “the avoidance of reality by absorption of the mind in entertainment or in an imaginative situation, activity, etc.”

Great news for industries specializing in inexpensive entertainment – think of the many ways we escape: sleep, reading, music, games, sports, walking, eating, drinking, hobbies, etc.

According to a study by Deloitte on the entertainment industry in 2009, “the last two times the economy experienced a downturn, movie ticket and DVD sales went up. It is likely that people will continue to indulge themselves in the small pleasures of DVD consumption, interactive game-playing, online entertainment, books, social networking and television while eschewing big-ticket items such as cars, refrigerators and computers.”

Furthermore, a quote found by JP Morgan beverage analyst John Faucher in a 2002 report on DUI.com: Alcohol Consumption and Recession stated that “People are drinking more, because people tend to drink more during tough times,”

My Conclusion

If we truly want to change our collective reality of a global economic crisis, we must ultimately be brave enough to change our collective minds. Ideally, a reset button would be wonderful but would be highly disruptive in ways that might be catastrophic. Of course choosing to do nothing would lead to such a conclusion anyway. One thing is for sure, our current solutions of debt-financing are just ways of prolonging the inevitable.

At what point do we recognize the fantastical elements of our grand designs through diminishing returns, continue to defend them and call them “reality”?

My suggestion is to measure the increase in time (not dollars) spent in escapist activities amongst the population. Certainly, there will always be a “healthy” level as young adults and youthful adults live, but to establish a suitable threshold would be crucial. If more people look to escape as a means of dealing with/avoiding “reality”, then why continue to create it?

Collectively, we have the ability to create a healthy, sustainable reality for ourselves and generations to come. We owe it to ourselves.

Because we can, and more importantly, because we must.

Next month, I will be looking at the ways we have found healthy ways to marry reality and fantasy to achieve sustainability. “See” you then.

Adam J. Kovitz is the Chairman & Founder of The National Networker Group of Companies, which publish The National Networker, provide member services and consulting as well as branding and social media domination.

Hire Adam to speak at your next conference by emailing info@thenationalnetworker.com.

Follow Adam on Twitter!

The Emergence of the Relationship Economy

Relationship Capital is the cornerstone of the Relationship Economy, which RNIA defines as “a measurement assigned to individual and organizational entities based on the relationship interactions between them, and the interactions they have internally.” I am proud to have contributed discussion of the Ten Laws of Relationships Capital to The Emergence of the Relationship Economy, now out as an eBook and in hardcopy. With a forward written by Doc Searls (of Cluetrain Manifesto fame), it is being considered a “must read” for anyone responsible for the strategic direction of their business. If you would like to purchase your own copy of The Emergence of the Relationship Economy, please click here.

Published by THE NATIONAL NETWORKER Newsletter. All rights reserved. Subscribe Free For Your TNNW Newsletter and THE BLUE MONDAY REPORT! - Click HERE.
The National Networker Companies

Forward/Share This Article With Colleagues And Social Media:

BECAUSE I CAN: Reality, Fantasy and Sustainability, Part 1