Who will decide on our future?

As we speak, the World Economic Forum is taking place at Davos and the subjects and challenges discussed there can leave any person confused if they have not given this subject any thought before.

Stepping Up Climate Change, Data Responsibility in a Fractured World, The Remaking of Global Finance, Putting an End to Modern Slavery, Creating a Shared Future through Education and Empowerment, How Do We Stop Sexual Harassment, Future Shocks: Rogue Technology were just a few of the topics that were debated by several experts, thought leaders and decision makers.

While for me and most of the people I know, these subjects are no mystery and are talked about quite often, these topics are not part of everyday conversations of many people across the globe.

“Well, why should it be? What difference would us talking about it even make?” I hear the pessimistic in the room scream out. And I get it, I get why one might think this way. People have had their share of conversation that lead nowhere and empty promises. Because of that people end up quoting Elvis Presley by saying “A little less conversation, a little more action, please!”. That is because more often than not, our actions speak louder than our words.

Which is not only true, but it is also the point that I would want you to leave with after reading this post. We won’t talk our way out of the future, we need to act accordingly in order to expect anything good to happen in the next years. But the first step we have to make is to talk about the future, educate ourselves seriously about it and spark conversations with our peers.

To quote Confucius…

“Knowledge without practice is useless, but action without knowledge is dangerous.”

We need to invest a great deal in our knowledge and education in order to properly understand what will be happening to our countries, our economies, our industries, our communities and our lives. And most importantly, we need to act accordingly to it.

“Okay, but what can we do, ha? We are just regular folk. What can we do about the future?” Well, the real and honest answer is A LOT! It won’t necessarily be easy, but there are a lot of things that we can do about the future and the solution is not at all just in the hands of politicians and business leaders. We play a great role in this as well, that is, of course, if we become aware of that role in the first place.

For most of human history, we have been educated to embrace the idea that we are idle sheep in need of shepherds that will tell us the right way. But usually the “right way” has been the way that best serves the interest of the shepherd, not the sheep.

Now, more than ever, we need to break out of this thought pattern and realize that the architects of the future are you, me and every person walking the face of the Earth. We all different degrees of power, resources and capabilities, but our power does not lie in our individual means, but in what we can achieve when we put all of our efforts together.

As Yuval Noah Harari writes in his seminal books, Sapiens and Homo Deus, the main reason why our species has managed to rule the world is due to our ability to create and believe in myths or imaginary constructs such as states, human rights, constitutions, laws, money, hierarchy and so on. Their power does not lie in their content or truth, but in our ability to believe in them and organize around them.

The myths of the past generations have gotten us so far and now it’s time to re-adapt our myths to the new reality. We need to look at the world differently and act differently. Two of the best quotes of today’s panel discussions at Davos came from the Stepping Up Climate Change and Data Responsibility in a Fractured World.

“The previous generation of decision makers have failed us, our generation, and I am not sugar coating this. I think you have already failed us through the inaction from the previous generation. And the next 3 years, from 2018 to 2020, that is the time that you have to redeem yourselves.”

— Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, India

“New jobs will be created. I think the issue will be the transition… Companies do more to develop countries than governments do, because [companies] see no boundaries.”

— Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IBM Corporation

The main message and idea is that there are a lot of great possibilities and challenges ahead, but the power and responsibility won’t lie completely in the hands of our leaders. We all play a role in this, both through our actions and our lack of action, both through our knowledge or our lack of it.

YOU and I can play an active and decisive role in how the future is developing and for that to happen, conversation, education, connection and action are the most important steps we need to take.

Check out the videos of the main panels at the World Economic Forum and have your say as well.

Spark this conversation in your mind, bring your own ideas to the mix, spread them our to others and be part of the solution.

Peace!