| Preface Without a doubt, times are changing. Yesterday was a different story. One of the greatest innovators of the early 20th century was Nikola Tesla, inventor of the radio. Many agree he was well ahead of his time. To this end and with a heavy heart he shared, "perhaps it is better in this present world of ours that a revolutionary idea or invention... be hampered... through the heartless strife of commercial existence... only to emerge all the more powerfully, all the more triumphantly from the struggle." Tesla lived in a time when innovation was brought to widespread use only if there was a way to immediately monetize the creation. Unfortunately, most true innovations are so groundbreaking there is rarely a structure set in place to support their further development and social integration. Much innovative thought and creation had remained largely dormant. Today we are faced with a great challenge and a great opportunity. Our economies are changing so rapidly that systems of the old have a very difficult time keeping up. Yet by utilizing the massive benefits that come along with high speed and instantaneous communication, our rapidly changing environment can provide a great deal of opportunity. Today's inventors and entrepreneurs are now faced with the opportunity to achieve what yesterday's innovators only dreamed of; the development of socially impactful innovations and collaborations capable of actualizing rapidly from the stage of idea and thought-formation to the eventuality of social application on micro and macro scales. The living example of social pioneer and innovator Ryan Allis, born in the mid 1980's, illustrates this point. At an early age, he dreamed to build a company which could generate $1M in yearly revenue by the time he was 21. Having succeeded and excelling far beyond his original goal, he has now focused more energy on furthering the just development of humanity. With this transcended aim, Allis invites us to collaborate, sharing "I'd like to work with you over the next 50 years to create a world in which (a) there is no killing of humans on a mass scale, (b) all humans have access to basic human needs, (c) we end preventable diseases, and (d) we are environmentally sustainable." These current times are pressuring our economies and our social conscience thereof to reconfigure the way we value, measure, and develop our collective potential. Yesterday, Tesla dreamed of a future in which we could economically and feasibly put to effective use many of his discoveries. The great socio-economic system which engendered the "strife of commercial existence" he spoke of and was subject to in the early 1900s is now and finally being questioned and restructured by a new generation of equally powerful innovators. This time, however, we are far more equipped and prepared to take full advantage of the opportunity. What's more, the current socio-economic condition not only suggests we take this challenge on, it is forcing us to. |
Excerpts from • Preface
"Now comes a sensible, practical guide that translates what we can each do to help rebuild this economy for ourselves, our households, and our communities, beginning today and lasting for all time." |
