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A Cause Worth Rallying Around

I take part in lots of discussion groups where we banter about how to fix the economic issues that most nations are facing. We all feel the need to become passionate and rally around some cause, but the problem is we can’t find a valid cause to rally around. The Occupy Wall Street movement is a great example. We say the greedy 1% are the problem, but we’re unable to specify what we want these greedy people to do differently. To be honest, I haven’t heard any feasible ideas about how to fix the situation, except those that have us thinking totally differently.

Where is the Culprit?

Historically we’ve rallied around a common culprit. We’ve seen lots of leaders use this tactic, such as one of my favorite business leaders, Herb Kelleher, former CEO of Southwest Airlines. He knew the power of emotional energy in an organization. During his tenure, the airline had to fight the State of Texas, as well as other airlines, for the right to fly, and Kelleher used these battles to evoke the emotions of employees. He shared the details of unfair competitive practices and airports that wouldn’t let them land to make Southwest feel like the good guys that deserved to win. He knew that when you evoke the emotional energy of the people and have it intently focused on the success of the organization, you’re poised to win.

So it seems we need a culprit that will make us feel like the good guys who deserve to win. Communism was great for that. Terrorism was promising, but it’s hard to point to the people at fault. So who is it? The popular culprit has become the greedy 1%, but the problem with them is that they’re really just like the rest of us. Let’s not kid ourselves: the vast majority of the 99% would emulate the 1% if they could. Or maybe the over-bloated government is the culprit. But the problem with that is we’re the ones making it grow by dictating the need for more laws (and hence more bureaucrats) to ensure that we’re treating each other right. The farce is that a government is incapable of doing this…only we ourselves can do it. So the 1% and 99% are really the same, and the government is just our misguided vehicle. Where is the culprit?

Rallying the Spirit

I don’t see a way to divide us and make someone the culprit. If that’s so, then what do we have that we can rally around? Here it is: the very fact that there is no way to divide us.

We are all inter-connected, so let’s live that way and prosper. Scientific research is proving that we are all connected. Evidence abounds of our ability to share thoughts, feelings, and even memories through non-physical connections. Business research is showing that profits are increased when business acts for the greater good. Corporate social performance is tightly linked to financial performance.

It’s very telling that the youngest generation in the workforce, the Millenials, says they’re inspired by working for the good of society. When a group is inspired, their positive emotional energy increases
their creativity, innovation, and cognitive ability. We could use a lot more of that right now. Plus, if we treat each other right, we won’t need to keep building a huge government that attempts (and fails) to do it for us.

Recognizing our inter-connectivity and treating each other accordingly can solve lots of our issues. If we can’t get inspired by this, what else can inspire us?



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About the Author

Jackie Barretta is a writer, speaker and business consultant on creating the most effective group energy. She uses quantum physics and business research to explore the correlation between the science of consciousness and patterns in the business world, to develop theories about the effects of group consciousness. She has had a 28-year award winning career as a C-level Fortune 500 executive and Big Four consulting firm professional.

Discussion

  1. Lee Offenhauer  January 2, 2012

    Hi Jackie,
    I agree with you 100%, although I often do get involved with other things. But the constant is always about thinking or perceiving differently. After all, everything we see around us that’s a part of mankind’s world, from architecture to economics, religion to politics, is a product of the human heart and mind. So without a change there, no meaningful change will ever occur in our world.
    It is a daunting and yet clarifying realization. Most people think that as humans we are incapable of changing our basic nature. And yet without that change we will continue to see the same types of problems arise again and again.
    I am not of that school. I do believe that it is possible for humanity to change into something better and higher. I believe each and every one of us has that template within, and that it is also a part of human nature. You could say that we have yet to really discover the truest nature of human nature.
    So the causes I devote my time and energy to are those that involve exploring and advancing the higher aspects of our being, because it is only from those higher, more loving and inclusive levels that practical, workable solutions can be found to the challenges we face as a species in this coming century.

  2. Jan Phillips  January 2, 2012

    i see a lot that will make a difference, including my own Livingkindness Foundation. http://www.livingkindnes.org Here’s the difference it makes: right now, children in 10 Nigerian villages that i visited can’t get an education because teachers can’t get there on non-navigable roads. we are building a house for four teachers to live during the week so they can teach in the four classrooms that the villages have in place. when they finish elementary schools, girls rarely get to go to high school. Livingkindness is providing a a scholarship to any village girl who wants to further her education. We are in early stage-just created 501c3- have raised only half the money we need for house, but today i received $100 from a grassroots philanthropist. It IS happening and it WILL make a difference in the lives of these kids!

  3. David Diatikar  January 2, 2012

    Nations like all living things either is growing or dying. The US stopped growing with the end of the Moon program.

    We need to get back in the expansion mode – into space look at all the inventions, jobs and quality of life improvements we got out of that 10 year period – a ten to one return on investment.

    Let’s go back to the moon and on to Mars – bring the dream back – it will lift us and the world out dividing a fixed pie into making the pie bigger and bigger.

    We are made to reach out and conquer the frontier not sit around watching others while we play on our smart phones.

    Let’s get back in the Mud and create

  4. Mike Anderson  January 3, 2012

    It’s sad when you consider that NASA’s budget is less than .6% of federal spending and it’s shrinking due to the Administration’s view that space is no longer important. In fact, when you consider the amount of Hydrogen3 on the moon, and that a metric ton of H3 has enough energy to power NYC for a year, then it’s crazy to not try to take advantage of the resources available in space. We cannot allow the Chinese to become the dominant player in space — as was reported last week on CNN.

    As a child of the Apollo years, the moon landings captured the imagination. However, I’m afraid that the millennials are too jaded to get excited about anything. If it doesn’t plug into their Xbox or is available as an app for their iPhone, I’m afraid they’re just not interested. But, maybe I’m having a “git off my lawn you whippersnappers!” kind of moment ;-) .

  5. Pearl Zhu  January 3, 2012

    HI, Jackie, very interesting new year topic, and enjoy all great comments above, I would say, go to space and pursuit of human happiness surely worth the effort, and every generation may also has its own strength and weakness: Baby boomer love to win, X-Gen is more flexible, and millennial is digital native, today’s multi-generational workforce may just need appreciate & complement each other’s difference & uniqueness, change the culture to learn with each other, and reach the common values to realize the dream;

    Same as OWS, the purpose of movement is not for finger-pointing, more about the alarming, help us track the root cause of economic crisis, and learn the lessons to build up the better society;

    Go to Space is the dream human need continue to pursue, though we have the mobile or social gadget, the myth of universe we truly know is only the tip of iceberg, cosmology is the inspiring field human can make more revolutionary discovery, to unite our imagination.

  6. Hans-Ueli Schlumpf  January 4, 2012

    Here are a few crucial factors that are prerequisites to an inspirational work life:

    1) a Meaningful Purpose of the organization (note: making money and increasing shareholder value is not “the purpose”, it’s only the result of a real purpose; serving humanity, the community, meeting customer’s needs and enhancing the quality of a mindful life are purposes worth working and living for; being paied for it is not a purpose, either, it’s the logical consequence of serving an organization with a purposeful mission)

    2) Value based Leadership that treats people as human beings and is socially responsible, as well as creating a great work environment of collaboration, learning, innovation, and that makes people feel like being part of something that matters as well as having the opportunity to grow themselves (and not like a “cost factor” that should be reduced for the benefit of a few beneficiaries

    3) allow Room for Creativity and empower people to contribute their talent, instead of standardizing processes and reduce people to simple and boring tasks in front of a computer screen

    4) create Structures and Processes that connect people rather than separate them; human beings are social beings and need to understand the context and their own part in the process in order to see meaning and feel esteem

    5) Sustainability and Security that take away the pressure and fear from people of being at risk to be layed off any day; this kind of “motivator” to encourage performance is an illusion, because when looked at it closer, we can see that it primarily stimulates showing-off, “selling” one self, cheating, and mobbing, instead of really serving the purpose

  7. Lisa Perkins  January 4, 2012

    Love your article

  8. Doreen Milano  January 4, 2012

    We learn by teaching…when we focus on our own circumstance we are not empowered…when we open our minds and hearts we can move the world!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoXJZ_3-J9w&feature=youtube_gdata_player
    This is a cause, when embodied can change us as individuals, a community, and a nation. Please watch

  9. William Ottley  January 9, 2012

    I’m surprised no one has mentioned the documentary “Thrive” that came out on 11/11/11.

    http://www.thrivemovement.com/

    the documentary by Foster Gamble, is a documentary where he perfectly describes what’s going on in the world today, AND, provides a powerful website, with all kinds of information, INCLUDING areas to find “CAUSES” and MOVEMENTS that you can join, to help turn this world around, and create a perfect balance in this reality.

    I spent years researching, since i’m a seeker, and am amazed at how elegant Foster explains everything! From the evil Federal Reserve, to UFO’s, to the torus (way to free energy). So find the movie, or buy it, and i’m sure you’ll be inspired enough to join one of the many positive movements that he helps describe on his website.

  10. Jason Webb  January 9, 2012

    We had an interesting experience with that in our firm. The act of forming the law firm disconnected us from an “enemy” that we all shared. The result was an unraveling of some of the bonds that held us together and we found ourselves turning on each other from time to time. It was like we were subconsciously casting about for a new enemy, even though consciously we were very glad to be rid of the old one. Once we recognized what was going on, we started doing social activities together to strengthen those bonds in the hopes that we would not need a new enemy. So far, it seems to be working.

  11. Shashwatta Dutta  January 9, 2012

    Rightly said Jackie. the 99% is not too different from the 1%, given a chance. Who gets the chance is determined by the society and its leaders. If the focus of the societal laws start rewarding the remaining 99%, the decline will be arrested immediately. But the unfortunate part is that the law makers are part of the 1% and unfortunately they are slowly becoming the role models. And worst still US is becoming a role model for many other countries.
    The culprit is the value system at the very root. And education is at the very seed level. We always teach that one must aspire for the best in life and you can dream for anything. But we never teach that there is no gain without pain.
    Today in fact there is actually a shortage of appropriate role models as well. The ideal people who we would like to succeed are unable to flower in the current value system. And those that fight the system are thrown by the wayside as the majority does not share those values.
    The values of today have evolved over a period of time. And the real solution will also take time. And probably an upheaval if it is to be done fast. Life is short and hence people find it convenient to aspire for unreasonable ends. Such ends that cannot be achieved by reasonable means. And we also encourage disruptive growth and dreams refusing to be left behind. It actually feels good. But the path to such ends is quite often not straight. Sometimes it is through the path of excellence which is good. But those who cannot achieve the excellence do not want to be left out. Society rewards the achievements and often forgets the pain that goes with it.
    If we start rewarding the efforts and the pain associated with it, the focus of the individuals will change and with that the value system. The philosophy of end justifying the means has to be declined summarily. That is the path of transformation.

  12. Sheila Armitage  January 9, 2012

    I am glad that Jackie has raised this important topic. We are capable of so much more, and there are various ways to get there, yet the journey involves reflection, awareness, growth, personal challenge in seeing realities and being open to emergent ideas and approaches. Reading Jackie’s work, she is at a leading edge – much needed. Bravo.

    For years, thinkers and doers such as Margaret Wheatley of “Leadership and Science,” et al, Otto Scharmer of “Presence,” et al, Parker Palmer of “A Hidden Wholeness,” et al, and Russ Moxley of “Leadership and Spirit” have talked about a much larger, connected way of working together, which is more productive at every measurable level.

  13. Sherry Hinrichs  January 9, 2012

    Hi Friends,

    Just found this conversation on my research journey and stopped in to add my own opinion. I find many, many opportunities abound to assist in being a part of the solution to shift our world to something we want to see for ourselves, our families and our communities. It isn’t that I don’t see the problems, I have seen my share, but I now am interested only in the solutions.

    My time is spent in keeping my heart in Spiritual work and bringing a real gold money system to families, small businesses and non-profits to get out of the fiat “paper” currencies of the world. This is all one shift for me, bringing the financial and economic world out of fear with new ideas and technology. I am working with Karatbars International, a company that has done all the foundation work and paid all the seed money (millions of dollars) to make this happen for those of us that are interested in saving our hard earned assets and/or assisting others in insuring their financial wealth.

    Occupy is important because it brings the conversation to the masses, many of whom are exhausted trying to keep their lives moving forward in a system that is not humane. My opinion is we each need to find the opportunity that matches our gifts, interests and passions; taking action as we can.

    So many new opportunities open for me daily I must guard my human time, yet take action on those things that are the most important to me right now. There are so many really good organizations that have done the ground work and they need the assistance of others to bring their work forward. That is true for Karatbars International the company I work with as an Affiliate, we need many to get the word out, it is a for profit global business model; they pay their Affiliates handsomely for referring their free gold savings accounts. If you want to know more about it please ask me, I educate and coach a Team of Affiliates.

    There are other organizations that are near and dear to my heart, Pachamama and Transition Towns are just two of them. CSA’s, Slow Food and Slow Money interest me greatly too and I look at how to put it all together where everyone wins. Entrepreneurial, Spiritual, community relationships and fun!

    We have so many wonderful opportunities to be the change we want to see in the world.

    Thank you for opening the conversation with your question Jackie, it drew my attention to stop and take a look at it and say my own word.

  14. Jeff Stucker  January 20, 2012

    Interestingly, this is central to a Christian worldview of work as creative expression — a reflection of humankind being made in the image of God as Creator.

    It’s one of the major themes in the Truth Project video series in the lesson on Labor. See the teaser here: http://fotf.cdnetworks.net/truthproject/wmv/lesson11_teaser.wmv

    Some would argue that capitalism emerged from the medieval guilds, that is, organizations of individuals who were fully engaged and proud of their craftsmanship. I would agree that capitalism can only flourish where it is normal that people value, appreciate, and yes, even enjoy their work.

  15. Sara Young  January 20, 2012

    That sounds fascinating. I have done many profiles on small businesses across the West that give back to their local and the international community. Generally speaking, these companies are wildly successful.
    My website/blog is 25daysus.blogspot.com