"How do we create a whole that is greater than the sum of our parts?" This provocative question was posed by Mike Butler as he challenged the Longmont Rotary Club to seek trendlines, not just headlines. Mike Butler, the former Longmont Chief of Security, is now a founding member of The School of Statesmanship Stewardship and Service (SOSSAS), a learning environment that activates individual human potential, elevates leadership skills, enhances social-emotional intelligence, improves communication, and ultimately fosters a future we all aspire to.
"What if we viewed the world through a lens of goodness rather than deficiency? Can we shift from focusing on problems to solve, to a perspective of possibilities?" Butler encouraged. Examining long-term trends can provide a more accurate perspective on our societal and global successes, rather than fixating on deficiencies.
To illustrate this point, Mike referred to a questionnaire completed by club members, highlighting positive global trends:
- World Life Expectancy: Now averages 70 years.
- Education: Worldwide, men have spent an average of 10 years in school, and women have spent 9 years.
- Electricity Access: 80% of people globally have some access to electricity.
- Economic Status: The majority of the world's population lives in middle-income countries.
- Literacy and Democracy: Democracy is on the rise, and literacy has dramatically improved from 90% illiterate in 1820 to 83% literate in 2020.
These facts are not meant to downplay the ongoing work still needed but to recognize those trends that foster hope and a balanced understanding.
For those interested in exploring these concepts further, Mike recommended a few insightful books:
- Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker
- Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World—and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling
Click here to learn more about The School of Statesmanship Stewardship and Service.
Thanks, Mike for your talk. You are Creating Hope in the World (this year's Rotary Theme).