The End of Rugged Individualism
Posted by Jim Kupel
The idea that "the rugged individual" is the foundation of America's greatness is an outmoded idea. In the 21st century America's greatness is tied to vision and teams - teams that perform exceptionally well under a wide variety of circumstances.
This point was illustrated to me this month while we worked with a client that operates the largest proton treatment facility in the world. Developing and managing this facility is a team enterprise. And there are lots of similar examples over recent decades of how teams with a mission and vision excel - from Navy Seals to Google.
We need teamwork now more than ever, but we're caught in a political discussion from the last-century of "rugged individualism" versus government - an argument originally championed by Hoover.
Americans greatness is rooted in men and women with entrepreneurial vision and passion - but let's not mistake that truth with the idea that it is Government that destroys political equality and stifles initiative. It isn't bureaucracy alone that threatens us - it is a lack of vision, teamwork and the ability to implement complex solutions in an increasingly complex world that threatens our dreams.