Jack Welsh, Barack Obama and Innovation
Weeks ago Jack Welch was interviewed on CNN (June 9, 2011) by Piers Morgan. Welch is known for his strong ideas, egotistical perspective, and success in business. He was at the helm of GE during many of the brilliant years when business was booming in this country. One wonders what he would do to stay ahead of the pack during these turbulent times.
He did offer an important concept that needs to be discussed and discussed today: INNOVATION.
It is in the blood of America, from the founders of the Constitution to the internet brainiacs in Silicon Valley. It has been a legacy from the Wright brothers to the shuttle flights.
What Welch talked about is the lack of leadership to fan the flames of innovation as the battle cry of our nation. “An agenda” he commented, “is not a vision”. Obama has an agenda; health care for everyone is an agenda, not a vision.
A vision is something that touches the hearts and minds of everyone. It is something that connects us to a cause rather than sets up polarities. As J.K.Galbraith stated the true test of leadership “is the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of the people in their time.”
For example, FDR went right to the heart of the issue challenging us not to fear fear itself. Churchill took on the Third Reich. Kennedy moved us from feeling second class behind the Soviet Union to bringing that man to the moon. He also challenged the selfishness of the times asking us to do for our country rather than having our country give without getting.
Visions unite. They help us look at where we are ailing and touch the wound to heal it. Obama did this in his “Yes we can” campaign. That seems eons ago. We are a nation struggling with our place. We are no longer the strongest, the most eloquent, the safest. We are falling apart internally and our anxieties are about meaning and finding our place; and no leader, including our President is holding the dream for us to go towards.
Welsh came close when he talked about creating a vision of an innovative economy, one that is highly competitive and uses resources respectfully.
I so remember being a kid who was thrilled to be an American when President Kennedy spoke. I was willing to do whatever it took for my country. I felt needed and challenged to find my own spark of creativity. Innovation starts with families, schools and industry. It’s what the world needs now.
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