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The triple win challenge: Serve yourself; serve your community; serve your country

By David Smith
May 7, 2008
 
Red Maple Leaves in the Sun by joesflickr

Red Maple Leaves in the Sun by joesflickr

I just finished reading the latest report on Canada’s competitiveness (PDF) released by the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity. The report describes our current state in 2008 and the outlook to 2020, and it’s troubling to see that even though our economic performance is among the strongest nations, we are trailing the US by a whopping $8,800 in GDP per capita.

So what does this mean?
It means that we have opportunities to improve the value we add to our human, physical and natural resources, that will in turn contribute to our national prosperity and standard of living.

The late management guru, Peter Drucker, spoke of the responsibilities of leaders:

Successful leaders don’t start out asking, “What do I want to do?” They ask, “What needs to be done?” Then they ask, “Of those things that would make a difference, which are right for me?” They don’t tackle things they aren’t good at. They make sure other necessities get done, but not by them. Successful leaders make sure that they succeed! They are not afraid of strength in others.

Entrepreneurs are a specific form of leader. They build new opportunities and with this in mind, I want to challenge those who are thinking along these lines to review the following list in search of inspiration for what needs to get done. Here are some specific areas of focus detailed by the report that relate to the investment in people and technology that will lead to improving Canada’s future prosperity:

  • Invest in innovative ways to attack poverty (raise the valleys)
  • Raise awareness among all Canadians of the benefits of education
  • Continue investments in post secondary education
  • Assess the trade-off between university research and teaching
  • Step up investments in information and communication technology

We need to shed our complacency, and tap into the latent creative and innovative spirit that makes us Canadian. Serve yourself; serve your community; serve your country. Create a win-win-win situation.

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  • Ramses

    Invest in Innovative ways to attack poverty. Now thats a NOVEL thought!

    Do YOU think White Canada gives a dam about Black Poverty and Hopelessness?

    AfriCana Village the most innovative and creative social enterprise in the History of Canada seeks to create 2,000 cultural jobs for the most despised, victimized and discriminated group in Canada. Yet we have been met with hostility and barely concealed contempt by the same people who are suppose to be the leaders of Social Enterprise in Canada. I even noticed some of them are listed as panelist on the upcoming Social Finance Symposium Nov. 17, 2008.

    This ALL-White Panel from my experience is only interested in identifying and funding projects that serve white interests, not the interest of the truly oppressed. I guess we are not as sexy as Evergreen?, by the way how many Black youths will Evergreen be hiring from nearby Regent Park?

    Professor Ornstein of York University study on Black Poverty and systemic racism states there is a defacto 40-70% unemployment rate for Blacks in the GTA? Where is the outrage and investments to deal with this scandalous TRUTH? in the Great White North?

    Where is the UNITED NATIONS?..who is going to stand up and speak out about the hypocrisy and racism of the so-called Leaders of Social Enterprise in Canada? They meet every year to give awards to each other and blab on about matters and pet projects that is of interest to THEM and their kin folk!

    Where is the REAL social enterprise projects that addresses poverty, systemic racism, and the burning issues of our times in the GTA and Canada? I guess we have to get at the back of the bus again eh? The whole Social Enterprise initiative has been hijacked by middle age white men and women who dont have a clue or give a dam about what addressing racism and poverty is all about… What is the Colour of Poverty? I think they know the answer but they would rather blab on and pretend the 800lb Gorilla sitting in the corner is not really there!!

    Oh Canada… what a tangled and despicable web we weave when we aim to decieve!!

    DO YOU THINK BARACK OBAMA will liberate Black folks the Canadian Gulag and two- face Canadian racism?

    I guess building prisons to warehouse Black youth and wage a cultural war against the Black community is more interesting and lucrative for the white establishment eH?

    They keep taking Black folks tax dollars and investing it in Euro-centric economic and cultural institutions promoting their idea of culture and business. I guess ignoring Black culture the most powerful global cultural force on the planet will make it go away. I guess we will have to take “Rock” Roll” with us, so they can listen to Mozart all day long eh?

    Hey I got to call the “Ghetto Dude” and see how is doing?

David Smith

David Smith

David is Project Leader at the Martin Prosperity Institute and a practicing management consultant. He is a recent MBA grad from the Rotman School of Management and is passionate about developing the thinking and leadership potential of others.

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