Obstacles and Opportunities

Times like these are reminders that, when we rely on others to do right by us, we -- the common folk -- are the first mentioned and the last regarded. Our economists, pundits, and politicians bluster, boil, sidestep, rationalize, and argue over an abundance of small points that have each been inflated to category 4 and 5 storms, just by the perceptions that are being shaped. Everything is a problem. Everything is a crisis. And no one is attending to the real answers.

The infrastructure of any economy is not determined by the money-moving accounting networks of banks, insurance companies, hedge funds, or Wall Street. It is determined by the relationships of the people within the society that lead to exchanges between them -- valuable, not because they have a dollar amount attached to them, but because of the needs of those doing the exchanging. Whether its goods, services, knowledge, or even questions, there is an intrinsic value that is implied that no number can measure.

I buy some product or service, as an example. Who did I buy it from? Why did I buy it? It is almost always a matter that is more about the integrity of the company or individual that I purchase from than one of just price. How much value do you put on that relationship, as a purchaser or as a purveyor? While knowledge does have a bearing (again, what's that worth?), it is the question -- or series of questions -- that are posed, back and forth, that qualify the integrity and the pertinence of the transaction. Each question begs an answer. Because it is posed as a question, the respondent inherently knows that there is an answer and, thus, he strives to fulfill or to lose out if he doesn't.

Which leads me to the issue of problems and the obstacles that they present. If we were to pose problems, not as statements, but as questions, wouldn't a solution be naturally forthcoming? The obstacles to solutions are removed (or, at least, reduced) by this modest shift in presentation. And what is a solution, but an opportunity? This site is looking at solutions -- and the opportunities that they offer -- not just from a small group of people on the inside. It is seeking solutions from you. What do you know? What do you do? What can you offer? This is your site. Start offering. We're waiting. And so is opportunity.