Think Globally, Act Locally
My wife's grandmother was born when her dad was 50. He was the artist type, very talented, aloof and focused on his work. Her mother was an early icon for the women's liberation movement, outgoing and out of the house, working, supporting the family, all 9 of them. Though, Elise, my wife's grandmother, didn't have 6 brothers and sisters.
Her uncle died at an early age, even for then, the depression era of the 1920s in Chicago. Her aunt, and three cousins, moved into their house. Elise became marginalized. Even more so when her sister got sick, time and time again. Her mother would leave the house in a towncar before she woke and not return until after she had gone to sleep. The family theme was survival, at any cost.
Across continents my grandfather was facing his own challenges. His father died when Saul, my grandfather, was 14. He and his three brothers were enlisted into the family business, then enlisted into the army in the early 40s. My great uncle Sid was on the front lines in Germany. Saul was a fireman, racing to fires throughout England. The family business was left behind, ultimately run into the ground and all of the boys went their separate ways.
What common themes did these families share? Each one overcame adversity. And while it may seem that our themes today are not so grandiose as the struggles facing those stuck in the Great Depression or on the front lines during World War II, even today such themes are not uncommon. People still die too young. Families come together, support one another in many ways. Family businesses make up a large percentage of our nation's workforce and men and women are called to war.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research since 1980 there has been four recessions within the United States. The longest economic recession was 120 months, from 1980 to 2001. And, famous NYC professor, Nouriel Roubini, is predicting a global financial meltdown. What can we learn from yesterday to stave off this recession?
As David Brower put it in 1969, "think globally, act locally." Each company within an industry can exist and campaign in its own right before agreeing to coordinate its activities within a large affiliate organization that embodies all of those combined organizational strengths. In other words, the Internet has globalized our view on the world, yet given companies the opportunities to localize how they can quickly attain, mobilize and execute success focusing on niche growth markets.
In the case of Brower's organization, the FOEI, a small secretariat (based in Amsterdam), provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns. The executive committee of elected representatives from national groups set policy and oversee the work of the secretariat.
Technology executives have culturally become accustomed to wanting to "take over the world" and create the "next Google," yet few realize the short and long-term gains of making a significant impact through relationship development, localization and social action.
It's time to stop worrying about the ozone, global warming and war in Iraq and start focusing on what we can do here, in our backyard, which will make a local, and ultimately global impact on our society and the world at large.
