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I often write about abundance, bold thinking, optimism, problem-solving and gratitude mindsets… I state confidently that this can be the greatest time ever to be alive. But it can only be the greatest time if we systematically unlearn the conscious and unconscious biases that still subject so many to discrimination, prejudice, and violence. The events of this past week have shown us the extraordinary pain, anxiety, and collective anguish that have been inflicted upon our fellow citizens for too long. It can’t be swept away, rationalized or ignored. It is real. Whether it’s violence on lives of those we have lost—George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, among many others before them—or wrongful accusations and presumptions of guilt on the basis of race, these unconscionable crimes must be addressed. And while I know that I will never be able to fully understand the pain myself, I can empathize and I can commit to taking a stand on the side of social justice. I have often taken a non-political stance, focusing on the proliferation of entrepreneurial ingenuity and technological innovation that drive abundance across our world— independent of political whims. Ultimately, however, this is no longer a political issue. It is a moral one. One that stands at the core of our shared humanity, our ability to lift each other up as we pursue a future that is hopeful, compelling and abundant for all. And for those who refuse this moral lens, technology will help fill the gaps and level the playing field. Today, we are living on a planet with a trillion sensors (and growing), imaging everything, everywhere, all the time. Crimes against humanity and oppression of people will no longer live in the shadows. It is time for our civilization to evolve FROM a competitive, scarcity and hyper-local mindset, TO a collaborative, abundance and global mindset. It is time for us (myself included) to deeply listen, further educate ourselves, and take new levels of empathetic action. With respect, |