Preview Summary –
- There’re signs that Gen Zs aren’t down with the ‘bad energy’ that’s feeding into divisiveness, seen by some as a weird form of ‘lost happiness’.
- ‘America in the making’ for a new generation based on past lessons, present struggles and future dreams, can make progress along what might be considered the ‘Sovereignty Scale’.
- If building a better mousetrap, or a better game takes teaming, then building a better nation will take teaming across areas of governance, industry sectors and institutions of learning.
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Mission Option #1: ‘Country Road’
Mission Option #2: ‘Community Road’
Mission Option #3: ‘Family Road’
Main Content –
There’s been a lot of buzz across industry sectors! The obvious is the news that the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high surpassing the 50,000-point mark. For folks whose job involves watching for signs of economic uncertainty, they see this latest gain as happy times but also warning signals. Things are rolling for those with 401Ks and other investment accounts. Furthermore, with Superbowl 60 now behind us, some are looking at how the advertising blitz might help their biz secure the bag.
While that’s been a focus of the ‘merchant class’, others in the ‘social class’ have been uneasy with developments affecting the vibe & spirit of the nation. Some things might not be tip-of-tongue, according to CNBC, but retailers are seeing a shift in consumer preferences to go along with those concerns. There’re even signs that Gen Zs aren’t down with the ‘bad energy’ that’s feeding into divisiveness, as a weird form of ‘lost happiness’. Maybe there’s a lesson we can find in the success of the NFL’s campaign for building a better game? The focus there is on player safety and data analytics to make the game more enjoyable for fans, along with higher ROI in the marketplace.
In the earliest level classes around business management, there’s usually the idea of building a better mousetrap. As consumer knowledge and acceptance grows, companies look to improve their product or service experience. What if we approach America’s next chapter with a similar mindset? We’d be looking at ways of building a better nation. With ‘America 250’ observances on full display at the recent Superbowl, we might take a step back and consider advancing ‘America in the making’ for a new generation based on past lessons, present struggles and future dreams. In the process, we can make progress along what might be considered the ‘Sovereignty Scale’. It’s a way to assess whether we’re moving up in the direction of GOAT (greatest of all times) as a nation or moving down in the direction of becoming a GHOST (greatest hell on soil times) of a nation.
When early settlers first landed on America’s shores they came in waves across two regions. The first group landed in Virginia, many looking for new markets to trade their goods. They were often described as being part of the merchant class. They had money on their minds which meant that region became the cradle of enterprise. This strongly influenced their governing philosophy around free trade and property value but also opened the door to slavery. The other group of early settlers landed in Massachusetts (New England), looking to be new members of a just society, as they fled a sense of religious persecution. The New England region became the cradle of change.
The distinction between these two main groups of early settlers is important for understanding how some of the ‘culture war’ battles played out in history and show up in current times. Sometimes it’s a question of who’s getting ahead (or feeling left behind) when it comes to the distribution of public funds. Sometimes it’s a battle in ideology, whether religious, political or social. Some of what we’re seeing today reflects that contrast between the merchant class and the social class. While some folks are excited that their money is doing well, others realize the soul of America is in bad shape. It might even be said that a tumor has been growing in America, that could be blinding the eye, blocking the heart and affecting our well-being as a nation. So, if we want to be headed in the direction of GOAT status as a nation, then it might be time to revisit our:
1. Governing
In 2026 there’re many more levels of governance compared to America in 1776. We find that across national, regional and local governments, but also in industries as well as institutions of learning. There’re times it seems like governing is simply doing what it takes to win in the next election. Then after the campaigns are over, it looks like things go back to regular scheduled programming of money squabbles and political posturing. What if governing took a new look at incentives that help to advance public good and political will? Would that help incentivize ‘America in the making’ for a new generation?
2. Organizing
One of the first things a new biz leader does is name those who’ll serve in the new orbit. We see this playing out as NFL teams name new head coaches. This helps build leadership, culture and game performance. What if we approached the social space the way biz leaders approach the marketplace? Well, it might help set the stage for change by how we go about organizing around civic ideals in public good and social impact. We can take a page from 1776 and Paul Revere in the colonies, to 1960 and the ‘Greensboro Four’ in the south, for organizing ‘hometown voices committed to unity of purpose’ in 2026.
3. Alt-Branding
Sometimes this means taking a step back from the regular scheduled programming to incentivize creative thinking and alt-branding. There’re times senior biz leaders will assemble a group at a retreat to discuss the present and chart the future. We see this happening at times with political organizations too. Oftentimes a breakthrough occurs in biz when decision makers are open to considering a different brand option or market strategy. The work of SAIC was born from a series of national news stories that opened the door towards finding a different response and solution to the same repeating civic/social issues.
4. Teaming
During the coin toss at the Superbowl, each team rolled out five players as captains who came from offense, defense and special teams, three phases of the game. Each sub-team brings an aspect of play to the overall team. Plus, it’s in how those sub-teams coalesce around a common purpose that makes winning fun and rewarding. In post-game interviews you’ll hear players talk about a special connection built among the squad. If building a better mousetrap, or a better game takes teaming, then building a better nation will take teaming across areas of governance, industry sectors and institutions of learning.
The NFL is focused on building a better game through player safety initiatives and data analytics. This they see as the ticket to a more enjoyable game and higher ROI in the marketplace. With their eyes on expanding across international markets, their brand is catching on even in countries that already have their own version of ‘football.’ Similarly, with America’s 250th birthday ahead, we can work on building a better nation in the social space by steps that incentivize public good and social impact around governing, organizing, alt-branding and teaming. SAIC’s framework opens the door to do just that on the big stage.
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Tracks: Big Sean – One Man Can Change the World – https://youtu.be/GBVotNefYME?si=K0g-iH2RhePn7d0V
Beyoncé – Be Alive – https://youtu.be/4aeDlZOD-B0?si=UY5y_86D1BmbcNKh
See America In Color 