A Short Reflection on 2020 and Beyond

Since 1978, futurist Duane Elgin has been predicting that by the 2020s, humanity would either have a breakdown or a breakthrough. 

Which would you say 2020 represents?

To me, the scales tip decidedly in favor of a breakdown. As we’ll explore in 2021, breakthroughs are not only possible but necessary, within this very decade, to avert impeding disaster. I’m not an alarmist; those who know me personally as well as those only familiar with my writings know that generally I’m upbeat and optimistic. My temperament and attitude toward life hasn’t changed, but the data, trends, and facts to which I have been exposed in 2020 necessitate a shift in tone and focus.

As we now live in an interconnected global communications network of societies, cultures, and economies, the breakthroughs needed to avoid a global dark age will require leadership and collaboration on a scale never before seen. As our blog has been centered on leadership with cultural values and creative insight, my primary intent in 2021 is to explore issues even more so from a systems perspective. A systems perspective is implied in the tag line of the Jazz Leadership Project: 360° Collaborative Leadership. When we designed our enterprise, little did we realize how clearly that phrase identified an existential need of our time.

Because the stakes are so high and the need for transformation in the way we see and behave so urgent, we’ll look at threats, challenges, and possibility spaces as basis for wiser decisions and pragmatic action. Such wisdom and American pragmatism concerns not only organizational development but the mature development and very survival of Homo sapiens sapiens.

In recent 2020 news, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are cause for hope. On the other hand, a more infectious strain of coronavirus surfacing in the U.K. recently is cause for vigilance. Even before Covid, which has killed 300,000 Americans and over 1.5 million around the world, entrepreneur and philosopher Tomas Björkman called the chaos of our contemporary era a “meta-crisis,” wickedly interwoven and systemic problems not only in social, economic, political and ecological terms, but in meaning and values for flourishing in life personally, interpersonally, as well as in our “collective imaginary.” 

Cognitive scientist John Vervaeke’s 50-part video series, “Awakening from the Meaning Crisis,” tackles this theme well.

The results of the U.S. presidential election demonstrated that the American electorate is split among people who see the world in diametrically opposed ways, with no seeming basis for common ground. That’s why in November we shared an open letter from cultural and political philosopher Steve McIntosh that calls for a “higher ground” angle of insight. Yet, although I’m relieved that Donald Trump will soon leave the White House—kicking and screaming like a spoiled, sore-loser brat—I don’t place faith in politics as the site for the deepest changes and transformations necessary to make it through the remainder of this decade.

As I wrote in “Hemingway, Politics, and Wisdom” in October 2020, “ . . . the more you take a 360° view of issues, keeping in mind the wisdom of the ages, and, from my cultural frame of reference, the blues idiom tradition, the more you take politics with a grain of salt.”

But enough of that for now. Let’s get personal.

Jewel and I remain safe and well, as is the case for our most immediate family members. By well, I mean not suffering from Covid, though the aches, pains, and illnesses that seniors suffer from touch our family as it does yours. We consider ourselves fortunate, even blessed. Some of our closest friends and associates have lost dear family members this year. I feel for them. I continue to pray for them.

I’m angry at the U.S. Congress, especially the Republicans, for taking this damn long to come up with another pandemic relief package. So many of our fellow citizens in the U.S. are living by a thread, having to choose between paying the rent, having enough food on the table, and keeping a roof over their heads.

I’m worried about the hospitality and performing arts industries—the Jazz Standard, one of my favorite jazz clubs in New York City, closed permanently a few weeks ago. I fear that others will close within Q1 and Q2 2021, as the lack of business and high overhead expenses can become a perfect storm of doom.

This holiday season is unlike any I can remember. Yet the symbolism of light and love and the birth of possibility remains, though for many it may feel dim or absent. Those of us who are fortunate, blessed, and privileged have a responsibility to exercise empathetic leadership in every arena we can. Jewel and I remain committed to stepping in and stepping up. Based on what we know about the leaders reading this blog, we trust that the same holds true for you.

For those reading this who have lost friends and loved ones this year, you have our condolences and our wishes for a safe and healing transition to the New Year. 

We’ll be back in early January. Take care.