Innovation Economy requires a new narrative, new terms
Let’s be honest, we talk with each other about things that we believe are important. In the case of innovation and competitiveness, the cornerstones of the Innovation Economy, we never, ever talk about them. Although our present and future economic prosperity hinges on these key, foundational elements, at times it seems we are either unwilling or unable to consider these matters as top priorities. Again, the BICI wants to change this — and change it in a big way.
A central goal of the BICI is to catalyze and inculcate a new narrative among Black Americans … in our families, communities, institutions and organizations. The BICI seeks to embed it into our consciousness and our daily lives … the realities of the 21st centuryInnovation Economy.
This new narrative concerning the Innovation Economy contains new and unfamiliar terms. As the BICI is a driving force of the new narrative, it is incumbent upon us to not only introduce new terms and concepts, but to explain them, as well.
Accordingly, from time to time we will present a blog introducing and defining Innovation Economy terms. Today, we’ll start with five key terms — we’ll call them foundational terms:
Innovation Economy.: The economic period of the late 20th and early 21st centuries marked by radical socioeconomic changes brought about by the globalization of commerce, democratization of information, exponential growth of entrepreneurship and acceleration of new knowledge creation.
▪ Usage: For Black Americans, a critical challenge is to considerably enhance our ability to compete in and contribute to the Innovation Economy.
Constitutional Citizenship: Citizens of the United States by birthright, as enshrined in the Constitution. Constitutional citizens are full and equal American citizens under law, but they do not necessarily have much, if any, underlying ownership interests in the nation and do not necessarily share in the best national opportunities.
▪ Usage: Black Americans endured a long, hard march to secure constitutional citizenship in the United States.
Equity Citizenship: Citizens of the United States who are partners and have meaningful ownership interests in the nation. Equity citizens are entitled and able to access an equitable proportion of America’s best opportunities to achieve economic prosperity.
▪ Usage: The next phase of Black America’s national contribution is to become equity citizens.
Trim Tabber: A person whose capabilities provide the exponentially higher leverage leadership needed to turn a matter of importance in the desired direction. The decisions of Trim Tab leaders have exponential impact, in like manner to the steering power of the trim tab located on a ship’s rudder. Their actions significantly increase the achievement potential of the group, considerably enhancing the probability of mission success.
▪ Usage: In times of flux, such as today, history demands a new kind of leader – the Trim Tabber.
Trim Tab Organization: An organization whose underlying operational approach to fulfilling its mission is based on aggregating key resources, organizing those resources into actionable, collaborative forms and highly leveraging them to achieve exponential mission impact, rather than incremental outcomes.
▪ Usage: To meet the significant challenges of the 21st century, our communities must demand, develop and support new Trim Tab organizations (like the BICI).
Let’s review and reflect deeply on these terms and make sure our children are familiar with the concepts. Let’s inject these and other new ideas and terms into our daily discourse.
We’ll know the Innovation Economy narrative has taken root when we’re talking about it in the barbershops and hair salons.
Johnathan Holifield, Trim Tabber
How does STEM education fit into this conversation. Perhaps you might share this competition ($150,000 in cash prizes): http://www.changemakers.com/stemeducation. Prize sponsors include Google, ExxonMobil, and Carnegie Corporation.