Bento and the Future

tl;dr: expanding your field of awareness and how thinking beyond yourself is in your self-interest

Thanks to the recommendation of a long-time blog reader, Mark, I’ve been reading Yancey Strickler’s book, “This Could Be Our Future.”

Strickler is one of the co-founders of Kickstarter and advocates for a world that is “post-financial maximization,” that is the product of?Milton Friedman’s NYT article in 1970, where he argues that?the social responsibility of a business is to increase profits.

Strickler’s primary point is that this approach has been disastrous for humanity because of where it has led us, with a relentless focus on the “here and now” at the sacrifice of the long-term.

Strickler’s suggests an alternative, known as “Bento” which says we should think about not just the “now me” but the “now us,” the “future me,” and the “future us.” This approach is, he argues, more balanced and more apt to lead us to a more satisfying life that is in line with our values as individuals.

He doesn’t chide or reprimand. All he says is, “stop thinking only about today.” Think about tomorrow, your legacy, and, because it’s in your self-interest, others.

I’m still working my way through the book, but I have noticed that, as I’ve encountered new situations, I have had his framework in mind. And that’s been helpful.

A Bento Box, with its quadrants of balance.