Optimism and Education

"Optimistic societies are stable societies" - Futurist Jim Carroll

A lot is going on.

Next week is a pivotal week as the US chooses if it wants to go forward or back. On the day of the election, I'll be speaking to an audience of senior government executives from throughout the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

One section of my talk explores the link between the entrepreneurial spirit of the younger generation and the role of optimism in moving a society forward, not back. Consider the former:

• 66% of Millennials and Gen Z are interested in starting their own business
• 55% of young entrepreneurs value practical skills over formal education
• 75% of young entrepreneurs indicate they are willing to take financial risks for a potential business opportunity
• 80% of Gen Z see technology as a central aspect of any future business, emphasizing automation, AI, and digital solutions
• in regions like Asia and Africa, entrepreneurial interest among young adults is higher, with nearly 70% of 18-30-year-olds expressing an interest in starting a business.

To that reality, I point out entrepreneurial education support is a must, particularly education because of the important role of future-positive thinking in moving a society forward.

• 72% of people with a college education are optimistic about technological innovation compared to 55% of those with a high school education or less (Pew Research)
• 68% of individuals with higher education believe that science & tech would provide for a better future, compared to 47% with lower education levels (World Values Survey)
• individuals with higher education levels were 30% more likely to expect an improvement in their economic conditions within the next five years (OECD Better Life Index)
• 65% of those who described themselves as “well-informed” had a positive outlook on the impact of artificial intelligence and technology, compared to 40% of those who did not identify as well-informed (Ipsos Future Outlook Survey)

Those who are positive about the future are those who have the education that supports their view. If the goal and desire of a group of people are entrepreneurial skills, then educating and mentoring them in those skills will be a formula for success.

The undercurrent of all this, of course, has to do with a mindset that is prevalent within a region. No doubt you might be immersed in the upcoming election, chasing polls and reading reports. One thing is clear - there is a lot of negativity in the US right now, and it's particularly significant with the uneducated voter.

Negativity breeds volatility. The opportunities for countering negativity and building a culture of optimism through education should be clear!

It's going to be an interesting few weeks!

Futurist Jim Carroll considers himself an ‘optimistic futurist,’ because he knows that optimism matters!

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