When Bubbles Collide

If you missed the world news this week, you missed a lot.

More terror in the UK, a new look for the US politics, and more and more nationalization.

Normally, events like this are considered “outside” of our bubble, but sometimes we need to step back and take a look.

We all know it is best to stay inside your own bubble. This means focusing on what you can control, and above all, blocking out the negative “noise” that comes in from the rest of the world. This is the process that allows us to get focused and stay on top.

This is true 99% of time.

Occasionally, your bubble just might collide with someone else’s bubble, and when it does, it might not be a bad thing. Every so often, it turns out to be a once in a lifetime learning experience.

For the good or bad, I believe this is what is happening today.

While many of us are thousands of miles from these tragic and historical events (The Global War on Terror GWOT or Eastern Europe), they present a challenge. It is an offering for us to think differently about how we think.

Bubble or no bubble, we need to pay attention.

So, let’s look at Europe. What we can we learn from them?

Several years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing the late Lady Margaret Thatcher (former Prime Minister of Great Britain) lecture on the virtues of history. She was a fascinating person and I was thrilled to be in the company of such a historical figure. It was her “iron” will, and Reagan’s determination, that changed the world we live in today.

When I heard her speak, she was recently retired and still passionate about her work. I was among a group of US executives and we were looking for some wisdom in international affairs. As you can imagine, the opportunity to be in the same room with someone so instrumental was fantastic, and her transfer of knowledge would prove priceless.

As her lecture ended, she paused and looked at us with a sad set of eyes. Then she did something that I felt was a bit unusual, she drifted off her prepared speech and began to challenge us on an individual level. With her wonderful British accent and impeccable manners, she asked us a single question, and stood silently while we pondered our response.

Her question went something like this:

“Why is it I wonder, that you Americans are so fascinated with your own culture, that you find it necessary to avoid learning about the rest of the world?”

She then said:

“…because if you did, you would know that today’s world is aligning itself exactly like it was in 1915, and from there, you could learn a few valuable lessons”.

She went on to state “the world is today as it always was, filled with bubbles. People who are trying to find their way through life; each person with their own history, story, and family. All are building upon generations of passion and love, but if you (the US) think you’re the only one who feels this way, you are wrong.”

From there, she gave a prophetic warning that today’s Europe is realigning itself to repeat history once again, and the passions will ignite a fury that might shock the US if we do not recognize our responsibility to respect others and their own bubble.

It was 25 years ago when I stood silent as brilliant Lady Thatcher challenged us all.

So, with that in mind, what do we need to learn from today’s news?

Simple: In economics, the world is as it always has been; broken into two types of people, two types of “bubbles”.

First are those who we call “producers”. These are people who work for a living and believe they will get what they deserve. They are focused, determined, take care of their family, and find charity giving to those in need.

The other is based on a thought process that finds the “path of least resistance” and looks to find “entitlement” when the course gets tough.

In a lot of ways, this is what we are seeing in Europe today.

As the Ukrainians fight to hold on to their democracy and the Baltics look out in fear, it is the “producers” who rally for freedom, yet they find resistance from those who want guarantees. There are people today who seek “entitlements” and would rather sell their freedom “bubble” to the old Russian guard than risk the efforts needed for a better life.

International politics come with a lot of complexities, but the basic concept is simple, and one we should respect.

As “producers” fight to stay in their bubble, occasionally the outside world fights its way inside.

Sometimes this is tough, because “producers”, by their very nature, want to help those on the outside. This creates a conflict and a collision when the entitlement-based outsiders want to force their version of change. They, the “entitlement minded people”, want the “producers” bubble to look more like theirs.

The “entitlement” people feel that if you (the Producers) settle and bring yourself down to their level, then their lack of passion and desire is justified and everyone is equal.

The problem is that this never works.

There is always someone inside the “entitlement” system who takes advantage of their own; those who are weaker.

In the end, it is those who wanted to dumb you down to their own mediocrity, who discover it would have been better for them to risk it all as a “producer”, than to sell out to economic captivity.

George Orwell summed up the “entitlement machine” in his classic novel Animal Farm.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

We should pay attention to what is happening in Europe and cheer for those who are willing to fight for the right to be “producers”. All they want is to control their destiny, get what they deserve, and serve others. Even, if it means risking their own (responsible) future.

In the US, we find ourselves consumed with our own problems a little too much. Occasionally we need to pay attention to those outside our bubble, especially when they are just like us and only want what is best for themselves and their families.

It would be terrible if we ignored Margret Thatcher’s warning and stayed so focused on ourselves, that we fail to recognize others who are in danger of losing their rights.

The lesson here is simple. All bubbles eventually collide – for good or bad.

If you think it will never happen to you, you’re wrong. In a way, it is our destiny; personally, professionally, and spiritually.

We all are in a collision sooner or later.

All I ask is that you look for ways to help and protect yourself from others who want your “producer” bubble to be like their “entitlement” bubble. In doing so, help and pray for those who are threatened by others who want to take away their rights to achieve freedom.

It only takes one person, one voice, and one set of applause to collapse the entire system.

It has been 100 years since the Archduke fell, and the world’s bubbles began to collide. If we are not careful and learn from others, our bubble is destined to collide as well.

When that happens, we will ask ourselves:

What have we as American’s learned from history, because surely this has happened before?

-DB