On February 4, 2009, American President Obama gave his State of the Nation address. He said, “History reminds us that, at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas. In the midst of civil war, we laid railroad tracks from one coast to another that spurred commerce and industry.From the turmoil of the Industrial Revolution came a system of public high schools that prepared our citizens for a new age. In the wake of war and depression, the GI Bill sent a generation to college and created the largest middle-class in history. And a twilight struggle for freedom led to a nation of highways, an American on the moon, and an explosion of technology that still shapes our world … We are a nation that has seen promise amid peril and claimed opportunity from ordeal. Now we must be that nation again.”
In other words, what makes a people great is their ability to creatively try out new ideas in the face of immense challenges and crises. Recently, my friend Aries Zulkarnain sent me an article of a list of innovative ideas that have emerged during times of economic duress. Some examples:
The Great Depression: 3M invented the Scotch tape (1930); Revlon launched long-lasting nail polish (1932); Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom and Chicken Noodle soup were introduced (1934); GE introduced the fluorescent light bulb (1938); Hewlett-Packard was established (1939).
Eisenhower Recessions: Texas Instruments introduced the transistor radio (1954); McDonald’s opened its first restaurant (1955); Proctor & Gamble tested Pampers disposable diapers (1960).
1973 Oil Crisis: Arthur Fry and Spenser Silver invented Post-it Notes (1974); Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed Microsoft (1975).
Early 1980s Recession: MTV hit the airwaves (1981); Diet Coke made debut (1982); Microsoft introduced Word for MS-DOS 1.00 (1983).
Black Monday: Prozac was approved as an antidepressant (1987).
Gulf War: The World Wide Web and Apple Powerbook debuted (1991).
In other words, what makes a people great is their ability to creatively try out new ideas in the face of immense challenges and crises. Recently, my friend Aries Zulkarnain sent me an article of a list of innovative ideas that have emerged during times of economic duress. Some examples:
The Great Depression: 3M invented the Scotch tape (1930); Revlon launched long-lasting nail polish (1932); Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom and Chicken Noodle soup were introduced (1934); GE introduced the fluorescent light bulb (1938); Hewlett-Packard was established (1939).
Eisenhower Recessions: Texas Instruments introduced the transistor radio (1954); McDonald’s opened its first restaurant (1955); Proctor & Gamble tested Pampers disposable diapers (1960).
1973 Oil Crisis: Arthur Fry and Spenser Silver invented Post-it Notes (1974); Bill Gates and Paul Allen formed Microsoft (1975).
Early 1980s Recession: MTV hit the airwaves (1981); Diet Coke made debut (1982); Microsoft introduced Word for MS-DOS 1.00 (1983).
Black Monday: Prozac was approved as an antidepressant (1987).
Gulf War: The World Wide Web and Apple Powerbook debuted (1991).
Dot-com Bust: iPod was unveiled (2001); RIM introduced Blackberry 5810 (2002).
Today, we are in a recession that many have claimed the worst since WWII. It was started by the collapse of the housing market. Then, the collapse of major banks caused public panic. The amount of available credit spiraled downward, making it almost impossible for anybody to get a loan. This recession was especially hard on car makers. As consumer confidence continues to plunge, things continue to get worse.
But hardships and difficulties are the necessary backdrops for greatness. When it seems like we are hard-pressed on every side, we must courageously tap into our oft-hidden God-given talents and gifts, unleashing the potential of those underused abilities to their fullest. Our moment of crisis is also our moment of creativity. This recession could well be our greatest hour yet. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Heb. 10:35).
But hardships and difficulties are the necessary backdrops for greatness. When it seems like we are hard-pressed on every side, we must courageously tap into our oft-hidden God-given talents and gifts, unleashing the potential of those underused abilities to their fullest. Our moment of crisis is also our moment of creativity. This recession could well be our greatest hour yet. “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward” (Heb. 10:35).
(Source: www.konghee.com)
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