RAVE - Unconventional Wisdom
What do Mohammed Yunnus, Sarah Palin, Bill Gates and Rush Limbaugh have in common? All of them have endured stinging criticism, had obstacles put in their way by the powers that be and have achieved astounding success by beating back the “conventional wisdom”.
Sarah Palin is the latest victim of the conventional wisdom crowd that is seeking to define her as a quitter and unable to stand up to obstacles and difficulties. Although this story is still being played out in the Mainstream Media there are glimmers of greatness in her methods and genius in the delivery of her message. Many people see the future of the Conservative Republican movement in her message and are inspired by her life story and the direction she is now taking as she prepares to leave the position of Governor behind. Others can’t stand her and view her as a threat to the policies they hold sacred – namely abortion, feminism and equal rights; as well as their political power.
The political class and its followers cannot fathom her reasons for leaving, even as Gov. Palin laid them out in exacting detail: 1) I’m not running for re-election 2) I don’t want to be a lame duck governor wasting the taxpayers money; 3) I am transferring power to the Lt. Governor who will continue the agenda we started ; 4) As long as I am governor I will continue to be attacked by operatives who will raise dubious charges (like the 15 that were all dismissed) ; 5)Fighting these charges is costing the taxpayers money and wasting time; 6) Fighting these charges has also has impacted my family finances; 7) I can be more effective in spreading my message across America as well as defend my family as a private citizen instead of Governor.
If a non-political guy like me can figure it out, why can’t the polical savants in Washington DC and New York? Political conventional wisdom suggests you stay in office on the taxpayers dime as you seek higher office. Political conventional wisdom says you NEVER mean what you say and say what you mean or ever give a REAL reason why you are doing something. You ALWAYS say “it’s for the children” or “it’s for the poor”. Political conventional wisdom suggests that the most important thing is to get elected and STAY elected because of all the “good” you can do (for the previously mentioned children and poor). Political conventional wisdom says you NEVER give up power amd always seek to increase your power and influence (again for the children and the poor). Political conventional wisdom says you NEVER go outside the box that the mainstream media draws around you and when they say you are “finished” you might as well give up.
I believe Sarah cares more about her state and its taxpayers than her own personal ambition. I also believe she is freeing herself up for a major campaign to help Republican Conservatives spread a consistent message of low taxes, smaller government and more freedom. Time will tell whether Gov. Palin will succeed. However, the seeds of success are present in her actions, as her opposition keeps reporting on how she will fail because she is not following “conventional wisdom”.
Let us take a quick look at how conventional wisdom dealt with the others mentioned at the beginning of this post:
Mohammed Yunnis turned the entire concept of banking on its head by creating Grameen Bank which makes micro-loans (very small amounts) to the poorest of the poor. Starting first in his home country of Bangladesh in the 70’s, Yunnis discovered that the best way to help the poor help themselves is to provide small amounts of capital. These micro-loans (usually not more than $25 US) enable the poor (mostly women) to control the means of production of any number of small businesses from which they earn a profit. They pay back the loans, sometimes a penny at a time, and the loan default rate is less than 5%. The borrowers are organized into small groups to help each other and keep everyone accountable for the debt.
Previously the poor would have to work for a third party or borrow money at exhorbitant rates and generate barely enough to feed the family for a day. Yunnis ran smack into a wall of “conventional wisdom” when he tried to present his idea for helping the poor with micro-loans. “These amounts are too small for us to bother with” ; “The poor don’t pay money back”; “They are illiterate they can’t even write their name or fill out an application” were some of the responses he received when he took his idea to bankers.
Despite the opposition from local bankers, central bankers, government bureaucrats and even the World Bank, Yuniss built Grameen Bank into a global enterprise helping millions of poor through the simple idea of micro-loans. His story can be found in Banker To the Poor. The idea of micro-capitalism is an idea that can revolutionize impoversished populations anywhere.
Bill Gates through his company Microsoft made computers more personal and fun. Once the domain of scientists and engineers, computers were reserved for air conditioned rooms with hordes of specialists to attend them. As the hardware became smaller and cheaper Gates had the vision of a computer in every home that was easy to use by anyone. Conventional Wisdom said that computers are too complicated for untrained people to use or that only a BIG company like IBM or DIGITAL can make it happen . But Gates achieved his vision and revolutionized the industry making the information age possible.
Rush Limbaugh has lost count of the number of times he was told “You can’t do that!” by conventional wisdom when he was building his talk radio career. When he makes the claim that “He is Talk Radio” it is not far from the truth. His syndicated show is broadcast on over 500 radio stations with a weekly audience approaching 20 million listeners. Whether you agree with his politics or not you cannot deny he knows how to hold an audience and charge “confiscatory advertising rates” to the benefit of himself, his advertisers and the industry.
The problem with conventional wisdom is that it is so….. conventional. It is the middle of the pack, the average, the majority, the fat part of the bell curve where most of us live. To be excellent means breaking out of the pack and exposing yourself to the mundane critics who are content in their mediocrity and attack anyone who thinks they are capable of being more then average.
As for Sarah? You go girl! I agree with your policies. I agree with your message. I also look forward to the first female president being a conservative. Now wouldn’t that just drive the liberals nuts!! Sorry Hillary.
Sarah Palin is the latest victim of the conventional wisdom crowd that is seeking to define her as a quitter and unable to stand up to obstacles and difficulties. Although this story is still being played out in the Mainstream Media there are glimmers of greatness in her methods and genius in the delivery of her message. Many people see the future of the Conservative Republican movement in her message and are inspired by her life story and the direction she is now taking as she prepares to leave the position of Governor behind. Others can’t stand her and view her as a threat to the policies they hold sacred – namely abortion, feminism and equal rights; as well as their political power.
The political class and its followers cannot fathom her reasons for leaving, even as Gov. Palin laid them out in exacting detail: 1) I’m not running for re-election 2) I don’t want to be a lame duck governor wasting the taxpayers money; 3) I am transferring power to the Lt. Governor who will continue the agenda we started ; 4) As long as I am governor I will continue to be attacked by operatives who will raise dubious charges (like the 15 that were all dismissed) ; 5)Fighting these charges is costing the taxpayers money and wasting time; 6) Fighting these charges has also has impacted my family finances; 7) I can be more effective in spreading my message across America as well as defend my family as a private citizen instead of Governor.
If a non-political guy like me can figure it out, why can’t the polical savants in Washington DC and New York? Political conventional wisdom suggests you stay in office on the taxpayers dime as you seek higher office. Political conventional wisdom says you NEVER mean what you say and say what you mean or ever give a REAL reason why you are doing something. You ALWAYS say “it’s for the children” or “it’s for the poor”. Political conventional wisdom suggests that the most important thing is to get elected and STAY elected because of all the “good” you can do (for the previously mentioned children and poor). Political conventional wisdom says you NEVER give up power amd always seek to increase your power and influence (again for the children and the poor). Political conventional wisdom says you NEVER go outside the box that the mainstream media draws around you and when they say you are “finished” you might as well give up.
I believe Sarah cares more about her state and its taxpayers than her own personal ambition. I also believe she is freeing herself up for a major campaign to help Republican Conservatives spread a consistent message of low taxes, smaller government and more freedom. Time will tell whether Gov. Palin will succeed. However, the seeds of success are present in her actions, as her opposition keeps reporting on how she will fail because she is not following “conventional wisdom”.
Let us take a quick look at how conventional wisdom dealt with the others mentioned at the beginning of this post:
Mohammed Yunnis turned the entire concept of banking on its head by creating Grameen Bank which makes micro-loans (very small amounts) to the poorest of the poor. Starting first in his home country of Bangladesh in the 70’s, Yunnis discovered that the best way to help the poor help themselves is to provide small amounts of capital. These micro-loans (usually not more than $25 US) enable the poor (mostly women) to control the means of production of any number of small businesses from which they earn a profit. They pay back the loans, sometimes a penny at a time, and the loan default rate is less than 5%. The borrowers are organized into small groups to help each other and keep everyone accountable for the debt.
Previously the poor would have to work for a third party or borrow money at exhorbitant rates and generate barely enough to feed the family for a day. Yunnis ran smack into a wall of “conventional wisdom” when he tried to present his idea for helping the poor with micro-loans. “These amounts are too small for us to bother with” ; “The poor don’t pay money back”; “They are illiterate they can’t even write their name or fill out an application” were some of the responses he received when he took his idea to bankers.
Despite the opposition from local bankers, central bankers, government bureaucrats and even the World Bank, Yuniss built Grameen Bank into a global enterprise helping millions of poor through the simple idea of micro-loans. His story can be found in Banker To the Poor. The idea of micro-capitalism is an idea that can revolutionize impoversished populations anywhere.
Bill Gates through his company Microsoft made computers more personal and fun. Once the domain of scientists and engineers, computers were reserved for air conditioned rooms with hordes of specialists to attend them. As the hardware became smaller and cheaper Gates had the vision of a computer in every home that was easy to use by anyone. Conventional Wisdom said that computers are too complicated for untrained people to use or that only a BIG company like IBM or DIGITAL can make it happen . But Gates achieved his vision and revolutionized the industry making the information age possible.
Rush Limbaugh has lost count of the number of times he was told “You can’t do that!” by conventional wisdom when he was building his talk radio career. When he makes the claim that “He is Talk Radio” it is not far from the truth. His syndicated show is broadcast on over 500 radio stations with a weekly audience approaching 20 million listeners. Whether you agree with his politics or not you cannot deny he knows how to hold an audience and charge “confiscatory advertising rates” to the benefit of himself, his advertisers and the industry.
The problem with conventional wisdom is that it is so….. conventional. It is the middle of the pack, the average, the majority, the fat part of the bell curve where most of us live. To be excellent means breaking out of the pack and exposing yourself to the mundane critics who are content in their mediocrity and attack anyone who thinks they are capable of being more then average.
As for Sarah? You go girl! I agree with your policies. I agree with your message. I also look forward to the first female president being a conservative. Now wouldn’t that just drive the liberals nuts!! Sorry Hillary.
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