Within every society there are people who are motivated to build, innovate, create, and reform. These are the visionaries, pioneers, leaders and reformers and they can be found in every occupation, institution, and strata of society. They are the non-conformists who question everything and who are passionate about finding a better way to do things. Some of them seem like misfits and oddballs but they are motivated by different values and goals than most of us. They are sometimes called “boat-rockers” and “square pegs” but we call them “forerunners” because they are the forerunners of the age-to-come. They see a vision of the future and use their talents and passion to bring it into the present. They are truly our greatest natural resource.
Many of our institutions are not equipped to deal with these forerunners. Most businesses and schools are threatened by their attempt to reform them. They are widely misunderstand, often isolated, sometimes suppressed and frequently minimized; however, it is these people who are responsible for most of the advancement in technology, education, government, law, arts and entertainment and communications. Forerunners are compelled to bring change and expand the boundaries of knowledge and professional practice in ever domain of society.
We are changing the world faster
than we can change ourselves,
and we are applying to the present
the habits of the past
Winston Churchill
For the past 60 years, the western world has experienced a sustained technological revolution unlike anything in the past. Historically, after every technological revolution there is a social reformation which follows closely behind. Observation will reveal that business, science, government, education, media, entertainment, the arts, and religion are all in various stages of reformation. Considering the significance of the technological revolution, this could be the greatest social reformation in recorded history, and it is the forerunners who will lead it. Reformation and transformation is the passion and the gifted ability of Forerunners. If the past 40 years have been the era of the “geek”, then the next 40 years will be the era of the “forerunner generation”.
This revolution is timely considering the many serious challenges which lay ahead of us. This generation of forerunners will have to discover solutions to problems of cataclysmic proportion. They are, however, intrinsically equipped to develop the technologies, concepts, and strategies which will advance mankind and save the earth from ecological destruction. It is of critical importance to our country, our people, and our planet to invest in developing knowledge and systems to assist, encourage and nurture forerunners.
