Welcome to Out of the Box Insight

Liberating the potential of an entire world...

We need to face the inevitable: the global economic crisis may not be resolvable by governments or industry... no matter the tools they use. The challenges are so immense, and so compound, that neither any single government nor coalition of governments can rekindle and sustain an economy for global consumers. Out of the Box Insight explores why the powers and tools of government can only be reactive to the crisis, rather than proactive... and thus, will inevitably fail.

Our affluent society in the 21st century is built upon the foundations of three types of economies: natural resources, manufacturing, and services (72 percent of the world's output is now in services). It is in this consumer-centric services paradigm which we now stagnate. We stagnate because we do not evolve. But we also stagnate because nearly all of the economic doctrines by which we abide are simply misunderstood and outdated. Our failure to evolve is the true reason we are now in crisis. Bank bail-outs, austerity measures, and increased government spending... these are merely tools that are being arbitrarily thrown at the symptoms of a crisis. These tools can never fix the underlying flaws of consumerism. Indeed, they may even be doing harm. Inevitably, we are heading toward a total collapse of all socio-economic systems.

But within every crisis is an opportunity. Out of the Box Insight proffers a set of rational, yet unorthodox solutions:

The evolution of the global economy beyond its present services-based paradigm, and into a fourth horizon of human exploration.
The establishment of radical tools and processes for economic transactions which facilitate global human interdependence.
Enable the masses of the world to finally undertake their 'natural responsibilities' as well as their 'natural rights'.

Evolving beyond any post-consumerism paradigm will require the best and most honorable capacities from all of humanity. But equally, it will reveal an unfathomable wealth naturally residing within us all, and beyond any boundary of nations.

To this end, Out of the Box Insight has written a 43-page booklet (in PDF format), which explores under the surface of mere 'symptoms' so as to better understand what truly is the cause of the global crisis... and to reveal what could be the most compelling solution to date to finally liberate and evolve an entire world. Based on decades of research and international experience, we have written Wealth Beyond Nations: Principles of Global Interdependence. Below, you can read (on screen, or in print) a brief overview of the booklet. Or you can download the complete unabridged version (all for free).

Futher down the page, we outline the next steps to be taken to evolve into a new socio-economic paradigm... and how you can become directly involved in liberating human potential that knows no borders.

Wealth Beyond Nations

Principles of Global Interdependence

by Michael Byrnes and Tamara van Halm

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Abridged for Screen Viewing

An easy-to-read screen presentation of Wealth Beyond Nations.

12-screen pages.

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Abridged for Printing

An easy-to-read overview of Wealth Beyond Nations, suitable for printing.

11-printed pages.

Clickhere to view in your browser (right-click... save-link-as... to save to your computer)

The Complete Booklet

This is the complete thesis. The thesis is presently under peer review, and is in its second draft (you will find a few errors).

The third draft is presently being written. If you feel that there is something we are not addressing (or not addressing effectively), please let us know your thoughts. We will integrate and attribute all inputs.

Clickhere to view in your browser (right-click... save-link-as... to save to your computer)

The only true conclusion to be reached from the observable economic data closing-in on global markets: labor wages produced within a services-centric economy, cannot, itself, generate aggregate demand by and between the masses. It is not a matter of creating more jobs. It is a matter of creating value generation which is qualitative, not quantitative. Once we have come to more fully understand the quantitative versus qualitative mechanics of economic activity, we finally begin to comprehend that there is absolutely nothing that our present-day political and business leaders can do to 'tweak' the system back to sustainable growth. They, and we, are wasting valuable time debating whether or not to increase or decrease government spending, raise or lower taxes, or capitalize or regulate banking systems. All these so-called 'solutions' are unrealistic attempts to repair a car as it speeds over a cliff. The harsh reality we must face is that the cliff is nearer than we think. And we will absolutely fall off that cliff. Unless we finally escape the vehicle of a services-centric and quantitative-centric economy... and co-create a vehicle which knows no boundries.

Out of the Box Insight

No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. - Albert Einstein

Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.

Michael Byrnes

Economist & Philosopher

Michael served under three U.S. Administrations in an advisory capacity in designing and implementing post-Cold War economic conversion strategies. In the corporate sector, he has counseled Fortune 100 companies as well as small businesses in matters of mergers and acquisitions strategy, crisis management, and change management.

Beginning in 1997, Michael switched gears and relocated to Bosnia-Herzegovina for nine years... where he participated in various international development and nation-building projects. As a result, he wrote a seminal case study of the failures of international development, Hands and Brains Unbound: Revealing the Illusion of World Order and the Revolution Ascending. The case study not only drew attention to the systemic deficiencies of international development, but also revealed the fundamental weaknesses and potential opportunities in various states effectively participating in global economic markets.

The real crisis is a crisis of consciousness.

Tamara van Halm

Futurist

Tamara is a former political affairs analyst with the Defense Ministry, Netherlands, serving in the conflict-zone of Bosnia-Herzegovina (where she and Michael met).

She has synthesized a number of modern techniques and tools centered on awakening and mastering authentic relationships in personal and group environments.

Inspiration

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. - Maya Angelou

Selected videos to inspire a new economic paradigm...

Running time of the clips vary: a few short; a few just under 20 minutes...

For additional examples, and engage in a vital dialogue with us and others, please go to our blog...

Dave Meslin: The antidote to apathy... www.ted.com

Mobile Academy... www.mobileacademy-berlin.com/

Clay Shirky: How the Internet will (one day) transform government... www.ted.com

Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation... www.ted.com

Joe Dispenza: Our observation has a direct effect on the world... www.drjoedispenza.com

As the above video clips have illustrated, a much more holistic and egalitarian socio-economic paradigm is birthing just under the surface of our everyday lives. These examples may exist mainly outside the mainstream... but still, they are potent reminders that our global economic systems are extremely slow to evolve. The problem is: the global economic crisis simply cannot be resolved by conventional forms and tools of government, and we do not have time to leisurely evolve. Inevitably, we are heading toward a total collapse of all socio-economic systems.

To continue to wait for some political 'messiah' to triumphantly emerge and save our global economic system is simply an act of delusion. The only rational and realistic opportunity for humanity to save itself, economically and socially, is to finally unite together and take personal responsibility for co-creating a new world socio-economic order.

This is why we proffer Wealth Beyond Nations. The time to raise our consciousness and to act collectively is finally upon us.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The only true and realistic solution to the global economic crisis resides in the 'common citizen' to join together and venture into a new socio-economic frontier. Implementing any new socio-economic paradigm which relies on the active and enlightened participation of the masses, would require the following three movements:

Public education. As we have proffered, many of our government, business, and academic leaders who we regard as 'experts', are more likely than not to be operating from outdated doctrines of economics. That signifies that the masses, too, are likely to be operating from outdated knowledge. Consequently, it becomes imperative that a mass public education campaign be implemented so as to radically 'update' the public's knowledge-base and discourse. Providing the world's public with an inspiring vision of a quaternary economy and socio-economic interdependence would then pull into existence the second movement:
Community-specific dialogue and design. Being better informed as to the flaws of our present economy, and being inspired to establish a fourth horizon for all of humanity-communities all around the world would come together to explore both their human and tangible opportunities and priorities particular to their community. Once each community has identified its general path forward into the quaternary economy, many communities will require collaboration with various other communities and resources so as to tangibly move into a new paradigm of socio-economic behavior. This collaborative requirement, then, will pull into existence the third movement:
Collaborative implementation. As we explain Wealth Beyond Nations, a new dynamic, elastic, and ever-evolving infrastructure is required. The components of this new infrastructure already exist. We just have to pull all the components together. This new infrastructure, then, would technically facilitate the human dynamics sought for in the previous dialoguing and design process. New ventures are begun. New resources are brought together. New experiences and relationships are brought to life. New wealth is created. It is here, humanity steps into a new world of its own true making.

You can become directly involved in establishing a new and honorable socio-economic paradigm by organizing and hosting meetups, dialogue sessions (like the "Mobile Academy" shown in the above video), community and corporate collaborative networks (to actually put into practice a new process of economic activity)... spreading the word through social media, your blog, local media... or even helping us to improve our message and documentation (perhaps a video or animated presentation?)... the possibilities are limitless...

Please contact us (info below).

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