Episode #2
The Individualism Mindset
Resonant mindsets: Americans will relate to other countries that have resonant mindsets. It was in defense of mindsets that they came to the aid of countries that had mindsets that were more in resonance with their own, and fought against countries that were opposed to the mindsets.
Writing the script: There’s always been an enormous emphasis in America, going back 400 years, on individualism. America gave a chance for individuals to write the scripts for their own futures. If you want to strive as an individual and succeed as an individual, the American system supports you as an individual.
Individual focus: Individualism in the fully developed American forum is a focus on your own capabilities, opportunities, and resources.
100% responsible: The essence of individualism is the willingness to take 100% responsibility for everything that happens to you in your life. Bad things can happen to people from the outside and you are not responsible, but you can choose to feel responsible.
Money magnifies: Money is a capability that magnifies other capabilities, other opportunities, and other resources. It's a capability that everybody understands can move them forward if they approach it correctly.
Opposite of individualism: There are individuals who encourage the feeling of being a victim. Victimhood is the opposite of individualism.
The collective: The opposite of individualism is that no one has any meaning outside of membership in the collective. The collective goes by different names politically: communism, Socialism, Nazism, fascism.
Pressure to conform: Conforming has to do with peer pressure. The emergence of social media has made this even more powerful. There’s tremendous peer pressure that comes in on Facebook or Twitter. If you don't go along with the group, you’ll be rejected.
Relationship with the future: Your only real guaranteed way of actually becoming an individual lies in your relationship to the future. It's a picture that you have of yourself some time down the road that's actionable.