Vision is a driving force behind innovation
For many people, change and innovation are not complex and profound concepts, but when we continue to delve deeper, we may find that this can be an almost unfathomable concept, and Greenspan’s life is a very vivid example.
Author: GUDORDI | 2024-02-16
The Russian novelist Ayn Rand is closely related to Greenspan’s thoughts. (Shutterstock)
A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.
──Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., 1809-1894
The elder Holmes was a doctor by profession, but it was his poems that made him famous for posterity. His son later became the most famous justice and jurist in the history of the United States. Probably, a tradition has been passed down in his family’s blood. With his extraordinary humanistic touch and understanding, the above aphorisms are worth pondering. If we combine this sentence with Greenspan’s deeds and Rowan’s songs, perhaps we will have another level of understanding of the meaning of “change” and “innovation”.
For many people, transformation and innovation are not complicated and profound concepts. If a company’s products are unsaleable, it will have to develop and produce other products. This is a basic level of understanding. But as we continue to delve deeper, we may find that this can be an almost unfathomable concept, and Greenspan’s life is a very vivid example, which also highlights one of the characteristics and vitality of American society-ordinary people There are also opportunities to enter the core of power and become extremely rich.
How much influence did Ayn Rand have on Greenspan?
Just looking at Greenspan’s civilian background, it is difficult to imagine that he will become the chairman of the Federal Reserve, which is said to have more power than the President of the United States. It is said that he was a saxophone player in his youth and planned to pursue music as a lifelong career. But after discovering that there were peers with insurmountable talents, I gave up the idea and switched to studying economics. The two seem to be completely unrelated, and the reasons behind the “career change” are also quite different. It can be seen that he has very high requirements for himself. He does not choose a career based on making a living, but hopes to maximize his talents and reach a level that no one can match.
When he was young, he was attracted by the ideas of the controversial Russian-American novelist Ayn Rand, and even became her “inner circle”, attending weekend gatherings at Rand’s home from time to time. , let’s discuss Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism (Objectivism). It is said that Rand gave Greenspan a nickname – “the undercover” because he often wore black and was quite taciturn.
In the author’s opinion, Rand’s philosophical thoughts may help provide a deeper understanding of Greenspan’s deeds. A major feature of Rand’s thought is his advocating individualism, believing that the pursuit of personal achievement or the realization of personal talents is not only fair and just but also a noble moral sentiment. Rand advocated free economics and opposed any form or excuse of government interference in personal freedom and monopolization of the money supply.
Game-changing levels of transformation and innovation
When we read Greenspan’s 1966 article “Gold and Economic Freedom” carefully, we may find that it reveals his enthusiasm for opposing government interference in people’s freedom. This article was later included in Rand and related works. I believe this reflects The influence of Rand’s ideas on him. Some people believe that Greenspan betrayed the beliefs of his youth when he became chairman of the Federal Reserve.
However, Greenspan disagrees with this. The author tends to think that there may not be any contradiction between the two. On the contrary, the relationship is subtle. The key point is that from different perspectives and heights, he noticed things that ordinary people cannot notice. He approaches things from a holistic and long-term perspective. More importantly, Greenspan’s case was the impetus for game-changing transformation and innovation.
As pointed out at the beginning of this article, do not underestimate the importance and impact of changing perspectives. Although they may seem deceptively simple in retrospect, they often require the support of a lifetime of experience before they can be implemented. This may also be something that Hong Kong people should think deeply about.
Contact the author: Gudordi@proton.me
