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Who will be the leader of the free world in 30 years? Straightforward answer: Whoever has the biggest GDP.
Let’s look at the math. The world’s GDP is currently more than $60 trillion. Over the next 30 years, that number is expected to grow to a whopping $200 trillion. And China is supposed to grow at a faster rate than the U.S. over these next three decades. So, whoever gets the most of the $140 trillion wins. It’s really that simple. And while America currently leads the global GDP race, China is the prohibitive favorite for these next 30 years.
Most Americans believe China is already the world’s leading economic power, even though the U.S. is still far and away the GDP leader, with $15 trillion of the global GDP, or 25% of the current economic market share.
But, is it inevitable that China will surpass the U.S.? Not necessarily. If America’s incoming players for the next three decades, especially the kids currently in middle school and high school, are better prepared for business and entrepreneurship and are truly ready to compete, then they can surprise the world and the U.S. will re-win it.
Gallup and Operation Hope are scientifically measuring the entrepreneurial spirit of America’s students in partnership with the Gallup Hope Index. It might just be the most important U.S. poll ever. It discovered that 45% of students surveyed between fifth and 12th grade plan to start their own business and 42% believe they will “invent something that changes the world.” This means that there’s a huge amount of entrepreneurial and innovative energy currently in the nation’s schools to re-win the world.
But here’s the deadliest part: Only 5% of these kids are interning with local businesses or organizations. The U.S. is failing to develop the energy that could solve the biggest problems the country has: A declining percentage of global GDP and a lack of good jobs. If the country were to raise that internship number to 25%, everything would change. Mentoring and internships work and change students’ outlooks and life strategies. They would become more productive employees and eventually create more customers, businesses, and jobs.
There are 100 million real jobs and workers in the United States. If the U.S. were to simply assign the 30 million best Americans of this group to mentor and advise these kids, get them all in meaningful internships at an early age, let me tell you: That would not only change America for the next 30 years -- it would change the world.
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3 comments:
I agree, mentors are essential to a students success! However, "assigning" mentors, I beg to differ this is the best answer. Mentorships should be something people want to do, not forced to do.
Two years ago, StudentMentor.org was formed to assist college students. This nonprofit provides mentors, and recently partnered with The White House in an effort to assist college students in completing their academic goals.
Internships are another matter, guidelines regarding internships were put into place to help prevent abuses. Most college students and grads don't want an unpaid internship, they have student loans to pay off.
Internships and mentorships beginning prior to college, in high school, would better prepare our workforce. This will enable students to declare a college major--a confusing and often times stressful decision.
Businesses, especially large corporations, in the U.S. must shoulder more of the burden of preparing a workforce. Some are involved in community colleges, others welcome their employees becoming active mentors. That's a good beginning. Now, they must offer a large number of scholarships to college students with hefty dollar amounts--this ensures an educated workforce for the future.
Wow Jim, you couldn't have said it any better. The said part is I still don't think they get it. So let's show them
It is so sad how at such a young age kids will have all the ambition, hope and vision in the world and because they were not handed the right tools, given the right role models, supported adequately, they end up giving up, not discovering themsleves or their talents. How many dreams have we thrown out the window with the great potential that goes with them? Let's put an end to the generational divide and get these future entrepreuneurs on the right track!
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