The world we know is built on transactions. Everything is a matter of give-and-take. We exchange what we have for things we want and need of similar value. Economically speaking, it works. We have learned to assign value to everything, and then conduct transactions based on those values. Living by making transactions works as long as you exist in a closed system. You maintain the value of everything. The goal is to keep what you have intact. As long as you are getting what you need for the value you have agreed upon, you’re happy with things and the model works.

But what happens if you aren’t getting what you need? Or if you can see what you need but you can’t afford the value assigned to it? It prohibits you from getting the job done. You either go without, try to renegotiate the assigned values of things, or go outside the system to get what you need.

This is where we are now in education. The values have already started changing but we are still operating on a transactional model. Deep discussions are taking place about the values we have assigned to educating our children. Those of us who like the status quo want to enforce the existing values. Those of us who see values already changing in society want to renegotiate. And those of us who are unwilling to wait have gone outside the system to educate our children. It seems like gridlock. But it will eventually loosen up and things will play themselves out.  

Sure we can measure everything and tabulate our gains and losses by a bottom line; people have made their fortunes doing this. But in a transactional world, everything has a finite value. We are locked into whatever resources are at our disposal. In the Information Age, there are resources and opportunities that can create new and limitless value. To capitalize on this we need to break out of our transactional thinking and be willing to give up give-and-take for new ways of thinking and learning and working and living. It’s the difference between settle-settle and win-win. You have to be willing to break the bonds of the existence you know to be able to transform things.

In short, the transactional model has to give way to new action. Trasformaction: thinking and strategies that allow us to create new values. Where do we start?

• Shed off the expectation of give-and-take. Business-as-usual is a roadblock to innovation.

• Think and talk about new values. Imagine the existence you want to attain.

• Change our personal values. Be willing to give up your assumptions and take risks.

• Trust in the power of transformation. Move forward in faith that new values will provide new opportunities.

This is the crux of where we are today. Once we see and let go of transactional expectations, we can help transform the world…for ourselves and our children.

Mirror site: http://surfaquarium.blogspot.com/

Walter’s blog archive: http://surfaquarium.com/blog.htm