Huffington Post logo As published today in the Huffington Post, by John Hope Bryant

We must choose to prosper as a society, not just as individuals.

As unlikely as it sounds, the best way to get ahead is to figure out what you have to give to a world seemingly obsessed with only one question: "what do I get?"

In my new book, Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World I've identified the current environment as wracked by fear, and fear as "the ultimate prosperity killer." As an alternative, I share the lessons and practices of love-based leaders, including my own experiences, in Love Leadership: The New Way To Lead in a Fear-Based World (Jossey-Bass, Sept 2009).

Love Leadership recognizes that you want to do well in life, but it also suggests that the best way to do well and to achieve true wealth over the long term is to do good, and you'll never be wrong doing right. For example: Bill Gates is off to his second big idea, with his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Doing well by doing good.

But right now we look around and it is apparent that our great nation, and its leaders, have simply "lost our story line" and, about 20 years ago, started focusing on the me instead of the we. It isn't a matter of "love vs hate," that takes too much energy. It is a matter of indifference that we can correct. Take, for example, Steve Bartlett, CEO of FINANCIAL SERVICES ROUNDTABLE. Steve does not simply reject every piece of legislation and regulation that impacts banks. He actually reflects on whether it is good for America, consumers, and yes, his banks too, and tries to find the happy medium; the balanced response. He also makes sure the a big part of FSR's commitment is giving back and reinvesting in communities that his banks serve. It is simply smart business.

Continue reading the full story at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-hope-bryant/the-crisis-in-america-tod_b_293692.html.

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