In 2026 we need COURAGE to solve PROBLEMS

Problems are discussed constantly, and in politics some even use them to stoke fear.

- Henry J. Schumacher [e-mail]

What I am missing, however, is real action. I understand that solutions are not easy to find given the complexity. I also understand that the sheer number of issues can be paralyzing. But fear and problem analysis do not lead to improvement. While we are still debating the status quo, other economies are growing stronger, other companies more successful.

What we really need are people who do not lose their bearings amid permanent chaos, but instead point the way forward. Leaders who are capable of learning from past decisions, reflecting on themselves, and who are willing to think anew—leaders who not only solve today’s problems, but also keep the future and the next generations in mind. We need leaders who motivate others.

If a company or a society is to change, it needs this impulse—so that many people set themselves in motion because they believe in the idea. Progress can only be achieved together and with positive energy. And believe me, employees often know best where the obstacles in a company lie; they know what improvement potential exists and want to contribute. Citizens, too, recognize where the state and municipalities function well—and where they do not.