I have been taking some moments today to absorb the comments that have reached me – via e-mail as well as here on my blog – in response to the interview I posted last week with Daniel Pink. What themes are emerging?

Almost without exception, your comments suggest a yearning for change. One reader suggested that it’s time for an approach which is about having ‘enough’ rather than always wanting more. A number of readers point to the opportunity to find ways of moving forward which honour the needs of the many rather than affording excess to the few. Your comments that it’s time to cut back this excess as well as Daniel’s invitation to go back to first principles raise a question for me: how can we meet our needs in ways which restore and preserve the exquisite balance of the planet?

No wonder then, that you view this time of change as a time of opportunity, even whilst wondering whether the opportunity will be taken. Perhaps this is why one reader, responding to the question “Many commentators view the current situation with gloom and despondency. How do you view it?” responded “With optimism, tinged with gloom and despondency”.

One question emerged from your postings which I did not expect to ask: who do we look to for leadership at this time? One correspondent sees the role of our political, corporate and other leaders as “To continue to bluff whilst the situation sorts itself out”. It seems that some of us look to those in leadership positions to take responsibility (even whilst lacking faith in the outcomes of such an approach) whilst others amongst you prefer to do what you can to live your life in integrity with the values you want your leaders to promote.

Reading your comments has evoked memories of Buckminster Fuller, twentieth century inventor and commentator. It’s interesting to me that he asserted, as early as the 1970s, that we were living for the first time in an age in which we have everything we need for all our needs to be met. His prediction was that it would take at least 30 years for us to recognise and act on this fact. It was also Buckminster Fuller who commented widely on the role of integrity. I leave the last word on leadership with him: “We are at the point where the integrity of the individual counts and not what the political leadership or the religious leadership says to do”.

In closing, I extend my warm thanks to Daniel for sharing his thoughts and to all those who have shared their comments by e-mail and on this blog. Please continue to share your thoughts – it seems this thread is one worth keeping alive.