“Our world has benefitted from the contributions of many authors and visionaries, grassroots activists and social entrepreneurs, modern scientists and wise indigenous elders…. ancient and modern intelligence and creativity. And yet, the single-hero journey of brilliant ones can only carry us so far.”

I wonder how we get past the “single-hero journey” in certain endeavors. Ms. Coyly is suggesting we need far greater involvement and movement than the lone hero’s revelations can provide. I completely agree.

If we personify the modern-day hero, we can find the Steve Jobs of the world who can create massive social change through the magnetism of products and software. But if we are wanting to mine the deeper realms of awareness and consciousness, we generally find this to be a world traveled only by the occasional loners. Loners, at best, leave only the narrowest of footpaths behind as evidence of their journey. But as groups begin to travel, large super highways emerge to carry them. We are missing those wide freeways.

I agree with the need to adapt more quickly, accomplished in part by gaining faster traction because the larger group rapidly sees and embraces the changes that respond to the pressing, imminent need. But to solve the deeper, most significant problems, we need to find ways to attract more people down the hero’s solitary path. As it is, those paths are largely ignored.

Are you aware of any efforts to address this?