We think, therefore we are.

Part Four of our series on the Action Saskatchewan Movement takes us to the key foundation design principle--our attitude on success.

We are all familiar with the story of the little train that ambitiously set off to climb a hill in a snow storm. The task was daunting, perhaps impossible,

Research conducted in 2005 by Action Saskatchewan indicated that a major stumbling block to growing Saskatchewan is that, unlike the little train, there are many of us who think "we can't" and others who simply don't want Saskatchewan to grow.

The research explored how we compare to our neighbours in Manitoba and Alberta. Results showed that Saskatchewan people had less optimism for our future in three out of three measurements: the opportunity for our personal advancement, optimism that Saskatchewan would grow in the future, and that our economy would increase in the future.

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And while Saskatchewan people stated that they have a positive view towards economic development, people who have left Saskatchewan rate the attitude of Saskatchewan people towards development much lower.

Interviews conducted throughout the province consistently uncovered a common theme--we want a high quality of life, but we only want a little growth. And that one of the reasons we believe Saskatchewan is a better place to live is our lack of traffic jams. Could fear of traffic jams--one of the signs of a dynamic, growing, and modern economy--be holding us back?

The power of thought and intention is more than just a story for our children. Henry Ford stated that: "If you think you can, or, if you think you can't, you're right."

Fred Polak, one of the fathers of futures studies, states in his award-winning book entitled The Image of the Future, in which he portrays the success and decline of past societies, that "the rise and fall of the image of the future (is) preceded or accompanied (by) the rise and fall of cultures." This is the Activation Effect of Positive Images. When a society's image is positive and flourishing, "the flower of the culture [is] in full bloom" and there are new advances in all areas of a society--commerce, science, art, architecture, music, politics, etc. When the image begins to decay and lose its vitality, the culture does "not survive long."

While we do not see our future as bright, we generally believe that we are unique and special and that we have huge untapped potential. If only someone would realize all the potential here.

Dale Eisler (False Expectations) calls this the Saskatchewan myth. He states that the myth holds that Saskatchewan is a land of unrealized potential. If we are to "make the myth our reality" we must "recognize the role that myth has played, and must continue to play, in the life of the province" and, at the same time, "differentiate it from reality" and "come to terms with what we can reasonably hope for ourselves and what we have."

Action Saskatchewan is about creating a dialogue on our future that focuses on identifying what we have and who we are, and then translating the myth of unrealized potential into concrete strategies that will shape the reality of Saskatchewan's second century. The first step is to understand the true potential of our province, and, like the little train, take on the hill of growth with an attitude of "I think we can," "I think we can," "I think we can."

Next time we will explore some of our attitudes that support building a prosperous Saskatchewan.

To learn more or join the movement, visit us online at www.actionsaskatchewan.com or call the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce at 306.352.2671.

Our view of the future

                          Alberta  Saskatchewan  Manitoba

Opportunity for personal   4.30        3.05        3.32
advancement

Optimistic re provincial   4.19        3.39        3.52
growth

Improved economic          4.20        3.19        3.52
activity

Note: Table made from bar graph.

by Dr. Arthur Whetstone and Patti Gera

Dr. Arthur Whetstone is the President of Whetstone Consulting and co-chair of Action Saskatchewan Patti Gera is a partner in verve2 events and a member of the Action Saskatchewan Committee.