Everything changes. The meme for 2013 is growth, a whopper of a shift from the economic and human tragedies of the past few years. We want to be focused on growth in the GDP, opportunities to enjoy our children, respect we are given in the workplace, and our feeling of being at peace with ourselves and the world. In short, we demand a tragedy-free zone, without references to hurricane Sandy, Sandy Hook, Connecticut massacre, housing foreclosures, credit card debt, and jobless lawyers, architects, and Millennials.
That means that we in the communications sector have to create convincing Happy Talk. Here we Baby Boomers have the advantage. We recall growing up in post-World War II when America wanted to distance itself from that horror and create a kind of social uptopia, with the possibility of a booming economy. On the relatively new media of television were programs like "Lassie," about the unique bonds between a boy and his dog, "Father Knows Best" focused on males who weren't consumed by work and children who felt safe," and "I Love Lucy" based on the ability of a minority to get a piece of the American Dream.
It will be a challenge to reinvent ourselves for optimism. At first, we might giggle that we are capable of putting forth a world view which is the antithesis of what we have been feeling since 9/11. Then, we will become as self-assured as were the communications leaders who were in charge until John F. Kennedy passed the torch to a new generation. That means we have about 15 years to thrive amidst the meme of growth.
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