THE OVERVIEW SOCIETY
The most valuable companies in the world do 4 things
innovate groundbreaking products
make them cool
commercialize them successfully
and improve the human condition
The probleM is
these 4 things and the people who implement them can be like oil and water
Our mission and expertise
is fusing creativity with capital, storytelling with technology, and building a world where these elements not only coexist but are brought to their full potential, to address humanity’s greatest challenges.
Our platform aims to change Mindset, develop Skillset and provide Access.
How do we change the mindset of investors?
How do we get investors to see and quantify the value of brand, design, story, culture, and how do those skills amplify and accelerate the return of investment?
How can a venture ecosystem achieve outsized market returns while at a net positive to people and the planet?
How do we change the mindset of businesses to think in terms of human values e.g. purpose inspired systems, community, and use creative inspiration and storytelling to change the world?
How do we help startup founders and tech companies with the creative skills to translate complex solutions into products and brands we can’t imagine living without, because they’ve magnified human culture?
And how do we create access for everyone to thrive?
Companies that are multicultural, multidisciplinary, creative, capitalized and innovating have a unique vantage point.
Let’s discuss.
The SURVIVOR’S GUIDE TO EARTH manifesto, written by Matthew Cooke
We start at Home
We live on the bottom of an ocean floor. That ocean is made of oxygen. That ocean is shallow. It’s a short 60-mile trip from here to outer space.
Our home is a thin little onion skin wrapped around a tiny orb floating in an infinite mystery. And our delicate little habitat is getting rather warm.
There are some good ideas how to reverse that. And they involve economics.
We USE Economics
Economics is a science. Not a religion.
The origin of the word meant household management.
Its purpose is to find the best way to share our most useful ideas and resources for the good of all humanity.
When we use material things for human benefit we thrive. When our humanity is used for material benefit, we suffer.
To apply our best economics practices we need good politics.
WHEN WE TALK “Politics” WE MEAN HUMAN CIVILIZATION
In 2024, the word “politics” implies factions wrestling for power, covered in the media like sports and gossip.
Aristotle introduced the word "politics" to describe the affairs of cities.
The purpose of politics is to provide an organizational structure that makes the best use of our human resources and provides for our needs.
Our organizations structures (our politics) determine our effectiveness at problem solving. From households to nations. And that requires good communication.
we rely on Communications
The purpose of communications platforms are to report and share important information, connecting people at the local, regional, national and global levels.
Accurate information is required for rational decision-making and accountability.
For the mass media to be useful, humanity must be its highest value. And our humanity is best understood through our culture.
We create human Culture
The arts are our earthly pathway to the fundamental essence of what it means to be a human being.
The arts are a magic portal allowing us to step into each other’s shoes and feel our oneness.
Our collective myths are our tools for living.
But culture is not only the arts, storytelling, and entertainment.
It’s also science, cooking, gardening, mathematics, medicine, city planning, any inspiration that ennobles life on earth and enables us to be more conscious and connected through our talents.
We all share the same needs. Food, shelter, security, health, belonging, love and a life of purpose.
That’s why the foundation of our culture should never bow to an idol of money. Money is here to serve our humanity. Not the reverse. Which brings us to the last item of interest.
Our purpose is Goodness
Due to misunderstandings of the first 5 items we’ve just discussed, the word “God” reeks of snake oil for about 25% of Americans. And the word “spirituality” can smack of self-help programs that put selling above giving. So, for the purposes of this discussion let’s use the word “goodness.”
Goodness is using our passions as our fuel but not letting them drive the car. It’s letting higher purpose set our course.
Goodness reminds us the highest good is not our selves. If we take credit, we’re led to hubris — legendary for ruining all good endeavors.
Goodness means we focus on our own faults. As long as there is war in our selves there will be war in the world.
Goodness means we are aware of our mortality, that by the grace in this unfathomable universe we are chosen in each moment to continuously spark into existence by a fire we cannot see.
Let us remain in a state of wonder, humility and reverence. Anything else is quite unreasonable. We are here for a short time. We are guests. It’s pretty clear what the point is: to take care of each other and our home. Which brings us back to 1: Home.
Note from Matthew:
When Ryan introduced me to his venture studio concept and asked if it could be structured around the 6 steps of the Survivors Guide to Earth as its manifesto, I was moved and inspired.
When he brought up his appreciation of “the overview effect” I suggested the name “The Overview Society” to reflect the 300K foot view of the 6 areas of human life we need for a thriving world in service to the Greater Good.
Honored to be a founding member and as OVS continues to grow, may it always remember the original intention.