What outsiders see and love about America

Adil, a friend from Pakistan, migrated to Austria due to his desire for organization and security. Mudassir, his close friend from the same period, shared this same sentiment. Their friendship spanned over a decade, during which they co-owned an industrial plant. Despite living in different countries, their shared values of efficiency and reliability never wavered.

Ken, a Chinese friend, moved to the United States due to his passion for technical fabrics. Ken's peers in New York, while immersed in the American culture, retained the American spirit within them. He didn't need to express his views on the United States, as it was evident in his actions and mindset.

The American idea, deeply rooted in its people, is based on a strong Northern European tradition of rules, discipline, and impersonal systems. This tradition has shaped the rule of law, contractual predictability, scientific management, and mass production. The Germanic institutional tradition, known for its precision and reliability, often outperforms other traditions in terms of speed and efficiency.

However, the world is becoming more complex, and a perspective mindset is now becoming more valuable. This perspective mindset is characterized by the ability to see beyond the planned route, to appreciate the unexpected and the non-conforming. This way of thinking, though difficult to understand for those from the Germanic tradition, is essential for success in the modern world.

The United States, in its current state, has moved more investment towards software, R&D, information technology, and finance. Its model still delivers greater ROI, and it has been successful in exporting its culture, technology, universities, entrepreneurship, and the concept of the self-made person. The next export from America should be the operating system behind its success, making it accessible to the world.