Sometimes it’s nice to step away from our busy work lives and spend a few minutes looking at our country and our place in the world. During Monday’s general session at NBTA in Houston, we had the chance to do just that – step back for a few minutes and listen to former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice speak about the American dream.

As she spoke about the tremendous opportunities that each of us has based on a foundation of freedom, a few things specifically resonated with us:

• Personal contact matters. There’s no substitute for bringing people together from around the world.
• We become very concerned with the daily challenges we face. The hardest thing is to stay focused on what is important. “Today’s headlines and history’s judgment are rarely the same,” Rice said.
• The private sector will lead the economic recovery. The U.S. has challenges ahead, but the private sector needs to refocus on creativity and ingenuity to get us out of the recession.
• China will not surpass the U.S. as the #1 economic powerhouse because of their leadership. Rice believes that the U.S. has creativity and innovation, which China suppresses.
• In America, it doesn’t matter where you came from – it matters where you are going. Regardless of religion, race, etc., we are all Americans and it’s led to the best and the brightest. It’s made us extraordinary.
• Lack of education for our kids could be the worst national security problem we have. With out education, we lose the ability to put people to work.
• Cynical people can’t lead – it’s better to be naïve than cynical.

What do you think about what Condoleezza Rice spoke about? What struck a cord with you? Do you disagree with anything?