When it comes to investing, it is important to have a positive mindset, because human ingenuity will make the world a better place to live writes Jamie McIntyre.

There are two ways to view the world. Most view it through a scarcity model: that there are a finite number of things and the world is running out. At school we’re taught that economics is the study of scarce resources and these lessons resonate well beyond the classroom.

A case in point occurred in 1970 when the world believed we were running out of oil; that it was all over for western civilisation. Some people still believe that to this day and they’ll argue resources are scarce and finite.

However, resources are never the real wealth; real wealth occurs in human ingenuity. And that is limitless if we continue to encourage innovation among the ‘geeks’, boffins, entrepreneurs, innovators and critical thinkers. Constant creativity creates products and solutions that build companies worth investing in.

This means a positive cycle of wealth generation.

Let’s go back to oil as an example. Originally it was nothing more than black sludge discovered in the ground in Texas in the early 1900s.

Human ingenuity turned this useless sludge into a valuable commodity (which didn’t run out in the 1970s). Human ingenuity invented the carburettor that doubled fuel efficiency in cars virtually overnight.

Human ingenuity discovered larger reserves and enabled oil to be extracted from more places. Thanks to human ingenuity, the US may rise again because of its massive shale gas reserves, which has transformed it from a net importer of energy to becoming an exporter and solving most of its energy needs domestically, almost overnight.

Few saw that transformation coming and most still aren’t aware that the resources of shale are now a valuable energy asset.

China also has huge shale gas reserves that can meet its energy needs for 200 years if properly developed.

Once again human ingenuity will create the abundance.

There are further examples, particularly in developing nations. DataWind, a British company, has developed a $US35 tablet computer in collaboration with the Indian Government.

DIY-ers helped to power the automobile and aviation revolutions. Now they are at work everywhere. And they have developed a civilian drone for about $300. That’s about 1% of the cost of a military equivalent that might be used to ferry supplies to places that lack suitable roads.

The clever use of prizes

A combination of cash and significance inspires many DIY-ers.

A Sudanese born Telecom tycoon is offering a $5 million prize to any African leader who leaves office with clean hands.

Qualcomm, a US company, is offering $10 million for a mobile phone app that can diagnose patients better than doctors: sensors can be worn like a watch on a patient’s wrist to keep watch on vital organs.

Soon humans will be able to ‘check their dashboard’ to see when they need a ‘service’. Imagine the improved health care thanks to devices like these. Lab on a chip (LOC) is a small device with huge potential, running diagnostics tests on human DNA in minutes. All it needs is a drop of blood or some saliva and it can tell you whether you are sick or not, without any need to send your DNA to a laboratory.

Imagine the potential of this to bring better health care to poor countries and lower the ever increasing medical costs in wealthy countries.

Just think of the innovations of the smartphone: a collection of tools from voice recorders, to video cameras to GPS devices.

Is it time for doom and gloom?

Or is it time to see the abundance that exists and the power we all grasp in front of us to be innovators and social entrepreneurs driven to make the world a better place?

Thanks to the rise of the social entrepreneur and the innovator, many believe the world’s problems can be solved through shared technology gains and innovation.

They’re rooted in an abundance model in a time of massive change. Savvy investors have been following these innovators. Many innovative products are created by the geniuses adopted by public companies with a broad vision for the future; these are products that will make the world a better place and have global impact.

It is therefore in your best interests to have a look at what is being created, who the geniuses are behind the products, who the companies are that are funding these geniuses and when these products will have maximum impact.

No matter whether you are looking at investments in technology, resources or manufacturing, if you think abundantly, abundance will come.

Jamie McIntyre is the founder of the 21st Century Group of companies and CEO of 21st Century Education. He is also bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, investor, sought after success coach, internationally renowned speaker and world-leading educator. www.jamiemcintyre.com

Jamie McIntyre is the founder of the 21st Century Group of companies and CEO of 21st Century Education. He is also bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, investor, sought after success coach, internationally renowned speaker and world-leading educator. http://www.jamiemcintyre.com

Author Bio: Jamie McIntyre is the founder of the 21st Century Group of companies and CEO of 21st Century Education. He is also bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, investor, sought after success coach, internationally renowned speaker and world-leading educator. www.jamiemcintyre.com

Category: Education
Keywords: abundance, Articles, human ingenuinty, Investment, Jamie, McIntyre, oil scarcity, scarcity