I have a rule in regard to business, which I call my Vision Rule:

“The fortunes of a business will expand or contract to fit the vision of its leader.”

So a business can grow through the competent stewardship of a leader with a big vision.

A business can also shrink through the competent stewardship of a leader with a small vision.

Incidentally, this last point is often what happens with a leader who plays only to the return objectives of shareholders, which are inevitably small in vision.

I think now that the same must hold true of nations, populations and our species generally:

“The fortunes of a nation/people will expand or contract to fit the vision of its leader.”

Something future-oriented to think about.