Original 2021 statement: Some of the most respected democracies in the world will go full-fascist, leading to really challenging political realities
What Jim has written about this
From “Daily Inspiration: Global Geopolitics - “Real leaders aren’t afraid of sharing truth bombs”” (February 2025)
Like it or not, various sports figures and leaders are suddenly in the new and challenging position of having to take a stance. This is leading to new and challenging situations - sports has found itself caught up not only in the culture wars but playing a role in global politics. This reality needs to be carefully managed - because anyone can now find themselves in a moment in which their reality unravels in an instant. That being the case, a very good friend of mine sees this disruptive reality as an opportunity, now getting more involved in the world of sports crisis communication management. I see a wonderfully bright future for him - he works in the field of PR - because there is going to be an acceleration of communication issues to deal with involving rapidly emerging sports crises!
Contrast that to the situation of Wayne Gretzky, once Canada’s favorite hockey player and a national icon, deeply respected and admired. For. years, you could not mention his name without a touch of reverence - he seemed to be next only to Terry Fox as a leading Canadian icon.
Without going to all his actions - both recently and in the years leading up to this moment - he has done little to offer support for his home and native land. The result is that it seems that he is now a persona non grata in the nation. Heck, even in Alberta, which tends to skew to the right of the political spectrum, he is a character that is now most unwelcome.
From “Decoding Tomorrow: Daily Inspiration - “Inattention is a betrayal of the future. Be aware, or be history!”” (October 2025)
Ignoring change : When leaders feel the urge to ” crush ” a new, disruptive idea (like the political example), it’s usually because that new idea threatens the established way of doing things. Truly effective leaders must overcome this defensive posture and ask, ” What fundamental truth is this challenging trend trying to reveal to us?”
Read the full pieces on jimcarroll.com:
Daily Inspiration: Global Geopolitics - “Real leaders aren’t afraid of sharing truth bombs”
Decoding Tomorrow: Daily Inspiration - “Inattention is a betrayal of the future. Be aware, or be history!”