Yesterday, as I watched our local Independence Day parade and delighted in the colorful fireworks, I thought about some of the attributes that have helped shape our nation. Before and after we became the United States of America, we were blessed with remarkable men and women of vision, fierce determination and persistence. Long before there was Steve Jobs, there was Benjamin Franklin, Eli Whitney, Henry Ford, George Eastman and Thomas Edison. They are some of the innovative men that influenced lifestyles, created great fortunes and shaped our economy.

America, still an extraordinary nation, has seen its fair share of challenges. In the meantime, the world has grown flat and we need to up our game to stay competitive. This all starts with a mindset – a mindset that values innovation and creativity. A mindset that wants to cultivate, educate, adapt and do whatever needs to be done, to make it happen. It’s going to take vision, fierce determination, persistence and a spirit of innovation.

We can do it. It’s who we are. It’s our inheritance.

It’s what The United States of America was and is built on.

Bette Fetter Founder and CEO of Young Rembrandts and Author of Being Visual [email protected] Follow Bette on Twitter