Searching the term “reboot” through a variety of Web services generally gives you the most common definition of turning off the computer or operating system and turning it back on. To reboot your system. We have all learned to do that when all else fails especially when there is a problem we cannot identify or fix. For reasons that none of us can understand, if we turn off the computer when we turn it back on nine times out of ten everything is fine.

In a previous post I referred to Tom Friedman’s use this term in his recent NYTimes opinion piece. Others have picked up on it and a mini discussion on the need for America to reboot has begun. Recently Marian Salzman, a friend and colleague, wrote about and was on CNN discussing the need to reboot.  While I have great respect for Marian and think she is one of the brightest at identifying trends I question her on this one. Is this really what we need to do? Have things gotten to the point where we have no idea what is wrong and we hope that if we turn it all off and then turn it back on all will be fixed. I do not think so. While we may not have common agreement on what is wrong I am hopeful that we could get agreement that more things are right than wrong. Even if that were not true what is it that we are going to turn off in hopes of getting what right?

An alternative to reboot is reinvention. By reinventing something we take what is working and make it better. Reinventing something is needed when the current product, service or behavior is out of sync with the people or situation it is trying to serve or get along with. For example a digital camera is nothing more than a reinvention of the camera that uses film. An MP3 player is a reinvention of the disc player which is a reinvention of the tape player; I think you get my point. In each case a better or more convenient solution has been found that meets evolving consumer needs. If one accepts this definition, there is much that we need to reinvent.

We need to reinvent how we deal with other countries and people so they will work with us not against us. We need to reinvent what and how much we buy so we can maintain a good quality of life and secure the planet for future generations. We need to reinvent how we govern and spend our tax monies so they are not wasted and the purpose for government can succeed. We need to reinvent how business leaders take risk and assume responsibility for their behavior. We need to reinvent how we get along with each other replacing nastiness for civility.

Most of all we need to reinvent what the agenda should be going forward. Leadership institutions whether they are businesses, universities, charitable organizations or governments succeed by having a clear agenda or purpose. A clear agenda leads to a common culture and a mutual desire for success. General Motors is in a heap of trouble because they chose not to reinvent. Apple is one of America’s most admired corporations because it understands and executes on a continual basis the concept of reinvention. A clear and executable agenda for the next decade will allow Americans to reinvent themselves into a stronger and more prosperous society.