Never before in modern history has Bermuda faced economic and social challenges such as it does now. There is probably no Bermudian who has not been affected by this crisis. Many are frightened by all that they see, hear and experience firsthand. However, we have the power to change our current situation and the worst thing we can do now is to succumb to fear and reluctance to change.Bermuda needs to take this time of crisis and use it as an opportunity to completely overhaul our society for the needs of the 21st century. We need to dig deep into our national psyche and decide who we want to be as a people in a world that is increasingly competitive and global. The economic crisis and political awakenings across the globe are forcing countries and their people to decide who they want to be and what they stand for. Bermuda is no different. As the world eventually cycles out of this turmoil, those that have used this time to learn what is no longer working and adapt will move forward, while those that are stuck in the past will remain mired as the rest pass them by.How do we position ourselves in order to take advantage of any of these opportunities? We need to do what we know and what is innately embedded in our society. We have always been a service economy. First it was Tourism and now International Business. Bermuda’s service and friendliness were legendary. We need to a return to those values.We need to make people feel welcome and special. We need to take care of the requests of the customer and make them feel comfortable and valued. Some associate service with servitude. This is the wrong attitude. Service means creating a great experience for one’s customer so that they will continue to come back for that same service. Everyone needs to remember that whether you are a dry wall hanger, risk assessment manager, customs officer, landscaper, receptionist or banker we are all part of the service economy that drives Bermuda’s ability to thrive and prosper.The question now is how do we get there?First, we need to get rid of the racial mentality in Bermuda. Yes, it seems idealistic, and some might say it is impossible to achieve given the past. However, should we let the past drown us or should we struggle toward the surface even if seems unreachable? We need to reconcile ourselves to being one people working toward our very survival. This will require determination, compassion and understanding from all sides.Second, today’s students will be the engines that drive tomorrow’s service economy. Not only do we need to provide them with the education and the skills necessary to be employable, but also starting as early as the primary level we need to foster positive, creative and flexible mindsets that will keep them employed and add to society as a whole.Third, we need to provide more services for existing businesses and create new services to attract new business. Again we need to be creative and flexible in assessing those needs. Extending the City limits, redevelopment of the Hamilton waterfront to include a casino, the relaxation of the 60/40 rule, the easing of work permit regulations, granting of long term residency and a limited number of Bermudian status, would all go a long way in terms of incentivising stakeholders into committing the private investment needed to build our way out of this economic chaos as well as building the foundation for a more stable future.We, Bermudians, have always been a highly adaptable and resilient people. There is no reason that we cannot come together as one people determined to implement the flexibility, the creativity and the high level of service required to position ourselves for the demands of a 21st century economy.