Power

The 1950s? Not again! If we have to resign ourselves to another period of Eisenhower dull, man-in-the-gray-flannel-suit bland, how long will it last? Quick, I ask Wilkinson, how will we know when it's safe for the creatives to launch their next counterattack? "Keep an eye on Washington to catch the early signs," he advises. "Politicians are not proactive; they don't follow technology. But they do tend to follow demand." The worst news from Wilkinson? There are no signs of change yet.

So what's Wilkinson's advice to the underground? "In two years, the landscape will be completely different," he says. "People will be bored by the lack of innovation. Boredom will replace fear. You just have to wait it out."

In the meantime, keep practicing with your light saber.

Harriet Rubin (hrubin@fastcompany.com), a Fast Company senior writer, has written two books on power. Find her columns on the Web (www.fastcompany.com/ keyword/rubin).