Final answer:
Daniel Pink advocates for the development of diverse cognitive abilities, such as creativity, empathy, and synthesis, in addition to a growth mindset and practical intelligence, to stay competitive in a knowledge-focused global economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Daniel Pink, author of "A Whole New Mind," Americans need to develop a diverse set of thinking skills to become "untouchable." These include creativity, empathy, and the ability to synthesize information. Pink suggests that in order to succeed in the modern economy, focused on knowledge work, critical thinking and a growth mindset are crucial. This means Americans should cultivate traits such as humility, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. Moreover, individuals should aim to enhance practical intelligence, reflect on their thought processes to understand biases and limitations, and value quality education to remain competitive globally. Ultimately, Pink's vision involves less reliance on technology for simple tasks and more on cognitive abilities, like learning and retaining important facts and concepts, as well as distinguishing between intuitive and deliberate thinking, characterized by psychologist Daniel Kahneman as "thinking fast" and "thinking slow."