"Don't be intimidated by the size of your dreams" - Futurist Jim Carroll
Futurist Jim Carroll is writing a series, “25 Things I’ve Learned That Will Carry Me Into 2025.” He is putting this together based on his 30-year career as a futurist, trends, and innovation expert, advising leaders of some of the world’s most prestigious organizations on how to align to a faster future. He intends for the series to provide valuable guidance to others eager to learn how to move through a year that promises to be volatile, unpredictable, and full of uncertainty. Each day, the post goes out on multiple mailing lists, social media networks, and to the Website https://2025inspiration.jimcarroll.com
(Publishing note: Most people are checking out for the next week. However, I'm posting #21 on Monday, Dec 23, Friday, Dec 27, and the final 3 in this series the following week into January 1!)
Don't think small. And at the same time, don't be intimidated by the possibilities of thinking big. That too should be your goal in 2025!
Throughout my career as a futurist, I've consistently observed one critical factor that separates those who shape the future from those who merely inhabit it: the size of their dreams. They don't live day by day thinking about the small, marginal things they might accomplish - they are focused on the bigger opportunities they might chase. They don't view tomorrow as a time full of a few small opportunities here and there- they the future as something full of massive, wonderful potential opportunities. They don't restrict their thinking to small goals and small plans, but rather, always seem to ask themselves - what big ideas am I not yet thinking about?
Like many, I believe that we live in a time of transformative opportunity, and those who are willing to chase them are those who will thrive. What do you need to be in this mindset? A few things:
- recognize that thinking big is essential. Let me be clear about something I've witnessed repeatedly: no one has ever changed the world by thinking small. In all my work with global organizations, I've seen how limiting your thinking directly limits your opportunities. The size of your success is directly proportional to the size of your dreams.
- always use your wildest imagination! Your vision of tomorrow should begin with what I call your "wildest imagination zone." What I've learned is that those seemingly impossible ideas often become reality faster than anyone expects. Remember: every major innovation started in someone's wild imagination before it became our everyday reality.
- think 'bigger!'. In my keynotes, I often talk about "moonshot thinking" – the art of pursuing audacious goals that seem impossibly out of reach. You'll never get to the future by thinking small. I challenge my audiences to be bigger in their ideas, actions, and imagination than they believe possible. What's your moonshot?
- be prepared to challenge your limitations. Throughout my career, I've consistently urged individuals and organizations to reject artificial limitations. Never accept that creativity has boundaries, that innovation is impossible, or that the status quo is good enough. The only real limit to your opportunity is the limitation in your inspiration.
- use the power of your imagination. What I've learned as a futurist is that imagination isn't just a nice-to-have skill – it's your window into future opportunities. It's like a muscle that grows stronger with regular use. Embrace it, nurture it, and watch how it transforms your view of what's possible.
- accept that you'll have to work harder. Achieving big goals isn't for the faint of heart. It demands hard work, unwavering commitment, raw courage, and intense focus. But I've observed that those who pursue big goals are constantly challenging themselves to be more audacious.
- know that being around small-minded people will bring you down. Here's a harsh truth: small-minded people are dream killers. They'll try to drag you down, discourage your ambitions, and keep you anchored to the past. If you're surrounded by small-minded thinking, you'll never achieve big ideas.
- above all, rethink future opportunities. The most successful visionaries I've encountered spend their time thinking about their world in ways others haven't considered. I often tell my clients: that your ability to perceive opportunity defines your opportunity. A narrow view creates narrow results.
Here's what I've learned about the future: it's not just about having ambitious goals – it's about expanding your vision of what's possible. That's why I keep going back to my mantra - my "Think Big, Start Small, Scale Fast" principle. If you think about it, it's a framework that acknowledges the audacity of big dreams while providing a practical path to achieving them.
The future belongs to those who dare to dream beyond their current reality. Your dreams should make you uncomfortable – if they don't, they're probably not big enough. After all, in a world of unprecedented change and opportunity, the biggest risk isn't dreaming too big – it's dreaming too small!
That should always be in the back of your mind through 2025.
Futurist Jim Carroll’s book, “Think Big, Start Small, Scale Fast” shares stories of what he has seen organizations do when it comes to thinking boldly about tomorrow.