It is what it is. We are where we are. This moment in 2025 feels like a bad dream to many, and the assault on the global economy was a tipping point for many worldwide. With that in mind, I'm devoting the next few weeks of my Daily Inspiration to addressing a key question: How do we lead through uncertainty. How do we lead ourselves - what's our mindset? How do we lead others - how can we help? How do we lead our organizations - how do we keep moving forward? I spent a lot of time on this theme during and after the downturns of 2001, 2008 and again during 2020. There is a lot to revisit, and a lot to think about. The theme is 'resilience,' and we can all learn more about.
We’re living through an era where it feels like the very idea of progress is under siege.
Science is questioned. Facts are ignored. Bold ideas are met with backlash. Funding is cut. In parts of the world—especially in the U.S.—there’s a growing, dangerous desire to rewind the clock. It’s an effort to return to some imaginary "better time," rather than confronting the future with the courage and creativity it demands.
And yet—despite it all—the future hasn’t stopped moving forward.
You can delay progress. You can defund it. You can deny it. You can hammer it with ill-advised or even idiotic decisions.But you can’t delete it.
Never forget that fact, and act accordingly.
Don't give in. Don't give up. Don't give way.
The long arc of innovation always bends forward. History is clear on this: the future always finds a way. Whether it’s AI revolutionizing how we work, precision medicine reshaping healthcare, or microgrids powering cities like Nairobi —the ideas are still unfolding. Just not always where you expect.
It’s tempting, especially now, to be disillusioned. To believe the cynics are winning. To think progress is on pause. It's easy to let fear strike us every day, stunning us into frozen disbelief.
But don’t confuse noise for momentum. The future doesn’t follow headlines. It follows courage, capital, and conviction. And all three are still alive and well—albeit a bit battered and bruised. But they are still there.
As a futurist, I’ve always said the future belongs to those who are fast. But today, I’d add this: it also belongs to those who refuse to flinch.
If some people want to step back from the future—that’s their choice.
You? Step forward. The future is still yours— ours— to build.
So how do we build this future in the face of resistance? What do we do at this very moment, as global equities give their negative verdict on where we are?
It begins with mindset. Embrace resilience—don't flinch when faced with setbacks but adapt quickly. Keep your focus on long-term progress while taking decisive action today. Ground yourself in your core purpose, even during uncertain times. And throughout it all, maintain unwavering optimism that acknowledges challenges while recognizing our capacity to overcome them.
The future has always belonged to those who refuse to look backward. Now it's your turn to lead it forward.
Progress endures despite volatility.
Tomorrow belongs to the believers.
Hang in there.
Futurist Jim Carroll gets up every morning, checking the headlines, seeking the answer to the same question. You know what it is.