"Great leaders don't wait out the storm. They go dancing in the rain!" - Futurist Jim Carroll
Imagine a child, maybe seven or eight, standing in the middle of a summer downpour. Everyone else is running for shelter. But this child? Arms out, spinning, laughing—feet splashing in puddles like it’s the greatest adventure in the world. No fear. No hesitation. Just joy in motion, despite the chaos around them.
Dancing in the rain.
That’s the image I want you to hold onto. That’s leadership in uncertainty. That’s resilience in action. I want you to see an executive, seeing all the negative news headlines about uncertainty, volatility, and a potential downturn, and instead of seeing negativity, seeing opportunity.
At some moment in time, while writing this series, I had the idea of someone 'dancing in the rain' while the dark storm clouds of the economy surrounded them. That caused me to realize that the core theme of what is now becoming a book, Dancing in the Rain, has never been about predicting the storm. It’s about how you show up inside it. It’s about how bold leaders create movement - forward, focused, and fearless - when the world stalls in place because while others brace for impact, bold leaders brace for acceleration.
In this series that started back on April 7, I've had 24 posts of stories, strategies, tools, and ideas. At every turn, you’ve been challenged to shift your thinking—from fear to action, from retreat to reinvention, from hesitation to momentum. Any time there is economic uncertainty or volatility, a mindset of inaction settles in. But my message has been considered with numerous lessons along the way:
- Mindset is the foundation for resilience. Essentially, my guidance is to opt out of the recession—not as denial, but as defiance. You learned that success starts with the decision to refuse pessimism and lean into possibility. Defiance is powerful!
- Opportunity never disappears. Even when the future is uncertain and cloudy, you need to see opportunity. That's why one of my most recent posts asked the question: "Where’s the growth?" The answer was everywhere! In global trends, in overlooked edges, in emerging science. You always need to remember to be able to see opportunity where others see only risk.
- Speed matters! From my posts on “Momentum” to “Speed Wins,” I've tried to outline why how fast action isn’t reckless—it’s necessary. Never forget this core lesson: leaders who move first shape the recovery.
- Your culture creates your resilience. The internal dynamics you establish in your organization - whether it's shared vision, collaboration, or shared purpose—are the real safety nets in uncertain times.
- Future-ready leadership is critical. You won't be resilient if you don't know where tomorrow will take you. Trend awareness, decision velocity, and idea flow aren’t soft skills. They’re survival strategies.
- Stop seeking clarity when there is none! In every post, my core message has been you don’t wait for clarity.You create it.
So what do you do with my series? Hopefully, you will remember it and find it useful as we continue to go into a period of wild volatility!
And how about I wrap it up with a 7-Part Leadership Action Plan, to help you turn this inspiration into action? Do these things:
- Opt out of fear. Refuse to let external volatility define internal momentum.
- Tune your radar. Scan for emerging trends. Look to the edges. Study the quiet revolutions.
- Accelerate decisively. Don’t just move, move with intent. Bold, fast decisions win in downturns.
- Invest in culture and capability. Grow your team, not just your tech. Build human agility alongside strategy.
- Rewire for innovation. Build mechanisms that turn the trend signals you see into solutions. Innovation is not a department—it’s a muscle.
- Lead with foresight, Not Hindsight. Use long-term thinking as a compass. Don’t let short-term turbulence shake your direction.
- Dare to dance. Act when others pause. Build when others cut. Show up in the storm and move forward anyway.
What will you do with what you now know?
Will you pause or move forward? Will you wait or act? Will you try to survive, or decide to thrive?
You don’t need perfect clarity as to what comes next. You just need a bold first step.
So take it!
And when the clouds gather, and the wind howls and the path ahead is unclear?
Step into the storm!
Open your arms!
And dance!
Because that’s what the future demands.
And that’s what bold leaders do.
Some wait for the storm to pass, but the bold learn to dance in it.
Futurist Jim Carroll will be going back to his regular series of Daily Inspiration posts tomorrow.