"Every good moment of uncertainty demands the certainty of action!" - Futurist Jim Carroll
You can pre-order Dancing in the Rain effective today!
I've got a final, print-ready manuscript in my hands, which needs a final read-through before we commit to it. I'm waiting for my cover guy to finish off the cover. After that, a few more buttons to hit, and we are good to go. There are a few logistical hurdles to get through, in that the team that works with me (aka family) has a few other commitments (aka day jobs) that take precedence. It will at least be by July - I am hoping for sooner.
What a wild voyage - I filmed a little clip about it here:
The actual date that I started the blog series was April 7, so it will turn out to be just a little more than 2 months from the time I conceived of the idea of the book to its release.
Think about where we were just two months ago. The insanity of the reality of a global trade war was setting in; markets were uncertain; and clarity was lacking. And if it isn't evident to you yet, all the signs are there that we are already in the midst of what will be a rather prolonged and significant economic retraction.
That's why I decided that what I needed to do was begin to summarize everything I had learned, observed, and researched about how companies and executives responded to previous periods of economic decline. In the previous decades, I had developed a LOT of insight into the criticality of innovation through a recession; of staying relentlessly focused on growth; and on finding opportunity while everyone else was retrenching. I had a significant amount of material on the strategies, mindsets, actions, and undertakings of those who were bold enough to not just focus on the challenges of today, but to double down on the opportunities of tomorrow.
So I began writing my blog series, starting with this post: "The long arc of the future always rewards the patient"
My opening comments?
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.
And so I began writing. And writing. And writing.
Somewhere along the way, I realized I had a book in there. I remember the night I was out for an after-dinner walk with my wife, and I carefully broached the fact that I was 'doing another one.' Keep in mind that she - as my business partner and editor - was still immersed in the process of getting my book Escaping Mediocrity out the door. This came after a fast project to get the other book, Embracing Mediocrity in print. All during this time, she was taking on the role of Treasurer and going back on the Board of a charity for special needs young adults that we are heavily involved with. She was none too thrilled but knows me all too well.
And so here we are. I practice what I preach. The core message of the book is that every crisis demands that we don't freeze but act. That we don't suddenly go into a state of indecision, but move forward decisively. While everyone else is focused on the current moment, we need to prepare for the next one.
That while others are doing what they can to avoid the storm, we need to go out into it with full determination, and dance.
I hope you will do a pre-order. We've worked tremendously hard to get to this point, and I am eager to get what I think is one of my best books (this one being #43 I think) into your hands!
Dance!
In the rain!
Order it now at dancing.jimcarroll.com.
Futurist Jim Carroll also has the manuscript for his book, Being Unique: Turning Curiosity, Creativity, and Courage into Your Competitive Edge on his desk. He's aiming to have that one in print by the fall.