"Some people are so caught up in the blindness of their ideology that they have lost their ability to see" - Futurist Jim Carroll
(Note: I've started two new websites in the last few days, all while pounding out hundreds of meters downhill at my ski club. The first, at volatility.jimcarroll.com, is a response to my belief that a global downturn is now inevitable. The second? It's a little more fun - it's at now.jimcarroll.com - and is simply a little Website about some things I'm doing ... now!)
The future belongs to those who see it coming.
But another side of this coin is that the future never belongs to those who refuse to see it coming.
When I say "Some people are so caught up in the blindness of their ideology that they have lost their ability to see," I'm speaking of a fundamental truth about innovation in our accelerating world. (You thought I was talking about something else. I am! The delusional insanity is real!)
There are a lot of people who refuse to see the reality of the future that is coming. They don't realize the errors of their ways (or the imperviousness of the cult of which they are a member) until it is far too late. It's a sad fact that in my 30+ years advising global organizations on future trends, I've witnessed a recurring pattern: those who cling to outdated thinking consistently miss the massive disruption happening right in front of them!
Here's the brutal reality: Your rigidity is your biggest innovation killer.
Think about it:
- When visionaries in your organization predict future trends, do you dismiss them with "that will never happen"? You're missing the boat with a closed mind!
- Are phrases like "we've always done it this way" echoing through your hallways? These are innovation killers! Check it out -> innovationkillers.jimcarroll.com
- Has complacency become your comfort zone? In today's era of hyperchange, that's a death sentence for your organization!
What I see time and again is people waiting for clarity that might never come - waiting for perfect information in an imperfect world. Meanwhile, your competitors are shifting fast and stealing your future!
The most dangerous mindset? Focusing only on threats rather than opportunities. True innovators don't fear the future - they rush to embrace it!
The path forward requires a radical mind shift:
- abandon short-term thinking and embrace longer transformational horizons
- stop ignoring obvious trends that are causing massive upheaval
- break free from past success patterns that blind you to future opportunities
- challenge EVERY assumption about where your industry is headed
- create a culture where inaction is the only unacceptable option
And please, banish the myth that innovation is only for "special people"! In today's world, everyone must be an innovator.
The future belongs to those who see it coming!
Oh, and on that other thing?
Let's just hope those people get some clarity before it's too late!
Futurist Jim Carroll coined this phrase while carefully responding to an inflammatory comment that he saw.