In the absence of clarity, choose ambition"In the absence of clarity, choose ambition" - 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 will go out on multiple mailing lists, social media networks, and to the Website https://2025inspiration.jimcarroll.com
Here's what I know about 2025 - it's going to be volatile, disruptive, and transformative. What I don't know could fill volumes.
And that's exactly the point.
I've spent decades advising global organizations and Fortune 500 companies on navigating uncertainty. The single biggest barrier to success I've witnessed isn't technological disruption or market volatility – it's the paralysis that comes from waiting for clarity that will never arrive. You know the phrase I use - 'aggressive indecision' is often the biggest problem that people and organizations face.
Let me be blunt: In 2025, clarity is not an option — indecision is going to be everywhere — and that attitude is going to be all around you.
There's no doubt that there will be a lot of opportunity wth innovation and fast moving trends. Go back to point #2 in this series - 'Follow the science'. 2025 will be all about opportunity - and yet, a lot of people will be frozen into inaction.
You'll have to figure out how to deal with this every single day.
I'm already seeing this with my own business - the number of clients who are in various states of indecisive decision making around events in 2025 is simply staggering. At one moment, they seem like they are moving forward, and then, someone else on the team seems to pull them back. I've had a few exploratory conference calls where someone has actually said, "we want to see what happens in 2025 before we figure out what we are going to do." Seriously. How can you navigate a complex world with a mindset like that!
This is where my mantra becomes your lifeline: "In the absence of clarity, choose ambition."
In other words, don't wait to know what's going to happen before moving forward - just make sure you move forward. In my case, I'm spending time on a lot of side projects, including working towards getting my latest book towards the finish line, undertaking some critical research that I need to do, and doubling down on the exploration of key knowledge and skills tools.
In other words, I'm moving forward.
We’ve seen organizations move forward in the absence of clarity throughout history. Think about it. Amazon didn't wait for clarity about online shopping behaviour before revolutionizing retail. SpaceX didn't wait for certainty about reusable rockets before transforming space exploration. Netflix didn't wait for perfect clarity about streaming technology before dismantling the traditional TV and movie distribution model.Moderna didn't wait for traditional vaccine development timelines before pioneering mRNA technology. Uber didn't wait for regulatory clarity before reimagining urban transportation.
All of these situations - and many more - teach us that ambitious action in the face of uncertainty leads to transformative results.
Here's what choosing ambition looks like in practice: When you can't predict the outcome, double down on the scale of your goals. When you can't see the entire staircase, take the first step anyway – just make it a bold one. When the future is foggy, let your ambition be your North Star. As we barrel toward 2025, remember this: The biggest risk isn't making the wrong decision – it's making no decision at all.
"Wait and see" is the new recipe for obsolescence. Your competitors aren't waiting for clarity. Your customers aren't waiting for clarity. The future isn't waiting for clarity.
So here's your challenge for 2025: Embrace the fog of uncertainty and let your ambitious goals you through it. Keep your long term goal in mind even when you can barely see five months ahead. Launch that revolutionary product even when the market signals are mixed. Transform your organization even when the end state isn't crystal clear.
Because in the end, clarity doesn't create success – ambition does.
The future belongs to those who choose ambition in the absence of clarity.
Will you be one of them?
Futurist Jim Carroll makes decisions, daily.