The Figure It Out Phase
As much as I like to plan ahead, I also have to accept the fact that what's ahead is as unknown as how many stars are there in the night sky.
Unlike the number of stars in the night sky, I don't think there are that many unknowns with what's ahead, partly because the past has a way of limiting what could happen in the future.
Think of it like sowing what you reap, you can't plant a mango in the past and reap oranges in the future.
But there's still a broad spectrum of possibilities that can unfold, even within that limitation.
Straight Curves
In our quest to navigate the future, we fall into this trap of linear thinking. We extrapolate our current experiences in a straight line, assuming that progress and change will occur at a steady, predictable pace.
This is where companies like Kodak faltered. Despite inventing the digital camera, they couldn't foresee how quickly digital photography would improve and become mainstream, leading to their eventual bankruptcy.
The reality is we're living in an exponential age, technological advancements and societal shifts are accelerating at a very fast rate. What once took decades now happens in years, or even months.
Consider how we planned our careers a few decades ago. The path seemed clear cut, first education, then entry-level job, hopefully steady promotions along the way, and eventually retirement.
Now, we're facing future prospects where entire industries can be disrupted overnight, skills in demand are constantly evolving, and the concept of a "job for life" is a thing of the past.
Take the rise of data science. A decade ago, "data scientist" wasn't a common job title. Today, it's one of the most in-demand roles across industries.
Exponential thinking doesn't come naturally to us. Our brains are wired for linear progression, making it challenging to grasp the full implications of exponential growth.
Uncertainty And Friends
For me, I view it more as a necessity to develop a new mindset – one that's agile, adaptive, and comfortable with uncertainty. Hence, the figure it out phase, which is more like a state of mind to navigate this transition from old paradigms of predictability and stability to new realities of constant flux and innovation.
I'll still plan ahead, because the problem with not planning is failure comes as a total surprise.
But I'll also leave more than enough room for uncertainty and friends to make appearances, because life has a way of introducing unexpected elements that can lead to opportunities and growth.
In this new paradigm, success is less about perfectly executing a predetermined plan and more about being able to pivot and adapt, much like Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn.
He started in academia, then worked at Apple and Fujitsu, before founding his first company SocialNet. When that didn't work out as planned, he joined PayPal, and then founded LinkedIn.
If we live in a world where change is the only constant, then those who can figure it out on the fly will be the ones who thrive.
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