Photo by frankblacknoir

The future is not as far away as it used to be, because “…change is happening at such an accelerated pace!” Think of that said with a slight whining tone. Yep, spoken like a true baby boomer. It seems that we just get used to handling our technology, and then the newest thing arrives on the scene and we need it. Or, our insurance carriers change again at work—watch out—a whole new system to learn. How about this: we are now more in control of our retirement programs because with recent changes we can manage those accounts personally online! It’s not only that change is happening more frequently  as we move into the 21^st century, but the changes are revealing a pressing need to be more hyper involved in all the details of our lives. And those are just the realms of change for our personal lives! This accelerated pace of change is at every layer of our global society.

Yes, the future is not as far away as it used to be, and I believe that strategic foresight is the key to navigating the way there. Using strategic foresight, you can stand in your preferred future now…and plan to meet it with confidence. Forget the days when there were layers of incremental time, processes that were slow steps with time between them, and people that stood between an idea and its implementation. Now, an idea that was once thought to be for “the future” can be almost instant. Take the example of incorporating a business. What used to take weeks through an attorney can now be done online in minutes—by you.

Frank Spencer, lead consultant for KedgeForward, www.kedgeforward.com, says:

Strategic Foresight has been defined as the meta-discipline of the 21st Century, because the domains of society, culture, technology, economics, politics, ecology, environmental sustainability, and idea creation are constantly changing and affecting one another, needing expert examination and evaluation in order to propose and navigate the possible, probable, and preferable futures.

WellSpirit Consulting Group’s tag line is …engaging organizations around the world to get well, stay well, and create positive futures. Teaching others the skills necessary to effectively use strategic foresight to prepare for their futures is our passion. The future is not as far away as it used to be, and it’s getting closer. Be ready.