I’ve recently completed a series of workshops on the Art of Future Thinking for a couple of clients, and there was one idea I shared that got significant pushback. In the workshop, I shared the story of competing in the… Read More »The challenges that are close were once far away
We are often told that the only certain things in life are death and taxes… but between offshore tax havens and tech bros working on longevity projects, even these two certainties can’t be relied on. This leaves a whole lot… Read More »Things are more uncertain than we think
Between extreme weather events, political upheaval, regional insecurity, financial instability and global conflicts, there is a general feeling that the world is a little uncertain right now. But is the current level of uncertainty we’re experiencing different from the uncertainties… Read More »Are things more uncertain or is it just me?
**Beware, click-bait ahead** Research shows organisations are spending 36% less time working on strategy in 2022 than they did in 2021. Now I cannot vouch for the validity of that statistic* even though I believe it represents a deeper truth… Read More »The Paradox of Planning in uncertainty
In manufacturing terms, ‘just-in-time‘ is an approach where you try and hold as little stock or spare inventory as possible. Ideally, you want a part to turn up ‘just-in-time’ for it to be added to the car as the car… Read More »From Just-in-time to Just-in-case
We all crave certainty, to have confidence and conviction in our view of the world and what’s coming at us down the pipeline. Certainty helps us make plans for the future, build skills and do work that is enduringly relevant…and… Read More »Overcoming the illusion of certainty
There is an increasingly polarising debate emerging in many workplaces as to the permanency of remote working. For many organisations, working remotely was not a strategic decision, it was just the only possible response to a global pandemic that shut… Read More »Where will we be working in 2025?
We’re going to do a quick exercise together. I want you to take a moment to close your eyes and try and imagine a future 10 years from now. [insert 30 second pause] How did you go? What did you… Read More »The future is unknowable, but we can still prepare for it
In 2004, I competed in a Sydney Hobart yacht race. The weather conditions that year were particularly bad and only about half the fleet made it to Hobart. Most of the yachts were skippered and crewed by sailors. Mostly amateurs,… Read More »Think more like a fisher and less like a sailor
Understanding the future is the ultimate competitive advantage. Defining strategies and making decisions become a whole lot easier if you already know where the future is taking us. Unfortunately, knowing the future is incredibly difficult…but that doesn’t seem to stop… Read More »How to predict the future (and almost always get it right)
If you’re considering engaging Simon please reach out to book a to chat. You can do this by filling out the form below, contacting Sarah at 1300 66 55 85 (within Australia), or emailing her at sa***@si*********.au . If it’s for a speaking engagement please provide the event date and any information that might be helpful.
