Inventing the Future

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.”

- Alan Kay

Who would have guessed on Dec 31st, 2007 that we would have experienced all that we've witnessed in 2008? And on that note, who knows what's coming in 2009?

I read the above quote in a Harvard Business Review interview with Vinod Khosla, cofounder of Sun Microsystems and currently a venture capitalist who invests in early-stage technology companies. Khosla was making the point that, regardless of what economists predict about the future, new technologies can completely disrupt predictions because they can change the assumptions that those predictions are based on. Economists base their judgments on what has happened in the past, whereas inventors base their judgments on what could happen in the future.

Over the last couple of weeks, we've been exploring our "goods" and "others" from 2008. We've learned a lot from them, and now it's time to turn our attention to what we want to see next year. I was just talking this morning with a new friend who has struggled to set goals in the past. She felt compelled to define goals, yet she did not know what she wanted to achieve. I, too, have felt compelled to define goals, partly because I think I'm supposed to do it and partly because I really want to improve the quality of my life. However, as soon as I utter the words, the dark cloud of past unachieved goals casts a shadow on my lofty hopes. "Yeah, right," says my inner gremlin. "You don't want to let yourself down again, do you?" she asks.

This year, I'm looking at goals a little differently. I believe that they cause a great expansion in our lives because they force us to be clear about what we want. And as we achieve goals, they expand our belief about what is possible. Looking back on 2008, I'm proud of my accomplishments, I've learned some good lessons, and I'm ready for more expansion!

Here are a few questions to help you invent the best possible future in 2009:

1) What would delight you? Choose something that you believe is possible for you--something that you can vividly imagine happening in your life. Perhaps you'd like a better work environment, more joyful relationships, or a healthier body. I use the word "delight" because the thing you choose must be a strong "want," not just another "should."

2) What general steps might you take to make that delightful experience a reality? Brainstorm a few of the big ones like "sharpen my resume," "take a family vacation," or "exercise five times a week."

3) What is holding you back from taking those steps right now? Perhaps your priorities are a little skewed, or you hold a belief or perspective that creates an impenetrable barrier. There may be an old habit that can be replaced with a new, more beneficial one. Or maybe you've been returning to a comfort zone that doesn't serve you.

4) What actions will you take? If you're a planner, you might create long-term plans for the actions you'll take. If not, I encourage you to simply take the next step within a week, and then schedule a periodic review of your answers to questions 1 through 3 above--each time, making another commitment to moving forward.

Choosing goals and then exploring the underlying obstacles and motivations can be a challenge. If you'd like to explore how a coach can help you with this process, I'd be happy to talk with you about it--just send me an e-mail or give me a call.

According to the media and those "doom and gloom" people in your life, the future looks a little bleak. But if you look through a different set of lenses, you'll remember that there are always those who thrive in hard times, and there are those who wither in the best of times. I hope that you'll invent a future that shows you thriving and enjoying life to its fullest...Happy New Year!