How to lay the foundations for creating the future you desire

Peter Drucker’s quote, “The best way to predict your future is to create it,” emphasizes the importance of taking action and being proactive in shaping our own future. Instead of waiting for things to happen or relying on external circumstances, Drucker believed that individuals and organizations should take responsibility for their own success and actively work towards achieving their goals.

There are several case studies that illustrate the importance of creating your own future:

1. Apple Inc.: Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, was a visionary who created a future that didn’t exist before. He introduced innovative products such as the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, which revolutionized the technology industry. He created a future that was different from what anyone else had imagined, and his vision shaped the future of technology.

2. Amazon: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, created a future for his company by predicting the shift from physical retail to e-commerce. He invested in building a robust online platform and focused on providing excellent customer service. Today, Amazon is one of the largest retailers in the world, and Bezos’ foresight has been instrumental in its success.

3. Ford Motor Company: Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, created a future for the automobile industry by revolutionizing the way cars were manufactured. He introduced the assembly line, which allowed for the mass production of cars at a lower cost. This innovation paved the way for the automobile industry to grow and evolve.

Here are a few lessons we can learn from these case studies.

1. Have a vision: To create your future, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. This vision should be innovative and different from what already exists. Solid product development is a function of great vision. You need to envision a world where people use better products.

2. Be proactive: Take responsibility for your own success and be proactive in working towards your goals. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you, create them yourself. One key distinction we have from animals is the ability to use our human endowments of self-awareness, imagination, conscience and independent will to choose our dreams instead of our realities.

3. Innovate: To create a new future, you need to be willing to innovate and take risks. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with different approaches.

4. Focus on customer needs: To succeed in the long run, you need to focus on meeting the needs of your customers. By providing excellent customer service and meeting their needs, you can create a loyal customer base that will support your success.

Any future is available for anyone who is willing and ready to create it. In business, you can pivot or head for any future you desire by taking time out to visualise, plan and take action about it. By having a clear vision, being innovative, and focusing on customer needs, you can create a future that is different and better than what exists today.

Kind Regards,

Adeolu Akinyemi.