“When rapid change happens you have to anticipate more.” – Joey Havens, CPA
Wise words and so true, but easier said than done if you haven’t practiced the skill of anticipation.
In a recent Digital CPA Webcast, we discussed the importance of developing the competency of anticipation. Not the feeling, we learn that at a very young age, but the action of preparing for the future; we have to filter through all the data and changes happening daily to get to the future facts. Future facts are what Daniel Burrus, futurist, calls hard trends; we know these things will happen, such as increased bandwidth, further automation, faster processing, etc. Instead of getting bogged down with soft trends, which Burrus describes as assumptions, we need to zero in on the hard trends that will impact our future.
Questions Burrus encourages you to consider:
- Are you considering relevancy?
- Are you thinking big enough?
- Are you sharing information or actually communicating? (There is a difference.)
- If it can be done it will be done, but if you don’t do it who will?
- What if you could tell your clients what will happen? (How much value will that bring?)
As you start anticipating the future and ask yourself these questions, be aware of your mindset. Are you aiming to keep up or leap ahead? Daniel Burrus points out with the powerful skill of anticipation you have the ability to jump head and take the lead.
What future facts do you see?
