jimcarroll

jimcarroll, 20 hours ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "The only enemy of success is a mindset that accepts settling for less than you're capable of!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

I never thought I'd have the career I have, but once I realized I could have it, I went after it, hard. I wasn't prepared to accept for less. It worked - I've got a pretty wonderful career. Mindset matters.

Any' considerable goal needs a mindset of potential success, not a mindset of defeat. An attitude of potential triumph instead of one that involves the certainty of a lost effort. A goal of crossing the finish line instead of giving up halfway there. That's why we seek out motivation, chase inspiration, line ourselves up with encouragement, and juice ourselves with enthusiasm. Mindset matters.

We relish the stories of those locked in the process of developing the big idea, the people who invent what does not yet exist, and those who conceive the inconceivable. We view their efforts as the fuel for our efforts, fertilizer for our imagination, and energy for our initiative. Mindset matters.

We hunt down the ideas that are rooted in optimism, the concepts that are built on the foundation of a noble goal, and the attitude that provides for an architecture of goal achievement. We know that every great future requires a reliable infrastructure of enthusiasm, and seek to learn from studying its timbers of hope. Mindset matters.

We root out the seeds of negativity, the unsettling waves of potential defeat, and the groundswell of pessimism that clouds our thoughts. We choose to focus on the potential upside, not the buzzkill of the downside. We choose our positivity wisely. Mindset matters.

Because we know that in many cases, the only thing that can defeat us is ourselves.

Because mindset matters.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-personal-goals-the-only-enemy-of-success-is-a-mindset-that-accepts-settling-for-less-than-youre-capable-of/

jimcarroll, 1 day ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "You can't keep using old methods to deal with new realities" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Are you driving with a stick shift in the era of video game controllers? If so, ask yourself this question - how many of your actions are based on ideas and assumptions that are outdated and obsolete?

Things from our past often bear little relevance in tomorrow's world. I well remember the day I was driving my Jeep - equipped with a standard stick shift - and my 3-year-old son asked why I was driving with a video game controller. That singular moment helped to get across to me the fact that change is permanent, reality is transient, and disruption is imminent.

That moment in time and recognition of the velocity of change has been reinforced as the control system of modern vehicles has morphed, shifted, and evolved into something unrecognizable.

Consider the typical Formula 1 controller - and compare it to the stick shift of yesterday. Things change much?

Are you driving with a stick shift in the era of video game controllers?

Maybe it's a good time to re-examine your habitual ways of thinking and acting, which may be rooted in outdated ideas or assumptions. Think about some of the traps we can fall into. Assuming job security into tomorrow based on skills that are going out of date, and a requirement that we must continuously update our skills. Clinging to traditional marketing channels while consumer habits shift online and to mobile. Keeping in place a leadership structure of well-defined organizational hierarchies when faster companies embrace flat structures and fast teams. Measuring productivity solely by hours worked rather than output and results. Dragging out decisions and actions when decisiveness and speed are critical.

These are the traps of complacency.

Use the modern tools that surround you - and shift your future faster!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-change-management-you-cant-keep-using-old-methods-to-deal-with-new-realities/

jimcarroll, 2 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "The US consumer seems to have entered into a state of perpetual economic gloom. Some companies seem all too eager to follow them into the abyss" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Here we go again!

I seem to spend a lot of time talking companies off the ledge, and I might be doing this again next week in Fort Worth, Texas.
I will be speaking at an event with a room full of retailers - many of the largest in both locations and sales volume throughout the country. I've been asked to focus on a variety of future trends including consumer sentiment. And in that context, can't help but be cognizant of the headlines coming out after a report last week.

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55% believe the economy is shrinking, and 56% think the US is experiencing a recession, though the broadest measure of the economy, gross domestic product (GDP), has been growing.
49% believe the S&P 500 stock market index is down for the year, though the index went up about 24% in 2023 and is up more than 12% this year.
49% believe that unemployment is at a 50-year high, though the unemployment rate has been under 4%, a near 50-year low.
Majority of Americans wrongly believe US is in recession
The Guardian, May 22, 2024

Simply put - most people think things are pretty bad, when they are in reality, really good.

I won't bother going into the reason for this mindset - it's all quite obvious - but the fact is, based on such thinking, many US companies are already thinking once again of pulling in the reins on spending, innovation, and growth - which is exactly the wrong thing to do. After all, banks are warning them!

You will know, of course, that we've been here many times before.
Indeed, the headlines at the start of 2023 were that a recession was inevitable, and by the end of the year, switched to noting that it was the year that the forecasted recession never arrived.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-economic-outlook-the-us-consumer-seems-to-have-entered-into-a-state-of-perpetual-economic-gloom-some-companies-seem-all-too-eager-to-follow-them-into-the-abyss/

jimcarroll, 5 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "When your missteps are under a microscope, your mistakes are massively magnified!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

It's the video, stupid.

The LMPD has no case.

It knows this but is trying to save face by talking Scotty Scheffler down to a misdemeanor. His lawyer knows they have no case, but the police force doesn't seem to recognize that it's not 1995 anymore and that things have changed, because, well, video.

If you haven't seen the two videos about the events involving the #1 golfer in the world, you soon will. It's all over social media and the video - as well as the detailed history of reckless action by the the arresting officer - are being dissected and analyzed as if they were a modern-day Zapruder film.

Because they are.

Back in 2003, I gave an opening keynote to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. The audience of 500, all in uniform, was demographically predictable. Among many trends that I covered, one was the looming era of the proliferation of video recording devices. I suggested that they might want to be intimately familiar and involved with the implications of the trend. After all, I said, all their future public interactions might be caught on film. This fact might work for them, but it would also work against them - and they should be cognizant of this reality in light of the valuable work their institutions perform.

The folks in the room didn't take kindly to my message.

When you view the videos, you'll understand why the court of public opinion is incredulous that in the face of this video, they might still be prepared to proceed.

People wonder why, in this modern age, people distrust institutions.

It's not the 20th century anymore - the eyes of the world are always on everyone.

Some folks don't yet understand that.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-when-your-missteps-are-under-a-microscope-your-malicious-mistakes-are-massively-magnified/

jimcarroll, 6 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "There will always be someone with a better idea!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Never rest on your laurels. Never become complacent. Never presume that your idea is the best idea, the only idea, the greatest idea.
Because there is always another better one!

Indeed, there is always someone with a better idea, and if you don't accept that, you can slide into the dreaded sin of complacency, the error of ego, and the mistake of misbelief. Always keep in mind that at its core, innovation and creativity - the core of idea generation - are boundless, as the human mind is capable of generating an infinite number of ideas. There's always the potential for a better one!

Not only that, but different perspectives and life experiences shape how people view problems and solutions - and hence the ideas they might have. With over 7 billion people on the planet, it's statistically likely that someone will have a unique or superior idea. The numbers simply work against you. Not only that, but our connected world has led to massive growth in the opportunities for idea generation. I have long called the Internet and social networking the 'big global idea machine.' It has become a big library of ideas, serious and offbeat, that is always available for exploration and discovery. Call it 'idea mining.'

Science itself is an increasingly advanced idea generation machine - as science accelerates, so too does scientific discovery, and the opportunity for the discovery of new ideas. Add the fact that AI is constantly advancing and that some are learning to master its new knowledge-generation capabilities, and the fact is that it too will lead to a flood of new ideas.

The fact is, the world can never be too short of great ideas, so you should never become complacent in thinking that your great idea is the last great idea, the only great idea, or the best great idea!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-innovation-creativity-there-will-always-be-someone-with-a-better-idea/

jimcarroll, 7 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "A Gentle Reminder: One person's concept of success is another person's idea of failure" - Futurist Jim Carroll

A few days ago, I finished the book "After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul."

It was a good read, and so after I was done, I went to Amazon to find another book about Apple or Steve Jobs. The algorithm threw me a book titled "Tim Cook: The Genius Who Took Apple to the Next Level."
So let me get this straight: according to one book, Apple in the post-Steve Jobs era has been a failure, 'losing its soul,' while at the same time, Tim Cook is a business genius.

Got it.

This got me thinking though - how can a company or an individual at the same time be a failure and success?

In essence, one person's success is another person's failure.

In the case of Apple, both can be true. The book I read emphasized that while Tim Cook is a genius at maximizing the operations of Apple, becoming an efficient streamlined superpower, the company saw few great product innovations under his reign. Notably, only AirPods and the Apple Watch emerged as entirely new product lines, and so from that viewpoint, it was a product innovation failure. At the same time, he masterminded issues related to supply chain, production, manufacturing, and more, leading it to become an efficiency powerhouse. Failure and success wrapped up in one!

The fact is, this conundrum of different viewpoints is important to your personal development. That's why you should never obsess over how others might think you are doing - what matters is how YOU think you are doing. What doesn't matter is the judgment of others - what matters is your judgment of yourself.

The definitions of success and failure are often very different, and so this should guide you in the value you place on those assessments by anyone other than yourself!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-measuring-success-a-gentle-reminder-one-persons-concept-of-success-is-another-persons-idea-of-failure/

jimcarroll, 8 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Hesitation is the currency of cowards!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Here are 20 reasons why "hesitation is the currency of cowards":

• Hesitation allows fear to take hold and prevents courage from taking hold

• It reflects a lack of confidence and self-belief.

• Hesitating means missing the opportunities that require seizing the moment.

• Hesitation leads to paralysis and inaction, preventing progress.

• Hesitation is a form of procrastination, delaying what needs to be done.

• It shows an unwillingness to take calculated risks.

• Cowards hesitate because they lack the courage to face challenges head-on.

• Hesitation is cumulative, allowing doubts and insecurities to fester and grow

• Hesitation is a reflection of the lack of clarity, resulting in a fear of the unknown.

• Cowards hesitate because they are more concerned with potential negative outcomes than potential rewards.

• Hesitation allows for a lack of commitment and conviction, resulting in half-efforts and half-measures

• It can be a sign of indecisiveness and an inability to make tough choices.

• Cowards hesitate because they prioritize comfort over growth.

• Hesitation is destructive, leadingto missed deadlines, broken promises, and lost credibility.

• It's indicative of a lack of preparation or insufficient knowledge.

• Cowards hesitate because they are overly focused on potential obstacles rather than solutions.

• Hesitation can be habit forming; it becomes an ingrained character flaw that holds people back.

• Cowards hesitate because they lack the resilience to bounce back from setbacks.

• Hesitation stems from a fear of taking responsibility and being held accountable.

• Cowards hesitate because they lack the passion and drive to pursue their goals with urgency.

Don't hesitate.

Don't be a coward.

Do things NOW.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-leadership-indecision-hesitation-is-the-currency-of-cowards/

jimcarroll, 9 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration - "Waste time well" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Wasted time is productive time.

And yet, it is criticized. It is the common view that those who waste time are lazy, distracted, and not at all helpful.

And apparently, there is a lot of this unproductive time - according to one survey, 69% of employees admitted to wasting time at work daily. Another study found that people spend at least 2 1/2 hours a week at work doing things unrelated to actual work, such as spending time on social media. (I would have thought the number was higher.)

One reason is that people are distracted.

According to a study by Economist Impact, these distractions at work cost the U.S. economy around $468 billion annually - that's the time lost to all of these unproductive meetings, emails, and workplace chat messages, which collectively account for significant hours of lost productivity per knowledge worker each year​.

And when people are distracted, they lose their focus - and lose their ability to pursue 'creative time.'

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According to the survey, 60% of Argentine workers claim to have "struggled" to have enough time and energy to finish their work and are 2.9 times more likely to say that they "struggle" with innovation and strategic thinking (compared to 3.5 times of those surveyed globally). Similarly, almost 3 out of 4 Argentine leaders (71%) said they were concerned about the lack of innovation (versus 60% globally).

Innovation in distress: How to prevent burnout from killing ideas
15 July 2023, CE NoticiasFinancieras

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And yet, is all that time wasted? If someone is busy surfing the Web or discovering some great new ideas on social media, is it wasted time? Probably not - because innovation is hard, and innovation requires a lot of serendipitous creativity - it's always been the case that you need a lot of off-the-wall ideas to get a few good ones.

This means you should spend more time wasting time, not less.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-creativity-innovation-waste-time-well/

jimcarroll, 12 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "If you can't dream big, why bother dreaming at all?" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Out on the fringe of exploration are a lot of 'crazy' ideas - that is until they aren't so crazy anymore!

I was thinking of that when my daily research service delivered me this particular clip:

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Plans to harvest solar power in space using satellites to produce a potentially endless supply of clean energy have taken a big leap forward with Irish scientists making a key breakthrough on how to deploy the technology.
Irish scientists move closer to creating solar farms in space
Queen’s University team successfully deploys new technology on satellites
The Irish Times,
Thursday, 16 May 2024

Every day I receive quite a few messages like this - I've got a sophisticated research system that constantly scours global news sources, press releases, scientific journals, and other sources for nuggets of information related to trends in dozens of industries. I scan through this, often seeking the small bits of information that might light up my inquisitive mind. And this one certainly caught my attention!

And it is this precise type of thing that would cause small minds to think "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard."

But consider this - Robert Goddard, one of the two acknowledged pioneers of modern rocketry (the other was Russian) - was ridiculed for his ideas and research into launching devices into space. Steve Jobs and Apple were ridiculed when the first iPhone was brought to market. Reed Hastings, the founder of NetFlix faced skepticism with investors. And Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx, was told that his plans for a next-day courier delivery service were a ridiculous idea.

All of them dreamed big and chased their big dreams. As is this young Irish upstart.

One person's crazy idea is another person's dream.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-energy-space-if-you-cant-dream-big-why-bother-dreaming-at-all/

jimcarroll, 13 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Shift your mindset from 'surviving' to 'thriving'" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Have you ever noticed many people thrive on the word survive?

They've just got to survive the day. Survive the change they are immersed in. Survive the project. Survive the recent events. Survive the golf round.

Why survive when you could thrive?

Years ago, I compiled a list of what I saw within those of my clients who were truly forward-oriented, forward-thinking, and forward-focused.

One of the key attributes? They had successfully shifted from a mindset of 'surviving' to one of 'thriving.'The thing about a world in which 'the future belongs to those who are fast' is that leadership strategies that worked yesterday are exposed as being irrelevant tomorrow even while they are being actively considered today. That's why you must double down on being a forward-oriented organization.

What do these organizations do? What else was on the list beyond 'shifting from surviving to thriving?' Several things - they:

• anticipate change, rather than being surprised by the change

• are proactive, not reactive, in their actions

• have a willingness to embrace change, not recoil from change

• relishes and encourages fresh thinking

• has an innovation pipeline that can turn those ideas into actionable strategies faster

• partners with the experts, to expand its expertise

• hires staff for their ability to look forward, not back

• has a strategy that is focused more on where they should be going rather than where they've been in the past

• is prepared to make bold moves rather than take timid steps

• has an effective trends radar that identifies what comes next

• has an active strategy to align those trends to 'what should we do about it!'

What they decide to do is align to the future, rather than their past - and actively act upon that.

They thrive, they don't just survive.

Think about that!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-forward-thinking-organizations-shift-your-mindset-from-surviving-to-thriving/

jimcarroll, 14 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "One day soon, you'll need an AI to know how to use Al!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

It's been just over a year and a half since OpenAI announced ChatGPT, and since then, the AI floodgates have been opened. That company, along with Google and Microsoft, is locked in an artificial intelligence arms race, regularly offering up new features, new ways of integrating into existing product lines, and new fronts in the AI software wars. At the same time, Apple is expected next month to announce significant new AI capabilities within its line of iPhones, iPads, and computer devices, shaking up the market even more.

While all of this unfolds, tens of thousands of software companies have flooded the market with all kinds of new AI tools, so much so that there are thousands of different AI applications available on the market. The phrase used to be 'there's an app for that.' Now we can add to the mix that 'there's an AI for that!' Meanwhile, long-established software companies are busy integrating AI into their specific product lines. Using some sort of construction project management software? You'll find that it now likely includes some AI workflow management tools. Specific medical office software? Guess what - the developer has either introduced AI into the mix or is about to. Use a certain type of tool or equipment. Chances are some unique AI features are sneaking in.

The rush to AI is unlike anything seen in the computer industry before - and for many people, it can be all-so-overwhelming. Simply knowing what is out there, what it can do, and what it can be used for remains a massive challenge - and will become an even greater challenge in the years to come. Ask yourself this - how much of this stuff are you using on a day-to-day basis?

People can't keep up!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-knowledge-and-ai-one-day-soon-youll-need-an-ai-to-know-how-to-use-al/

jimcarroll, 15 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "When the future becomes a culture war, watch the trends. Not the noise" - Futurist Jim Carroll

It's a weird time to be a futurist - have you noticed that the future has become a culture war?

While you deal with the realities of science, technologies, trends, and tomorrow, large groups of people seek to inflame and chase their agenda by pursuing falsehoods. It seems that all of a sudden, electric cars have become doomed to fail; protein-based alternative foods have become some sort of evil thing with an anti-meat agenda; wind and solar energy have transitioned into an awful sort of tool designed to harm the carbon industry; and the concept of protecting the environment and our future has now become a culture war test of loyalty to the ancient ideas of yesterday.

While all of this unfolds in the US during a heated election season, China and other advanced economies are solidifying their stranglehold on the technologies and industries of tomorrow.

In that context, history has taught us that when a culture war ends, the winner is usually not the one taking the side that is anti-science and anti-future.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-leadership-trends-when-the-future-becomes-a-culture-war-watch-the-trends-not-the-noise/

jimcarroll, 16 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Disruptors value defiance over blind obedience!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Be like Chuck House.

In a world in which you are surrounded by yes-men, be the person who is willing to say no since sometimes following the lead is exactly the wrong thing to do.

Years ago, the book The Intrapreneurs, by Clifford Pinchoot III, defined The Intrapreneur’s Ten Commandments. Numbers 8, 9, and 10 are notable.

8. Come to work each day willing to be fired.
9. Be true to your goals, but be realistic about how to achieve them.
10. Honour and educate your sponsors.

What is an intrapreneur? A book review when the book was first released puts it in context:

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''These courageous souls form underground teams and networks that routinely bootleg company resources or 'steal' company time to work on their missions,'' Mr. Pinchot writes. ''They make new things happen while those trying to innovate by the official route are still waiting for permission to begin.''

What's New On the Corporate Bookshelf: Entrepreneurs in a Corporate Setting
14 April 1985, The New York Times

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In that context, Chuck House was true to those terms - and was featured in the book immediately after the Commandments.
He was a frustrated oscilloscope designer upset because people weren't listening to his ideas. In a formal review by both Bilkl Hewlett and David Packard, Chuck House's dream was shot down. David Packard's verdict was blunt. "When I come back next year, I don't want to see that project in the lab."

Instead of killing the project as ordered, House and his immediate boss decided to get it out of the lab - not by junking the prototype but by completing it within the year.
A Dangerous Guide to the Corridors of Power
Los Angeles Times, March 15, 1985

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-leadership-innovation-disruptors-value-defiance-over-blind-obedience/

jimcarroll, 19 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Approach every day like it's a par 3 (full of opportunity but with a bit of risk along the way!)" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Golf season is back.

In that context, my ball mark is a happy face. That tells you everything you need to know about me.

Most people choose to mark their ball with a series of lines, several dots, or some other sort of elaborate and customized marking. But since this is a blog about innovation, creativity, and optimism, years ago I chose this symbol as a means of always reminding myself that it is just a game, I shouldn't take myself too seriously, and that above all, I should just enjoy my time out there.

After all, golf is an incredibly hard game to master.

So why is par 3 the focus of today's inspiration? I was thinking about this yesterday as I approached our #17 hole at my home club, Cutten Fields - that's the one in the photo. The shot involves a bit of safety to the right if the pin is tucked back left. There's a water hazard - aka a pond - if you want to go for it.

Most par 3's involve a little bit of risk and reward like this. Every time I approach a par 3, I can't help but think of the fact that this is a perfect metaphor for what we face in our life every day., Executed well or with a bit of luck, and the potential of a life-numbing hole in one presents itself. With a bit of finesse, skill, and determination, you can pull off a birdie. Do things well, and you've got a par. Have a bad day? Bogey or higher.

And if it's a really bad day., you end up in the water.

In that context, a par 3 hole in golf is a metaphor for the volatility of life.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-optimism-opportunity-approach-every-day-like-its-a-par-3-full-of-opportunity-but-with-a-bit-of-risk-along-the-way/

jimcarroll, 20 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Successful companies get rid of all the bull excrement" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Let's be real about it. Successful companies get rid of all the bull shit.

Successful companies have learned a lot about the future - and the fact that it isn't as complicated to get there as they once thought it would be. In doing so, the old barriers that were in the way have been obliterated!

Decision-making paralysis? GONE

Committees and group thinking? GONE

Slow teams and organizational paralysis? GONE

Clunky, bureaucratic structures that get in the way of change? GONE

Studying issues to death? GONE

Management by focus group? GONE

Interminable meetings that droned on without an agenda? GONE

Wasting time on consensus? GONE

Reports and deep analysis? GONE

Overthinking? GONE

Micromanagement? GONE

A legacy mindset? GONE

Risk aversion? GONE

Siloed expertise? GONE

Bureaucratic red tape? GONE

Resistance to change? GONE

If you look at them, the fundamental fact is this - all the bullshit that holds them back is gone.

They move, act, decide, invest, rethink, and redo at speed.

So should you.

Get rid of the bullshit.

Pardon my language.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-innovation-leadership-successful-companies-got-rid-of-all-the-bull-excrement/

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jimcarroll, 21 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Don't judge your success by what you did before. Judge it by what you will do next!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

If your life is to be a play, always be prepared for a second act! Or perhaps, get into a mindset where you will always have even more complex performances with many different scenes and many different roles!

Have you seen the Schwarzenegger documentary on Netflix? It's an interesting journey - he became one of the biggest action movie stars after a first career as a bodybuilding icon. And then, for a third act, he transitioned into politics and served two terms as the Governor of California.

Or how about Julia Child? She had a career as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services during WWII. It wasn't until she was in her late 30s that she discovered her passion for French cuisine, and kicked off her second career as a TV chef, cookbook author, and culinary trailblazer.

These stories should inspire you to always consider reinvention and rethinking your future opportunities - if you are down in the dumps about your existing reality, always know that there is another reality that you could choose to invent and pursue!

At a personal level, it's never a good idea to rest on your laurels and rely on past success when the world around you is changing at such a furious pace. I will often point out that a young person today might find themselves in 5 to 7 different careers throughout their lifetime - and perhaps, 20 to 30 different jobs! How can you possibly endear yourself to your current reality when there are so many new potential realities that you might choose to chase?

Companies can chase a second act as well.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-reinvention-and-moving-forward-dont-judge-your-success-by-what-you-did-before-judge-it-by-what-you-will-do-next/

jimcarroll, 22 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "It's when you are at the bottom that you have the greatest chance to get to the top." - Futurist Jim Carroll

Rock bottom is real for many people and for many companies. A fortunate few can summon the courage and the strength to find their way out - using the desperation seen in their bottom to finally reach for the top. One of the most fascinating things that can happen when someone voyages from the worst of times to the potential for the best of times is that their mind sees a creativity explosion; the endorphins of joy in reinvention provide for a new form of creativity superpowers; their every moment is defined by thinking about what could be rather than obsessing about what was.

I thought of this fact when someone pointed out that it was just about 25 years ago yesterday that Steve Jobs unveiled the iMac. That was the computer that would go on to rescue Apple and turn it into an innovation pathway that would see it become the world's most valuable company.

And look what happened - a turnaround for the ages!

For Steve Jobs, it was a return from the rock bottom that was his firing years before from Apple.

Rock bottom? Don't ever let anyone tell you that when you're at your lowest point you can't get to your highest point. Never let anyone suggest that if things get really bad it will probably only get worse, not better. Refuse to listen to those who tell you that you should accept your fate and move on with things. Never accept the way things are - think about the way they could be.

Never stop chasing success and opportunity. Let your lows define your highs; let your bottom motivate you to aim for the top; never let your bad days define your potential for great ones; never allow negativity to redefine your optimism. The future is all about chasing the better days, not reliving the worst days.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-innovation-recovery-its-when-you-are-at-the-bottom-that-you-have-the-greatest-chance-to-get-to-the-top/

jimcarroll, 23 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Criticism is just wisdom as yet unwrapped!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Criticism. When it's sincere, it can matter.

Criticism is ... a gift. It's a gift of knowledge that, used the right way, allows you to gain insight and perspective on how to improve.

Criticism is ... a reward. It's one of the hardest things to take, but with the right mindset, one of the most valuable bits of insight you can be rewarded with - because it means that you are trying to do something new, put yourself out there, and explore your potential, rather than sitting back in complacency.

Criticism is... a mirror. It allows you to see things about yourself, your work, or your insight that you might not otherwise see. It's a unique filter that allows you to get past your thoughts on what you are doing, to the viewpoint of others. When it's valid, it's powerfully constructive.

Criticism is... inevitable. It's unavoidable. It's all a part of your process. No matter how good you might be, how much effort you put in, and how hard you work, you'll face criticism.

Criticism is... opinion. It's simply the viewpoint or judgment of someone else - and in many cases, it's not an objective truth or fact.

Criticism is... an opportunity for growth. It will help you identify weaknesses and areas that need further work.

Criticism is... often, just noise. Filter it out, and don't worry about it.

Criticism is ... just motivation in disguise!

I used to obsess over criticism ... of my stage presentations, my writing, or my thinking.

Then, I realized that some of it didn't matter (because it was just noise). Of the criticism that did matter, I worked hard to learn how to try and do something constructive with it. I've tried to turn it into an opportunity, not a barrier.

I still obsess over it, ponder it, think about it ... but always try to remind myself that it's an opportunity, not a threat.

Because criticism is .... a gift!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-criticism-is-just-wisdom-as-yet-unwrapped/

jimcarroll, 26 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Your attitude should get you everything!” - Futurist Jim Carroll

The business of recruitment is broken.

In the last many years, much of it has moved to a world of automated resume processing, analytical examination of talent and skills, and the dominance of cold, hard statistical analysis. Many companies simply demand a cover letter and a LinkedIn page. Quality candidates often never make their way through the assembly-line methodology of calculated inference - instead, those who best match the algorithm are those who get the chance of an actual interview.

By and large, it's been doing the same thing in the same old way for many years - and the implementation of AI into the recruitment and hiring workflow promises to make things worse, not better.

Instead of the current system, organizations should hire people based on their attitude. Their initiative, mindset, optimism, quirkiness, and oddness should matter - not the perfection of their resume structure. People should be hired on who they are - rather than what they were.

It's a tall order - the world of HR is one of those that cling to the methodologies of yesterday like the drowning cling to a live preserver.

But some are starting to move down that path of change:

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-hr-skills-and-recruitment-your-attitude-should-get-you-everything/

duncanhart, 27 days ago to random

@jimcarroll how do you start to build the skills to be a great MC or moderator?

jimcarroll, 27 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Even when you think you have nothing, you’ll always have something!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

That's because the possibilities are infinite when you start with nothing - there's nowhere to go but up! It's a simple fact that when you have absolutely nothing, you still have the chance to have everything!

Nothing? I started my day today without my normal inspiration post idea ready to go - normally, I would at least have pulled together the image for my post the day before, but it was a busy travel day so I was a bit out of sync. Then, the smoke detector went off at 130am for some unknown reason and so it was a bit of a situation of sleep interrupted!

So as I started today, I wasn't quite ready to go with my post with my morning coffee, and began wracking my brain for thoughts and ideas of my inspiration for the day.

And then I realized that while I had nothing, at least I had something - the initiative to start my day with my inspiration goal in mind. I had something! We always have something!

So I went for a nice swim, poured a cup of coffee, and here I am.

Think about today's inspiration - it's an important one for the simple reason that it is a reminder that even when we might despair at the lack of opportunity, opportunities are endless; that when we think there might be no hope, there is always endless hope; that when we think there are no great ideas, there are always many great ideas; that when we believe that there is not much we might hope to accomplish, there is a lot that could be accomplished.

It's an important thought because the mere structure of the phrase helps us to always remember that when it seems we are in the presence of nothing, we are actually in the presence of something!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-personal-growth-even-when-you-think-you-have-nothing-youll-always-have-something/

jimcarroll, 28 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "Never have just one comfort zone!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

If public speaking ranks high on the fear list of many people, where does working on a film production rank?

Yesterday was a wildly exciting day down in San Jose as I moderated a panel discussion on - what else! - artificial intelligence on an HP production in partnership with Intel.

This wasn't my first video rodeo; indeed, as I described over on the page Custom Corporate Projects, I've had a few such projects along the way, a few of them involving very detailed and nuanced corporate projects. (Including one highly embarrassing but fascinating project from the 90s, The IBM Family Guide to the Internet....starring..... me.)
Even so, yesterday ranks up there as a complexity highlight - at one moment, I counted upwards of 25 people involved in various aspects of the setup and production.

And for me, a tech nerd with a home broadcast studio, it was indeed tech nerd-heaven!

While working on the project through the day - and spending a lot of hurry-up-and-wait time, I could not help but think how lucky I am to have developed the ability to step outside my regular keynote speaking spot into a film production moderator role. My spot was the near side of the table, with my little moderator notes hiding by the laptop. Once the camera started rolling, the next 45 minutes were entirely mine to control - the pace, the flow, the direction of the discussion. And rather than being freaked out by the responsibility, I welcomed with joy the excitement of it all!

That's where the phrase 'many comfort zones' came to mind.

And that's the point of today's post. Don't matter just one thing - master many things!

And with that, master many different comfort zones!

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/05/daily-inspiration-skills-ability-never-have-just-one-comfort-zone/

jimcarroll, 29 days ago to random

my office today in San Jose!

image/jpeg

jimcarroll, 29 days ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "The best way to find creative solutions to your real-world problems is to listen to the wisdom of those who have already found them!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

You know you've been a real road-warrior speaker when you check into your Hilton hotel in San Jose and get a feeling that you've been here before! You look back in your email, and realize that it was once a Fairmont hotel and that you spoke in this exact hotel at an event in 2006!

I looked up the event that I spoke at in 2006 and realized that it was also for SAP - see yesterday's post for a reference to that other event. In this case, I was an opening keynote for existing and potential customers of SAP from throughout Silicon Valley, where I shared duties on the stage with the CEO, Bill McDermott.

What was more important than the keynote though was the additional panel discussion that I led right after my keynote - where customers of SAP were leading others through their strategies, methodologies, and structure for aligning to a faster future and dealing with disruptive trends. I ended up doing these panel discussions - letting customers tell the story - about 20 times or more throughout North America on behalf of SAP.

Notice the tagline in the promo copy - "Creative solutions to real-world challenges." In this particular event, I was interviewing executives from companies such as Johnsonville Sausage, Abiomed, and Pressman Toy - not major global companies, but organizations who were learning how to deal with the disruptive change swirling around them. This came on the heels of similar panel discussions with Adobe, Lennox, Fossil Watches, Hunt Petroleum, Fossil Watches, and many more.

All of these panel discussions delved into the world of digital transformation - how could we align our organization to deal with volatility, complexity, and fast-moving change by developing more agility and flexibility?

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/04/daily-inspiration-innovation-leadership-the-best-way-to-find-creative-solutions-to-your-real-world-problems-is-to-listen-to-the-wisdom-of-those-who-have-already-found-them/

jimcarroll, 1 month ago to random

Daily Inspiration: "You'll never find your opportunity in the depths of your despair!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

I'm down in Silicon Valley in California today, where I've got a last-minute film project with Intel and HP on what else - artificial intelligence! More to come on that project in the days to come.

But while walking around yesterday after our flight in, I was reminded of the 80s song that features the phrase "Always something there to remind me" - because it seems anywhere I go, there's always something there to remind me! That's certainly the case with the world's hi-tech hotspot here in the Valley because I've certainly done my share of keynotes and talks in these parts over the years.

One, in particular, is the genesis of today's quote. It involves the time when SAP and EDS - which is now part of HP - invited me down to the Valley in November 2008 to speak to a small, intimate group of CEOs and tech executives from the region. The dinner menu was sublime!
I think I had the lamb.

In any event, EDS (which is now fully part of HP), brought me in for this small, intimate dinner event to provide a reality check on the mindset that was then pervasive throughout the Valley as the recession took hold - despair and pessimism suddenly ruled the industry! You need to remember where we all found ourselves at that period - Lehman Brothers had collapsed, car companies were on the brink, banks were being bailed out as the great recession of 2008 unfolded.

In the tech sector, an immediate mindset unfolded that the downturn was going to bring a crashing halt to the success the industry had enjoyed since the dot.com collapse of 2000-2001. My mindset? I always beg to differ!

And that's the story I shared at this event...and I proved to be prescient, as the Valley entered into it's most prolonged period of growth after that small moment in time.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2024/04/daily-inspiration-volatility-trends-youll-never-find-your-opportunity-in-the-depths-of-your-despair/