There was a farmer Ravi who once lived in a little village which was placed in the hills. He was a great farmer and what was outstanding about him was his forward thinking capability. When other people in the village remained interested in the immediate things that needed to be done, Ravi always had an idea of how his land would be one day.
One year there was a serious drought in the village. The harvests were withering and the people of the village were anxious. They toiled and toiled, wishing that the rain would fall at a particular moment but it did not. Everybody was busy trying to survive the current time- watering their crops with the little remaining water and praying. The majority of farmers were desperately planting additional crops hoping to have a miracle.
Ravi did not react the same way though. He did not only focus on the present but rather took a step back and posed a question on himself; what will I require in the next few years? What shall I do to give my land more strength in the future?
He concluded that during his time of waiting the rain, he would use the dry season to save towards the long term. He created trenches to preserve the rainwater that could fall and plant trees that were resistant to drought in his fields and engaged in the process of making his soil fertile through composting and crop rotation. He also took time to study other new methods and technology of farming that could assist in irrigation and water conservation.
Several months elapsed and the drought was over but the damage caused on the crops was too immense. Those villagers that were preoccupied with making it through the immediate crisis found it hard to move on. They had planted new crops, but the earth had been exhausted, and their next season was going to be a hard one.
Instead, Ravi was not only in a position to save part of his crops but also a quality harvest of the trees which he had earlier planted. The land he had cultivated was more healthy and even his farm was already starting to show improvement even before the rains came back. His consideration of the future was well-compensated.
The success of Ravi astounded the villagers when they saw it. What made you think that things would change? they asked.
I did not just think about today or tomorrow, replied Ravi smiling. I reasoned what I might be, and I arranged it. Thinking forward is not merely about the ability to survive at the present moment, but the ability to prepare the future it is to know that everything you decide to do now is shaping the future opportunities of tomorrow.
Moral of the Story:
Thinking forward is an art of doing things before they happen, staying ahead of challenges and preparing in case of the challenges. Whereas others might tend to have only short-term survival as their interest, the future planners are able to go past the hurdles and create more solid and tougher platforms. Similar to Ravi, we should also be able to learn to see past the immediate and make a decision that will have a long run positive impact on us.
It is important, as it will enable you to judge and look into your future and make better decisions and take regular actions towards reaching your long-range objectives. It makes sure that you do not get entangled in the current complications or distractions but rather remain focused and active towards the development of the life that you desire to live. Such an attitude will enable you to develop and keep on developing, embrace change, and have the will power to go through the challenges.
The reasons why such an outlook on the future is essential include the following: Some of the examples that illustrate this notion are real-life:
1. It Assists You in Making Long term Goals.
• Reasons why it matters: A vision of your future provides you with focus and direction. It teaches you to put first things first, to concentrate on those things that will result in long term success.
Real-time example: Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla has always been a forward-thinking person. Having a multi-planetary species of humankind is his vision in the long term. He remained loyal to this future vision even when his companies were falling behind financially, which resulted in the radical innovation that has seen SpaceX and Tesla realize.
2. It Promotes Preemptive decision-making.
Why it is relevant: A futuristic type of thinking makes you think forward and make choices that are not in response to the immediate situation but in line with what you aspire to be down the line.
• Living example: Bill Gates is notorious in having left Harvard University in real-time to realize his dream of starting up a software company. He was looking at the future of personal computing and took a long-term success-oriented decision though that required abandoning the traditional way of success.
3. It Enhances Strength and Endurance.
• Why it matters: It is easier to overcome current setbacks when you are thinking in the long-term. An attitude towards the future causes you to look at the obstacles as a transient affair and you are likely to overcome the challenges using strong will.
Real life example: J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter books author, has endured hundreds of rejections before her book was published. She did not allow the short-term failures to discourage her though. She still thought that her work will be successful in the future, and the series finally turned into a worldwide trend.
4. It Promotes Development and Education.
Until now: This is why it matters: Future-focused thinking promotes never-ending self-development. You are always seeking means to hone your abilities, competencies, and expertise in a bid to achieve your future aspirations.
Oprah Winfrey: real-time example Winfrey has always been concerned with personal growth and learning. Being a victim of a harmful childhood and became one of the most influential media owners, the future-oriented thinking of Oprah assisted her to never stop learning, evolving, and creating her empire basing on her idea of empowerment and success.
5. It Helps You Adapt to Change
• The importance of this: The future is not always predictable. Preparation, the futuristic approach will enable you to be flexible and receptive to change so that you are able to pivot whenever the need arises without losing track of your overall objectives.
Real-time example: Netflix began as a service of online DVD rentals and then turned its business to streaming, where it identified potential of using digital media in the future. CEO Reed Hastings retained his vision of transforming entertainment and although Netflix faced resistance at first, it managed to change and emerge as an industry leader.
6. It Helps You to establish healthy behaviors.
Formalizing the point, it is important because when you think about the future you want, you are encouraged to make little, regular steps in the present, which will result in the future. This creates a base of long term success.
Real-life example: Michael Phelps, an Olympic swimmer, had a vision of being in the position to win gold medals since he was a young child. His habit of intense training, eating and thinking about the future were a direct manifestation of his attitude toward the future. His winning of the Olympics is due to the planning and discipline.
7. It Will Wake Up Your Time Management.
Why it is important: Future-oriented mentality will ensure that you engage in activities that will bring you closer to what you want to achieve so that you can better manage your time allocation.
• Real-life case study: Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, is a person with extremely strict time management. His early rising, concentration of the day, and spending of his time on activities that bring long-term success to Apple is the reason. He has an excellent future-oriented mind portrayed by his ability to manage time efficiently.
8. It Instills Confidence and Morale.
What is important about it: With such a clear idea of how you see yourself in your future and knowing what actions you will have to take to get there, you can be confident. You also remain motivated since you are aware that what you are doing is not futile and it will result to something bigger.
Real-life example: Serena Williams, one of the greatest tennis players of all times, has always had a clear view of where she wanted to go in life and despite her injuries or disappointments, she always stayed focused on this direction. She dreams about her victory, trains, and never looks out of the window. Her ability to focus on the future has made her career in tennis last longer and remain dominant.
In Summary:
I need a future oriented mentality to realise long term success and progress. It enables you to have goals, take initiative, remain strong amidst the challenges, keep on learning, embrace change and organize your time and activities efficiently. Examples that include Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Phelps clearly demonstrate that with the help of looking at the big picture and not giving up on your vision, you will be able to cross the current hurdles and create a significant future.
In the present world that is characterized by speed, futuristic thinking is not only good but also essential to keeping pace so that one can realize his or her potential as well as attain success in the long-term.
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