This is a follow up thought to the Futurist. A follow up maybe because this has to do with the present … and learning from the past.

“if men could learn from history what lessons it might teach us! But passion and party blind our eyes, and the light which experience gives is a lantern on the stern, which only shines on the waves behind us!” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1831)

So often in our desire to ‘figure out’ today we stand upon steps built upon hopes of tomorrow. Our lessons from history to often shine upon the waves behind us instead of maybe lighting our way. It is unfortunate. Because while I not only believe we can learn from the past I also believe that much of what happens is a derivative of past actions <if you look hard enough>.

Well. That is certainly a valid thought but there is  more important thought with regard to the present.

And I think Max Dublin says this thought the best:

“It is myopic and evasive to forget that most questions that can be posed about the future can be more meaningfully and forcefully be posed about the present.  If we only used the knowledge we now have, and used it only for the good, we could have heaven on earth, without one further innovation or discovery, and thereby create a better world than any of our false prophets are capable of envisioning. It is not a matter of ingenuity but of character, and it is the key to any and all possible futures. ” – Max Dublin

Max is correct.

Oftentimes we are so unhappy, or possibly so fearful, of what is … we invest a shitload of energy seeking and sinking ourselves into what could be <notice I didn’t say ‘what will be’>.  It is natural. If today doesn’t look that good inevitably we cast a hopeful eye to the horizon. Heck. I know I do.

But.

What if.

What if we used all the energy and knowledge we currently have to try and solve what would be good for today … whew … I bet we could create a pretty kick ass world for everyone. Today … and, well, tomorrow.

Yeah .. yeah .. yeah. Maybe we wouldn’t have the 15th version of the i-phone or a new even lighter creamier but less caloric mint double chocolate chip ice cream but maybe we would have less poverty or less obesity or less of something bad that needs to be solved.

I sometimes believe in our capitalistic fear of being left behind we ignore what is.

I imagine it is a real fear that one stops thinking about the future and others invest in the future and they get it wrong and get passed by … and I imagine all businesses have this fear.

But.

Here is a truth.

We do not need a 15th version of the i-phone.

We do not need a new improved lower caloric ice cream.

We do not need a lot of the new innovations that are constantly thrown upon us.

Ok. Do we ‘want’ … or maybe ‘like’ the new innovations? Sure. We are human.

But do we ‘need’?

C’mon. Be serious. Of course not.

A Max truth <which I agree with>.

It is not a matter of ingenuity … it is a matter of character. And, as usual, character is the key to all possible futures <not making money>.

Yeah. I know. This is a pipe dream in the world of business.  A world where “creating a sustainable world” is simply a bolt on to “how much money can I make” in the corporate world.

But <this is a huge but>.

What if some company invested all their innovation money in not coming up with a new widget but rather  coming up with a better way to use what we have?

I know.

Heresy.

Maybe myopic and evasive <as Max says>.

Oh. Maybe it is just not what Futurists want to hear.

Oh well.

It is a great quote. A smart quote. And, more importantly, a great thought. It’s the kind of thought someone in a position that matters should be thinking.

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Written by Bruce