When I ask what the most crucial trait of a strategist is, I often hear “understanding trends” as one of the answers. During lectures and keynotes on the subject, I ask participants which distinct quality they believe is necessary for creating solid strategies. While a sensitivity to current and future trends is vital, another aspect is frequently overlooked.
In the past, when fewer people labeled Elon Musk as crazy, he once defined intelligence in an interview as the ability to ask yourself, “what does this remind me of?” When building a future-proof strategy, asking that same question and drawing inspiration from potential similarities across multiple decades is essential.
Looking forward is just as indispensable as looking back.