I appreciate the practical tips you have been providing to us on the Foresight Network. They have prompted me to add my own. The following is the text of the email I recently sent to my own employees, my clients and prospective clients:

One of the greatest challenges of my career has been to get people to think a little more about the future to the advantage of the organization they work in. The obstacle is very simple – we are all too busy. The immediacy of the present shoves out the importance of the future.

I have an idea. It’s called 5 Minutes for the Future. It’s based on the assumption that we can all take at least five minutes every few days to consider some aspect of the future that may relate to our professional life. Please don’t take offense at this. I’m not implying that you don’t think about the future or plan ahead. None of us would be successful or keep our jobs if we neglected this aspect of life.

So . . . you can anticipate receiving periodic emails, print articles, etc. that will require taking five minutes for the future. And please feel welcome to submit your own or comment on what was sent to the group. I think it would be fun and productive if this became interactive. I know this is simple but sometimes simple works best. I know this will take time to gain traction but I have already generated interest from those who have taken five minutes for the future. Perhaps there is hope.