Looking Back, Looking Forward (or The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create It)

As I close down the various applications on my laptop for that one final time before I call it a year, my thoughts jump back to an iconic Indian sportscaster from the late 70s/ early ‘80s who with his proper English diction and word wizardry, would paint a vivid picture of the sports events of the year gone by. AFS “Bobby” Talyarkhan is a name that not too many even on the Indian subcontinent would recognise. (In fact, even Wikipedia has his photo wrong). Perhaps die-hard cricket fans who grew up in India in the black and white television era would remember his hosted show that was very aptly called “Looking Back, Looking Forward” – just listening to Bobby Talyarkhan’s words would bring those magic moments in sport alive once again. …. and as I wind down, that’s the memory that’s kindled, along with snippets of what a year it’s been. Looking back, to look forward.

Thinking of some of the work-related highlights, I can’t but help recall ….dusty drives across the sands in Kuwait, …enjoying sumptuous dim sum in Taipei, …. watching US President Barack Obama enthral an audience of thousands in San Diego, …doing a 90 minute “coaching while walking” for an ultra-busy executive, …presenting a paper on Team Coaching at Columbia University, … 10 days witnessing first-hand the digital transformation of China into a design, innovation and technology giant of our age, …coaching several senior leaders in government and start-ups, all drawn to their avocation by a calling that goes far beyond any puerile commercial interest, …. workshops with banks, insurance companies and media companies on digital disruption, and how they could navigate forward in our times of tremendous change, …this was a year packed with inspiration, experiences and changes, …..and when I truly felt that I had successfully made the transition to the brave new world of the gig economy…

…and there were changes on the personal front too…this was the year it all happened…when the birds in the nest found their new horizons, and life took turns not entirely unexpected.

Change, the only constant, was leading the dance of life in 2018 and boy, did we dance….The music doesn't show any signs of slowing down or stopping, and the beat is becoming even crazier, but one must pause. Because it is now time to look forward, and as Rainer Maria Rilke, the German poet from near on a 100 years ago said. “And now we welcome the New Year. Full of things that have never been”. But I’ve had to add my little twist to it, with the word “Wondrous” – “ And now we welcome the New Year. Full of wondrous things that have never been.”

As we welcome the New Year, we perhaps need to paint a mental picture of the year ahead. I’m not talking of resolutions - I’m not a fan of New Year resolutions, especially since there is more than ample evidence to show that resolutions fizzle and fade away even before you are halfway through the January of the New Year. Instead, allow me to invite you to paint your mental masterpiece of 2019, to create your mental movie ….I’d love for you to join me in this actual visualisation exercise.

1.    Find yourself a quiet comfortable space where you would be undisturbed for the next 10-15 minutes or so. Do keep a pen and writing pad next to you.

2.    Close your eyes, and start creating the movie in your mind of the coming year, if you like set yourself a gentle alarm to cue the end of 10-15 minutes.

3.    Think of January ….it’s the best January you’ve ever had! Think of what’s happening? Who are you with? What are they saying? What are the key events that are happening ? What’s the weather like ? Where are you going? Fill colour, sounds, smells into your movie…bring it alive…make it as detailed as possible.

4.    Walk through each month filming your “mental movie”, starting with thinking of each month as your “Best Ever” February, your “Best Ever” March etc…and bring yourself to this time in December, next year. And it’s been your best ever year.

5.    Now open your eyes … how do you feel ? How does your movie look ? What do you need to actually do to make the movie real ? Take a few minutes to reflect…

6.    Now is the time to reach for that pen and writing pad you kept handy step 1. And write down “To make my 2019 mental movie real I will

a.    …Stop… (write not more than 3 things you will stop doing- things that are detracting from your creating a fulfilling 2019)

b.    …Continue… (write not more than 3 things you will continue doing – things that you’re already doing that contribute to your creating a fulfilling 2019)

c.    …Start…(Write not more than 3 things you will start doing - – things that you need to start doing to contribute to your creating a fulfilling 2019

7.    And, better still, if you are inclined to draw or sketch, please create a picture of 2019 and place it where you can see it every day.

Once you have a clear idea of what you are going to stop, continue and start doing, set yourself on the path to action. That’s the topic of another blog post that I had written sometime back, and here’s the link. https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/gradatim-quotidien-ferociter-krish-iyer/

Bobby Talyarkhan recreated memorable moments in sport by inviting us to reimagine the days gone by. I’m inviting you to create a memorable year ahead by pre-imagining the months to come. I’m sure you will paint and make your masterpiece come alive in 2019.

As the great Peter Drucker is supposed to have said.

“The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create It.”

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones all health, happiness, and prosperity in the New Year! May all that you visualize come to pass !

Cheers,

#goals