Daily Inspiration: “Beware: There is massive volatility beneath the surface of calm!”

“Beware: There is massive volatility beneath the surface of calm!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

Survival now depends on resilience; agility defines success. That’s the key issue you need to think about going forward. You need to keep the thought of VUCA forefront in your mind – volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity.

I’m pretty convinced that the slow process of seeing an exit from the last two years is going to be incredibly complex and messy. There is massive pent up frustration, complicated agendas, volatile political realities, and dangerously perilous risk of collapse of complex systems.

We’re seeing this potential reality unfold is in real-time with the massive leadership failure occurring in Canada with the so-called truckers protest. (Hint: it’s not truckers, and it’s not about mandates.) Multiple levels of government don’t know how to act in the act of an unprecedented threat; have a lack of imagination on fast steps to solve the problem (hint: it’s about commercial insurance and licensing), and a slow judiciary facing the onslaught of new connected mobilization.

It’s pretty evident that within two months, we will look back at today as a far simpler time – what it is leading to is a new form of issue that is somewhat unprecedented. Paul Kedrosky, a transplanted Canadian located in the US who I follow, stated it perfectly:

https://twitter.com/pkedrosky/status/1491087616330309633?s=20&t=NBAas3F8O34DRKxUtCy3zg

Today the world seems calm; companies are managing supply chains; they’re figuring out post-pandemic strategies, everyone is eager for a return to the ‘before-times.’

But that seems soon to be shattered.

VUCA. Agility. Resilience.