We just wrapped up our first live community event with guest speakers from the Institute for the Future (IFTF). It’s about being able to anticipate change, envision what’s possible, and actually do something about it.
Why Most of Us Get the Future Wrong
Most of us plan like tomorrow will just be today with minor tweaks. We assume trends will continue in straight lines, that disruptions won’t happen very much to us, that change will be gradual and predictable. I don’t think that’s how the world works.
Futures thinking flips this around. Instead of asking “What will happen?” it asks “What could happen?” That simple shift changes everything. Suddenly you’re not just waiting for the future to happen to you—you’re actively thinking about how to shape it.
The future isn’t some fixed destination we’re all heading toward. It’s more like a choose your own adventure where every decision we make today influences where we turn to next.
The Three Things Future-Ready People Do:
1. They See Around Corners
Future-ready people have developed early warning radar. They notice things before they become obvious.
2. They Think in Scenarios, Not Predictions
Instead of trying to predict one future (impossible), they imagine several different ways things could play out. By thinking through multiple scenarios, they’re ready for whatever actually unfolds.
3. They Act on What They Learn
All the future thinking in the world doesn’t matter if you don’t do anything with it. Every choice you make from career decisions to policy votes is essentially a bet on what kind of future you want to see. When you understand this, your decisions start carrying more weight.
What This Looks Like in Criminal Justice
During our event, we talked briefly about how this applies to criminal justice. It’s not just about tweaking the current system. It’s about envisioning completely different approaches to what criminal justice is in this country and what it could be and working backward from there.
The Uncertainty Paradox
The more you study the future, the more you realize how unpredictable it really is. This isn’t discouraging. It’s liberating. Once you accept that uncertainty is just part of the deal, you stop trying to control everything and start building the skills that help you thrive no matter what happens.
We’re talking about things like being comfortable with ambiguity, thinking in systems rather than isolated parts, and making decisions based on values rather than just immediate benefits.
How to Start Thinking Like a Futurist
Begin by zooming out from your day-to-day concerns and asking yourself: “If I think about this decision in terms of years rather than months, does it change my perspective?” You’d be surprised how often the answer is yes.
Start paying attention to things that seem unrelated to your immediate world. That weird startup you read about, that policy change in another state, that new technology a friend is obsessed with, these “weak signals” often turn into major forces later.
The key is what futurists call “disciplined imagination.” Dream big about what’s possible, but stay grounded in how change actually happens.
The Bottom Line
Futures thinking isn’t some abstract academic exercise. It’s a practical skill for anyone who wants to have a say in what comes next. Whether you’re a parent thinking about your kids’ education, a professional planning your career, or a citizen voting on policies, understanding how to think about the future makes you more effective at creating the world you want to live in.
The future isn’t something that happens to us. It’s something we’re all actively creating, day by day. The question is: are you creating it intentionally, or just letting it happen by default?
