Past as Future

"You don't create the future by reinventing the past," a CEO is fond of repeating to his colleagues.

A thought worth pondering.

The past can inform the future, but it doesn't necessarily determine it. And the past ought not constrain the possibilities for shaping the future.

At the same time, it could be a big mistake for a leader to ignore the past and not heed the lessons it offers. Many times, in a fast-moving, quickly changing environment there is a temptation to ignore the past as an outdated, outmoded, irrelevant relic of antiquity.

Many aspects of days gone by matter as little as yesterday's low tide. But other dimensions of experiences-had hold the promise of insight, the building blocks for solutions, and the wisdom to address contemporary challenges.

In considering the past, be neither bound by it nor ignorant of it. Your future may depend on it.