"Great leaders don't wait out the storm. They go dancing in the rain!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

Imagine a child, maybe seven or eight, standing in the middle of a summer downpour. Everyone else is running for shelter. But this child? Arms out, spinning, laughing—feet splashing in puddles like it’s the greatest adventure in the world. No fear. No hesitation. Just joy in motion, despite the chaos around them.

Dancing in the rain.

That’s the image I want you to hold onto. That’s leadership in uncertainty. That’s resilience in action. I want you to see an executive, seeing all the negative news headlines about uncertainty, volatility, and a potential downturn, and instead of seeing negativity, seeing opportunity.

At some moment in time, while writing this series, I had the idea of someone 'dancing in the rain' while the dark storm clouds of the economy surrounded them. That caused me to realize that the core theme of what is now becoming a book, Dancing in the Rain, has never been about predicting the storm. It’s about how you show up inside it. It’s about how bold leaders create movement - forward, focused, and fearless - when the world stalls in place because while others brace for impact, bold leaders brace for acceleration.

In this series that started back on April 7, I've had 24 posts of stories, strategies, tools, and ideas. At every turn, you’ve been challenged to shift your thinking—from fear to action, from retreat to reinvention, from hesitation to momentum. Any time there is economic uncertainty or volatility, a mindset of inaction settles in. But my message has been considered with numerous lessons along the way:

Mindset is the foundation for resilience. Essentially, my guidance is to opt out of the recession—not as denial, but as defiance. You learned that success starts with the decision to refuse pessimism and lean into possibility. Defiance is powerful!

Opportunity never disappears. Even when the future is uncertain and cloudy, you need to see opportunity. That's why one of my most recent posts asked the question: "Where’s the growth?" The answer was everywhere! In global trends, in overlooked edges, in emerging science. You always need to remember to be able to see opportunity where others see only risk.

Speed matters! From my posts on “Momentum” to “Speed Wins,” I've tried to outline why how fast action isn’t reckless—it’s necessary. Never forget this core lesson: leaders who move first shape the recovery.

Your culture creates your resilience. The internal dynamics you establish in your organization - whether it's shared vision, collaboration, or shared purpose—are the real safety nets in uncertain times.

Future-ready leadership is critical. You won't be resilient if you don't know where tomorrow will take you. Trend awareness, decision velocity, and idea flow aren’t soft skills. They’re survival strategies.

Stop seeking clarity when there is none! In every post, my core message has been you don’t wait for clarity. You create it.

So what do you do with my series? Hopefully, you will remember it and find it useful as we continue to go into a period of wild volatility!

#Dancing #Resilience #Leadership #Action #Opportunity #Growth #Momentum #Courage #Storm #Future

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2025/05/decoding-tomorrow-your-daily-future-inspiration-great-leaders-dont-wait-out-the-storm-they-go-dancing-in-the-rain/

"While others wait for normal, the bold invent what’s next." - Futurist Jim Carroll

Know what you don’t know about tomorrow.

Find out what you need to know.

Know it.

Then do it.

That's your resilience playbook right there!

That's how you grow into your future.

If there’s one thing this series - and soon to be a book - has emphasized, it’s this: the future isn’t waiting for you to catch up. It’s already in motion. And in times of volatility, downturn, or disruption, the winners are those who don’t just react to change—they run toward it.

The single most important question you should ask yourself as a leader, strategist, or builder of tomorrow is simple: Where’s the growth? What's the opportunity? Where do you find your future?

And the simple fact is - the future is already here. It surrounds you. You just need to see it and act on it. At every single moment, new opportunities are unfolding around you.

Is there a future out there? Definitely yes, but a constant drumbeat of negative news can cause people and organizations to lose sight of what will happen. That's why you should focus on accelerating your insight into some of the key trends that will impact industries, organizations, and careers in the next few years.

What underlies all these trends? Despite a downturn or recession, knowledge still accelerates. The global idea machine still reverberates. Big thinkers still think of how to solve big challenges. Inventors still invent. Dreamers still dream. Innovators still innovate. Doers still do. Change agents can still affect positive change.

And most important? Optimism will always overcome pessimism!

No barrier to the future is insurmountable with the right determination!

Growth is not a given - but it is available. And it belongs to those who choose to seek it out, no matter the circumstances. You can’t wait for a perfect moment to act. You need to act in the moment you have.

When others hesitate, you move.

When others cut, you invest.

When others wait for clarity, you create it.

That’s where the growth is.

Are you ready?

Futurist Jim Carroll follows trends. Obviously.

**#Growth** **#Trends** **#Innovation** **#Opportunity** **#Future** **#Action** **#Resilience** **#Technology** **#Transformation** **#Vision**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2025/05/decoding-tomorrow-your-daily-future-inspiration-while-others-wait-for-normal-the-bold-invent-whats-next/