My brother is in the Marine Corps. Part of his job involves planning for and implementing…

My brother is in the Marine Corps. Part of his job involves planning for and implementing new technology.

He shared a concept with me years ago that stuck.

At any point in time, their training incorporates technology that doesn't exist.
Perhaps it's new gear, a weapon, or guidance system.
"We're 1-3 years out, but this is where that will go."

This brings back childhood memories, swinging sticks in the woods.
"One day, these will be lightsabers! We must be ready."

But it's more practical than that.

They know new tools are coming. New systems. New capabilities. So instead of waiting for them to arrive and scrambling to figure them out, they plan ahead of time.

They run simulations.
They leave room for experimentation.
They train for possibilities.

In other words, they make space for the future before it shows up.

It reminds me of the story about Jeff Bezos leaving an empty chair at the Amazon boardroom table to represent the customer.

A constant reminder of who needs to be in the room.

Right now, technology is advancing faster than organizations can absorb it.

Which raises a question:
How are we preparing?

Are we leaving an empty seat, or clearing space, for the tech that's in route?
OR are we waiting until it arrives, then scrambling to figure out where it fits?