Charting My Industrial Future

The future is very important for industrialists. We're always thinking about what we're going to make tomorrow, how much of it, and whether people will buy it.

But the past is also very important. Because that's our track record, how well our products have performed, and the basis for sales in the future. You think the egg producers of Iowa have a bright future? That chicken's already left the barn...

So, as an industrialist (making tires and generating electricity), I think about the past a lot, but I also think about the future. The big difference is that you can't do much about the past -- except to hurriedly come up for plausible excuses why it turned out the way it did. But the future lies out ahead, a blank slate, giving you plenty of time to think of good excuses. And, who knows, you might do a good job and the future will take care of itself. It could happen.

I've been resting on my laurels somewhat, with my past reputation as "the philosophical father of the Residential Industrial Movement (RIM)." But that's not going to do me good forever, because it is past. And it's tougher to father more movements than it is actual children, assuming you can get a date where breeding is an actual option she goes for.

But if I'm going to have any future, I'll need to let go of the past as much as possible, except to the extent that I need it for the future. And yet the future remains an iffy prospect ... for every industrialist. Like they say, since about 1900, there hasn't been anything else left to invent, meaning we're at a dead end there. The only thing left is to improve what we already have, if that's possible. It's bad news, but a good excuse.

For me, to chart my future is a tough thing, with all that being true. So probably my future will simply be to continue making tires and electricity, and stepping up production. That's always an option for the future, to make more of what we make, and, if necessary, sacrifice sleep to get it done.

I also have the unique opportunity -- again, as the philosophical father -- to guide others in their industrial labors, to be reconciled to the inherent limitations, as stated, yet to encourage increased production. My opportunity is to generate more information, like I do with this blog. Information is power, fundamental for people's outlook and success. So I could do that. Or whatever.

To conclude, in charting my industrial future, I shall keep my concerns focused on the immediate future only. Such things as getting up, writing this blog, having coffee, and working with my plants. I have a metallic thumb.

FUTURE UPDATE: I'm always wishing I knew then what I know now.
What I need to do is learn now what I'm going to wish I knew then.
But it's still possible, when then is now, that even if know then what I know now, there'll probably still be stuff I wish I knew then that I don't know now.