Successful people are often great at anticipating—the needs of others, the trends of the future, and the next steps that need to be taken.
Make it a priority to intentionally practice anticipation in the following ways:
- If you want to be promoted as an assistant, anticipate how you can better serve your boss.
- If you want to be successful in business, anticipate what the market will do.
- If you want to be successful in church, prayerfully anticipate. What new thing is God going to bless?
- When I'm trying to build this skill, I ask questions like these:
- How are people relating differently than they used to? What will relationships and community look like in two years?
- How are people going to communicate in the future?
- What future technology or innovation can help spread the gospel?
- What trends—in business, entertainment, philanthropy, philosophy, and other areas—will affect the church?
What we've learned:
Don't just operate on principles you're used to or react to situations you find yourself in. Think ahead and try to be strategic about every ministry step you take. And if you think you're not skilled at reading trends or anticipating the future, practice and pray.
