Are you envisaging success? Or are you seeking to reinforce or add energy to your quest for success? Then you need foresight. In fact, you must possess this essential quality for you to have a fair share of the bounties of success. It is a veritable tool and is very crucial in facilitating success. Consequently, any project or business that is not powered by foresight is as good as dead on arrival. Hence, the possession of foresight is a plus to success. It has a very strong impact on success.
What is foresight?
Foresight is the act or power of foreseeing future events. It is the ability to look forward in life. According to the Collins dictionary, foresight is the ability to see what is likely to happen in the future and to take appropriate actions. From the foregoing, we can deduce that the concept of foresight is a fusion of three important elements of success, namely vision, judgmental prowess, and action. Hence, with foresight one can clearly see his future; take bold steps to actualize his goals in life by making daring decisions that will have far-reaching effects. These are long-range decisions that will lead to an incredible quest for success.
For instance, Sam a young graduate has just landed a job as a software programmer. Now he has a glimpse of his career path for the next five to ten years. Even though Sam is not yet where he wants to be in his career, he understands that he is on a journey. From the level where he is at the moment, he can see the ‘promised land of his career. Basically, with foresight, he can plan and take actions that will enable him to reach the incredible end of his career. That is the beauty of foresight; it serves as a guideline on the journey en route to success.
In my own words, foresight is having insight into your future. It is binocular through which one can see far into the future from the present.
Have four eyes
I have four eyes but I am not a witch – Chief Olaka Agwara
The above statement is credited to my father-in-law of blessed memory. A great philosopher of life, gifted with the power of foresight. Now in line with this statement of fact, I assert that you must have four eyes for you to exercise the power of foresight. In other words, to have foresight is to have four eyes. When I say have four eyes it does not literally mean having two extra starry eyes on your forehead like a monster. Rather having four eyes by implication means exploring the extraordinary eyes of the mind. Apart from the physical eyes, we can as well explore the mind’s eyes. The mind has eyes with which you can visualize and imagine things. With the mind’s eye, you can vividly see, beyond your present, into your future. That is the eyes of understanding Apostle Paul once talked about which can help us visualize or imagine the glory that lies ahead of us.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints – Ephesians 1:18
Engaging the mind’s eyes equates to foresight. Sam the young graduate in the above illustration could only see his career’s incredible end using the mind’s eyes. The mind’s eyes are not limited by distance nor by circumstances. It is wider in scope than the physical eyes. Therefore, for you to experience the power of foresight you must engage and maximally explore the mind.
Benefits of foresight
Planning and strategizing
Planning is very crucial when it comes to success. There is a popular saying that when you fail to plan you are planning to fail. Foresight helps us in planning for success. It helps us plan, and strategize on the methodology we will adopt in achieving our enviable dreams and reach the incredible end in our quest for success. Planning then becomes your blueprint, your compass to guide you in the journey of success. it serves as a framework for decision-making.
Foresight helps in decision making
Prudence is foresight, and foresightedness is the ability to make immediate decisions on basis of their long-range effects- John Ortberg
Decision-making in any venture is very crucial. Foresight helps a great deal in making decisions. Not just making decisions but making the right ones. Through foresight, you can make smart decisions and our goals within reach. Making the right decision will always put you on the threshold of success. Decision-making entails making choices among alternatives in a bid to achieve set goals. Decision-making is the crescendo of planning. It is the execution of plans. And to execute these plans we must choose between options. Decision-making tests our judgmental prowess. Hence the power of foresight in decision-making is that it helps us to eliminate or reduce prejudice to the barest minimum. It engenders sound judgments in decision-making.
Foresight is good for business
Patience and foresight are the two most important qualities in business- Henry Ford.
When it comes to business, it is a very powerful quality one must possess. The power of foresight is that it gives insight into business trends. In order to succeed the entrepreneur must have it. It will give you insight on whether to invest or divest in any business portfolio, how to invest and the right timing to invest or diversify and make a profit based on the prevailing trend. Based on these trends you can project or forecast the growth of any business. Want to succeed in business? Then, have foresight. It helps you to cleverly define your business model for easy actualization of set goals and objectives.
It demystifies the future
Another power of foresight is that it helps us to see the future in the present. And any future we can see becomes no longer a mystery. Hence by it, one can demystify the future. The good news is that with foresight you can possibly dictate what direction the pendulum of life will swing in the future. Check out my post on the mystery of tomorrow for more details.
In addition, it helps you to prepare and to brace up for the challenges of the future. With such preparation, you are not in any way overtaken by the events and demands of the future. Nor are you in doubt of the future. Adequate preparation for the future is a function of foresight.
What is your take on foresight? Let me have your opinion. Remember to like and share the post if it has added value to your life
Be inspired, be determined, and dare to succeed.