How can you make sense of the future when you only have data about the past?

I have healed the sick by the power of the God. I have spoken with the gift of tongues.

There are direct paths to a successful career. But there are plenty of indirect paths, too.

We are all trained to be data driven people, but no hard data exist about the future. Therefore, the only way to look into the future with any degree of accuracy is to use theory, statements of what causes what and why. If executives have the right theories in their heads, they can very quickly interpret market developments. They can identify what matters and why, and act accordingly. So we suggest decision-makers should start by gaining a deep understanding of the relevant collection of theories, and then be alert for signals that indicate certain types of developments.

Think about the metric by which your life will be judged, and make a resolution to live every day so that in the end, your life will be judged a success.

If I know what to spec, and I can measure it, and there are no unpredictable interdependencies between what you do and what I must do in response, then an economist would say that is sufficient information for a market to emerge between you and me.

If you study the root causes of business disasters, over and over you'll find this predisposition toward endeavors that offer immediate gratification.