Did you remember to print the plates?
Lights twinkle over the lively, decorated market, filled with chatter of shoppers bundled in their winter coats. The air is intoxicating with aromas of freshly baked pastries and the spiced scent of mulled wine.
- Hel…
She taps a sequence on her earpiece to bypass his avatar. He joins the call in a few seconds.
- Hey, I need extra eyes to double-check. Can you confirm I got everything we need?
- Let me see. Okay, I’m cross-checking with the recipes… Give me one moment… Ten more seconds… Okay, it seems you have everything.
- Did you remember to print the plates?
- Oh shoot. I completely forgot about this. I'll start the print job as soon as I get home.
- If you can take care of this immediately, everything will be alright. They will still need time to harden. No one wants to eat from a flimsy plate.
- Sorry. Not an easy day at work.
- I will tell all the guests asking for gift ideas to give you some brand new excuses. You’ve clearly run out of convincing ones.
- Fair point. When every day feels the same, it’s hard to come up with creative excuses.
- I hope our party will help to un-bore your life a little.
- Speaking of the party, remember to whitelist your shopping for analytics. Our banking algorithm should know we're buying from climate-responsible, organic vendors.
- You’re the expert in this. Your carbon footprint strategies already got us a better mortgage.
She can't help but smile, hearing the proud tone in his voice.
- Let me know if you have any problems finding a free PorterBot.
- I don’t think I will. A few minutes ago, I saw the BotCarrier truck unloading a fresh batch.
- You know how fast people grab them these days. Nobody wants to carry heavy shopping bags during the holiday rush.
- Once I pack all my shopping, I'll share the tracking ID in case you’re home first.
- I may get there before you. Something strange happened, and the windows’ active noise cancellation is spotty at the office again today.
- Oh no. Unreliable ANC is worse than no ANC. When something is reliable, you take it for granted and stop appreciating it.
- I see where you’re going. I will print those plates.
- Counting on you.
- Don’t count the plates before they print.
- Promise me you won’t experiment with seasoning this time.
- Noted. Regular plain plates for a regular plain seasonal party.
- One more, and all you’re getting this year are joke coaching courses and designer humour subscriptions.
- In that case, I’ll see you at home.
With a smile, he disconnects, and the festive soundscape of the bustling market washes over her once again. She scans the lively crowd and spots a free PorterBot gliding between shoppers.
She waves it over, relieved at the thought of not carrying heavy bags through the throngs of people. All of a sudden, the twinkling lights floating above seem to be shining a little brighter as she prepares to head home.
Hello Practical Futurists,
Welcome back from the future, where plates are printed for every occasion, shopping carries itself home, and your purchasing choices can impress banking algorithms.
Hit the "Like" button at the top or bottom of this page to inspire others and help them discover the stories you've enjoyed.Good leaders don't just wait for the future.
They help to create it.
Thank you for your continuous support and dedication to envisioning a better future with us.
Let's dive into our weekly workout, where we use futures thinking and product sci-fi to build a future-proof mindset.
To spark your imagination, we'll start with an inspiring quote:
"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something."
Robert Heinlein
As always, we start by linking the story to your personal life, making it more relatable and engaging.
Personal life reflection prompts:
Which 3 everyday technologies do you notice only when they stop working?
Do you personalise mass-produced items to make them feel more special? Why?
What 2 strategies do you use to stay organised and avoid forgetting important tasks, especially during busy times?
In what ways do you think about the environmental impact of your daily choices, and how does this influence your decision-making?
How do you balance the convenience of automation with maintaining meaningful personal effort?
What automated conveniences would make your holiday preparations more enjoyable?
Building on these personal insights, let's fire up your thinking to the organisational level.
It’s time to explore some professional applications in the context of the industry, team, service, or product you're working with.
Professional life reflection prompts
How might the concept of customisable products manufactured on demand impact your industry's supply chains and inventory management?
What 3 strategies help you maintain team engagement when routines become predictable?
How might you adapt your leadership style to manage teams in an increasingly automated and AI-assisted workplace?
What 2 metrics help you evaluate whether automation enhances or diminishes human value in processes?
How do you maintain quality standards when introducing a new automated solution?
In what ways could your team better balance automated efficiency with a human touch?
When do you bypass automated systems for direct communication with your team?
How would you design an "extra eyes" system in your organisation to double-check important tasks, reduce errors, and ensure critical tasks aren’t forgotten?
Great work!
Key Takeaway: The Paradox of Invisible Progress
When something works seamlessly, it fades into invisibility, which is its most significant advantage and biggest challenge at the same time. As our world increasingly automates the mundane, from self-carrying groceries to AI-guided banking, we risk taking these advances for granted until they glitch.
Making progress feel both invisible enough to be natural yet visible enough to be valued becomes an essential skill in any evolving environment.
The future belongs not to those who simply deploy automation but those who understand how to weave it into the human experience while preserving what makes us uniquely human.
Chart Your Course:
What invisible technologies power your daily operations?
Where does automation need to remain visible to be valued?
How do you celebrate progress without disrupting the seamlessness?
Take Action Today:
Audit your invisible infrastructure
→ Map critical automated processes that only get noticed when they fail
→ Identify potential points of failure before they occur
Design for human appreciation
→ Create touchpoints where users can recognize technological advancement → Build moments of acknowledgement into automated workflows
Balance automation with intention
→ Define which aspects should remain deliberately human-centred
→ Develop metrics that value both efficiency and human experience
Many profound innovations often become invisible, but your leadership should not. Your next breakthrough might be invisible to others, but its impact must be impossible to ignore.
You did amazing! That’s everything we have for today.
Thank you for expanding your imagination with us. Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward.
Think bright, lead brighter, and see you soon.
Pawel Halicki
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