Hi, I’m your emergency recharge
- Hi, how are you?
- Change of plans. It’s nothing serious, but Niels had a small accident, and I have to pick him up from the hospital.
- What happened?
- The kids were on a forest trip with those AR glasses today. Niels was wearing his microscope glasses and got too excited to remember to move very slowly. He hit a branch really hard and cut his forehead.
- So he got branched out?
- Excuse me?
- He tripped on a trip?
- This is not funny.
He takes a long breath.
- I'm sorry. I'm trying to lower the tension here. If they told you it’s not serious, he will be fine.
- Maybe you’re right. I’m more mad about the timing. I have too much on my plate right now. How’s your day going?
- It’s been a nice slow day today until an hour ago.
- Only responsible EV drivers?
- So it seems. I have a single request I’ll get to in a minute. I’ll call you back once I’ve topped up that poor little fella.
- Give them juice baby. Love you.
- Love you too.
He parks next to a teal cabriolet with a closed roof, starts the checklist and knocks on the side window.
- Hi, I’m your emergency recharge. You shouldn’t sit in the car right here. Would you like a cold water or an ice pack?
- Thank goodness you’re here. I was starting to wonder why it was taking so long.
- Actually, this is one of my best times this year. Maybe you’re accustomed to a different level of service. Where are you from?
- South. It usually takes up to 20 minutes to get an emergency recharge there.
- 30 minutes for a pizza and 20 minutes for an emergency recharge? If you plan your trip with an emergency service in mind, this is no longer an emergency.
- I’m just saying. It is how it works.
He selects a matching converter and plugs the hipercharger in, lighting up the port with enthusiastically bright indicators.
- There were some heated debates about the level of service that should be provided here. Given how batteries hate the cold, we settled on seasons. When the streets out of cities are white with snow, someone should reach you within 30 minutes. In spring, summer, and fall get ready for about an hour.
- Heated debates never led to building heated roads?
- We have some in the city centres, and they are great when snow falls all the time. Still, streets heated by water or electricity are pure financial extravaganza outside populated areas.
- Don’t you think that charge delivery should be a standard service?
- Not going to work. Big batteries are just a fire hazard on wheels, taking an unbelievable amount of water to contain. No city wants things like that driving around unregulated. This is why electric trucks and buses are no longer a thing in populated areas.
Gentle beeping interrupts them.
- Ok, your puppy is at 20% now. At your next charging point, you will be charged an extra 250 on top of your top-up for this service.
He passes on the receipt.
- 250? Man in…
- I know, I know. In the South, you have it for free.
- It’s not free, but it’s five times cheaper.
- Such a low price induces demand. This is a poorly designed incentive, making people factor emergency services into their budget as just a more expensive way to charge their car. Can’t they teach good planning at schools instead?
- Oh no! Do you think I may be the person from the math problem?
Their voice turns high-pitched-funny.
- Harry rides a megawatt cabriolet cross-country. If he starts on the west side of the country and is a careless planner, where will he run out of battery?
- …
They share a smile.
- You could consider upgrading to solar paint for some extra juice on a sunny day.
- I’ve heard it’s expensive, but yeah, that’s a good point. Thanks for your help.
- Safe travels.
He secures the plug back in place as the driver waves him goodbye. Watching as the teal convertible drives to the horizon, he gets into the van and initiates the call. She appears immediately.
- Hi there, Niels is doing great. He was very brave, but he’s a little disappointed now. They used skin glue, so he didn’t get his supervillain stitches.
- One less thing to worry about, and my nice day is back.
Hello Practical Futurists,
Welcome back from the future, where road assistance drives power banks, and microscopes are just another setting simulated on AR glasses.
Let's jump into our weekly workout, where we use futures thinking and product sci-fi to improve your strategic imagination and prepare your leadership for the future.
You can think of this quote as an extra inspiration.
“There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality.”
Jonas Salk
As always, we begin by grounding the story in your personal life to make it more relatable.
Professional life reflection prompts
When was the last time you could have been a person from a math problem? (For me, it was 4 weeks ago when I bought 33 packets of traditional gingerbread cookies and toffee candies in one store. They were meant as small gifts for other students in my wife’s Spanish course, but for the clueless cashier, I was a person from a math problem.)
What are your 2 favourite examples of good planning, and why are they so remarkable?
If an emergency happens once a week, is it still an emergency or an undeveloped product niche?
What is your battle-tested way of diffusing a tense situation or a heated argument?
The best thing to do if you need to wait for an indeterminate time is…?
New delivery models will appear with cheaper power and better batteries. Soon, you may be able to summon your storage unit for inspection, a furniture store to try a new sofa, or a restaurant-grade oven to bake a pizza on-site. What 3 mobile shops would be particularly welcomed in your home?
You made it look easy!
We’re now ready to work within the context of the industry, organisation, team, service, or product you’re working with.
Professional life reflection prompts
What are your 2 plans for an unexpected situation better than asking everyone to drop everything and look into the problem?
How do you balance cost and convenience? In what situations do you prioritize one over the other, and how do you justify these choices?
What does seasonality mean in your industry, and what 3 challenges does it present?
How do you measure your team’s preparedness for unexpected situations?
Which 3 specific tools have significantly impacted your leadership style or personal productivity?
Name 2 colleagues that may be persons from a math problem.
You did amazing!
Thank you for expanding your imagination with us. Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward.
Think bright, and see you soon.
Pawel Halicki
Feeling in the zone today? Try the recommended follow-up story next:
Do you know a leader who could use some more strategic imagination?
It only takes 5 seconds to share our imagination workouts.
Do you want stories like this in your inbox?
Join strategic thinkers preparing to lead in the age of AI.