Where did you download this Santa from?
Her palms glow with the mug's hot chocolate temperature indicator. She enjoys its satisfying warmth, cosied on a sofa with her friend. They watch as their children bombard Santa with questions by the tree. The twinkling lights reflect off their smiling faces.
- Thanks for doing this.
- It’s our pleasure. How did you convince your kids that Santa visits our home in person but not yours?
- That was simpler than we expected. We told them you have faster internet.
- And why is that?
- Because you live closer to the city centre.
She raises an eyebrow, a playful disbelief in her eyes.
- And that was all?
- That was all. They immediately started inventing other reasons. Oh, before I forget. Where did you download this Santa from?
- We got a morphsuit subscription, so Santa’s appearances have never been simpler. It sounds like you have very imaginative children.
- Yeah, don't get me started. It's all nice and charming until your child's imagination exceeds the school's data plan.
- I didn’t know this was a thing.
- Yeah. I worry that AI will tenex their shiny object syndrome. They may have trouble sticking to something long enough for it to produce value. Speaking of kids, what about yours? How are they doing?
- We are in the sporty phase. All they want is haptic sportswear. It's amazing how much faster you can learn with gear that guides your movements
- For training?
- Yeah. When something you wear has a mind of its own, it can show you exactly which muscle to use and when.
- I can’t believe how crazy future sports will become.
- Every time I see clips from old games, it feels like those athletes are moving in mud.
A man approaches their sofa with a smile of tired affection.
- You both look lovely in those sweaters. The kids asked for their mum. Can you fill in for me?
She rolls her eyes, getting up from the couch.
- Sorry, his sweateritis have reached a seasonal high. He keeps complimenting clothes instead of people.
- I hope he gets better soon.
They share a smile.
- Hold my chocolate, but leave something for me. It’s super hot.
- I don't mind.
He blows gently on the coca to cool it down.
- How is your preparation going?
He points at his partner, joining the kids in talking with Santa.
- Thanks to her, we only have a few more deliveries and wrapping, and we're all set.
- I’m still not sure if she’ll like her gift.
- Yeah. It’s so hard to get her something she likes. She already has it or already knows it’s crap. How are you doing on the gift frontline?
- Slowly, but we’re almost there. Kids only want more games and stories. Easy. We always gift our friends shared experiences and some nice time together. Simple.
He smiles, warming his hands with the steaming cocoa cup.
- Time with friends? What an excellent idea!
- Come on, you always know what you are getting and are always surprised anyway. We joke every year that all those digital downloads are a conspiracy forcing you to buy something extra as an object to put the gift code into. It’s always a participatory fiction season pass with either a gravity coat, stack of neurobrew, or a textured tie. Whatever matches the thing.
- Ha ha, that’s a good one.
- We usually struggle with those tiny things to put our main gifts into. On the other hand, my parents have been a breeze for the last few years.
- Are they turning into gardeners?
- How did you know?
- Mine are the same. Taking care of plants in a garden can deeply comfort anyone overwhelmed by our world slowly filling with robots, drones, and AI they don’t understand.
- Hmm, maybe this is why I started to like cooking after all those years.
- Gardening, cooking, and fitness are the simplest activities in which you can feel in control of input and output, and the outcome is comfortingly predictable.
The alarm buzzes on his wrist.
- Well, I need to go. Santa needs me. It’s my turn to jump into the morph suit.
- Make sure to make a good first impression.
- It won’t be hard with your setup.
She savours the warmth of the mug as he approaches the group at the tree, exchanging a secret signal with the current Santa to take over the role.
- Okay, everyone, Santa needs a break.
The room erupts with the children giggling when he walks Santa out for a well-deserved break. At that moment, she realises her grandmother was right. Family, friends, and the comfort of hot cocoa are all you need to feel grateful for yet another year.
Hello Practical Futurists,
Welcome back from the future, where morph suits can turn anyone into Santa, and sportswear has a mind of its own.
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:
"Technology is the campfire around which we tell our stories."
Laurie Anderson
Let's connect this story to your personal life to make it more relatable and engaging.
Personal life reflection prompts:
What do your gift-giving habits say about you?
When do you deliberately choose slower, more traditional ways of doing things?
Name 3 non-material simple pleasures that bring you the most joy and comfort. Why?
How do you explain technological magic to children without killing their sense of wonder?
What 2 hands-on activities help you feel more in control or grounded in your personal life?
That was great!
Let's fire up your thinking to the organisational level now.
It’s time to explore professional applications in the context of the industry, team, service, or product you're working with.
Professional life reflection prompts
What are the 2 ways to shrink the frame of reference when describing a complex topic to someone outside your field?
If you could give one thing to everyone in your industry or role worldwide, what would it be?
What is the role of a sense of wonder in your line of work?
In what 3 ways can your organisation improve knowledge transfer during role transitions?
What role should predictability play in your organisation's adoption of new tools?
How can you help your team maintain focus in an environment full of digital distractions?
Name two colleagues on your team who are the hardest people to give presents to.
Great work!
Key Takeaway: Architecting the Sense of Wonder
In a world where morphsuits can turn everyone into anyone and the activewear coaches movement, we're rediscovering an essential truth: while technology can enhance anything, the foundations of human connection remain remarkably simple.
Activities where results directly follow efforts, like gardening, cooking, or fitness, are hands-on proof that progress isn't about replacing simplicity but about choosing where to preserve it.
Tomorrow's leaders must master not just the deployment of technology, but the design of experiences that preserve the sense of wonder in an over-explained world.
The future will reward those who understand that progress isn't about replacing magic with algorithms but about knowing what to enhance and what to protect.
Chart Your Course:
How do we preserve a sense of wonder in an era of instant explanation?
What deserves to be protected from optimisation?
Where does simplicity create more value than sophistication?
Take Action Today:
Balance Speed with Intention
→ Identify areas where direct effort creates meaningful value
→ Add rest areas where taking time makes things better
Cultivate Sustainable Wonder
→ Map moments where the simplicity of direct experience outperforms explanation
→ Develop frameworks where the sense of wonder grows with understanding rather than diminishes
Design for Discovery
→ Create spaces where technology enables rather than prescribes exploration
→ Build systems that reward curiosity over efficiency
Innovation may run on algorithms but its magic runs on human imagination.
You did amazing! That’s everything we have for today.
Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward. Thank you for expanding your imagination with us.
Think bright, and amazing things will happen.
Pawel Halicki
Make Practical Futures work for you in 2025
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