A global pandemic of unprecedented proportions. Unprecedented strain in the worldwide supply chain. Inflation is on the rise—desperate labor shortages. Weather change is causing deadly heat waves and storms—the first cross-border shooting war between Europe and the United States in 80 years.
The world has been through a lot already this decade, much of it unprecedented in living memory–inconceivable before it happened. It is a sad reminder that we cannot predict the future.
While you cannot predict the future, you can plan for it.
We can plan for it. Each book covers a different area of life or business. However, they are all written in a reluctant planner’s mind. They are people who understand the importance of long-term planning but are too focused on the short term to make it happen. These books will help you understand why “hope for success but prepare for the unexpected” isn’t just idle talk.
1. Tomer Rabinovich, Ride The Amazon Wave
Ride The Amazon Wave: A Pro Seller’s Guide To Private Label Success by Tomer Rabinovich is essential reading for all entrepreneurs, even those who do not make their living from Amazon. Rabinovich shares his incredible success story, from quitting his job to scale his Amazon sales business to starting a consulting firm to share his knowledge.
Rabinovich demonstrates how crucial it is for business leaders and managers to think strategically and tactically throughout his book. Although you won’t be able to make seven-figure Amazon sales overnight, it is possible to plan for five years and beyond.
2. Pete Bush and Bill Bush – The Runway Decade
American workers reach their peak earning potential around 50. There is still plenty of time before retirement. But most Americans are not prepared for retirement when they come 60. Many people feel they cannot stop working beyond the “normal” retirement age. This is often true in their 70s.
Poor long-range planning and poor financial decisions are not the only reasons for this. It’s all part of life. However, in The Runway Decade: Building a Preretirement Flight Plan for Your Fifties, veteran financial advisors Pete Bush & Bill Bush argue that a long-term plan can help you transition from “just getting by” to “everything” when you are ready to retire.
The Runway Decade will be especially useful for business owners in their 50s who need to decide how to transition from day-to-day management and possibly give up ownership as they get older. Each chapter includes fun worksheets and exercises that simplify financial planning. This is great for those who don’t like counting dollars and cents.
3. Wesley Donehue – Under Fire
Wesley Donehue, a communication strategist, knows well how a reputational crisis could strike at any moment.
The bad news is that you will not be able to predict how it will turn out until it’s happening. At that point, it’s too late for you to plan and execute. There will be no further option than to react.
Good news: Donehue helped business leaders, politicians, and global influencers to navigate some of today’s most controversial and scandalous events.
Donehue shares much more of his experience under Fire: 13 Rules to Survive Cancel Culture and Other Crises over the years. This book provides a practical guide to help public officials, business leaders, and everyday people create a crisis management plan before it becomes necessary. You won’t need it again, but you will be thankful that you have it.
The Future Can Be Predicted
None of these books can teach you how to forecast the future. It’s not possible, at least not for now.
These books will help you to plan and anticipate the future. This is almost as valuable. It’s almost as valuable to be well prepared for the future, both in business and personal life. Even though we don’t know what their future looks like, it’s better to be prepared.
