Make Friends With Disruption

In his new book Magnetiize, entrepreneur and trend specialist John Sanei shows us how to navigate the rapidly changing future – and stay true to ourselves in the process. Below is an exclusive extract

The fourth industrial revolution is upon us, and it’s all about advanced technology and mind-blowing ideas. From artificial intelligence and 3D printing to drone deliveries and self-driving cars, the future looks more futuristic than ever.

Can you handle it?

In 2017, I had the good fortune of attending the Singularity University’s Executive Program in San Francisco. For a week, I was exposed to some of the most forward-thinking innovators, scientists and pioneers on the planet, absorbing first-hand knowledge of the progressive thinking that is shaping the future.

When I got back home to South Africa I shared some of my experiences on social media. Many of my friends and followers responded to my posts with a virtual smirk and something along the lines of, ‘that all sounds great but none of this fancy innovation is coming to Africa any time soon, bro.’ We become pessimists about things we don’t like or understand, because being a pessimist takes no effort. It requires real courage to become an optimist and look forward to the future, and it requires even more courage to accept disruption when it is beyond your understanding.

Because real innovation is not ‘normal’ and even unbelievable at times, it is often misunderstood. But if you’re okay with wearing rose tinted sunglasses some of the time, you will spot life-changing innovations before others do.

It is well known that the Wright brothers are responsible for pioneering aviation as we know it today. Can you imagine how excited the world must have been when they accomplished the first successful flight at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina on 17 December 1903?