NEW RULES

Unfortunately those old mental models we learned are no longer going to serve us. The future will belong to those able to see forward and anticipate, and have the requisite agility to respond to whatever life may bring. Recognize patterns and connections, even though they may be incomplete, ambiguous, and conflicting. Connecting the dots was a way to practice a new way of seeing, and the conclusions may be equally unfamiliar and unknown. Therefore, be open to surprises, anomalies, and unexpected findings.

Here are the key new rules that we suggest will help you in overcoming the use of familiar mental models and open your eyes to different opportunities.

• Find new ways to spot opportunities; consider the gap between technology and what consumers want to buy.
  
• Launch fast with agile teams. Use small teams and "skunk works" as pilots to test and prove new concepts.
  
• Break unwritten rules. Use brainstorming or outsiders to identify ideas and innovation.
  
• Outsource tasks to specialists. Sometimes outsourcers can do things better and faster by using standard technologies and components.
  
• When you have it right, repeat it! Templates are ideal when something works, and you can leverage the idea elsewhere.