The best way to predict the future is to invent it. This episode explores how to identify what’s missing, turn vision into action, and execute with discipline. Learn from Katharine Graham’s bold leadership decisions and start designing your future today.
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Welcome to the Leadership Quotient. I’m Dusty Holcomb. And each day, I’ll share a meaningful quote and explore how it applies to leadership and personal growth. Together, we’ll unpack lessons that help you lead yourself and others with purpose and clarity. Let’s get started.
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The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Alan Kaye. Where do you wanna be 1 year from now? What’s missing in your life, your leadership, or your work? Alan Kaye’s words are a reminder that the future isn’t something we stumble into.
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It’s something that we create. But here’s the reality. You can’t invent the future unless you pause long enough to think about what’s missing. Too often, we’re so busy putting out fires or chasing tasks that we fail to step back and ask the bigger questions. What is it that you truly want?
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What are the gaps standing between where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow? Answering those questions is the first step in moving from dreaming about the future to inventing it. Katharine Graham, the former publisher of the Washington Post, provides a powerful example of inventing the future by addressing what’s missing. She inherited leadership of the paper under difficult circumstances after her husband’s death and quickly realized that she had a steep learning curve. Graham was underestimated and doubted by nearly everyone around her, including herself, but she didn’t let that stop her.
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Graham sought out the knowledge, relationships, and courage she needed to succeed. Her leadership came into sharp focus in the 19 seventies during the Pentagon papers and Watergate scandals. Against enormous pressure, Graham decided to publish stories that held the government accountable. This wasn’t about reacting to events. It was about creating a future where journalism could speak truth to power.
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Graham didn’t wait for someone else to tell her how to lead. She stepped into her own authority and shaped the future of The Washington Post. Her decision wasn’t without risk, but it was grounded in a clear vision of what was missing, integrity and accountability in a time of great uncertainty. Her story reminds us that inventing the future requires stepping into discomfort, confronting challenges, and executing on a vision even when the stakes are high. So let me ask you what’s missing in your life or your leadership right now.
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What gaps do you see between where you are today and where you want to be tomorrow? Alan Kay’s quote, challenges us to take ownership of the future by creating it. But doing so requires 3 important things. 1st reflection. You need time to pause and take stock of your current reality.
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If you don’t slow down long enough to identify what’s missing, you’ll never create the clarity needed to move forward. 2nd planning. Dreams remain dreams until you create a plan. Break your vision into specific actionable steps. What’s the first thing that you can do today to move closer to your goal?
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3rd, execution. Planning without action is useless. Consistent execution, not perfection, is what drives progress. Commit to showing up every day, even when it feels hard or inconvenient. Graham’s story shows us that inventing the future requires intentionality, courage, and follow through.
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She didn’t wait for someone else to shape her future. She created it by recognizing what was missing and taking bold action to fill the gaps. This process applies to us all, whether it’s a professional goal, a personal aspiration, or a leadership challenge, shaping the future starts with clarity. Once you see what’s missing, you can begin building a plan and executing it with purpose. Creating the future isn’t about waiting for the perfect conditions.
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It’s about taking action now. Imagine where you could be a year from today if you identified what’s missing, built plans to address it and executed those plans with discipline. For leaders, this process isn’t just personal. It’s also about the people you serve. Are you leading in a way that inspires those around you to step into their future with confidence and courage?
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Are you helping others identify what’s missing and empowering them to take action? Leadership is about designing outcomes, not leaving them to chance. The best leaders are intentional creators, not passive observers. So here’s my challenge. Take time this week to reflect on what’s missing in your life or your leadership.
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Write it down, create one specific actionable step to close that gap. And then most importantly, execute it. Remember the future doesn’t happen to you. You create it. What will you start inventing today?
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Thanks for joining me on the leadership quotient. I hope today’s quote gave you something to think about and apply in your leadership journey. If you found value in this episode, I’d love for you to share it, subscribe, or leave a review. Leadership is a journey. Keep moving forward, and I’ll see you next time.
