Jennifer James - Thinking in the Future Tense

What People Are Saying about
Jennifer Jamess
Thinking in the Future Tense

Charles Garfleld, Ph.D. Author, Second to None and Peak Performers

If the hallmarks of a masterpiece are simplicity, clarity, and insight, then Jennifer James has presented us with a work of such magnitude. By showing us how to think in the future tense she addresses the central issue in meeting the challenges of the future while providing us with the guidelines for successful navigation of the sea changes around us. I recommend this book highly for all who seek to become more aware and productive in the years to come.

Martin H. Borell Partner, Change Management, Andersen Consulting For those of us in the change management business who are eager to make an impact beyond the current moment, Thinking in the Future Tense is required reading. Dr. James presents a rich blend of stories, tools, and intellectual challenges, making this book worth reading more than once.

Lawrence H. Merk Director, University of Idaho Center of Business Development & Research Thinking in the Future Tense is timely, illuminating, and hopeful. This book shows how to get the jump on change. The chapter Recognizing the Future itself is a complete course in product analysis and development. Every business should look at itself this way.

Lee Lathrop Manager, The Boeing Company Thinking in the Future Tense isnt just a formula for surviving in a bewildering, changing world; it is a blueprint for thriving in it.

Jim Kouzes Coauthor, The Leadership Challenge
and Credibility Jennifer James shines a brilliant beacon across the horizon of time and brightly illuminates that sometimes frightening but most often fascinating mystery called the future. Thinking in the Future Tense is an exhilarating and empowering experience.

Paul J. Greeley, Jr. President, American Chamber of Commerce Executives Jennifer James helps give context to the future. Her insightful work can be an invaluable tool to those seeking to move forward and embrace change and explore tomorrow!

L. Alan Witt Barnett Banks, Inc. Thinking in the Future Tense provides a visionary plan for business leadership in the next century. Those who execute it will have the competitive advantage.

Glen G. J. Wong Executive Vice President, Rogers Cable TV Limited As humans, managers, decision makers, and family members, we are being pulled in a dozen different directions. Jennifer James challenges our thinking and equips us with fascinating insights into our past, present, and most importantly, our future. Read this book. Twice.

Alene Moris Executive Outplacement Outstanding, mind stretching, humorous. Margaret Mead has been reincarnated, and she cares about American business.

Dale Chihuly International artist, Chihuly Studio Jennifer Jamess new book shows how the mind can reach further and deeper and faster.

W. Hunter Simpson Retired CEO, Physio-Control Corporation Thinking in the Future Tense is a truly intriguing and positive reflection of the oft-stated the past is prologue, which, logically translated, says, You havent seen anything yet.

Larry Diamond CEO, Diamond Productions Insanely enlightening! These things need to be said.

Baron Stewart IBM Thinking in the Future Tense will energize and move you to grow and develop. Jennifer Jamess ideals will increase the speed of your development and provide you with tools to accelerate the transformation of your organization. It has certainly done that for me.

Abe Kessol Director, Spectra Physics Scanning Systems, Inc. Thinking in the Future Tense contains the missing ingredients in the formula for tomorrows survival skills.

F. A. Blethen Chairman and Publisher, Seattle Times Company Thinking in the Future Tense is an important addition to the evolving body of literature that is preparing us for the kind of thought processes we need to successfully cope. At a time when we are deluged with change of every kindin demographics, technology, the workplace, economics, and societycombined with a tidal wave of information, books like this will help us keep our personal focus and ground us on shared values.

M. Maureen Maxfield Vice President, Sisters of Charity Health Care Systems Thinking in the Future Tense is inspiring, energizing, and hope-filled. Jennifer James understands the dynamics of radical cultural change. She makes complex information immediately accessible and presents the future through understanding the past in an engaging, vivid style.

Jackie Parley President, CenterPoint in Aspen, Inc. Jennifer James once again offers us her superb intelligence, clear provocative writing style, and extraordinary creativity. She thinks in the future tense as a matter of course and shows us how to do the same. This book is essential for those who feel anxious and overwhelmed by changes around them. For those who feel prepared for the coming decades, she will stretch and challenge them with original perspective and hard questions.

Todd Clist Executive Vice President, Marriott Corp. Jennifer James takes a refreshing new view of leadership. Understanding her perspective of our past, present, and future is necessary for any agent of change to be effective.

Tom H. Timmons Vice President, Mobil Oil ExCom The richness of Thinking in the Future Tense lies in Jamess understanding of what makes people tick.

Jeff Smith The Frugal Gourmet Just the chapter on the power of myths and symbols will be worth your time with this book. Jamess insights always have the ring of truth.

Charlotte Roberts Author of The Fifth Discipline Field Book Jennifer James is a lead scout in the arena of breaking mental models. Thinking in the Future Tense lays out the topography for each of the eight skills of building shared understanding and getting smarter with data. It is a treasure map to competitive advantage, an important addition to organizational learning, and a must for the new leaders.

ALSO BY JENNIFER JAMES

Visions from the Heart

Women and the Blues

Windows

Life Is a Game of Choice

Defending Yourself Against Criticism

Success Is the Quality of Your Journey

Thinking
in the
Future Tense

A WORKOUT FOR THE MlND

Jennifer James

A TOUCHSTONE BOOK
Published by Simon & Schuster

To Ted

TOUCHSTONE
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com

A WORKOUT FOR THE MlND

TOUCHSTONE
New York London Toronto Sydney

Copyright 1996 by Jennifer James Inc.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

First Touchstone Edition 1997

TOUCHSTONE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster Inc.

Designed by Irving Perkins Associates

Manufactured in the United States of America

11 13 15 17 19 20 18 16 14 12

The Library of Congress has cataloged the Simon & Schuster edition as follows:

James, Jennifer, 1943

Thinking in the future tense: a workout for the mind/Jennifer James.

p. cm.

Includes index.

1.Leadership.

2. Organizational change.

3. Creative ability in business.

I. Title.

HD57.7.J35 1996

658.4092dc20 96-10960

CIP