News

Posted on

Trauma-Proof Strategy: Your Team’s Best Strategic Thinking with AI Prompts

As a CEO or senior leader, you’re responsible for steering your organization into the future. But if you’re being honest, you may feel like you’re falling short. The day-to-day noise is deafening. How can you rise above it all and think strategically—especially now, when AI tools like Large Language Models (LLMs) are reshaping the game?

In the past, you likely comforted yourself with a familiar belief: “We’ll think long-term later…once this urgent issue is behind us.” There was always supposed to be time—just around the corner—to lift your head up and see the big picture.

But when you stop to look back, you realise: that moment never arrived.

Instead, the pressure to be constantly reactive has taken over. Working nights, weekends, even holidays has become your team’s new normal. They understand the stakes. You’ve done your best under the circumstances. And yet, in quiet moments, you fear “It’s not enough.”

You think of the companies whose leaders failed to plan for the obvious. Today’s executives in those firms are frustrated, pointing fingers at past C-suites who missed what, in hindsight, was plain to see.

Consider the example of Digicel and its success in Jamaica since 2001. You can imagine the regret at Cable & Wireless. Or look at Canadian companies that relied too heavily on U.S. trade policies—only to find themselves exposed. Think of Intel, struggling to compete with Nvidia and TSMC.

In each case, when reality finally forced a wake-up call, it was too late.

You might say, “But I trust my own instincts. I’ve pulled off miracles before.” That may be true. But today, that won’t be enough.

Even if you locked yourself in a room with the best business thinker in the world, you’d still face a serious limitation: your competitors can now access smarter thinking faster. LLMs, paired with local, data-driven insight, are leveling the playing field. You’re not just competing with other executives—you’re competing with every team that knows how to ask better questions.

That’s why strategy today is no longer about just having the “right” answer. It’s about involving your people in the process. Provoking new thinking from insiders who know the terrain best.

Here’s how to do it.

Rethink How You Prompt Your People

If you’ve used LLMs like ChatGPT, you know: a well-crafted prompt makes all the difference. The same idea applies to your team. You need to move beyond weak prompts—like town halls, company retreats, or basic SWOT exercises.

Instead, create what we’ll call an ultra-prompt. Start with these ingredients:

  1. List 5–10 of your organization’s thorniest issues. Pick one—say, attracting top-tier talent under 35.
  2. Gather internal data and case studies. Include hiring stats, exit interviews, culture surveys, pay equity reviews, and more.
  3. Frame the issue differently. Teach a new lens like Jobs to Be Done or Category Design to shift how the problem is seen.
  4. Form diverse, cross-functional teams. Mix tenure, departments, and seniority. Give them a focused 30–120 minutes.
  5. Encourage the use of prompt for input in their LLM of choice. For example:

“Imagine you’re an external consultant hired to diagnose and solve our challenge in attracting top young talent. Based on our data, industry, culture, and location—what invisible obstacles might be pushing people away? What hidden advantages could we better use? Give us three bold, actionable insights. Then suggest strategic moves to make them sustainable. Be bold, but grounded. Push us beyond our echo chamber.”

You can even ask your teams to refine their thinking by requesting ideas in the voice of Peter Drucker or another visionary.

What Happens Next? Expect Disruption

The debriefs—both written and spoken—will be revealing. You’ll hear from employees who are wide awake. Some may offer challenging, unconventional ideas. That’s the point.

Expect friction. Uncertainty. Breakthroughs. You’re not just solving problems—you’re surfacing potential that’s been hiding in plain sight.

Strategy Can’t Wait

Let go of the fantasy that you’ll find “a better time” to think strategically. That ship has sailed.

In today’s landscape, the organizations that win are the ones brave enough to ask hard questions now. While others are buried in busyness, outdated tools, and endless meetings, you can be the one guiding your team with smart prompts—and real engagement.

Not because you’re the smartest person in the room. But because you created a space where the smartest thinking could finally emerge.

Longevity isn’t guaranteed. But with the right prompts, you’ll be ready when the next wake-up call comes.

Posted on

Growing the Economy with a Grand Strategy: Four Unavoidable Truths

As a business leader, you’re tired of hearing about countries with stagnant economies. Perhaps your own nation is among them — stuck in low-growth mode, with seemingly no way out. Yet, you’re committed to finding answers. You’re ready for bold ideas, not short-term gimmicks.

Here’s one worth your time.

A few weeks ago, I watched a YouTube video from a university research day featuring Michael Lopez, a BioPharma innovator with ties to Canada and South Korea. He’s also my cousin, so I thought I knew his backstory. But this presentation hit differently.

Lopez has a bold vision: establish a BioPharma manufacturing industry in the Caribbean. He’s not talking about theory — he’s proposing a proven model, grounded in global best practices. And while the facility could go anywhere in the region, he believes Jamaica is the natural leader. It has the infrastructure, location, and skilled talent pool to outcompete neighbours like Barbados or Guyana.

But this isn’t a weekend project. The investment? Around US$80 million over five years. The potential return? A sustainable 5–10% annual GDP boost. Not bad for a “wicked” problem — one that looks impossible until it’s solved.

Facing the Facts

Other Caribbean nations have had growth spurts, thanks to fossil fuels. Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana both tapped into oil and gas to ignite rapid development. Jamaica, on the other hand, leans heavily on tourism — and not especially well.

For example, the average tourist visiting the Bahamas spends about 120% more than one visiting Jamaica. And the Bahamian economy is far better structured to support the tourism sector end-to-end.

This hard truth makes one thing clear: there’s no quick win for Jamaica or countries like it. There’s no magic bullet. No five-year plan will cut it. What’s needed is a Grand Industrial Strategy — a long-term, focused commitment to economic transformation.

A Vision Beyond 2030

You might recall Jamaica’s Vision 2030

— a national roadmap launched to transition the country to developed status. While it didn’t dive deep into industrial policy, it offered a framework for change. But now, it’s become fashionable to be cynical about such visions.

That’s a mistake.

If we take a longer view — what Apple CEO Tim Cook calls “the long arc of time” — we may be closer to breakthrough than it appears. This is not the moment to give up. It’s the moment to double down.

Let’s look at four unavoidable truths, informed by history and grounded in realism.

Truth #1: Transformations Take Decades

Major economic wins don’t happen overnight. Consider the Jamaican company GraceKennedy and its “GK 2020” plan. It took 25 years of disciplined execution to turn vision into results. Real change takes long-term thinking — and staying the course.

Truth #2: Politics Can Get in the Way

As another election cycle looms, many countries face the same problem: political battles overshadow growth strategies. Even when elections are peaceful, short-term thinking often trumps long-term policy. That’s a structural challenge.

Truth #3: We Can Achieve Great Things Together

History shows we can come together to achieve national milestones — from winning independence to dramatically reducing debt-to-GDP ratios. When we align across sectors and silos, we move mountains.

Truth #4: Some Goals Must Transcend Politics

Big ideas — like a regional BioPharma industry — can’t be reduced to partisan talking points. Political leaders may be tempted to take credit, but nation-building requires collective ownership. No single party or figure should be at the centre.

If these truths resonate, then support those who aim to build cross-sector alliances — across political parties, businesses, civil society, churches, and everyday citizens. This collaborative approach is how Vision 2030 was born: through six years of engagement with thousands of Jamaicans from all walks of life.

It wasn’t perfect, but it created lasting alignment. Now we must take what we learned, let go of our cynicism, and aim higher.

Time to Build Again

As elections approach, we have a unique opportunity. Why not use this moment to begin drafting the next grand vision — one that spans 2030 to 2040 and beyond? A plan bigger than any single government, industry, or company.

BioPharma is just one example. But it shows what’s possible when we focus on innovation and long-term investment instead of short-term survival.

You may never see your name etched in history books. But like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “You may not get there with them.” Still, the sacrifice of planting the seeds — of thinking long-term, of putting country above self — could be the difference between stagnation and transformation.

You may not be called a hero.

But your effort as a business leader may just help rewrite the future.

Interested in more ideas like this explored in more detail? Visit https://longtermstrategy.info for more content.

Posted on

From Vision to Victory: 8 Steps to Deliver Game-Changing Corporate Results

Imagine this: You’re the CEO of a growing company. You’ve gathered your executive team, ready to rally them around a bold, breakthrough ambition. But there’s a moment of hesitation—you know someone will ask, “What’s the next move?” and you’re not quite sure how to respond.

You’re not alone. Many leaders find themselves in this exact spot—excited about what could be, yet uncertain about how to turn ambition into action.

The good news? You’re right to believe something extraordinary is within reach. The bad news? Big ideas often fail—not because they’re unworthy, but because there’s no clear pathway to success.

Grand visions don’t collapse from lack of enthusiasm. They collapse from lack of structure.

So, what’s the fix? Is there a proven approach that balances vision and execution?

Let’s start with three critical foundations you need in place, followed by an eight-step formula used by transformative leaders across sectors and continents.

Three Conditions for Large-Scale Success

If your organization includes dozens—or even hundreds—of team members, these conditions are non-negotiable:

  1. It can’t depend on luck. You must actively lead the charge. Passivity and wishful thinking kill progress equally.
  2. You need full-team engagement. Your board, leadership, and staff must help shape—and implement—the goal.
  3. The outcomes must be measurable. Tie the aspiration to clear data points, deadlines, and accountability.

Take public health as an example. Japan, for instance, has one of the lowest obesity rates among developed nations—just 4.3%, compared to 38.2% in the United States and 27.8% in the United Kingdom. This achievement translates into longer life expectancy, reduced healthcare costs, and a more productive workforce.

Was this a cultural accident? A genetic advantage?

Not at all. Beginning in the 1960s, Japan implemented a national strategy focused on nutrition education. By 2005, they had passed legislation making food literacy a formal part of the curriculum, with licensed educators delivering it across schools.

This didn’t happen by chance. It was a deliberate, long-term plan backed by consistent investment and engagement.

Contrast that with wishful thinking: “All we need is the right cabinet member,” or “A good grant will solve this.” That’s magical thinking—not strategy.

So, what does work? Here’s an eight-step framework used by CEOs, policymakers, and change agents to turn bold goals into tangible success.

8 Steps to Making Your Vision Real

1. Set a bold, measurable aspiration.
Think big. Define what success looks like with real metrics—even if the roadmap isn’t clear yet.

2. Make it a shared journey.
Today’s complex challenges can’t be tackled alone. Engage your executive team, board, and frontline staff in the process, from vision to execution.

3. Commit to a long-term horizon.
You might prefer results that land before your contract ends—but transformational outcomes often take years. Invest anyway. Legacy is built over time.

4. Plan with precision.
Vague goals invite vague actions. Use methods like backcasting—starting from the end goal and working backward—to make trade-offs early and shape a viable path.

5. Have the hard conversations.
Not everything fits. To focus, you’ll need to let go of good ideas in favor of great ones. Leadership demands discernment.

6. Translate ideas into structured projects.
Break down the strategy into concrete initiatives. Then, create a Project Management Office (PMO) with the teeth to hold teams accountable.

7. Inspire through clarity.
If the goal doesn’t energize people, revisit it. Maybe it’s too cautious, too abstract, or too internally focused.

8. Embrace risk.
If your vision doesn’t make you a bit nervous, it probably isn’t bold enough. Great leadership involves pushing past comfort zones.

As Machiavelli warned, “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”

Leaders who use this eight-step playbook don’t depend on luck. They take calculated risks, stay grounded in measurable outcomes, and engage others deeply.

The payoff? Not just short-term wins, but long-lasting impact. Their names may fade, but their legacy endures. The secret isn’t genius—it’s structured, disciplined action guided by principle and purpose.

P.S. These results are not uncommon. Just check out the Made in China 2025 vision crafted in 2015. In part, this article was inspired by the approach used and its reported 86% success rate.

For more, see articles and discussions on my site – www.longtermstrategy.info

Posted on

The World’s Obsessed with Drama | Wise Leaders Leverage It for Long-Term Wins

Recently, I noticed two positive trends in Jamaica that haven’t exactly made the headlines. One is economic, the other social — and both are significant. Yet, they’ve flown under the radar. Why?

It turns out, there’s a powerful leadership insight here.

Let’s start with a quick story. On a recent trip to Trinidad — my first in nearly ten years — I was surprised by how well the country was doing. This wasn’t what I expected. Why? Because my impression had been shaped by dramatic, click-bait headlines in their local media. I’d unconsciously absorbed a picture of decline that wasn’t real.

But it’s not just a Trinidadian problem. We’re seeing the same disconnect in Jamaica.

Two Quiet Wins in Jamaica

Consider these two major wins for our country:

  • Our debt-to-GDP ratio has fallen significantly over the past decade — a shift hailed internationally as a fiscal miracle.
  • The murder rate is down by around 35%, a change that’s more immediate and tangible for everyday Jamaicans.

And yet, if you scan the average conversation — or the comments section of any local article — you’d think things are only getting worse.

So what’s going on? More importantly, what can you, as a leader, learn from this mismatch between reality and perception?

1. The Media’s Built-In “Bad News Bias”

Humans are wired to notice threats. It’s a survival instinct. That’s why bad news spreads faster and sticks longer. The media — and our internal company “grapevines” — amplify this.

In contrast, good news usually unfolds gradually. It doesn’t grab us by the collar.

Think about it: a new sprint world record makes headlines. A steady decline in national debt? Not so much.

Inside your organisation, the same dynamic plays out. Rumours of misconduct, layoffs, or resignations make the rounds in minutes. Meanwhile, the months of quiet progress you’ve led? They barely register.

And if you try to highlight those wins? You risk being seen as defensive, or worse — out of touch.

Don’t take it personally. This isn’t about you. It’s just how attention works. But it does mean that to lead effectively, you need to do more than deliver results. You need to frame them within a bigger, ongoing story.

2. Use Disruption as Strategic Leverage

We live in a time of continuous surprise. Global politics, economic shocks, social unrest — there’s no shortage of daily drama.

Instead of fighting it, smart leaders use this volatility as a strategic tool.

Take Tim Cook at Apple. According to the Wall Street Journal, he’s mastered the art of staying focused on the “long arc of time.” When short-term crises like tariffs threaten Apple’s operations, he zooms out, reminding his team of their long-term goals. This mindset gives Apple a major edge over reactive competitors.

Closer to home: imagine you run a T-shirt company. Most businesses dread election season — it’s disruptive, unpredictable. But you? You see a recurring opportunity to provide campaign merchandise. You plan ahead, lean in, and make election cycles work for you.

In other words, you turn chaos into competitive advantage.

3. Disruptions Are Inevitable — Welcome Them!

The late Brazilian F1 legend Ayrton Senna was known for excelling in wet conditions. While others grumbled, he thrived. He trained specifically for rainy races and saw bad weather as an edge — not a setback.

That mindset can apply to your organisation, too.

Imagine treating every disruption — economic, political, internal — as rocket fuel. Not “good” or “bad,” just a source of energy to be redirected.

This doesn’t happen by accident. It requires two big shifts:

  • A 15-30-year strategic vision that anchors your organisation in long-term goals.
  • Ongoing internal communication that reinforces this perspective, even (especially) when things get tough.

Your people won’t get this balance from the news. Or social media. Or even their coworkers. It has to come from you.

But here’s the catch: most managers aren’t trained for this. They’re too caught up in firefighting. They’ve never seen the “big picture,” let alone been asked to communicate it.

So when breakdowns happen — and they will — teams spiral into fear. But with a shared long-term narrative in place, even big shocks can become breakthroughs.

Final Thought:
Being a leader in 2025 isn’t just about managing performance or hitting KPIs. It’s about building a team that can hold two ideas at once: slow, silent progress and sudden, sharp change. That’s the real skill — and the edge — of tomorrow’s most effective leaders.

Posted on

Ep 28 Strategizing Around a Toxic Culture

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com

You are leading the development of a strategic plan in an organization. The company has a very transactional culture in which staff members are doing the minimum required to get by.

However, the company needs to develop a game-changing strategic plan to stay relevant in its industry. You are concerned that staff members don’t care about the future of the organization, but their buy-in is essential.

How can you get them interested in a shared future vision for the organization, beyond a mere paycheck or bonus?

Tune into this episode to hear from me and my special guest, Debilyn Molineaux, as we tackle this wicked problem together.

I’m Francis Wade and welcome to the JumpLeap Long-Term Strategy Podcast

Debilyn Molineaux serves as the catalyst for the American Future project to help everyday Americans discover and believe in a future that will be “worth it” to work together for the sake of our nation. Debilyn is a serial entrepreneur, co-founding many organizations and transpartisan projects over her 20+ year career in establishing the democracy ecosystem.

Here’s a 20-minute video excerpt.

To watch the full video, see below, under the paywall for subscribers.

Posted on

Ep 28 Strategizing Around a Toxic Culture

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com

You are leading the development of a strategic plan in an organization. The company has a very transactional culture in which staff members are doing the minimum required to get by.

However, the company needs to develop a game-changing strategic plan to stay relevant in its industry. You are concerned that staff members don’t care about the future of the organization, but their buy-in is essential.

How can you get them interested in a shared future vision for the organization, beyond a mere paycheck or bonus?

Tune into this episode to hear from me and my special guest, Debilyn Molineaux, as we tackle this wicked problem together.

I’m Francis Wade and welcome to the JumpLeap Long-Term Strategy Podcast

Debilyn Molineaux serves as the catalyst for the American Future project to help everyday Americans discover and believe in a future that will be “worth it” to work together for the sake of our nation. Debilyn is a serial entrepreneur, co-founding many organizations and transpartisan projects over her 20+ year career in establishing the democracy ecosystem.

Here’s a 20-minute video excerpt.

To watch the full video, see below, under the paywall for subscribers.

Posted on

Strategizing Around a Toxic Culture

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com

You are leading the development of a strategic plan in an organization. The company has a very transactional culture in which staff members are doing the minimum required to get by.

However, the company needs to develop a game-changing strategic plan to stay relevant in its industry. You are concerned that staff members don’t care about the future of the organization, but their buy-in is essential.

How can you get them interested in a shared future vision for the organization, beyond a mere paycheck or bonus?

Tune into this episode to hear from me and my special guest, Debilyn Molineaux, as we tackle this wicked problem together.

I’m Francis Wade and welcome to the JumpLeap Long-Term Strategy Podcast

Debilyn Molineaux serves as the catalyst for the American Future project to help everyday Americans discover and believe in a future that will be “worth it” to work together for the sake of our nation. Debilyn is a serial entrepreneur, co-founding many organizations and transpartisan projects over her 20+ year career in establishing the democracy ecosystem.

Here’s a 20-minute video excerpt.

To watch the full video, see below, under the paywall for subscribers.

Posted on

Ep 27 – Missing Insights | How to Find Breakthrough Strategies in the C-Suite

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com

You are convinced that your company or client needs a game-changing strategy. But you have also worked with them to see that their thinking is pedestrian. Ordinary. Run of the mill. Business as usual.

You realise that one element which is lacking is a set of powerful insights. Without them, you’ll always be stuck no matter how well they do at implementation.

And if a competitor comes along, like Deep Seek, you’ll be disrupted.

Tune into this episode to join me in tackling this wicked problem.

And here’s a resource I mentioned for scanning future trends:

https://www.futuresplatform.com/

Here is the complimentary video excerpt for free subscribers. The full video is behind the paywall below.

Posted on

Ep 27 – Missing Insights | How to Find Breakthrough Strategies in the C-Suite

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com

You are convinced that your company or client needs a game-changing strategy. But you have also worked with them to see that their thinking is pedestrian. Ordinary. Run of the mill. Business as usual.

You realise that one element which is lacking is a set of powerful insights. Without them, you’ll always be stuck no matter how well they do at implementation.

And if a competitor comes along, like Deep Seek, you’ll be disrupted.

Tune into this episode to join me in tackling this wicked problem.

And here’s a resource I mentioned for scanning future trends:

https://www.futuresplatform.com/

Here is the complimentary video excerpt for free subscribers. The full video is behind the paywall below.

Posted on

Ep 27 – Missing Insights | How to Find Breakthrough Strategies in the C-Suite

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit longtermstrategy.substack.com

You are convinced that your company or client needs a game-changing strategy. But you have also worked with them to see that their thinking is pedestrian. Ordinary. Run of the mill. Business as usual.

You realise that one element which is lacking is a set of powerful insights. Without them, you’ll always be stuck no matter how well they do at implementation.

And if a competitor comes along, like Deep Seek, you’ll be disrupted.

Tune into this episode to join me in tackling this wicked problem.

And here’s a resource I mentioned for scanning future trends:

https://www.futuresplatform.com/

Here is the complimentary video excerpt for free subscribers. The full video is behind the paywall below.