August 2025
October 2025
little time on reports or automates a few workflows. That’s 2x thinking.
10x leaders use AI differently. They’re not asking, “How can AI save us 10 minutes?” They’re asking, “How can AI reveal new patterns, new markets, or new business models that my human brain can’t see alone?”
We’re already seeing signs of the rise of the “one-person billion-dollar company.” Thanks to converging technologies, especially AI, the traditional barriers to scale—capital, labor, and infrastructure—are collapsing. A single founder with the right vision can now orchestrate manufacturing, logistics, marketing, and customer service through AI agents, automation, and global digital platforms. That’s not just a Silicon Valley story—it’s a glimpse into what happens when strategic planning shifts from How many people do I need? to How much impact can one person create with the right tools?
Here’s how AI is already transforming long-term strategy:
Scenario Simulation at Scale – Traditional forecasting models run a few dozen “what-if” scenarios. AI can run millions, testing disruptions and demand shifts simultaneously.
Regulatory Forecasting – AI models can flag likely regulatory shifts years in advance. Imagine knowing today how recycling mandates or zero-emission policies will reshape your industry by 2030—you wouldn’t just comply; you’d lead.
AI-Powered Market Insights – AI connects the dots between social trends, energy markets, and logistics bottlenecks to predict where demand is heading.
Spotting Converging Technologies – When AI highlights intersections—automation, renewable energy, waste-to-value streams —you’re no longer reacting; you’re proactively shaping new business models.
Working Backwards from the Future
So, how do you put this into practice?
Identify a Converging Technology – Don’t just scan your own sector. Watch for intersections like AI-driven automation, smart logistics, clean energy, digital twins, or circular economy innovations.
Ask: What happens when this becomes mainstream? – If additive manufacturing of pallet components becomes cost- competitive, how does that affect your operations?
Work Backwards – Instead of asking, “How do we survive this change?” ask, “What moat can we build today that positions us to lead when this arrives?”
Test with AI – Use AI to model scenarios, forecast adoption timelines, and quantify risks and opportunities.
This process isn’t about predicting perfect- ly; it's about designing adaptability into your operations.
Cross-Industry Inspiration
Tesla: Betting on AI + Energy Convergence
Tesla’s long-term play wasn’t just making electric cars—it was recognizing that batteries, energy storage, and AI-driven autonomy would converge. They worked backwards from a future where energy is decentralized and cars drive themselves. Today, Tesla isn’t just a car company—it’s an energy and data company. Their strategy shows us that if you anchor in converging technologies, you don’t just survive—you redefine your industry.
IKEA: AI-Driven Circular Economy
IKEA, the global furniture giant, is using AI to model product lifecycles and design for reuse and recycling. They’ve committed to becoming fully circular by 2030. Instead of waiting for regulations to force their hand, IKEA worked backwards: What does a circular furniture company of the future look like? Then they used AI to optimize materials, predict consumer behavior, and design logistics systems that make reuse profitable. For pallet and packaging companies, this is a roadmap for how to align sustainability with growth.
Why This Matters for You
Strategic planning isn’t just about the next budget cycle—it’s about designing your company’s DNA for resilience and growth over decades.
If you’re only thinking about efficiency, you’re stuck in 2x.
If you’re asking, “What does the future demand of me, and how do I work backwards from there?”—you’re operating at 10x.
And here’s the kicker: AI doesn’t just help you make those plans—it can co-create them with you.
Strategic planning isn’t about being rigid—it’s about creating a vision, setting bold goals, and designing operations that adapt and evolve. If you anchor yourself in mindset, harness AI as a true partner, and work backwards from the future, you’ll position yourself for exponential growth.
Because, in the words of Bill Gates: “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten.”
Until next month, keep expanding, keep innovating, and keep Bridging the Gap!