Double-click to add text
September 2025
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.
Instead of waiting for regulations to force their hand, IKEA worked backwards: What does a circular furniture company of the future look like?
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!
RPN