"It's not about what you know. It's about knowing what you need to know!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

I'm down in St. Petersburg, Florida, where I'll speak to a few hundred executives in the manufacturing sector later today, specifically at the 360 Leadership conference for the Business and Industrial Furniture Manufacturers Association.

I thought I escaped the cold. When I head out for my morning walk after finishing this post, it will be but 3C, or 35F. Whoah! Florida!

The topic? The future of manufacturing!

And that's the genesis for today's quote.

I was thinking about what my core message to these folks will be - and realized that one of their biggest issues (and opportunities) is to learn more about all the things that I will cover. Their success won't come from knowing what they know today - it comes from clearly understanding what it is they need to know for tomorrow.

That's the case for everyone, in every profession, every industry, and every career. Our current knowledge no longer provides us a path forward, because it's becoming outdated so quickly. What allows us to move forward is all the new knowledge and insight that is emerging.

In that context, here's what I am telling them about what they need to know.

First and foremost, manufacturing is entering a new era of "Intelligent Manufacturing." In many industries, we are shifting away from traditional mass production toward mass customization. This new manufacturing operating system is built on the convergence of several key trends - the most important being the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), AI and robotics infrastructure, additive manufacturing, and digital twin technology. It allows us to build products not yet conceived using methodologies that are yet to be defined.

Second, they need to embrace the idea of the "product twin." Digital twins are no longer just static 3D models; they are dynamic simulations of products being designed. We are moving toward a world where we can simulate 50,000 hours of a product's lifecycle before we ever physically build it.

Third, this robotic revolution is changing the factory floor. We are moving beyond caged robots to "swarm factories"and the ultimate arrival of humanoid robots that can work alongside humans.

Finally, the product itself is becoming "phygital." We are moving toward bio-responsive furniture and workspaces that adapt to our stress levels, integrated with holographic telepresence, and supported by a circular economy. To get there, you need to empower the rebels, the outliers, and the misfits in your organization to innovate at the edge.

That's a lot of new stuff that these folks need to know! I'm probably going to freak them out a bit! But if I do, they're getting the wrong message - because this stuff isn't optional.

Their world is changing faster than they know, and so they need to know what they need to know to be a part of it.

---

Futurist Jim Carroll has done over 100 keynotes on the future of manufacturing. Details can be found at manufacturing.jimcarroll.com

**#Knowledge** **#Learning** **#Manufacturing** **#Innovation** **#Future** **#AI** **#Robotics** **#DigitalTwin** **#Industry** **#Transformation** **#Technology** **#Leadership** **#Growth** **#IIoT** **#Customization** **#Intelligence** **#Disruption** **#Adaptation** **#Skills** **#Tomorrow** **#Insight** **#Progress** **#Conference** **#Florida** **#Onwards**
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Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-its-not-about-what-you-know-its-about-knowing-what-you-need-to-know/

"Better a known rival than an unpredictable friend." - Futurist Jim Carroll

There's a lot of talk online about what happens when partnerships become unstable.

When one side of a partnership slides over the abyss of rationality, into a mindset of madness.

When what was once reliable becomes volatile, when the predictable becomes uncertain, and the rational, irrational.

And the lesson is that you have to pick your partners carefully.

Strategically.

Wisely.

With caution.

With due diligence.

With both eyes wide open and elbows up.

You'll never move forward if you keep trying to rely on a relationship that has become untenable.

Partnership involves predictable, rational action.

And when that disappears, so should the reliance on the partnership - because it becomes time to form new ones.

Those partnerships might involve choices that, in an old world, might not have made sense but, in a new world, demand attention.

That's simply reality!

----

Futurist Jim Carroll often speaks about the importance of organizations to develop the capability for 'fast partnerships.' He realizes it now applies to nations, too.

**#Partnership** **#Strategy** **#Alliances** **#Trust** **#Reliability** **#Choices** **#Change** **#Wisdom** **#Caution** **#Reality** **#Relationships** **#Stability** **#Leadership** **#Adaptation** **#NewWorld** **#DueDiligence** **#Rationality** **#Forward** **#Decisions** **#Resilience** **#Unpredictable** **#Strategic** **#Eyes** **#Elbows** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-better-a-known-rival-than-an-unpredictable-friend/

"In a world of big change, we are surrounded by some very small minds!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

There are still some people fighting the battles of 2024, the issues of 2022, the world of 2020, the realities of 2018.

It's 2026.

Everything has changed.

What happens in a time of big change is that the small minds refuse to let go of where they were, and find it impossible to go to where the rest of the world is going.

They struggle to comprehend the new order of the world because they are still raging about the old one.

They can't let go of their desire to go back to where they think we should be going, rather than going to where the rest of us are going.

They're a tiresome bunch, aren't they!

---

Futurist Jim Carroll knows that everything has changed in the last week.

**#Change** **#Mindset** **#SmallMinds** **#BigChange** **#Forward** **#Growth** **#Evolution** **#Adaptation** **#Future** **#Progress** **#Vision** **#Perspective** **#Reality** **#LettingGo** **#Transformation** **#Thinking** **#Leadership** **#Innovation** **#Awareness** **#Relevance** **#Moving** **#Clarity** **#Wisdom** **#Tiresome** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-it-a-world-of-big-change-we-are-surrounded-by-some-very-small-minds/

"Trust is an asset that can take decades to build but that can be incinerated in moments." - Futurist Jim Carroll

As a species, we seem to have an implicit ability to observe the issue of trust.
And most of us know that a huge amount of 'trust capital' has disappeared in the last 48 hours.

The thing about trust? When it's gone, it's gone.

It takes a considerable amount of time to build up trust.

And when you work to destroy, it's gone faster than you think! The speed can be astonishing. 

Never forget - lost trust always means a lost future!

That's all I've got for today!

---

Futurist Jim Carroll is Canadian.

**#Trust** **#Leadership** **#Integrity** **#Reputation** **#Character** **#Accountability** **#Truth** **#Values** **#Credibility** **#Relationships** **#Ethics** **#Honesty** **#Respect** **#Legacy** **#Wisdom** **#Consequences** **#Reliability** **#Authenticity** **#Loyalty** **#Foundation** **#Broken** **#Loss** **#Future** **#Reflection** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-trust-is-an-asset-that-can-take-decades-to-build-but-that-can-be-incinerated-in-moments/

"Generative engine optimization: SEO was a popularity contest. GEO is an intelligence test." - Futurist Jim Carroll

We are moving from SEO to GEO, and it's happening incredibly fast!

**Maria Franzoni** had a post about that yesterday - just as the very moment I was optimizing my website for the AI got!

GEO? What's that? Rebuilding our websites so they feed the AI machine better, improving our chances of showing up in ChatGPT and other AI search results!

With this, I've turned off the minimal Google Ads I've been running and put in place the code to let "the AI machines" fully into my site.

They noticed right away! Visits began to explode.

All of this got me thinking in terms of spans of time. If 2015 was about Search Engine Optimisation. 2026 is about Generative Engine Optimisation.

How does it work? In simple terms, my site is now configured to do a different thing when an AI 'bot' appears, seeking to index my content.

---

"Are you a search engine?
Yes"
An AI bot?
Yes.
Oh, ok, here's a version of the content for this page, all nicely organized in the format you like so you can ingest it into your AI!"

---

One thing most folks might ask at this point - isn't this my content? Do I want to feed it to AI? Shouldn't I tell them no? For a time, I did. Then, two weeks ago, I confirmed two speaking gigs that came directly to me from ChatGPT.

That woke me up! I decided to move fast.
Here's what I did.

(Keep reading!)

----
**#GEO** **#SEO** **#AI** **#FutureOfSearch** **#DigitalStrategy** **#Innovation** **#Marketing** **#Technology** **#ChatGPT** **#Optimization** **#WebStrategy** **#Adaptation** **#ArtificialIntelligence** **#ContentStrategy** **#Disruption** **#Change** **#Evolution** **#Digital** **#Visibility** **#Strategy** **#Transformation** **#Speed** **#Relevance** **#Intelligence** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/decoding-tomorrow-daily-inspiration-from-seo-to-geo-generative-engine-optimization-seo-was-a-popularity-contest-geo-is-an-intelligence-test/

"Real strength comes from helping others find their own." - Futurist Jim Carroll

Some thoughts for what is known as "Motivation Monday!"

Often, the best thing you can do to lift others is to lift yourself.

The best way to find some inspiration in your heart is to share some with others.

You'll always discover that the best way to have optimism about tomorrow is to help others find their own.

And when someone is down, you lift them by being ... up!

---

**#Motivation** **#Strength** **#Inspiration** **#Leadership** **#LiftOthers** **#Optimism** **#Support** **#Encouragement** **#Kindness** **#Service** **#Empowerment** **#Positivity** **#Community** **#GiveBack** **#Heart** **#MondayMotivation** **#Purpose** **#Generosity** **#Connection** **#Uplift** **#Hope** **#Compassion** **#Together** **#Growth** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-real-strength-comes-from-helping-others-find-their-own/

"Refuse to participate in the fear... choose to participate in the future." - Futurist Jim Carroll

I don't know about you, but if you are like me, you probably have a disquieting sense of unease about 2026.

Things aren't so great out there, are they?

It would seem that as insanity settles in, the quiet tragedy that is dementia is screaming out its impact at full throttle. Anyone who has seen a senior in this situation recognizes the signs of decline and knows how it goes. Not well.

The result is that all over the world, people are anxious, disturbed, worried, and fearful.

I was reading a post by Dolly Parton of all people yesterday - she recently arrived on Substack. Aside from being a brilliant musical artist, she's a philanthropist with stunning business insight. This line in her post drew my attention:

"My desire to do a thing is always greater than my fear of it."

That made me think! And then I looked up the essence of the quote, and variations of it show it to be a very common motivational phrase.

That being the case, I turned it around in my mind until I found a version that fits the trying times we find ourselves in today.

Here's the thing: it's an odd time to be thinking about the future when an entire nation seems eager to tear it down.

It's hard to focus on tomorrow when today is simply so weird.

It's tough to align with what's next when what is current is truly terrifying.

And yet, it's one of the most important ways to get through this moment of madness.

May your hope for tomorrow outweigh your fear of where we are right now.

Welcome to 2026.

---
**#Hope** **#Future** **#Courage** **#Fear** **#Resilience** **#Optimism** **#Tomorrow** **#Mindset** **#Strength** **#Perseverance** **#Forward** **#Uncertainty** **#Belief** **#Determination** **#Focus** **#Vision** **#Positivity** **#Change** **#Trust** **#Purpose** **#Overcome** **#Clarity** **#Resolve** **#Possibility** **#Onwards**

If Jim Carroll had to pick one word to describe 2026 so far, it would be 'weird.' Or, terrifying. Take your pick.

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-refuse-to-participate-in-the-fear-choose-to-participate-in-the-future/

"Real progress is often invisible, boring, and repetitive. Don't mistake the quiet for regression!" - Futurist Jim Carroll

It's often about the small steps, not the big leaps.

The quiet progress you make, not the noisy success you relish.

The effort you put in daily, not the audacious stretch goal you choose to chase once.

Showing up all the time, not just when it suits you.

Measuring your progress by what really matters - not by what you think matters.

Some people chase success with reckless abandon, thrashing about with wild activity.

Others just show up.

And put in the work.

Success is about patience.

It's often quiet, slow, and deliberate.

Unseen.

But it's there.

---

Futurist Jim Carroll is working on a longer-term timeline these days!

**#Progress** **#Patience** **#Consistency** **#Persistence** **#QuietSuccess** **#SmallSteps** **#ShowUp** **#Discipline** **#Effort** **#Growth** **#Dedication** **#Journey** **#Commitment** **#SlowAndSteady** **#Resilience** **#Focus** **#Determination** **#DailyWork** **#Mindset** **#Trust** **#Process** **#Invisible** **#Deliberate** **#Perseverance** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-real-progress-is-often-invisible-boring-and-repetitive-dont-mistake-the-quiet-for-regression/

"Resilience is rarely a solo endeavor." - Futurist Jim Carroll

Sometimes it involves combining two working parts to build one functioning whole!

Just when I thought I had cornered the market on orthopedic drama in our household, the universe had second thoughts.

It turns out my wife has now torn her Achilles, meaning she is heading into a walking boot or cast just as I’m getting my walking stride back.

We have officially become a two-person logistics puzzle!

In the corporate world, I talk about "agile teams" and "complementary capabilities." Well, I am now living it. I have the legs, but still need to be cautious with the bending or the lifting. She has the upper body strength and the organizational skills, but is on crutches until she gets fitted with the proper walking boot.

Separately, we are both compromised. Together, if we coordinate our movements like a synchronized swimming team, we make one fully functional human being.

How's your 2026 going so far?

The lesson? We often think of resilience as "toughing it out alone." But real resilience—whether in a marriage or a company—is often about the humility to say, "I am the legs, you are the strategy." It’s about auditing your collective assets and realizing that while neither of you is 100%, together you can still move the needle forward.

True partnership is about combining the pieces that still work to build one functioning unit!

It’s going to be a long winter, but at least we know we can't run away from our circumstances. (Cue LOL!)

Onwards!

(Carefully).

----

It is 71 days to spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Not that Jim Carrol is counting or anything.

**#Resilience** **#Partnership** **#Teamwork** **#Together** **#Support** **#Adaptability** **#Humor** **#Marriage** **#Collaboration** **#Strength** **#Unity** **#Perseverance** **#Family** **#Healing** **#Recovery** **#Agility** **#Humility** **#Love** **#Balance** **#Patience** **#Compassion** **#Cooperation** **#Trust** **#Endurance** **#Onwards**

Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/01/daily-inspiration-resilience-is-rarely-a-solo-endeavor/

RE: https://socel.net/@albaillustration/115565521113944992

Huzzah!

#huzzah #huzzahbitches #ride #tarot #newday #dog #dogs #onwards #newwwek #art #artwork #artistsonmastodon

Congratulations!

Whatever your GCSE results are today, remember that YOU are amazing. You have got through one of the most stressful parts of your life, and your world still lies open ahead of you. Whether your passed or failed, this is not the end, only the beginning. You are the future, and we at AVOW are incredibly proud of all of you.

Well done!

#GCSE #Results #ResultsDay #Pass #Fail #Growth #WellDone #YouDidIt #Onwards #SteppingForward

Up to 10 chips in the #JobHuntPokerChip jar.

This week I got 1 rejection (from one that I really wanted, too. Bummer) but some actual feedback, which is a rarity.

One call back from a recruiter, though. Could be promising.

More work on portfolio needed. It needs a look and feel overhaul and a bit of a reorganisation.

My wife wanted the tumbler back, too. So now it's a proper jar. 😆

#Onwards

Four years ago this morning, filmed a segment with @LateKickJosh@twitter.com in studio on #UGA spring practice. Walked out into the hallway, @ShannonTerry@twitter.com sent us all home not knowing what was about to happen. Let’s NEVER revisit that time again. #Onwards

…and we’re back #tatiekiki #newbeginnings2024 #pushingboundaries #NewDiscoveries #moreart #oneaday #morechallenges #morelife #morelove #moreart #morejoy #moretocome #MoreIn24 #morepeace #onwards

Finally, publicly, announced that I quit my job, so I can stop being cagey about that. Feels good, man. #onwards 🎇

Tonight’s effort…#newbeginnings2024 #pushingboundaries #oneaday #morechallenges #newdiscoveries #moretocome #moreart #morelove #morelife #morejoy #morehappiness #onwards

Tonight’s effort….#blüman #newbeginnings2024 #morechallenges #pushingboundaries #collage #moreart #oneaday #moretocome #morelove #morejoy #morehappiness #morepeace #onwards

Tonight’s effort…And we’re back! #newbeginnings2024 #pushingboundaries #moreart #collage #oneaday #morelove #moretocome #morehappiness #morejoy #morehappiness #onwards

Tonight’s effort… #newbeginnings2024 #pushingboundaries #oneaday #moreart #moretocome #collage #morehappiness #morejoy #morelove #morepeace #onwards