Happy Friday 👋 !

The Over/Under of Change

Bill Gates’ quote keeps popping up in my world, and every time I hear it, I think - yep that’s me! I certainly overestimate what I can do each day (as I glance at my still very long “to do” list on a Friday), yet when I look back over a decade, I’ve accomplished a lot!

I’ve also been thinking that we don’t just underestimate what’s possible for ourselves in ten years — we also massively underestimate the scale of change happening around us each year.

Currently, a lot of businesses are deep in the annual planning phase and setting goals, yet in just twelve months, technology, society, and the way we work will leap forward again. By the time a decade passes, we’re living in a fundamentally different world.

Just look at the last ten years from 2015 to 2025.

A Decade in Fast-Forward

Ten years ago:

• Siri was a novelty. Now, AI copilots and agents write, code, and think alongside us.
• Work meant “the office.” Now it’s hybrid, global, and AI-augmented.
• Media meant TV, newspapers (declining…) and Facebook. Now, algorithms curate our attention, media is highly fragmented and YouTube and TikTok are a main source of news and entertainment.
• Money meant banks. Now, we have crypto, fintech, and instant international transfers with Wise.
• Health meant annual checkups. Now, our watches and rings monitor our stress, sleep, and glucose.
• Smartphones were mostly … phones; now they are a personal entertainment and life management tool shaping behavior and wellbeing - or digital illness!

And that’s just scratching the surface. When you stack a decade’s worth of change like that, you see the real power of compound transformation.

Change doesn’t move linearly — it moves exponentially.

The Massage Thought Experiment

Reflecting on all of this change hit me, oddly enough, while getting a massage this week. Why? Because the massage therapist started talking about how fast things are changing in the world. I wondered then: Will robots replace massage therapists one day?

Robotic massage already exists — and some people say they’re great. The advantages: Personalization and control, convenience and consistency and hopefully affordability as the price comes down. It currently costs $60 for 30 minutes at Equinox in NYC - but no tipping, I guess. (Would you get a robotic massage? And would you tip a robot?)

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When I go for a massage, though, it isn’t just about pressure points. It’s about the experience, the empathy, and the care. The “human-ness” of it all.

I’ll definitely try the robotic massage and will probably find it useful for when I’ve been working too long at the computer or just have some sore muscles. When I need (yes, need) some pampering, I’ll choose the human spa experience.

This just goes to show that all industries are evolving towards tech + human, and not one or the other.

Even deeply human professions will evolve. Not necessarily replaced, but reimagined.

So, What Are You Underestimating?

If the last ten years brought AI, automation, remote work, crypto, wearables, and climate tech into the mainstream…

What might the next ten bring?

• Brain-computer interfaces?
• Fully autonomous organizations?
• Mass adoption of AI companions and agents?
• Digital twins for personal health?

The truth is — no one knows for sure.

But adaptability isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about preparing for it and evolving with it to leverage change for a better future.

Where Adaptability Comes In

In AQ terms, this reflection touches several core dimensions:

• Mindset — seeing change not as a threat, but as a catalyst for growth.
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• Unlearning — letting go of the habits and assumptions that made sense in 2015 but hold us back in 2025.
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• Hope — believing that multiple paths forward exist, and that you can influence the outcome.

Those with high AQ aren’t just reacting to change — they’re reframing it, actively shaping what the next decade could look like.

Think About It.

📌 Think back to 2015.
➡️ What did you not see coming that completely reshaped your life or work? List out 3 or 4 things that impacted you significantly in the last 10 years that weren't on your radar.

📌 Now look ahead to 2035.
➡️ What might you be underestimating today — in your industry, your role, or yourself? This time, make a list of things to put on your radar. Revisit this list frequently and add/delete as you are exploring changes keeping those that will have the biggest effect on you - or the ones you're most excited about!

A Resource Tip:

It’s hard to keep up with everything changing. One resource I follow closely is Nicholas Thompson’s “The Most Interesting Thing in Tech”. It’s a short 2-3 minute video where Nicholas highlights new things he’s discovering, how they might impact the world and why to keep an eye on them.

The next ten years will happen whether we’re ready or not.
But adaptability — that’s what determines whether we survive change or shape it

Have a great weekend!

Ann
​www.adaptsuccess.com

Gear Up for Change is your weekly dose of practical wisdom for unlocking adaptability and thriving in an AI-accelerated world. Forward this to a colleague who needs to hear this message and they can subscribe here.

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Want to Gear Up for Change Faster? Here are 3 Next Steps:

1️⃣ Get 20 AQ Assessments for free! ​
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Issue #52, 17 October 2025