The Windshield Mindset: Build What’s Next, Not What Was

Most businesses are obsessed with what has already happened. Reports, retrospectives, post-mortems, rinse and repeat.

But what if that mindset is holding you back?

When you're driving, the windshield is wide and clear. It provides a clear view of what's to come. The rearview mirror? Small and only used when needed.

That design isn't random. It's intentional. And it's the perfect analogy for how you should approach building, leading, and growing.

The Mirror Glance

Sure, the past matters. You need to understand what worked and what didn’t.

But that’s all it is, a glance back.

Too many teams get stuck rehashing past campaigns, product launches, or missed KPIs. They tweak endlessly. They overcorrect. They stall. They fail to launch.

You don’t steer the car by staring in the mirror. You check it, then look forward and make your next move.

Building Ahead, Not Backwards

Forward-focused companies operate differently.

• They measure what matters, then move quickly.
• They design experiments instead of debating old outcomes.
• They prioritize iteration over nostalgia.

This is the windshield mindset. It's about scanning the road ahead: market shifts, emerging tech, new customer signals, and building for the future.

Ask Yourself

The next time you're in a strategy session or roadmap review, gut check with this:

• Are we designing for what’s next or reacting to what’s behind?
• Are we building products customers will need next year or fixing last year’s issues?
• Are we leading with vision or managing with hindsight?

Innovation doesn’t come from analysis paralysis. It comes from forward pressure. Please don't build a new horse carriage that customers ask for; create the next self-driving car that skates to where the puck is going, not where it is, ask why, and iterate.

Keep Driving

Every business gets tempted to look back. It feels safe. It feels rational. It's standard in today's business environments.

But if you want momentum, the kind that breaks through plateaus and opens new doors, you have to fix your eyes on the horizon.

Use the mirror. Just don't drive by it.

Glance back; move forward!

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