“You can never plan the future by the past.” — Edmund Burke
I spent more than half of my life under communism. Even though I traveled to the West as a young man and saw how differently other societies functioned, I accepted my own reality as largely fixed. I did not question how systems work, how fragile they can be, or how quickly they can change. With the benefit of more than seventy years of life, I now know this is a mistake many people make: we assume continuity, we plan careers inside stable structures, and we underestimate how unprepared we are for the future that eventually arrives.
A Career in Banking — And the Illusion of Stability
After graduation, I was hired by the Romanian Foreign Trade Bank (BRCE), where I was fortunate enough to manage correspondent relations with banks in the UK and the Commonwealth. In the 1970s, Romania was undergoing rapid industrialization — a process that required significant financing — and BRCE was the main vehicle for it.
Since London was already the world’s leading financial center, I had the privilege of handling most of Romania’s foremost international transactions: Eurobond issues, syndicated loans, government-backed credits, and more.
It was an intense, rewarding time. I learned a great deal and grew professionally. I traveled widely across Western countries and met many people who reshaped my thinking. Although I was convinced of capitalism’s superiority, I didn’t consider emigrating. I had resigned myself to life in Romania, hopeful that communism would gradually open up and humanize — perhaps along the lines of Gorbachev’s perestroika and glasnost in the Soviet Union.
My professional ambition was simple: to grow, take on more responsibility, and rise through the ranks of BRCE — to become a successful career banker.
When the System Shifts Beneath Your Feet
But in 1982, Romania defaulted on its external debt. I became one of the lead negotiators for debt rescheduling with the London and Paris Clubs — a moment of both challenge and opportunity. It further enhanced my knowledge and bolstered my professional reputation.
Then, in October 1983, everything changed.
Returning from the annual IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington, I was stripped of my passport. I’d been placed on a blacklist by the Securitate — Romania’s secret police. From that point on, I was banned from traveling abroad and meeting foreign delegates. Not being a Communist Party member and lacking the political approval to travel, my career path abruptly ended. Even the role of office manager was now out of reach.
The next six years were professionally restrictive — but they were also a time for personal growth and learning (which I’ll discuss in a future post). Like many others, I pinned my hopes on the end of Ceaușescu’s regime and clung to every word from Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.
So, when the revolution erupted in December 1989, it was no surprise that I took part and was deeply invested in its success.
The Future Is Always Closer Than It Appears
I’ve shared this look into my pre-1990 life to illustrate a broader truth:
We are never truly prepared for what the future holds — though its seeds are often sown in the past.
Neither parents nor schools prepare us for the life we’ll actually live — not because they don’t want to or don’t try, but simply because they can’t foresee what’s coming.
No one predicted the regime change. No one prepared me for capitalism.
The Pace of Change — And Our Readiness for It
The world is changing around us faster than ever.
Young generations will live in a reality radically different from the one I faced. Yet they are being prepared — by schools and parents — as if the world will remain much the same.
They’re told that if they study and pass their exams, they’ll find jobs — on the assumption that exams and employment will look like today’s.
It’s a faulty assumption. And it will only lead to disappointment, disillusionment, and frustration.
How Do We Prepare for a Future We Can’t See?
Humans are the only creatures who think about the future.
And yet — even with everything I’ve read, learned, and experienced — I still have no clear idea how my future grandchildren will live, work, or define success 30 years from now.
How will society be organized?
What role will virtual life play?
What will success mean — and how will it be pursued?
One thing is clear: however far off it seems, the future starts today.
It belongs to those who prepare for it.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln
What Won’t Change: The Core Ingredients of Success
Whatever the future looks like, some ingredients for success remain constant:
- Values
- Self-awareness
- Continuous learning
- Competence
- Communication
- Curiosity
- Creativity
- Risk-taking
- Decision-making
These skills will be just as necessary for tomorrow’s generation as they were for mine. I’ll explore each in future posts.
Two Warnings About the Future of Work
1. Technological Disruption
For years, kids around the world, eying a stable, future-proof job, were told to “learn to code.” These days, anyone who followed that advice faces a painful reckoning: a decade of booming computer science enrollments has created a massive pile-up of graduates entering an abysmal job market.
Jobs are changing. Drastically. That will require significant shifts in how people prepare for the labor market.
2. Global Competition
In a fast-changing world, young people need to understand that they are competing with millions of others for success. Ambition is not enough — awareness and preparation are key.
I’ll dive deeper into both technological disruption and competition in my next two posts.
Questions for Reflection
- Do you feel school prepared you for the world you live in? What about your parents?
- Can you picture what the world — and your place in it — will look like in 5, 10, 20, or 30 years?
- How are you preparing your children (or how will you) for the world they’ll live in?
Further Reading:
- Nassim Nicholas Taleb — The Black Swan
Why rare, unpredictable events shape history far more than linear planning ever anticipates - Philip Tetlock & Dan Gardner — Superforecasting
What it really means to think probabilistically in an uncertain world. - Clayton M. Christensen — The Innovator’s Dilemma
Why successful systems often fail precisely because they prepare for the wrong future. - Alvin Toffler — Future Shock
A prescient early warning about the psychological impact of rapid change. - Roman Krznaric — The Good Ancestor
A powerful framework for thinking beyond our own lifetimes.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a link in this post and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep The Chairman’s Playbook going, and I’m grateful for it.
Leave a Reply