It doesn’t take special powers to look back and see what we woulda, coulda, shoulda done differently.
We all have regrets—missed opportunities we’d handle better if we only knew then what we know now.
They say hindsight is 20/20. But foresight? That’s the real superpower—combining a vision of the future with actions that are informed by the past.
Nelson Mandela put it best:
“Vision without action is just a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
You may not be trying to change the world, but here are a few things you can do to make the most of every past, present, and future opportunity:
Don’t fight your last war.
In 1929, Lieutenant Colonel J. L. Schley of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wrote:
“There is a tendency in many armies to spend the peace time studying how to fight the last war.”
It’s natural to rely on past experience. But focusing too much on what worked (or didn’t) last time can blind us to better ways forward. Before you act, ask yourself: Am I preparing for the next challenge—or just replaying the last one?
Learn from others.
Your own experience is invaluable. But so is learning from others. Don’t rely solely on your wins and losses.
Join a study group. Compare benchmarks. Seek out best practices. Contrast your business with others at every opportunity—there’s always something to gain.
Get nostalgic (on purpose).
Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to remember what it felt like to win.
If motivation is low, look back. Think about a time you overcame a tough challenge, closed a big deal, or helped a teammate succeed. Nostalgia isn’t just sentimental—it’s fuel.
So if 20/20 hindsight is about all the things we woulda, coulda, shoulda done…
Then 20/20 foresight is about using the past to power the present—so we’re always doing, never wishing we had.
“Layin’ in the sun
Talkin’ ’bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done…
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From the one little did.”
— Shel Silverstein
