When asked, “How do you build the future?” I advise these seven things

1/ Your future depends on your creativity, marketing and networking skills. You must be good at one or more than one of these.

2/ Choose an important problem worth solving that complements your skills and strengths. Many large, unsolved problems need to be solved creatively. Spot them and solve them as if there isn’t anyone better than yourself.

3/ Give that one idea your life — think of it, dream of it, live on it, and leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.

4/ Think 10–15 years into the future. Allow your subconscious to find things that will make your idea more compelling. Give yourself permission to nurture and nourish your idea. Big change can’t be achieved overnight.

5/ Have high standards, but be ready to fail and learn from it — the best way to be right is to keep pivoting based on the dynamics and reality of the market.

6/ Trust yourself to make greatness possible, and the only way to get there is through hard work, focus and attention. Create a future roadmap aligned with your vision and then work backwards to make it real.

7/ Pessimists sound smart, but optimists build the future. Steve Jobs said: “Many a times people don’t know what they want.” Stop caring about it if you are called crazy, careless or unrealistic.