Those people who are most adaptable to change are also those who are most likely to survive in difficult circumstances – not necessarily the strongest or the most intelligent, alternative futurist Gus Balbontin told the audience at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC)’s #REC2020 conference on 8 September.

In a presentation full of sharp wisdom that also kept the audience laughing, the former Lonely Planet executive and CTO spoke from Australia about contemporary business culture and the dangers of complacency and attempting to ward off change.

“The future doesn’t look for good for you if you do the same thing every day,” he said. “Focus on your ability to adapt, and you can handle anything.”

Balbontin’s messages of staying open to new experiences, although universally applicable, have a particular resonance with the world today, at a time when no clear path forward is visible, for either individuals or businesses.

He used the idea of concreting over natural paths of dirt and greenery as a metaphor for trying to prevent change. Some people, he said, “hate change so much” they will pour concrete over paths to try and smooth out bumps.  

“Moving and shifting into dirt is uncomfortable,” he acknowledged, but stifling change means “eventually your system owns you”. “Get rid of concrete whenever you can,” he added. Melbourne-based Balbontin also suggested that people should look inside themselves, and not elsewhere, for reasons why they are unable to move forward.

For instance, when someone cannot get to a destination – such as a meeting – on time, they may offer the excuse that they are “stuck in traffic”. However, that's not accurate, he said. “You are not stuck in traffic. You are the traffic. You are always the problem; you are in it. There’s no other way around it!”