ITWepon1

It’s always a remarkable feeling when you realize that a prediction you made has come true. Even better when that translates into business success.

Happily, part of my work involves watching for industry patterns and trends that affect our clients and ensuring those things remain on our collective radar. I spend time with them trying to understand and help them articulate their pain-points and organizational/IT goals. We have a great feedback-loop happening in our ecosystem: as client business needs evolve in response to social and economic forces, the IT Weapons solution offerings have to stay in step and keep the clients safe.

One of the best business lessons that Jason and I ever learned was to hire brilliant people and get out of their way. Now we’re fortunate enough to have a team that likes to think “big picture”. Our leadership team (comprised of our Principle Consultants and department managers) meets regularly. We brainstorm to help shape and revise the roadmaps for IT Weapons. Trying to articulate what we see as good ideas/concepts to get behind and invest in; to nurture and support for our short, medium and long term strategies. It would be hubris not to admit that luck and timing play a role in our ongoing success. But it’s amazing to see long-term projections come true. And there are some folks out there who appear to have a crystal ball when it comes to the trends in our industry.

Thanks to a recent tweet from Citrix, I was reminded of just how good some predictions can be. Especially when it comes to the growing potential of mobile devices to play a critical role in our business lives. Below you’ll find 2 videos I dug up on Youtube. Watching these video is as much an honest IT industry history lesson as it is simple nostalgia.

First, check out the “visionary” video from Citrix circa 2001. And if you really want a treat … Especially you folks over 40 folks … watch the AT&T commercials below. I’ve never forgotten these – from nearly 20 years ago. I remember it clearly because it was the year I got married. I remember watching TV calling for my wife to “get in here and see this stuff!” Now a lot of “this stuff” is actually real.