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“I didn’t spend three years at night in grad school to be a garbage man.”
These words echoed in my mind as I surveyed the aftermath of my first business conference as a consultant. The room looked like a paper warzone, with empty coffee cups, scattered pens, and discarded lunch wrappers everywhere. Back then, strategic planning meant drowning in physical tools: conference tables buried under papers, walls covered in Post-it notes, and endless stacks of notepads. The follow-up work was even worse, with hours spent sifting through mountains of paper to create summary reports.
What a difference a few years make.
Today’s landscape is unrecognizable. Post-pandemic, we’ve embraced a digital transformation that’s revolutionizing how we work. Zoom meetings have replaced physical conferences, though not without initial resistance. I remember the skepticism from seasoned executives who valued face-to-face interaction. Yet, even they came to appreciate eliminating long commutes and costly travel in favor of joining from their home office.
For younger professionals, this shift feels natural. Tools like Miro have transformed planning sessions into dynamic digital experiences. Instead of static whiteboards, we now collaborate in virtual spaces where ideas flow freely in real-time. Task assignment, milestone setting, and brainstorming have become seamless, borderless activities.
Remote work has accelerated this evolution. With platforms like Google Drive, teams can collaborate from anywhere in the world. But this new frontier brings its own challenges. Organizations must invest in proper technology and training while developing new workflows to keep their teams connected and productive.
The paper-strewn conference rooms of yesterday have given way to digital spaces where innovation knows no bounds. It’s not just an evolution in tools, it’s a revolution in how we think, plan, and work together.
The future of strategic planning isn’t coming… it’s already here.
The Future Is Now
Jesus (Jes) Vargas is the Principal at DPMG Corp in Sacramento, CA. He and his team consult, coach, and mentor business leaders in strategic planning, leadership development, and project management.
They’re ready to help clients plan a new product or fine-tune an existing marketing strategy.
