Clarity of purpose doesn't automatically spring from knowing what's ahead, but from the confluence of foresight, experience and desire. The present is where the past and future meet — and is the only timeframe in which action is even possible. There are many techniques for projecting evolving trends and even for predicting revolutionary change, but most of these methods gain significant integrity when tempered by relevant, real-world experience. Understanding the past actually helps us to interpret the future more reliably. Old saying: If you don't know where you come from, how do you know where you're going?