“At the crossroad in my life, I didn't know which way to go. I just mindlessly chose a random direction... then, after regretting my decision I tried to retrace my steps. However, without even realizing it the sun had already set.”
― Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Author
VIM Executive Coaching realizes that within some executive leadership circles, terms such as “mindfulness” are being replaced with AI concepts; that mindfulness is considered old-school, or if one prefers, “retro” or “vintage.” Those terms are in fact, often older in context than old school expressions themselves.
AI cannot replace mindfulness. As recently as August 29, 2026, Inc. magazine stated that despite tools ranging from the printing press through AI, “Humanity has always innovated through a second, qualitatively distinct class of technology: internal sensing technology, which grows the ability to sense what’s happening inside yourself, between people, and beneath the facts.”
In spite of some organizations spending millions, even hundreds of millions on AI driven tech, it is conceded that focus, calmness, authenticity and responding mindfully to others are some of the most powerful tools any executive leader can develop.
Going Random Kills Careers
The concept of scattering or reactive thought is not new. Speaking of old-school, terms such as “let’s run the idea up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it” or “flying by the seat of one’s pants” have their origins decades before WWII. Yes, upon examination, certain ideas, “hunches,” have had their (another slang term) “day in the sun.” However, many other ideas and concepts, even those that seemed initially to have “skyrocketed” or “blasted off” (more anachronistic expressions), have “crashed and burned.” Anyone remember the BlackBerry Limited or Management by Objective (MBO) leadership?
Over careers, many organizational geniuses who followed an unmindful and random approach went from celebrity to obscurity.
As the quote by writer Fukumoto so wisely noted, random direction usually leads to going way off the path of logic, reason and development. Often turning around a reactive approach to managing a product or service is near impossible. While initial sales may astound, the long game is hard to maintain.
The same errors that usually apply in a marketing sense to a product are also applicable to a career, a team, a group and higher management. While we are highly supportive of creativity, innovative thinking and the freedoms that come from wild aspirations and dreams, careers have crashed when executive leaders have failed to account for responsive and “meditative” thinking.
When executive leaders fail to link a career to mindfulness and then attempt to randomly change to correct a compounding set of problems, a type of organizational chaos ensues. The pattern of reactive thinking is unbelievably stressful. Going back a decade, The American Journal of Occupational Therapy did a review of mindfulness practices in healthcare organizations and education.
The paper entitled “Systematic Review of Mindfulness Practice for Reducing Job Burnout” found across the board that, “There is strong evidence for the use of mindfulness practice to reduce job burnout among health care professionals and teachers.”
Executive leaders who fail to apply mindful and responsive thinking to their careers invariably burn out and sometimes are “shown out.” When mindfulness goes away, burnout and unpredictability enter the picture. Even if the executive who is reactive and random in their thinking desperately fights to hold on, often their organizations walk away.
Sunsets are beautiful, but the setting sun on an abruptly ended career is never a joy of beauty to behold. Far better to be mindful at each sunrise!