"Be prepared," as the motto goes, means to learn from the past while living in the present, and at the same time preparing for the future. It should also be understood in the active present tense of the word “be”-- being. Being prepared means to be in a continual state of being and getting prepared. What for? For what comes next-- usually the unknown, at the wrong time, and at a high cost. Do something now to prepare for the future so you'll be ready to reap the harvest of future opportunities. Remember, someone once said, “Planning is simply about not being surprised.”