"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.”