Then, the lights came on.
When you were young, did you ever read Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Andre Norton? Did you thrive on anything written or edited by John W. Campbell? A great understanding of Science Fiction and futurist thought has to be exercised and cultivated.
I read a lot of SF in college, then quit. It’s been over 40 years. Was a big fan back then.