advise for young (aspiring) futurists
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Excerpt of my lecture at Hogeschool Gent, post-graduate 'Trendwatching' with 15 brilliant future trendwatchersTRANSCRIPT
Advise for young (aspiring) futurists
@fdemeyer
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
What does a futurist really do?
What my friends thinks I do… What my mother thinks I do… What my wife thinks I do…
What I think I’m doing
(well, what I’m actually doing)
…if you too want to become a boiling frog a futurist, remember this:
#1: you will have to read a(n awful) lot
#2: you will have to read even
more…
#3: you will have to get very
efficient in looking for evidence
#4: you’ll have to (constantly)
look for patterns and links
#5: you’ll have to (constantly)
ask yourself “what does it mean?”
#6: you’ll have to build a (strong,
preferably controversial) opinion
• “In 20 years we will all be freelancers”
• “The role of government will become obsolete in 50 years”
• “Sustainable future will be driven by population, not government(s)”
"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre
“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers” Thomas Watson (IBM) 1943
“640k ought to be enough for anybody” Bill Gates, 1981
#7: you’ll need to get out of your
paradigm (and comfort zone)
#8: communicate… extensively,
exhaustively, relentlessly!
Write articles for media friends
+240K views +900 downloads
Slideshare works
Blogs still work (for now)
Special mention…
Usual suspects
#9: look for role models (but
remain yourself)
#10: you’ll have to offer things for
free
#11: …but not everything, find
things people would pay for
60 Megatrend Fact Sheets
(briefing document for long-term planning and innovation sessions)
@fdemeyer
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
#12: be patient… (after all you’re
selling long-term impact)
2 years lead time
My first client…
#13: …and get a plan B
my business plan
with freelance
my real business
But most of all…
#14: Enjoy what you do… You have chosen the most wonderful job in the world !
The future cannot be predicted …but it can be made !
(ancient African saying)
@fdemeyer
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
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