Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers FIF Series EP 12 - Exploring Weak Signals
Weak signals are early indicators of change that can help us predict future trends before they become mainstream, offering competitive advantages to those who learn to spot them effectively.
• Weak signals are small emerging shifts that haven't hit mainstream yet but could become significant trends
• Examples include Airbnb (from couch-surfing to reshaping travel) and TikTok (from lip-syncing videos to transforming entire industries)
• Best places to find weak signals: niche communities, academic research, patents, underground culture, and young generation behaviors
• Evaluate signals by asking: Is it growing? Does it connect to other changes? What happens if it scales?
• Keep a weak signals journal to track unusual patterns and potential trends over time
• Spotting weak signals helps businesses identify new opportunities and prepare for disruptions before competitors
Challenge: Find one weak signal over the next week - a new behavior, technology, or cultural shift that isn't making headlines yet. Track it and consider what might happen if it scales.
ORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts
🎧 Listen Now On:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/think-forward-conversations-with-futurists-innovators-and-big-thinkers/id1736144515
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0IOn8PZCMMC04uixlATqoO
Web: https://thinkforward.buzzsprout.com/
Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.