Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers

We tackle the crucial business strategy question of distinguishing between trends and fads, providing a framework to prevent costly missteps while capturing genuine opportunities for growth. Steve Fisher explains the fundamental differences and offers practical tools to separate hype from meaningful change.• Trends are like tides (lasting, impactful) while fads are like waves (flashy but temporary)• Fads lack substance and fade quickly while trends solve real problems and create lasting impact• Real-world examples: Google Glass (fad) vs broader wearable tech market (trend)• Segway (fad) vs micromobility/e-scooters (trend)• Five ways to identify true trends: examine underlying drivers, check the adoption curve, watch who's adopting it, determine if it solves a real problem, observe if it evolves over time• Remote work represents a true trend backed by technological advances and changing workplace expectations• AI has evolved from niche technology to mainstream business tool across multiple industries• Strategic advice: avoid distraction by every new thing, invest in meaningful trends early, stay flexible as trends evolvePick something you've been seeing a lot lately and analyze whether it's a trend or a fad by examining its drivers, adoption pattern, and problem-solving capacity. Join us next time when we discuss "weak signals" – the early hints of future change that most people miss.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.

This reflection episode marks a pivotal moment in our foresight journey, inviting you to integrate everything we've learned about futures thinking and apply it to your own context.• Reviewing key concepts from the first nine episodes: multiple futures thinking, breaking free from default thinking, and spotting weak signals• Reflection Exercise 1: Assess where you are in your foresight journey and your comfort level with these concepts• Reflection Exercise 2: Identify one assumption about the future you've started questioning since beginning this series• Reflection Exercise 3: Consider what weak signals you're noticing that others seem to miss• Practical challenge to move beyond learning about foresight to actively applying it in your work or life• Acknowledging that futures fluency isn't achieved overnight—it's a skill continuously refined• The future isn't something we simply observe; it's something we actively shape through our choicesWrite down one thing you're taking away from these first 10 episodes as we prepare to explore more foresight fundamentals and the transformations shaping the 21st century.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.

Futures thinking isn't just about looking ahead—it's about developing mental habits that help you see change before it happens and act on it meaningfully. • The future isn't predetermined—it's something you can actively shape rather than something that happens to you• Move from asking "what will happen" to "what could happen" by exploring multiple possible futures• Challenge your "default future"—the assumed trajectory that people rarely question• Adopt a prototype mentality by testing future possibilities through small experiments today• Ask "what if" questions every day to train your brain for futures thinking• Expand your information diet beyond your industry to catch disruption from unexpected places• Schedule monthly futures check-ins to notice emerging signals and trendsYour challenge: Pick one assumption about the future that you believe is "just the way things are" and challenge it. What if it's not true? What if the opposite happened?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.

Systems thinking revolutionizes problem-solving by helping us see interconnections instead of isolated parts. This framework offers powerful tools for navigating complexity and avoiding unintended consequences when tackling challenges in business, policy, and everyday life.• Most people think linearly (A causes B, B causes C), which works for simple problems but fails with complex issues• Systems thinking examines how different elements interact and influence each other within a whole• Traffic congestion demonstrates systems thinking—building more roads often worsens traffic through induced demand • Layoffs to cut costs can trigger customer service problems, negative reviews, and revenue decline• Reinforcing (positive) feedback loops amplify change like social media engagement algorithms• Balancing (negative) feedback loops stabilize systems like body temperature regulation or market pricing• Apply systems thinking by zooming out to see the big picture before making decisions• Look for feedback loops that might accelerate growth or create vicious cycles• Recognize that cause and effect often have time delays and unexpected side effects• The best leaders anticipate how things connect and interact over timeJoin us next time as we explore how to cultivate a futures mindset so you don't just think about the future—you start living it.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.

We dive into the STEEP framework, a powerful tool that helps track and categorize social, technological, economic, environmental, and political changes to make sense of the chaos of change happening around us.• STEEP stands for Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political - five key categories for structured futures thinking• Social trends include shifting demographics, cultural attitudes, and changing expectations around work-life balance• Technological innovations like AI, automation, and blockchain are reshaping industries and pushing boundaries of what's possible• Economic factors include inflation, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and the rise of subscription-based business models• Environmental considerations such as sustainability, climate change, and resource scarcity are increasingly driving business decisions• Political factors encompass laws, regulations, and geopolitical tensions that can either create opportunities or barriers• Using STEEP involves scanning for signals in each category, connecting dots between trends, and asking "so what?" to identify opportunities• STEEP isn't about predicting one future but making sense of many forces shaping potential futures• Challenge: Pick one area of STEEP and start tracking it over the next few daysStart noticing changes early by paying attention - the people who see change coming aren't lucky, they're observant.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.

Signals of change are early indicators revealing emerging shifts that could evolve into major trends or societal transformations, and recognizing them early provides a competitive advantage by allowing you to adapt and innovate before disruption occurs.• Signals appear as fringe ideas, experimental technologies, niche behaviors, and "whispers of the future"• Finding signals requires looking beyond your industry at startups, patents, crowdfunding, pop culture, and early adopters• Evaluate signals by asking if they're new/unexpected, growing in adoption, and potentially transformative• Track promising signals, connect related ones to identify patterns, and assess their implications for your business• Challenge yourself to notice one new signal of change this week by exploring unfamiliar information sourcesStay curious and always think forward. Go back and check out previous episodes in our Foundations in Foresight series, and join us next time when we dive into the STEEP framework for organizing futures research.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.

We explore how unexamined assumptions can derail business strategies and future planning, while providing practical techniques to identify and challenge these hidden mental shortcuts.• Assumptions are the invisible rules and mental shortcuts we use to navigate the world without analyzing everything from scratch• Business assumptions (like customer behaviors and competitor actions) can become dangerous when we don't recognize we're making them• Major companies like Blockbuster, Kodak, and Nokia failed because of assumptions they didn't realize they were making• Identify your assumptions by asking "What am I taking for granted?" about your industry, customers, and business model• Challenge assumptions by asking "What if the opposite were true?" or "What if this assumption stopped being valid tomorrow?"• Practice assumption-busting by taking something you believe will be true in five years, then imagine it isn't• The future belongs to those who explore possibilities rather than those who make rigid assumptionsNext time we'll be diving into how to spot signals of change before they disrupt you.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.

Futures literacy, an essential skill for the 21st century, helps us make sense of uncertainty, navigate change, and think beyond limitations by imagining and exploring different possible futures. This cognitive ability functions like learning a language—the language of change—where with practice, we become better at recognizing patterns, adapting to uncertainty, and making smarter long-term decisions.• Questioning assumptions about what we believe will stay the same or change in the future• UNESCO recognizes futures literacy as a critical skill for navigating rapid technological shifts, climate change, and global disruptions• Building futures literacy starts with exploring alternative futures rather than focusing on a single likely outcome• Simple practice: notice one assumption about the future in the next 24 hours and consider what might happen if that assumption doesn't hold true• Developing futures literacy helps spot opportunities, risks, and possibilities that others might overlookSubscribe to Think Forward and check out the next Foundations episode about challenging assumptions that block effective futures thinking.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.

Foresight isn't about predicting the future—it's about exploring multiple possible futures to better prepare for uncertainty. Most predictions fail because the world is complex and change doesn't happen in a straight line.• Prediction assumes one certain future while foresight explores multiple possibilities• Most predictions fail due to the complexity of our world and non-linear change• Classic predictions like flying cars by 2000 missed their timeline• The foresight approach would examine AI's impact with multiple scenarios instead of definitive predictions• Looking at predictions through a foresight lens helps us prepare for various outcomes• Consider alternative futures that might not be obvious when you hear predictionsThe power to shape the future lies in your hands. Subscribe and check out our next Foundations episode and other shows on our list. Find us on all major podcast platforms, at www.thinkforwardshow.com, and on YouTube under Think Forward Show.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.

Foresight is the ability to explore multiple possible futures rather than predict one exact outcome. We differentiate this practical approach from fortune-telling and explain why developing foresight is essential in our rapidly changing world.• Foresight involves anticipating change, preparing for possibilities, and making better decisions today• Unlike prediction, foresight recognizes there are many possible futures, not just one inevitable outcome• Companies like Amazon and Google succeeded by considering multiple future scenarios for the internet• Foresight benefits everyone—from business leaders to individuals making career or personal decisions• The practice starts by noticing changes happening around you and considering their long-term impacts• Developing foresight helps you shape the future rather than just reacting to changes after they happenSubscribe to Think Forward and check out our next Foundations episode where we'll explore the difference between foresight and prediction in greater detail. Remember, you have the power to shape the future!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.