Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers

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.

Foundations in Foresight is a new series designed to introduce the fundamentals of futures thinking in bite-sized episodes. Steve Fisher explains how foresight isn't about predicting a single future but preparing for multiple possibilities so you're ready no matter what happens.• New prequel series to the Think Forward show with short 5-7 minute episodes• Focuses on teaching practical foresight tools like scenario planning and trend analysis• Designed for strategists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about the future• Emphasizes that futures thinking is a skill anyone can develop, not just specialists• Encourages listeners to question assumptions about the future as a first step• Each episode will focus on one core concept that's immediately applicableSubscribe and check out the next Foundations episode where we'll dive deeper into what foresight is, how it works, and why it's more important than ever.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.

Welcome to the Think Forward podcast. This is a trailer introducing the show. We will have great conversations with futurists, innovators, big thinkers, and anyone trying to shape tomorrow. We also plan to dive deep into trends, signals, and the drivers shaping our future. I will also use this forum to explain the tools and methods used by futurists and how you can use it in your work. Join us on our mission to democratize futures thinking and help create 1 million futurists around the world by the end of the decade.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.