Feeling scared about the future? Not sure what to do? Welcome to the not-so-comfortable world of the 21st century. Today, any surefootedness we may have had is gone. In its place, there's anxiety about the present and the future.
In ancient times, people could go to the Oracle of Delphi for predictions and advice. But even if the soothsaying priestess were still around today, it's unlikely she'd be of much help -- evidence suggests that, rather than being "filled with divine breath," she was actually high on methane gas! With nothing like the Oracle to rely on, here instead are three low-cost ways to get some predictability in this very unpredictable world.
1 Become a trend spotter There's a difference between trends and fads. Trends are developments that aren't generally known, impact only a few people, and have a good chance of continuing. Fads are developments that are sweeping everybody up, are widely broadcast by the media, and really don't have a supporting context.
To distinguish between the two, you need a guiding conceptual framework. Videoconferencing over the Internet is a development that fits all the criteria of a trend. Examples of fads are well known in business; they're what Peter Drucker calls "the management verity of the month." Spend as much time as you can spotting trends; leave the fads to others.
2 Associate with forward-looking people Whenever you can, avoid doom-and-gloomers. When you keep both eyes firmly fixed on the past, all you ever see is how things went wrong. Remember that the future is yet to be created and only people who focus on it will create it. Seek out visionary people. Get them together. Challenge them to come up with possible scenarios that make sense. You might even form a small group of well-respected colleagues and ask them to scan -- on a regular basis -- all relevant information sources for hints about what's to come. Disseminate the information to all your people, too. You never know how one idea may lead to another.
3 Look outside your sandbox Most of us get information from sources within our industry or profession only. Edie Weiner, president of a trend analysis firm in New York City, recommends reading "outside your area of expertise. Explore alternative lifestyles, points of view, political leanings." Since information is so interconnected today and travels so fast, virtually anything, from whatever quarter, can become important. If you are among the first to recognize a trend, there's a good chance you can take advantage of it before others do.
What most of us want in life, as well as in business, is some predictability. If you begin to focus on the future with thoughtful trend-spotting, you just might get the foothold you're looking for.
Dr. Tom McDonald, a Ph.D. in psychology, speaks on "People Skills" needed for "Business Results." Reach him in San Diego at (858) 546-0883 or
[email protected], or visit www.drtommcdonald.com