Daily Inspiration: “Successful people tend to arrive in the future before the future does!”

“Successful people tend to arrive in the future before the future does!” – Futurist Jim Carroll

A frame grab from a pre-event video that was produced for me by my fantastic overseas video partner Armine, aka “Alex.” Ok-doke! It rocks! Watch the video!

I’ve started including these videos – short, sharp shocks of pre-event insight – for clients who are prepared to book me at this moment.

Here’s what I know : I perceive a huge forthcoming demand for the insight of those who bill ourselves as futurists. Even in the last few weeks, the number of inquiries and contacts have increased to a significant enough degree that I’m prepared to call it a trend.

Why? People are moving out of the realm of the shock and awe phase of the pandemic, and are trying to figure out what our world will really look like on ‘the other side.’ The realists among them know that the ‘old world’ of offices, conventions, shopping in close proximity, sporting and entertainment events – all those things are gone for a long, long time. There is no imminent virus at hand – we could be years before we return to any sense of normal.

That obviously has huge future implications in terms of how we design society going forward.

Consider the structural implications. We’ve witnessed entire industries virtualize overnight – corporate structure, the workplace, the concept of place – we are never going back to where we were. People might desire to get together again in ‘offices,’ but won’t be going back any time soon.

That has huge implications as we redefine the concept of ‘social interaction’ going forward, because people still need and want that. Distancing is forever a thing.

Then there are the behavioural aspects. A McKinsey study has indicated that 75% of people have tried real digital interaction for the very first time. They’ve discovered the efficiency of online shopping, the magic of virtual doctor visits, and the power (and hatred for) video calling.

There is a massive new future out there – and it’s by understanding it that you can get there before everyone else does.

Join me!