Excerpt of my lecture at Hogeschool Gent, post-graduate 'Trendwatching' with 15 brilliant future trendwatchers

1. Advise for young (aspiring) futurists
@fdemeyer
frederic@i4fi.com
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Instituteforfutureinsights
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2. What does a futurist really do?

3. What my mother thinks I do…
What my friends thinks I do…
What my wife thinks I do…

4. What I think
I’m doing
(well, what I’m actually doing)

5. …if you too want to become a boiling frog
a futurist, remember this:

6. #1: you will have to read a(n
awful) lot

7. #2: you will have to read even
more…

8. #3: you will have to get very
efficient in looking for evidence

9. #4: you’ll have to (constantly)
look for patterns and links

10. #5: you’ll have to (constantly)
ask yourself “what does it mean?”

11. • “In 20 years we will all be freelancers”
• “The role of government will become
obsolete in 50 years”
• “Sustainable future will be driven by
population, not government(s)”
#6: you’ll have to build a (strong,
preferably controversial) opinion

12. "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no
military value."
Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole
Superieure de Guerre
“I think there is a world market for maybe
five computers”
Thomas Watson (IBM) 1943
“640k ought to be enough for anybody”
Bill Gates, 1981
#7: you’ll need to get out of your
paradigm (and comfort zone)

13. Usual suspects
Write articles for media friends
Slideshare works
+240K views
+900 downloads
Special mention…
Blogs still work (for now)
#8: communicate… extensively,
exhaustively, relentlessly!

14. #9: look for role models (but
remain yourself)

15. #10: you’ll have to offer things for
free

16. 60 Megatrend Fact Sheets
(briefing document for long-term planning and
innovation sessions)
@fdemeyer
frederic@i4fi.com
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
#11: …but not everything, find
things people would pay for

17. My first client…
2 years
lead time
#12: be patient… (after all you’re
selling long-term impact)

18. my business plan
with freelance
my real business
#13: …and get a plan B

19. But most of all…

20. #14: Enjoy what you do…
You have chosen the most
wonderful job in the world !

21. The future cannot be predicted
…but it can be made !
(ancient African saying)
Buy now on:
@fdemeyer
frederic@i4fi.com
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer