The document discusses surfing and trend spotting by drawing comparisons between the behaviors of surfers and those who watch trends. It notes that surfers carefully observe wave conditions rather than trying to control the waves, and they work together in groups despite the solitary nature of surfing. Similarly, trend spotters must observe social and cultural changes emerging from interactions rather than trying to dictate or predict trends from a place of expertise. Both activities cultivate awareness, reflexes, vision and an innovative perspective when approached with an open mind.

1. surf
& trend watching

2. surf
seems easy from the sand

3. It is by no means easy.
Anyone who tried it knows how hard
it gets after failing a couple of times...
...in less than 10 minutes.

4. Why does that happen?
Why can’t one with much more schooling
than the average surfer be incapable of
self-balancing on a board?

5. maybe it’s a matter of
approach it grabbed
my attention some years ago and
led me to examine their behavior.
Let me share this story with you.

6. 1.
As surfers reach the shore,
their boards are laid aside,
no matter how eager they
are to join the waves.
They just stop and wait,
staring at the sea.

7. ganja
that’s no side effect of
they are just
trying to catch the big picture:
wave size, its strength, format,
wind conditions... those things.

8. surfese is shop talk.
filled of jargon related to relevant info on
what isn’t visible: tips, challenges, support.
Like all professional conversations,
it sounds very boring to the outsider.

9. 2. After a little chat,
walk
they start to
searching for a place where the waves
look good and it’s easier to swim past them.
The sea isn’t the same everywhere.

10. wait
When they get there they sit and
and wait. Sometimes even refuse
good waves that come their way.

11. sitting there they are
watching
the waves from a privileged
position. There are no
coincidences. They have to be in the
right place at the right time.

12. and the sea almost
never lets them down.

13. It may seem like happening by
chance
but it hadn’t. It can’t. Not that many times.

14. Even when riding a perfect wave,
most surfers
jump out
of them
before they are over. Why that waste?

15. By not riding until its very end, they are
restart
at a better place to
Surtfing until they hit the sand
means a long, worthless way back.

16. 3.
Have you realized surfers are
never alone?
No matter how great it is to ride
solo, they always wait in groups.
It’s safer this way.

17. 4.
(now we’ve got to that time when it
gets pointless to remind you how
you’ve tried to approach the waves.
I’ll skip this part if you don’t mind :)

18. 5. surfers
flow
with the sea. They wouldn’t dare
trying to control them.It’s very Zen.

19. the same
flow
happens with rock climbing,
paragliding, diving, sailing...

20. ...and trend
spotting

21. The ebb and flow of trends that
emerge
from the social mesh
is as unpredictable as the ocean.

22. knowing much of social
sciences
might help, maybe not. It may obscure
perception due to excess knowledge.
Surfers aren’t meteorologists.

23. Like the sea, it’s useless trying to
control
or to predict trends. It’s also stubborn
to believe they are there to be
followed until their very end.

24. that’s the source of their
beauty
Imagine how boring it would be
to surf predictable, risk-free waves.

25. By simply observing
the environment,
feel
a good surfer can
the right waves coming and
achieve the best out of them.

26. It may not get you anywhere.
Most waves don’t.
Tourism also doesn’t get you anywhere,
for you always end going back home.

27. But it is undeniable that
these activities increase your
awareness
reflexes
vision
which is priceless and addictive.

28. Trend watching,
like surfing, is good for your
mental health, even if your
professional activity doesn’t
demand it (oops, all demand)

29. By spotting trends regularly
you may end up with a
privileged, innovative,
ageless point of view.
How cool
is that?

30. thanks for watching.
Now it’s time to restart.
aloha
I would say
if only I knew what that meant.