Welcome to this 51st issue of our newsletter “Weak Signals and other Trends”. Each week, I sift through hundreds of sources of inspiration to track where we’re heading. If you are a new subscriber to this newsletter, take the time to send me a note and introduce yourself, I love to understand who is reading.
Join us on Clubhouse to discuss how to interpret some of those trends and weak signals most Saturdays at 9 am EST (we’re on tomorrow).
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This is what I noticed this week, thank you for sharing this newsletter to those who look into the future.
Competitive Intelligence
Metaculus is a community dedicated to generating accurate predictions about future real-world events. A web-based tool that lets you share your screen with anyone using a single url. A newsfeed aggregator which does a nice job of stripping everything back and presenting you with a truly terrifying array of latest news headlines from a staggering range of sources. A new community-powered search engine for start-ups. Google Search’s new highly cited label helps you get to the source of a story. What “Inventing Anna” can teach us about consumer data.
Strategic blindspots
Looking at the familiar with “alien eyes” allows you to unlock new business model opportunities while avoiding risks stemming from strategic blindspots.
Tencent to fund agriculture. The Unconventional Entrepreneur Trying to Make Essential Products Free. Sonos to enter the TV industry. SpaceX Starlink VP: Aviation internet market ripe for overhaul. Climate Science Needs More Creative Scenario Planning. Shared employees. Additive biases. Uber Reaches Deal to List All New York City Taxis on Its App. When experts get it wrong…extracted from the excellent article on the future of brands:
The coming of the wireless era will make war impossible, because it will make war ridiculous.
Guglielmo Marconi, pioneer of radio, Technical World Magazine, October, 1912
With over fifteen types of foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn't likely to carve out a big share of the market for itself.
Businessweek, August 2, 1968.
We have scheduled the dates for 2022 for our “Advanced Analysis”course . Our next course will be offered in an hybrid format on June 9-10 ( online - or in person in Montreal). Registrations are now open.
Our future
Sustainable global consumer trends and what it means for farmers . Can’t touch this. Memento millennial. BBC sets a goal for 25% of staff to come from a low socio-economic background by 2027 . How airlines are plotting a new route to Asia. Brands are selling directly to avatars. Compact living. What makes a company future-ready? and this quote:
Learn Aggressively with a Strong Viewpoint.. rely on a strong viewpoint about the future to guide their learning, exhibiting a high degree of certainty. This set of behaviors — high learning and high certainty — may sound paradoxical, but that’s how visionary leaders update their mental model when new data emerge
We keep you updated on those trends and more on Twitter.
Weak signals
Weak signals are indicators of a change, a trend or an emerging risk that might become significant for the future. They allow us to run hypothesis, expand our thinking, and challenge assumptions. How will you interpret those in your industry or field of expertise?
How small-batch ceramics became the new Supreme. We’ve Underestimated Sprinkles. Fake travel finds a foothold in Japan and South Korea. This Japanese man does nothing for money — yet he’s in high demand. H&M with friends. Be real. The toad man. Are there unrappable words? Dyson headphones come with air vacuum for mouth. Demand for Safe Rooms Skyrockets in Los Angeles. The Pandemic-Era Appeal of GeoGuessr. Ceremonial cacao.
Join us to discuss those trends and signals every Saturday at 9am EST on Clubhouse. We have a panel of futurists that illustrate what those signals might mean, and a fantastic group of curious minds in the room.
On our radar
For 25 years, my students have practiced scenario planning by re-inventing the car industry. As I am updating the class material for our June training, time to reflect how times have caught up with the scenarios: Ford is turning its EVs into video conference rooms. Vehicle-to-home charging is coming. A New Path to a New Type of Vehicle Ownership Model. Sensor Data to Monitor Road Conditions. Storage wars.
Down the rabbit hole
This section highlights a subject that lead me to many useful threads, or a single site, that opened many doors.
This week, I went down the rabbit hole into this site dedicated to sounds.
Hodgepodge discovery
Articles for curious minds and the polymaths …
Medieval photoshop. Who chose the Golden Bridge color? Nacirema. America’s swinging musical diplomacy. The Map Is Not the Territory. Orchestra needs Human resources. OK. New research shows when and why people divulge other people’s secrets. The electricity map. The emblems of space force.
I have published this week a yearly review of the top 70 newsletters curious minds are reading in 2022.
Feeling Good
The Educator Stockpiling—and Sharing—Turkey's Heritage Seeds. On this Japanese island, nearly every building is made of concrete. What 1992 sounded like. Your age in perspective. Tales offers to conduct an in-depth interview with a friend, family member or loved one, and turn into a podcast. Touchtype. The Manolo Blahnik archives.
Share your favorite issues of the newsletter, or send friends - or random strangers… A special shout-out to 15Marches this week who referred me in their newsletter and sent me many many new subscribers (if you read French, check their curated list of newsletters, it is awesome)!
And do not miss the next issue:
Contact me at Competia with your feedback or ideas. Thank you for reading.