What I talk about, when I talk about future

I made myself future-ready. How about you?

The traditional way was never my style. Maybe it has to do with the way I was brought up, learning that I could do whatever I want to do, despite traditional ideas about roles and gender.

Or maybe in the uncertain times we live in, I just adapted to my surrounding.

However, my curriculum is not a linear extrapolation of one starting point at all. I made steps forward, just to take a step aside, sometimes back to follow a new path.

In one of these decision points, professional-wise, I entered the world of futurism.

I was working for a company with a 300year history. Well known in its industry, high-end products, with a focus on innovation. But the innovation was reserved exclusively for the products. In terms of Organization, personal development, and even business development in a more holistic sense — no innovation wanted. Change only, if inevitable.

Already before the pandemic, I started to doubt strongly the narrative of the ever-growing economy. Yet, the complete finance sector is based on this narrative. So I started looking for alternative ways of business development.

That is where I came across futurism.

Yeah, I know what you are thinking: futurism? Aliens, high-tech societies, on other planets.

Well, not exactly. That is science fiction.

Okay, you say, so you mean reading the crystal ball, studying the stars and zodiacs to predict the way of the world.

Another: no. That is astrology.

So what is futurism then?

Futurism is a way to look at the world. It is powered by the belief that the future is not happening to us, but our actions in the here and now are actively shaping the world to come.

Also, one core idea is, that there is not a single future, which will happen, but that there are multiple futures, which are in the possibility of happening. A little like the multiverse idea — only the futures are all on this planet in our dimension (no Peter Porker I’m afraid).

And no, it is not seeing everything through pink glasses to idealize what is to come, over our suboptimal present either. You widen your view and look at possible positive and negative consequences all at the same time.

Also in the future light will cast a shadow, so it’s better to bring a flashlight.

How do you start looking at the world as a futurist?

It’s all about signals around you. They are there, sometimes hidden, sometimes in plain view, but not put in the right context. They are not trends, trends are the bigger brothers of signals, already out there in the mainstream, seeking attention.

Signals are little changes, that stand for an underlying value shift. They are the little stones you throw into a lake where the ripples start off, going all over the lake.

Why are you telling me that, you may ask?

To tell my story. I dived into this world, it changed my perception, my way of thinking.

I started collecting signals, discussing a lot with various people, and developing scenarios and future artifacts. And mapping my own future, based on that findings.

Seeing this map, with the various possible futures for myself — game changer.

I had to admit, that the path I was on, would not lead to the future I wanted for me. And I stepped out.

The reactions were as colorful as the future can be. Between congrats and “R u out of your fucking mind” — everything was there.

So here I am — on a new path, starting from the beginning.

Do I know where I am going to end up? Naaah. No-one does.

But I have the tools in my hand to forge my own way — at every point in time.

Would you not want that for you also?