Non Obvious How to think Different Curate Ideas

Non Obvious: How to think Different, Curate Ideas & Predict the Future (2017) By Rohit Bhargava Review by Daja E. Henry

Summary + Purpose ● ● What is a trend? “A trend is a unique curated observation about the accelerating present. ” “The real secret to understanding the future is getting better at understanding the present. ” ○ ○ ● Author curates “trends” to better understand where the world is and where it’s going. He publishes an annual report of “non-obvious trends, ” stemming from a collection of random clippings that he saves throughout the year, before categorizing and formulating them in groups that reveal patterns and developing trends. Why are trends useful? Entrepreneurs and creators can streamline their businesses and anticipate consumers’ needs and behaviors. Anticipating trends can make businesses more successful.

Part 1: The Art of Curating Trends Five Habits of Trend Curators: ● ● ● Be curious: always ask why Be observant: train yourself to see the details that others most often miss Be fickle: Capture ideas without feeling the need to understand/analyze them in that moment Be thoughtful: take the time to reflect on a point of view Be elegant: develop an ability to craft your ideas in ways that are beautiful, but also easy to understand.

Part 2: 2017 Trend Report - 2 Notable Trends ● Mainstream Mindfulness ○ ○ ● “Meditation, yoga, and quiet contemplation overcome their incense-burning reputations to become powerful tools for individuals, and companies to improve performance, wellness and motivation. ” More fundamental cultural transformation to include compassionate workplaces, the power of diverse thinking, leading from the heart Drives employee engagement, creativity, better customer experiences and workforce harmony Ex. Companies like Google are known for their workplace climate and corporate wellness initiatives. Outrageous Outsiders ○ ○ “Sometimes the most innovative ideas come from outside an industry and this trend describes the rise of outsiders and their increasing willingness to say or do the things we might describe as outrageous to capture attention and influence. ” The ultimate example: Donald Trump Interesting example they cited: Hip Hop Musicals (Hamilton) How to use this trend: Diversity initiatives, considering the outsider’s perspective

Part 3: Trend Action Guide How to incorporate trends into the workplace ● ● Intersection thinking: creating overlap between seemingly disconnected ideas in order to generate new ideas, directions and strategies for powering your own success Workshops: creating a space for brainstorming trends and ways to incorporate them with your team

My Opinion ● ● ● It reads like a how-to guide and a meditation at the same time. To every characteristic, the author gives three points of real life advice and a reading list. I appreciate Part 1 of the book for that. List format makes it easy to read, doesn’t feel clunky. Advice is helpful. ○ ● ● ● Ex: To be more observant, practice explaining the world to children. Why are construction vehicles and traffic signs orange? Testing shows that orange is the color most visible from the greatest distance. Wouldn’t have known that if a child hadn’t asked. While the trends are seemingly accurate, they don’t seem like anything revolutionary. I don’t know if it’s because I’m reading the 2017 report in 2018, but they seem obvious. Even though it gives a sense of people are always watching and trying to profit off our behavior, the ways in which he curates the trends seems organic. Review: 3/5