Think Like a Futurist: Know What Changes, What Doesn't, and What's Next

by Cecily Sommers

Push past resistance to discover and own new business territories Think Like a Futurist shows how to track changes, explore questions, and engage in new thinking that connects today's pressures with tomorrow's realities. Cecily Sommers shows how to apply long-term focus and strategies to needs as diverse as industry forecasts, innovation challenges, leadership development, or future-proofing a brand. By understanding intersecting potentials that one day may impact your organization, you can readily spot emerging trends and market shifts, uncovering opportunities on the horizon.

Think Like a Futurist explores such questions Where will new markets emerge over the next 5-10-25 years? What will be the big issues of the day? How will lifestyle, social mores, and policy adapt? And what role do we play in that future?

Offers a clear framework for thinking like a futurist, and direction for how to integrate it in high-pressure corporate environments Explains how the social, economic, and environmental crises of our time spring from just four constant and predictable forces Reveals the three dramatic disruptions on the horizon that should be a part of every strategic conversation Written by Cecily Sommers the Founder and President of The Push Institute, a non-profit think tank that tracks significant global trends and their implications for business, government, and non-profit. Filled with tools and models for a new world, this book should be required reading for strategists and innovators across disciplines.

"Refreshing.  A book that does not follow today’s push to be ‘innovative’ just to snag attention because of the current hot trending keyword.  Matter of fact, Cecily Sommers’ book works to get us away from simply identifying and going for a ride on the latest trend(s) in our respective industries.

Quite the contrary, rather than avoid a scientific or tactical discussion of trend identification, she works to give us the ability to go beyond trends and into the future.

Cecily has drafted a book providing a nice blend of practical reality, philosophy, and practical execution.  It speaks well to current discussions about how to drive ‘innovation’ or, better, creativity within your businesses—however large or small.

All in, this is a book 254 pages long, including index, that is written at a practical level that, after closer study following an initial read-through, provides a methodology for anticipating the future and taking action to meet it.

Provides a methodology for anticipating the future and taking action to meet it.

Think Like a Futurist is a good read for anyone struggling with how to move their organization forward.  Business leaders, product and program managers, service providers will all find the concepts Cecily introduces to be well laid-out with a reasonable amount of supporting content."—The source is a

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Social Science, Design

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 11, 2012

Reviews

[David Ferreira Alves]

Good set up but followed by a confusing action plan. Lack of hints or action oriented guidelines. Generic topics do not allow a structured plan.

[GONZA]

This was an interesting book to read, it starts with information and some tips to boost your creativity and most of all to improve your way of thinking, to become a philosophy that encompass a new style of living that could start as a child to develop into adult age. The main focus is to think as a FUTURIST WOULD DO, so, as I got it, to understand the whole consequences of every action or non action you do. As many examples are given, one above all is Mr. Bransom and his Virgin, I remember to have read something similar, in a way, in the philosophy of Cradle to cradle (http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cr...). Anyway this book is a must read if you are interested in coaching trough mindfulness and a little bit of Zen.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND WILEY FOR THE PREVIEW

[Alireza Hejazi]

This book explains how to apply long-term strategies to develop industrial forecasts, innovation policies, leadership guidelines, and future-proof brands. It enables entrepreneurs and business owners to look into their corporate future as a whole and adopt effective strategies. Readers learn about a framework called “Zone of Discovery” that facilitates developing business strategies. This book is appropriate for business leaders, product and program managers, and service providers who want to know how to move their organizations forward.

[Megan Lyons]

Interesting for those who want to bring more innovation into their companies in a practical and effective way. Provides a unique structure for brainstorming and selecting new ideas. May not be as relevant for single-person small businesses.

[Todd Davidson]

Starts off really good. The middle part gets into an innovation process 1) Define 2) Discover 3) Distill has a nice alliteration but the writing is a hodge podge of more alliteratively named thought processes. A More Beautiful Question has pretty much the same three steps articulated more clearly (Why, What If, How).

[Mr.Wuthering]

读的中文版，作者提出了一个基本框架，来为我们如何探索和预测未来提供了方法。
1、明确问题和目标——模式：左脑思维，分析，重本质
2、探索——模式：右脑思维，发散，重各种思想、知识的联结，灵光乍现
3、提炼落地——模式：左脑思维，分析，重落地执行

我们已经进入一个预见性思维决定生死的时代。
未来学家塞西莉•萨默斯在本书中展示了预见性思维对个人、企业、国家发展的重要意义以及洞见未来趋势、抢先制定精准战略的方法，提供了在夹缝中获得发展以及将潜在挑战转化为机遇的新思路。她提炼出了一套轻松、活泼的步骤，把看似神秘和复杂的创新过程演绎得清晰明了。
这本书将彻底改变你的思考习惯，培养你的长远眼光，让你具备高效的创新思维，并且能够像未来学家一样思考。作者将她在艺术、医学中汲取的卓越理念巧妙地融入一个创新系统。在这个系统中，商业的美好未来变得切近、清晰并且可实现。

[Jeffry]

This is an excellent primer on innovation with lots of practical advice. It gets a little disjointed around the midpoint but recovers in the wrap-up.

[Ashley Hart]

Not for me

[Lori Crever]

If you know nothing about the "futurist" role, this book is a great place to start. It is clear and direct, and Cecily's voice and her examples, easy to follow.

[David]

An overly complicated plan...

[Sarsij Nayanam]

given that this book was published in 1961, it still remains relevant to a great extent, is an achievement in itself.

[Warren]

A great little read with some practical examples and tips.

[Mills College Library]

658.40355 S6976 2012

[Capa]

Not bad

There is some decent actionable information in this book about how to establish a futurism practice and what to watch for when trying to prognose the future.