What are the top 10 trends for the next ten years? Download the report here.
February 14, 2022
Signals of the future are all around us.
What's a signal?
The photo above is an example. It was the first mask I saw lying as litter in my neighborhood in 2020. It made me wonder if we'd see more thrown-away masks in the future.
In futurist-speak, I wondered if this mask was a weak signal of the future.
A weak signal is:
- Any observation that is surprising, amusing, ridiculous, or annoying. Novelty can be a sign of emergence.
- Any observation that tells about change and makes sense to you, e.g. observations that convince you something is increasing or decreasing.
Learn more about signals here and here.
We publish signals regularly. Subscribe in the link below.
If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our newsletter.
Rebecca Ryan, APF, FRSA
Rebecca is a human spark plug. Her enthusiasm to create bold, inspiring futures is contagious. She's an economist and top-50 professional futurist. She's been named "Communicator of the Year" by Women in Communication, "Entrepreneur of the Year" by the U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and has served as Resident Futurist at the Alliance for Innovation, the Association of Government Risk Pools, the Greater Omaha Chamber, and the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin. She's a keynote speaker, author and consultant with distinctions from the Association of Professional Futurists and the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Rebecca's collaborative, creative approach to shaping the future has been trusted by leaders from over 200 communities, touching one in five Americans. Contact Lisa Loniello for Rebecca's keynote fee and availability.
Four Questions to Help You Think Bigger About the Future
Provocative questions are powerful. Here are four tried-and-true queries that help groups think proactively about their futures.1. Thinking back, what big ideas or opport...
December 4, 2025
6 AI Truths for Leaders (2025)
Hi, folks! In November 2025, I had an opportunity to offer my perspective on AI and its future. Here's the summary slide, followed by some commentary:...
December 2, 2025
Using Good Times Wisely: The Long Game
Prosperity isn’t a pause between challenges—it’s the moment when future-ready leaders invest in the systems, skills, and relationships their communities will need when cycles turn again.
December 2, 2025
