Idea Sources - Where to Get Ideas Personal conversations at events or meetings (ask lots of questions) Listening to live speakers or TED Talks (write down memorable quotes) Entertainment (TV shows and movies that actually make you think) Books (Nonfiction and fiction) Museums (the more obscure the better!) Magazines and newspapers (as unexpected or

Proving Questions - How To Quantify a Trend Is the trend idea unique enough to be described as new or fresh? Has anyone published research related to this trend idea? Is the media starting to uncover examples or focus on it? Are there enough examples across industries to show adoption? Is it likely to continue into the foreseeable future? As you go

The Haystack Method describes a process where you first focus on gathering stories and ideas (the hay) and then using them to define a trend (the needle) that gives meaning to them all collectively.

The 5 Habits of Trend Curators BEING CURIOUS – always wanting to know why and always seeking to learn more about the world and improve your knowledge by investigating and asking questions. BEING OBSERVANT – learning to see the small details in stories and activities that others may ignore or fail to recognize as significant. BEING FICKLE – moving

“As soon as children become able to evaluate themselves, some of them become afraid of challenges. They become afraid of not being smart. I have studied thousands of people … and it’s breathtaking how many reject an opportunity to learn.” —Carol Dweck (from Mindset)

(even if it doesn’t seem exotic or far away)

For his part, Naisbitt believed deeply in the power of observation to understand the present before trying to predict the future

here: Being curious means asking questions about why things work the way they do, and embracing unfamiliar situations or topics with a sense of wonder. Being observant means training yourself to see the details that most others often miss. Being fickle means capturing ideas without feeling the need to fully understand or analyze them in that

As marketing becomes broader than just promotion, leaders and organizations abandon traditional silos, embrace content marketing and invest in the customer experience.