17 trends track business opportunity (and personal sanity)
Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve is basically the bible for lifestyle, mindset and consumer trends. For over 30 years, big-brand marketers have used her company’s expertise in predicting the future to identify ways to connect with the consumer (or, the “consumer turned citizen” as Faith would suggest).
They’ve identified 17 trends to watch for… Take a look and see if you can find ways your business can solve one of these problems, enhance a life, or improve communication. It’s also kind of interesting to see yourself in these trends… I know I felt a lot better, realizing I wasn’t the only one Anchoring, Cashing Out, Being Alive and more!
99 LIVES
Too fast a pace, too little time, causes societal schizophrenia and forces us to assume multiple roles.
ANCHORING
Reaching back to our spiritual roots, taking what was secure from the past in order to be ready for the future.
My journal, meditation mala and a mini Ganesh, a gift from my yoga teacher to help remove life’s obstacles go everywhere I go. Here they’re ready for yoga teacher training in Maya Tulum, Mexico.
ATMOSFEAR
Polluted air, contaminated water and tainted food stir up a storm of consumer doubt and uncertainty.
BEING ALIVE
Awareness that good health extends longevity and leads to a new way of life.
This explains my interest in quinoa, kale, clean eating and restaurants like True Foods Kitchen and The Naked Café.
CASHING OUT
Working women and men, questioning personal/career satisfaction and goals, opt for simpler living.
Off the bus in Bali, after leaving 15 years of corporate life. The story’s actually not that dramatic. The yoga retreat had been planned for a year… I wanted to extend my visit a month or two, the job said no, I said, Okay, thank you, I’ll go any way and haven’t looked back since.
CLANNING
Belonging to a group that represents common feelings, causes or ideals; validating one’s own belief system.
COCOONING
The need to protect oneself from the harsh, unpredictable realities of the outside world.
DOWN-AGING
Nostalgic for their carefree childhood, baby boomers find comfort in familiar pursuits and products from their youth.
EGONOMICS
To offset a depersonalized society, consumers rave recognition of their individuality.
EVEOLUTION
The way women think and behave is impacting business, causing a marketing shift away from a hierarchical model toward a relational one.
FANTASY ADVENTURE
Modern age whets our desire for roads untaken.
Hhhmm..hadn’t thought of it in this light. But, I’d guess going to Paris, Costa Rica, Bali, Hong Kong, Cancun and India in the past 3 years would probably qualify as a Fantasy Adventure.
FUTURETENSE
Consumers, anxiety-ridden by simultaneous social, economic, political and ethical chaos, find themselves beyond their ability to cope today or imagine tomorrow.
ICON TOPPLING
A new socioquake transforms mainstream America and the world as the pillars of society are questioned and rejected.
PLEASURE REVENGE
Consumers are having a secret bacchanal. They’re mad as hell and want to cut loose again.
S.O.S. SAVE OUR SOCIETY
The country rediscovers a social conscience of ethics, passion and compassion.
I’ve traveled the U.S. to hear the Dalai Lama, Thich Naht Hahn and Lama Surya Das discuss ethics, passion, compassion. (I threw in a few Elizabeth Gilbert lectures for levity and the layman’s guide to balancing it all in the real world).
SMALL INDULGENCES
Stressed-out consumers want to indulge in affordable luxuries and seek ways to reward themselves.
VIGILANTE CONSUMER
The consumer manipulates marketers and the marketplace through pressure, protest and politics.
Lisbeth Tanz
Denese,
I am in awe of you. You didn’t just leave corporate life, you’ve completely washed it away. What amazing adventures you’ve had. Thank you for sharing them. I love your vision and your groundedness. I also love Faith Popcorn’s work; thanks for reminding me of that.
shelly
At first I thought to write “Dang it, Denese, I want your life,” but I resisted long enough to realize — hey, I do have your life! Save for the travel, that is. I “cashed out” of corporate life late last year and also haven’t looked back. It is more about “anchoring” and “being alive” for so many of us today that slaving and slogging through thankless careers. Popcorn is so on top of it, isn’t she? (p.s. love the photo with EG!)
Phyllis
Wow, what a great adventure you’ve made for yourself. I love that you follow your heart and do what fullfills you. It’s a great lesson for everyone who wishes that thier life could/should/ be different.
Very Inspiring.
Denese
Thanks Phyllis… I worked for a company who’s tag was “creating better places”… now, I really want to help people “create better lives”. I’ve honestly not thought too much about my experience, because the journey is still evolving. I keep thinking I need to wait for something “big” to happen before I tell the story. Crazy, I know, but If I want to encourage businesses to think differently, I should probably start encouraging individuals to think differently and share more of my story of change. Love your blog by the way.
Denese
You are living the life, Shelly. You made a decision to make a change and you’re doing it. That’s the hardest part… Along with creating a cushion of financial freedom to create some space for something new to come in. I think that’s what stops most of us. People think you need a lot of money or you have to quit your job or you have to travel/get away – and they get overwhelmed thinking how am I going to fund this? And, it’s so selfish! I really hope to show people that contentment doesn’t take a lot of money and it doesn’t have to be as crazy as traveling the world or quitting your job. Gentle shifts in thoughts, lifestyle and becoming more in tune with those around us can be quite powerful in creating a better business, life, relationship…
Denese
Thanks Lis – isn’t Faith incredible? I watched one of her talks yesterday on YouTube and she said people ask her all the time how she’s been so successful at predicting trends – she said she uses “Intuition” …..what a concept, right? I’ve struggled with how to communicate in this way to the business audience… Blogging is such a great platform for creativity and finding your voice, your own personal “unique selling proposition”. I’m grateful for all the techies out there who invented it and for teachers like you helping us navigate it.