Millennials and Gen Z live in two worlds. The time spent in the virtual world competes aggressively with life in real-time. It also means coming of age in two worlds. For the past five years, I have followed the lives of 90 Millennials and Gen Z teens using social media...
Culture
“Hamilton” Meets the Super Bowl
Back in 2008, I drew laughs from the audience while on a book tour for Ren Gen: Renaissance Generation. I guess that struck some people as funny. I get that. It was a bold remark back then. Last...
Announcing the 2017 Trend Report
It’s here! Our 2017 Trend Report is ready for download. This year, the team celebrated the fact that this marks our seventh annual Trend Report. It feels like a landmark in a world where very little lasts. Because we focus on deep social trends that have the power to endure,...
Field Notes: What Successful People Know About Themselves
A few years ago, I bought a Nike Fuel band to help me with my fitness goals. I loved how it cheered me on when I hit a milestone. Wearing it 24/7 bolstered my identity as an athletic person. My current research on the changing relationship between ambition and identity...
What’s Next for You?
Like me, you’ve probably given serious thought to how you are going to improve your work or personal life, even a smidge in 2017. On my list is a set of self-improvement goals a magic genie couldn’t tackle: 1. Give up sugar. (I already gave up gluten last year). 2....
Thrilling Me Softly: What Digital Natives Love
3 Valentine’s Day tips: Tap into Millennials’ passion for honest come-ons. Have you ever succumbed to link bait? If so, you’ll know it’s frustrating when your sincere desire meets a hostile pay wall or aggressive lead capture. Halt! Go no further without surrendering your privacy or your credit card. So,...
Digital Media Usage Doubles in a Decade
Last night, I juggled a bag of groceries on my knee while I rifling through my handbag to answer my cell phone. Yes, 2016 is off to a hectic start. Our devices make us efficient. And I love every handy APP on my phone. But why is it that I...
The Ultimate Recipe for Top-Performing Teams
I remember the first time I designed a workshop for a client who wanted to encourage his team after re-organization. The company was poised for a renaissance, he said. If only he could make the new team configuration gel. A few jobs had been eliminated, so people were touchy. Teams...
The Road to Eureka!
It happens fairly often as I’m researching social trends. I’m faced with moments when I’m desperate for that really big eureka. I’m not talking about a run-of-the-mill “aha” moment. I’m talking about the kind of insight that blows the ceiling off a client’s conference room. When I need inspiration sometimes,...