Dr. David W. Powers
My Methods
Futurist...
Most people don't understand what a Futurist does, or is. Some even wonder if it's just a new name for a crystal ball gazer or tarot card reader. I assue you that it's not, although, if I do my job right, it may seem like magic or prognostication at times.
In my role as a Futurist I use various methods to extrapolate potential outcomes based on previous actions and behaviors, industry events, and outside inputs. I examine you, your business, and your industry in the past, present, and potential future.
Then, armed with a potential future, you will find it easier to make it happen or avoid it.
Examples of people I've helped:
- Assisted a client in the fitness business find the next big innovation and capitalize on that
- Helped a small construction business analyze growing trends to move into a new niche that became highly profitable with less overhead than previous projects
- Worked with an attorney to create a potentiality file detailing possible court, mediation, and settlement outcomes.
As many Futurists are introverted geeks hidden behind computers and books, I'll use a fictional personality to give you a prettier idea of what a Futurist does. A perfect pop culture example is Tony Stark as played by Robert Downey Jr. in the Iron Man movies.
Tony Stark is a Futurist in every sense. He examines the past, present, and a variety of potential futures to actually create what he sees as the best option. Consider the scene in Iron Man 2 where he see the old film of his father Howard Stark and goes on to create a new element. Think about what Howard did in that scene. He created a new element in theory that was not technologically possible at the time. Then 50 years later Tony went on to make it possible not only as a power source, but a lifesaving device as well.
Several notable real-life Futurists include:
