You'd think a futurist would live in a high-tech city, right? Surrounded by glass towers, startup energy, and the constant hum of innovation?
But I actually live in a tiny off-grid cabin—only accessible by boat. Why?
No, it's not to prep for doomsday. It's because the best way to see the future… is to step away from the present.
There's a paradox in futurism that most people miss. The closer you get to the noise of "innovation," the harder it becomes to hear the true signals of change. Cities pulse with excitement about the latest app, the newest funding round, the hottest trend. But real transformation? That happens quietly, in the spaces between the headlines.
After traveling the world, working with incredible clients, and scanning future trends, I retreat here—to think, reflect, and separate hype from lasting signals. My cabin strips away the digital overwhelm and forces me into a different rhythm. Without the constant ping of notifications, my mind can wander to bigger questions. Without the pressure of immediate responses, I can sit with uncertainty and let patterns emerge.
From my cabin, looking out toward Barrenjoey Headland and its lighthouse, I ask: What are the trends shaping our future? What's real, and what's just noise? That lighthouse has been guiding ships for over a century—a reminder that some changes endure while others fade with the tide.
The future isn't built in boardrooms or accelerators. It's born in moments of quiet reflection, when we can see beyond the urgency of today to the possibilities of tomorrow. Distance doesn't disconnect us from the future—it gives us the perspective to understand it.
In a world obsessed with being "always on," sometimes the most radical act is turning off. Where do you go to think?
Check out the YouTube Short for more...
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