Recognizing Trends and Innovatively Exploiting Them

Recent headlines could have easily persuaded you that the long term trend to sustainable energy was being upended. Yes, coal generation is closing, and nuclear plants are being reopened.  Yes, the demand for electricity is expanding faster than ever due to the growth of AI. But headlines don’t try to explain trends, and the trend to sustainable energy will continue. 

 

This podcast explains how important it is to separate trend data from headlines, so that you can smartly follow trends to better growth.  At the same time, by exploring Apple’s floundering in AppleTV and its movie production we dig into how following trends often means finding new ways to deliver value, like Alphabet’s YouTube.  And we explain the process of using teams to develop new approaches that build on trends, avoiding the traps of historical approaches that are outdated and losing relevancy.

 

Thinking Points:

• Do you scan headlines, and then let these short-term exclamations alter your trend analysis?
• When doing something new do you look for new approaches, or try to implement historical “best practices?”
• Are you investing in trends, or defending and extending your old business?
• Do you have teams dedicated to finding innovative ways to build on trends like AI?