Snippets and a short summary of what we are reading, listening and paying attention to.
Look
Take a moment and think about your future self, ten years from now. Do you have a vivid sense of that self and identity? Is it close to your current identity or do you see this as a separate self, with little connection to your current identity?
Philosopher Joseph Butler wrote in 1736, “If the self or person of today, and that of tomorrow, are not the same, but only like persons, the person of today is really no more interested in what will befall the person of tomorrow, than in what will befall any other person.”
More recently, UCLA researcher Hal Hershfield found that the discussion around the identity-gap question may reveal some surprising things about your behavioural tendencies. His deeper studies on Butler’s work show that a disconnection from our future selves might explain many irrational elements of human behaviour – including our reluctance to set aside savings for our retirement or not taking care of our bodies and general health.
His studies showed that people with a strong connection to their future self would be more likely to delay short-term gratification for longer-term benefits. He also found a strong positive correlation between a connection with your future self and your level of savings.
You can read more about this fascinating study here.
Hershfield believes it may sound eccentric, but if you can start a “conversation” with your future self it will make the person alive in your mind. This in turn may help you make small sacrifices now that benefit your future.
Listen
Conventional history suggests that violence is the most effective way to force change. Is this common assumption true? Explore the history and research findings with political scientist, Erica Chenoweth from Harvard University as she speaks to Shankar Vedantam on Hidden Brain Podcast.
Learn
Futurist Graeme Codrington has worked with our team over the years to help us think and plan differently. Recently his team at Tomorrowtoday put together a special report highlighting what they believe are the seven mega-forces that will shape and transform the 2020s. These forces, called ‘the seven grey elephants’ are:
- Ageing
- Angry planet
- Inequality
- Big squeezes
- Angry people
- Multipolarity
- Intelligent Assistance
Their research shows that the 2020s will be a decade of disruption. If you are not ready for it your business may perish. How will you adapt or become strategically agile? This guide offers a wonderful opportunity to rethink your strategy.
I hope you enjoyed this month’s edition.
Stay curious,
Elke Zeki
//24 March 2022