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Futurist Consultant & Keynote SpeakerDavid HouleI am a consultant and keynote speaker on the future and global trends. As a futurist, in this time of incredibly rapid change, I provide strategic consulting, to suggest ways that companies can adapt to the changes confronting them. Companies often bring me in periodically to spend a day or two leading discussions with top management on how best to take advantage of the forces and trends that are reshaping markets and the world.I have been called "the CEOs' Futurist"" as I usually speak to and advise CEO's on the future. I call this process "futuring". We look at where the company is today, the future trends that will reshape the world, how they will affect the marketplace, and then how the company might better face this future. I have helped companies completely re-brand and redirect to better face the future and rapidly changing marketplaces. In this process I strive to be a catalyst toward a breakthrough idea or strategy - one that might in the short term of months to years or long term of decades create great value for individuals and companies alike. Forecasts As a futurist, I am often asked about forecasts I have made that proved to be accurate. That is a fair question. Here are some forecasts and predictions I have made, and the dates when I made them. Prediction Date made -Oil would reach $125 a barrel in 2008 April 2006 -With this increase in oil price, GM would put Hummer up for sale and sales of SUVs would plummet April 2006 - Major city newspapers would start to go out of June 2006 business within 3-4 year;, smaller city papers would do well -Barack Obama will be the next President September 2007 -The sub-prime problem would show that the financial marketplace was now global, and the problems would become global August 2007 -Thrift will become the new cool in America. It will be October 2008 hip to be thrifty. Thrift will replace extravagance for at least the next two years. -Complete genetic mapping for individuals will cost $1,000 by 2013 September 2008 -There most likely will be deflation in the U.S. for the November 2008 next six months -In 2009, some 3,000 - 5,000 car dealerships in the November 2008 U.S. will close -There will be great upheavals in many Islamic countries in the next 3-5 years due to accelerating electronic connectedness and young demographics December 2008 -Unemployment i nthe U.S. will top out at 9-11% in the second half of 2009 January 2009 - 2012 could well be one of the most disruptive years in the U.S. in decades March 2009 - Commercial Real Estate in U.S. will show no real growth for 4-5 years -There will be 5 billion cell phone subscriptions by September 2009 the end of 2010 - The cable television subscription business will October 2009 decline by 10% in terms of number of subscribers between 2009 and 2013 -There will be no significant inflation - outside food January 2010 and energy- in the U.S. in 2010 -There is and will be a new "less is more" trend in the US and the developed countries of the world. Consumers have separated "want" from "need" and will even then postpone the purchase of what is "needed". Consumers will save more, pay down debt and spend less. This trend will last for several years. July 2010 -Due to a historic shift in the workplace, the December 2010 unemployment rate will remain above 8% through 2012 -e-books will represent 50% of total book sales December 2010 by 2015 -It should no longer be thought of as the "Greek Debt Crisis" but the possible "death rattle" of the Euro February 2011 - There will be a significant economic hiccup in China in the next 12 months August 2011 |
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