Cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset (Outthinkers Podcast #125)

"Most people, when they're tasked with reimagining something and trying to, you know, reimagine work or life or healthcare or an industry, whatever it is, they usually make a big mistake. And that is they're trying to look for predictions or trends. So they invite people that can predict a specific future in that specific category, and they're sharing trends that might have become true or not. And I think that's a mistake because that really narrows down your vision. Instead, you should actually look for what is something you desire to create."

Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt is Google 's first Chief Innovation Evangelist and author of "WHAT'S NEXT IS NOW: How To Live Future Ready.”

During his time at Google, Frederik played a pivotal role in shaping one of the world's most renowned creative cultures. He founded Google's Innovation Lab, where he trained tens of thousands of Googlers to develop and experiment with cutting-edge ideas. For over a decade, he also taught groundbreaking classes on innovation and creativity at Stanford University . 

Something that shines through Frederik’s work is his eternal optimism and emphasis on an active creation of the future, rather than passive prediction. This perspective challenges us to think differently about innovation and our role in shaping the future. 

In this episode, Frederik shares: 

• How the future isn't something that merely happens to us, but something we have the power to actively create—a viewpoint that empowers organizations to see themselves as agents of change.
• The six dimensions of a future-ready mind state, which together form a way of looking at the world that reveals potential all around you/
• Powerful—yet often underrated—psychological techniques that leverage positivity, gratitude, and optimism to enhance team dynamics, boost morale, and create a more innovative, engaged environment.

Listen to the full episode here.

Episode Timeline:

00:00—Highlight from today's episode

1:16—Introducing Frederik + the topic of today’s episode

3:38—If you really know me, you know that...

6:32— Defining strategy: Envisioning the future and designing experiments

07:52—Desired versus predictive future

09:51—The core idea of Frederik's book

11:41— The five dimensions of a future-ready mindset

15:14— Embracing optimism in innovation

17:26— Reimagining work: Using metaphors to envision the future

21:16— The mistake of relying on predictions and trends 

23:20— The evolution of life's priorities: From objects to relationships

26:10— The power of reframing: Transforming challenges into opportunities

28:12— The science behind optimism and the benefits of gratitude 

31:08—How can people follow you and continue learning from you?

More Resources:

• Personal website: www.frederikgpferdt.com
• Link to book: What's Next Is Now: How to Live Future Ready
• Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fgpferdt/
• Follow on Instagram: www.instagram.com/frederikgpferdt/