REBEL, INNOVATOR, PROVOCATEUR, REVOLUTIONARY, CHALLENGER, MAVERICK, GROUNDBREAKER, PIONEER, VISIONARY, TRENDSETTER, CREATOR, ORIGINATOR, EXPERIMENTER, PIRATES, MASTER- MIND, DISRUPTER, MISFITS
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN COMMON?
In times of uncertainty, people tend to stick to the status quo and resist change, as change increases uncertainty.
We argue in favour of doing the exact opposite. Uncertain times present an opportunity to question the status quo, to examine existing dissatisfaction with your own trajectory. Welcome to Unfollow.
Unfollowing is a prerequisite for change. But we know that change is difficult. What makes it difficult is our natural inclination to follow. Following is hard-wired into our brains. The recent complication is that modern digital life is becoming a hidden trap that channels us toward conformity. The algorithms behind search engines are narrowing what we see on the internet, with the effect that we are constantly being prompted to follow the crowd. In addition, a new breed of data analytics firms are using social media and other data to understand individuals and even manipulate their purchasing and voting behaviour, changing the outcome of elections and markets.
‘Unfollowing’ is a vital skill for our turbulent times. With the uncertainty inherent in the populist reshaping of the political landscape, having the ability and courage to ‘unfollow’ is imperative if we are to continue holding authority figures to account, and in order to resist the tyranny of the majority when necessary.
Unfollow the book.
The book draws on dozens of stories of people from over 30 countries around the world who have been interviewed for the book, as well as the latest research on the topic. It draws upon our experience as consultants and how we have helped people break out of established structures to become not only more innovative and creative but authentic, relevant and purposeful.
Target audience: Business people, entrepreneurs and non-profits with an interest in innovation and creativity, the creative class, social and government readers and individuals struggling with feeling ‘stuck’ in life or work. The book is relevant to business, self-care, and ‘smart thinking’ publication categories. The book relates to innovation and individuality, but it does it with a harder edge than typical innovation books, as it focuses on the process of resisting the status quo, not just the process of generating a new idea.
