It’s YOUR Future…

I was frankly flattered when I was invited to write in this space. I read the work of some of the other writers/bloggers on this site, so I feel I’m in distinguished company.
But— fair warning— I won’t be writing about the future. I will be writing about YOUR future. How to understand it. How to explore it. How to plan for it. How to achieve your vision of your future. This is personal futures.

Since I am introducing myself and personal futures, let me guide you toward more information about personal futures.

First, I have a book coming out in September; It’s YOUR Future… Make it a Good One! It describes a systematic approach to exploring your life and your future. In short, how to apply the same futures methods that large organizations have been using successfully for decades to your personal life. Over 100 illustrations and tables. The book will be available for order from the Futurist bookstore, Amazon, B&N, Borders and other bookstores as well as at my web site, www.vernewheelwright.com. It’s YOUR Future… Make it a Good One! will also be available in ebook formats. The table of contents (below) will give you a good idea of what is in the book.
CONTENTS
Table of Figures
Chapter 1 Everyone Wants to Know the Future!
Step One
Chapter 2 A Map to Your Future: Stages of Your Life
Chapter 3 The People in Your Future
Chapter 4 Trends and Forces: Anticipating Change in Your Life
Chapter 5 Forces in Your Life: Past, Present and Future
Chapter 6 Forces That Shape Your Worlds: Global, National and Local
Chapter 7 Events That Will Change Your Life
Chapter 8 Your Values Will Guide Your Future
Chapter 9 Realistically You: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Step Two
Chapter 10 Scenarios: How Futurists Explore Alternative Futures
Chapter 11 Building Your Basic Scenario
Chapter 12 Driving Forces Will Change the Direction of Your Scenarios
Chapter 13 Telling Stories About Your Future
Step Three
Chapter 14 Personal Strategic Planning
Chapter 15 A Vision of Your Future
Chapter 16 Strategies to Achieve Your Vision
Chapter 17 Creating Your Action Plan
Chapter 18 Analyzing Your Plan
Chapter 19 Wild Cards and Contingency Plans
Chapter 20 Living with Your Plan
Chapter 21The Long Term Perspective in Your Life and Your Career
Appendix
Index

Second, there is a web site where you can learn about personal futures, www.personalfutures.net. This site has several pages explaining how to apply futures methods to your life, and also includes several free downloads. The downloadable PDF files include the Personal Futures Workbook which has been downloaded all over the world. It is used in classrooms in many countries for university and graduate students, but has also been used by teachers of eighth graders and high school students. The workbook is available in English, Spanish, and German.

Third, I have a new web site www.vernewheelwright.com which is primarily about my books, my background in futures studies, and my other writing. Even some short stories!

That, I think, is more than enough about what I’m doing. From now on, my blogs in this space will be about you and your future.
Oh! One more thing. I’ve joined the twenty-first century! I’m on Twitter @urfuturist. Follow me into the future!