Hating on futurists

There was a great interaction on Twitter this weekend I just happened to overhear regarding the following question:

“What is more pompous, calling yourself a ‘guru’ or a ‘futurist?’”

It’s a great question. That the quip came originally from a member of the mainstream business media, opinioneers not known for their humility, makes the debate all the more interesting. I think the question isn’t complete until you include the title “innovation expert” into the arrogance gumbo. If you’re a guru futurist innovation expert…ooh, you’re probably a douche.

“Futurist” is a self-granted title that many people invest themselves with, like Napoleon crowning himself emperor of France. Ideally, it should mean that you take a logical methodology to strategic intelligence as opposed to just guessing. Too often, it just means some eminence grise up on stage opining about endless economic booms, enhanced virtual shopping, and the potential for immortality. The complete lack of quality control has led the term futurist to become a prime target for mockery. The mockery is well deserved, as far as I can tell.

But guess what? Many, many titles in our world provide the opposite value than what they promise.

• Judges don’t guarantee justice
• Lawyers don’t necessarily follow the law
• Insurance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry
• Consultants steal your watch and tell you what time it is
• Reporters are often handmaidens for the public relations efforts of the powerful
• Customer service is there to deflect companies from complaints, not solve problems
• Social media expert means you have a Facebook AND a Twitter account

This doesn’t mean I want a world without law, insurance or customer service. It means we need to live up to our promises. That the term futurist sounds funny is no reason to subject it to standards any higher – or lower – than the rest of the job descriptions in our modern economies.