Hidden Patterns in Everyday Life That Reveal Opportunity” – spotting trends before everyone else.
Spotting Trends Before Everyone Else
Most people miss opportunities because they're looking for neon signs. But the biggest trends don't announce themselves—they whisper through small, consistent patterns that compound over time.
Today, I want to share how to develop pattern recognition that helps you spot trends before they hit the mainstream.
The Coffee Shop Principle
I discovered my most profitable insight sitting in a local coffee shop in 2019. Three different people in one week asked the barista for oat milk. The fourth time I heard it, I paid attention.
This wasn't about oat milk specifically—it was about recognizing a pattern: people were actively requesting something that wasn't on the menu yet.
Within six months, oat milk was everywhere. But the early signal was there for anyone watching.
The pattern: When multiple unrelated people request the same thing that doesn't exist yet, that's not coincidence. That's emerging demand.
Three Hidden Patterns Most People Miss
1. The Inconvenience Pattern
Watch for what frustrates people repeatedly. Not complaints—those are obvious. Look for workarounds.
When people create makeshift solutions to everyday problems, that's where opportunity lives.
Real example: Notice how people angle their phones against random objects to watch videos? PopSockets built a $200M business on that inconvenience.
How to spot it: Ask yourself weekly: "What did I see someone improvise a solution for this week?"
2. The Crossover Pattern
Magic happens when two unrelated worlds collide.
Yoga + beer = yoga breweries. Coding + kids = coding bootcamps for children. Meditation + corporate culture = billion-dollar mindfulness apps.
The early signal: When you hear someone say "It's like [X] meets [Y]" more than once, pay attention. The first person might be an outlier. The third person is revealing a trend.
How to spot it: Keep a running list of unusual combinations you encounter. When you see the same combination twice in different contexts, dig deeper.
3. The Demographic Lag Pattern
What's normal for 20-year-olds becomes normal for 30-year-olds within 5-7 years. What Gen Z does casually today, Millennials will adopt tomorrow, and Gen X will embrace eventually.
Real example: TikTok wasn't a Gen Z fad—it was a preview of how *everyone* would consume short-form video. The pattern was there years before brands figured it out.
How to spot it: Spend time observing behaviors in age groups different from your own. Don't judge—just watch and take notes.
Your Pattern Recognition Framework
Here's a simple system I use every week:
Monday: Write down 3 things that surprised me last week
Wednesday: Note 1 behavior I saw repeated by unrelated people
Friday: Identify 1 thing people complained about or worked around
Sunday: Review the week and ask: "What pattern am I seeing?"
You're not looking for lightning bolt insights. You're looking for the third time you notice the same thing.
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The Skill That Compounds
Pattern recognition is like a muscle. The more you practice, the faster you spot signals.
Start small: This week, just notice. Don't analyze, don't judge, don't try to monetize. Simply observe:
- What are people improvising solutions for?
- What are unrelated people asking for?
- What combinations seem odd but keep appearing?
The opportunities aren't hidden because they're secret. They're hidden because most people aren't paying attention.
One Question to Take With You
Before you scroll to the next thing, ask yourself:
"What pattern did I dismiss as random this week that might actually be a signal?"
Sometimes the trend everyone will talk about next year is happening quietly around you right now.
You just have to learn to see it.
Until next time,
P.S. What's one pattern you've noticed lately that seems too small to matter? Hit reply and tell me. I read every response, and sometimes the best insights come from conversations like these.
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