BACK TO THE FUTURE

THINKING AHEAD

Last year, 417-lander Seth Harrell was selected as an emerging fellow by the Association of Professional Futurists and attended the rst-ever Dubai Future Forum. We sat down to learn about his eld and his experiences— and the future of 417-land.

BY LUCIE AMBERG

417 Magazine: “Futurist” may be an unfamiliar term for some people. How do you describe what you do?

Seth Harrell: The easiest way to describe it is to note that the uncertainty of the future is increas-

Futurist Seth Harrell puts his focus ahead by helping businesses focus on making strategic plans.

ing. My job is to decrease the amount of uncertainty. My role is not to predict anything; we try to stay away from that. Most businesses focus on a three- to fi ve-year strategic plan. It’s easier to make a fi ve-year plan if you’re looking 10 years out. But how do you do that when things are so uncertain? Once you get to the fi ve-year mark, data isn’t quite as useful because uncertainty becomes so great at that point. That’s where people like me jump in. Things will still be uncertain, but we know the underlying drivers in the world creating change.

417: H

SH: I grew up in Springfi eld. I remember the Vision 20 20 Project that resulted in downtown being re-developed and great things like Jordan Valley Park. I was young at the time, and it opened my eyes that people were focusing on the long-term. Even in high school, I remember sitting in history class and wondering why we didn’t also have a class about the future. That seemed just as important as a history class to me since, as a teenage student, I was going to be living in that future. And then when I was an undergrad at Missouri State, I was a geography major, which introduced me to systems thinking.

417: Last fall, you attended the Dubai Future Forum at the new Museum of the Future in Dubai. Was there a top insight that you came home with?

SH: Every panel wound up talking about borders. What are borders going to mean in the future? Digital technologies are allowing organizations to exist in non-traditional ways. We’re used to thinking: “On this side of the border is one thing; on the other side of the border is another thing.”

417: How can we think about ourselves as being S

SH: One of the guiding quotes we live by is: “The future lives on the edges of things.” What that means is that any time you fi nd the edges— whether it’s two groups of people or two technologies that are butting up against each other—that’s where interesting stuff starts to happen. That can then fi lter out to the rest of the world and create the future. If you want to fi nd the future now— where things will be in 30 years—fi nd the edges of things. Springfi eld is a transportation hub. We’re centrally located in a circle that includes St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa, Little Rock and Memphis and because of that, we get a lot of traffi c and economic activity coming from outside. Springfi eld has a history of being innovative in transportation. Everyone knows about the history of Route 66 and the innovations of diverging diamonds and things like that. If we want to evaluate Springfi eld in the future, I would say, “Where in Springfi eld is there an interesting interplay of business, technology and culture? Where are we on the edge of two cultures, technologies or types of business?”

MORE

Visit 417mag.com to read our full conversation with Seth Harrell.

IMAGINE

If you’ve enjoyed Liverpool Legends, the live Beatles tribute show, you may have seen Seth Harrell perform. A few years ago, he met Louise Harrison, the sister of George Harrison and the founder of Liverpool Legends, at Biz 417’s Think Summit. The two had a point of connection: When Harrell sings, he just happens to sound like John Lennon. “Within a month of that meeting , I was performing in Branson and doing cruises and that kind of thing,” Harrell says. “It’s funny because I was playing Lennon, who’s famous for writing ‘Imagine,’ and in my professional career, that’s literally what I’m asking people to do—to imagine things about the future.”

while away the winter in ST. LOUIS

Everyone wants to stay warm with indoor fun when it’s chilly out, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay in town. This year, take a short trip to St. Louis to nd unforgettable indoor experiences.

BY MICHELLE LEWIS

1ARMORY

3660 Market Street, St. Louis, 314-282-2720, armorystl.com Filling 250,000 square feet in a historic building, the Armory is unlike any other entertainment venue. The space features a two-story slide, one of the largest video screens in the city that plays sports and other entertainment and a variety of games including table tennis, Snookball and horseshoes. 2 CITY MUSEUM  750 N. 16th St., St. Louis, 314-231-2489, citymuseum.org The fun that the City Museum off ers is not just for kids. The entire building is an evolving art installation that holds features that double as a playground. With a total of over 30 slides, anyone of any age can fi nd a slide for them. Visit the 19th century cabin on the fi rst fl oor that holds a full bar.

Springfield's Best has been supporting local businesses since 1994. Our membership includes a variety of the most well respected and established businesses in southwest Missouri that are known for their community involvement and trustworthiness.

Springfield's Best encourages the consumer public to conduct business with these reputable, locally owned or managed companies that operate with honesty, integrity and ethical behavior, and to support the Springfield community by keeping their dollars in the Springfield economy.

Learn more about these local reputable businesses at springfieldsbest.com/directory.htm

Westport Social is the perfect atmosphere for enjoying a drink with a round of bocce ball. TRIP INFO

REASON TO GO Extreme indoor fun from laser tag to slides

TRIP LENGTH A weekend

WHO TO BRING Your family

3WESTPORT SOCIAL  910 W. Port Plaza Drive, St. Louis, 314-548-2876, westportsocial-stl.com Whether you want to watch a game or hang out, Westport Social provides a fun and friendly atmosphere for any meal. Westport Social is more than just the menu though; the lounge provides friendly competition with a variety of indoor games including bocce ball and hoops. But note after 4 p.m. the restaurant becomes 21+. 4 UP-DOWN  405 N. Euclid St., St. Louis, 314-449-1742, updownarcadebar.com/st-louis End your day of fun slinging pinball machines and throwing skee balls at St. Louis’ Arcade Bar. Up-Down features more than 60 arcade games from the ‘80s and ‘90s, Nintendo 64 gaming and life-size Jenga. When you end up wanting a late snack, the bar serves house-made pizza with unique toppings.

5THE EDGE

701 S. Bell West, Belleville, Illinois, 618-236-2101, edge618.com While not technically in St. Louis, we think The Edge’s status of holding the largest laser tag arena in the world makes it worth the visit while you are in the St. Louis area. At 14,000 square feet, Laser Rock is unlike any other laser tag adventure you’ve ever experienced. Feel like a kid again as you race through swirling fog.

HIGH STANDARDS. HIGH EXPECTATIONS. WINE AND SPIRITS

From high end bourbons to local brews, we’re aiming to make your life better.

Qwasabee checkered slippers, $26.50 at Harrison House Market Flow Dare to Dream Puzzle, $19.95 at Pagination Book Shop

Glass teapot, $32.50 at Chabom Teas & Spices

Just the Strip mint nourishing oil, $16 at STAXX Jade facial Jade facial roller, $18 at roller, $18 at SOAP Refi ll Station; Gua Sha facial stone, $10 at SOAP Refi ll Station

Matimade checked comb, $20 at STAXX

Mistral Citrus luxury soap, $10 at The Market; Mistral Pear Tart luxury soap, $8 at The Market

treat YOURSELF

With the holidays over and the new year excitement fading, it’s easy to fall year excitement fading, it’s easy to fall into a winter slump. And as much as I’d like to think spring is just around the corner, we’ve still got a few more months of ghting these cold weather blues. In need of a little pick-me-up? The booming wellness industry is The booming wellness industry is here and ready to take you from drab here and ready to take you from drab to fab. Whether it’s stocking up on to fab. Whether it’s stocking up on skincare or splurging on that luxury skincare or splurging on that luxury pajama set, it’s time to snuggle up pajama set, it’s time to snuggle up with some self-care. with some self-care. —Colin Shea Denniston, Style Editor —Colin Shea Denniston, Style Editor

Show Me Your Mumu striped PJ set, $98 at STAXX

Barr-Co. Barr-Co. bath bomb gift set, $44 at The Market

Floral bouquet, $55 at Fleur Floral Studio Peperomia Schumi plant, $12 at The Plant Room; Peperomia Hope plant, $18 at The Plant Room

“Having live plants in your house can help boost your mood during the dreary help boost your mood during the dreary winter months. Just remember to keep winter months. Just remember to keep them (and yourself) hydrated.” them (and yourself) hydrated.” —Colin Shea Denniston —Colin Shea Denniston

Pet portraits are the perfect way to capture the personality of your fourlegged besties.

Delaney Willard works with digital watercolor brushes that make the strokes look and act like paint.

Wood burning adds texture to Kirristen Shore’s work.

immortalize YOUR PET

Several local artists offer handmade pet portraits perfect for any home.

BY MICHELLE LEWIS

Custom pet portraits have grown increasingly popular, allowing families and friends to honor their pets in lasting ways. These portraits can be given as meaningful gifts to those with animals who have passed or to that friend who has everything. Delaney Willard (facebook.com/delaneywillardart) is a local artist who creates custom watercolor pet portraits. Willard’s pet portraits are hand painted in a simple style and neutral tones to complement any decor. If you are aiming for a more playful and modern look, Hannah Bunch (hannahlannaebunch.com) creates boldly colorful and stylized acrylic portraits. For those with more rustic homes, Kirristen Shore with Kirri Lynn Designs (kirrilynndesigns. com) creates custom wood burned and painted portraits of pets.

Hannah Bunch’s pet portraits are full of rich, vibrant colors.

INSTAGRAM:

@delaneywillardpetportraits @bunch.of.art kirrilynndesigns