As I sit down to write the introduction to InsideHook’s annual predictions list for 2023, I’ve got my self-heating mug of coffee sitting next to my elbow (very 2030), I’m wearing a 100% wool cardigan with wooden toggles (very 1330), and I’ve got COVID and I’m wondering if I’ll test negative in time to be with family this holiday (very 2020…and 2021). 

In the last couple of years, the only constant has been uncertainty, a trend that solidified into a norm this past year. Elections that were shoo-ins ended in concession calls. Settled rights were revoked. An unnecessary war began and continues. The worst person on Twitter took ownership of Twitter. No combination of tarot cards, Magic 8 Balls and top-dollar B2B data visualizations could have helped us predict the year that is now in our rear view. 

Is the fickle and volatile nature of our 21st century life going to stop us from looking ahead to 2023? Certainly not. For one, the InsideHook trend forecast is an annual tradition around these parts. (If you want to check our work, you can see how we did for 2022 and 2021. No refunds! Oh that’s right, this website is free.) And secondly, we’re keeping our third eye focused on our niche expertise: the lives of American men. We’ll leave the geopolitical projections to organizations that don’t also do Pringles rankings.

We can’t say for sure if you’ll have COVID again this time next year (though the odds are looking good), but…