The large majority of trends go through seven distinct phases or stages. Making the right move in each stage is the key to creating advantage for yourself and your business. Making the right move at the right time is critical. Venture investors make a living off predicting which company, concept and industry is the next big thing. Then there is something more... the issue of whether now is the time. Trend stages are my secret sauce. Trend stages are important when trying to decide WHEN. When to invest time, money or effort in a company, when to launch a product, when to use a technology for a particular purpose, and more.