Personally I never been a fad follower, just not my style. I’ve always been the one to follow trends. A trend will take you far more in life, than any fad will. Yet most people think fads and trends are the same thing. Well they are sort of similar, but also very different. A trend is something that lasts longer, while a fad is something that’s cool today and maybe not tomorrow.

Think of a fad as last night’s basketball score, while a trend is the win/loss record for the seasons. Sometimes fads pave the way for a trend. but most of the time fads run counter to the trend. Also remember, fads are expensive, they are cool today and not tomorrow. When I look at the two, the best three industries that illustrate fads and trends are; Investment Industry, Fashion Industry and Fitness Industry. No other industries, in my opinion at least have shorter fads and longer trends than these three. Let me explain below.

Investment Industry

Fads - Gold (1908s), Tech Stocks (1990s), Real Estate (2000s) & now Gold again (2010s)

We all know what happened to the first three fads. What do you think will happen to the last one? I thought so.

Trends - The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, yet expecting a different result.  What happens eventually? Volatility, Bubble & Burst. If you think you are above the average, kudos to you!  Consider then following Warren Buffet’s timeless advice: Sell Greed, Buy Fear!

Fitness Industry

Fads – Diets named after people, Workout Videos by Celebrities, Zumba, Tae Bo, Boot Camp, Eat this and not that groups. Seriously, c’mon! How many of these videos, diets or workouts do you hear about today, that you heard about last year. None! Remember when Tae Bo came out, endorsed by celebrities, where is to today? Collecting dust!

Trends -  Finding new ways to exercies. Not calorie counting. Finding what best works for YOU. Mostly giving your self the time, not the time one suggests or even worst a magazine. What works for someone else, does not mean it will work for you. We are all different, shapes & sizes.

Fashion Industry

Fads - Flared Jeans. BENCH Brand. Vests. Aviator Shades and much more, too much to list, but you get the idea.

Trends – Wearing what you feel most comfortable in. For me, it’s always been classy for men, to wear jeans with blazers. Colours that work for you and most importantly, only buy what’s most comfortable for your budget, not what others are buying.

Do you follow fads or trends? What annoys you the most about fads?