INSPIRED IMAGES that LEAD TO INSPIRED ACTION

I just completed this thinking map for Laura West for her "Own Your Big Self Teleseminar". I am always reminded to get out of the way. Initally we were using the metaphor of the petals of a flower to help guide the idea that marketing our businesses is more than just a message. When we take a look at all that goes into it, the message can be much fuller and more impactful. We needed to keep the image open and light so people has space to fill it in. What emerged was more like a sun with its rays and the center of all of it is where the power is. So, I am reminded always, to get out of the way and let the image emerge. I approach my work by listening on a lot of different levels. What we need the most now is connection and meaning. The meaning belongs to the those who are inspiring it, I have seen time and again, that the action the results holds more potential and is inspired in itself.

If you have a project that might benefit from Graphic Facilitation (of course, I think all conversations and meetings can benefit- but I am a little biased- in a good way) and you just arent sure what the first step is; feel free to send me a note and we can explore it together. There is nothing more powerful than having the big picture!

I got Twittered, or is it tweeted, or is it chirpped...

Updates beginning with @idea360
MrTweet_Alert@idea360 Hi! To help relevant folks discover you, we added your followfriday recommendation: http://cli.gs/8XJuv6

I dont really know what this means, except it was a first!

I am getting the hang of how COOL twitter is. It is way more powerful than any of the other applications I kind-of use. And, for my type 6- "inattentive ADD" it is PERFECT!!!!!! How great to get sound bites that send me into my most favorite way of learning- DISCOVERY.

Today Paula Thorton twittered- "Innovation is MORE about discovery than it is ideas. The 'biggest' contributions are the little ones." I grabbed this idea and have pondered it all day.

My greatest discovery as of late is the development of The FutureWave Collaboratory. This is a project I have been co-creating with Wendy White. It was an idea born out of asking how I could be a part of the solution in these weird uberchanging times. I know that vizualizing and mapping ideas is one of the best ways to arrive at clarity and see the big picture. It has been helpful for the clients who are making it a part of every conversation! We are focusing on the DISCOVERY, the 360, new ways of seeing and new ways of planning the next best step. It is out of discovery that we have arrived at the ideas that are leading us forward. And now we are ready to go!



I was capturing Ole Qvist Sorenson at the VIZTHINK09 conference. I really believe now is the time to look for opportunities to contribute, the nudge opens up an incredible landscape of discovery, and we can make a bigger step than we can imagine possible.

Graphic Facilitation...... map

I have just discovered this depiction of the Graphic Facilitation process created by Neuland. Although I can not read the details, I am more intrigued by the incredible sense of POTENTIAL that comes from a group meeting this is graphically captured. It almost doesn't matter what the details are, except to say that by capturing the information as it emerges, we have an incredible opportunity to leverage the genius in the room in so many ways.

As we experience such challenging times, isn't the GENIUS IN THE ROOM our greatest asset? Arent those ideas priceless to innovate from, build understanding, create synergy, SEE gaps, and inspire collective perspective? We know that we have been called to action... and the changes in the conversation will happen one at a time... BIG PICTURES will be an incredible asset in getting everyone on the same page.... faster, cheaper and in a more meaningful way.

Time Line for an amazing non profit!

Everytime I do a timeline or I work with an organization that is doing a story telling map, I emphasize the idea that they will know more about who they are after the first round is done. Quite often, they say, "we will get it all the first time around". Well, I haven't been wrong yet. What is so important about this act of clarification and reflection is that the organization makes decisions about the stories they want to carry forward. Who knew the color of the Bug would be important or that the wheels of the bike needed to be equal in the front and the back, or the first fundraiser sold cakes and not cupcakes? Well, for this organizations it mattered! Their story tells more about who they are and how they do business than anyone might know. Self Help has played a vital role in influencing predatory housing laws for almost 30 years and has been incredibly influential in rethinking downtown Durham NC. It all started in the blue Volkswagon you see pictured at the front of the map... for HP it was a garage and for these folks, it is a Bug.

Write your story, and then write it again. The richness comes the second time around. Ohhh how lucky I am to do what I have the priviledge to do- capture stories.