In my 30s, I trained in search and rescue and got my Wilderness First Responder certificate, the industry standard for professional guides and trip leaders. I was motivated to do this because I loved the outdoor backcountry and had already gotten seriously lost once in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. That scared me enough that I […]
When I went on this last camping trip, I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler because the last time I took my car up these mountain roads, I popped off a lower door panel. I had no idea how much fun I would have driving the Jeep. On the highways, being up higher than most and
Launching a successful Grand Challenge requires managing several critical elements. In past issues, I’ve covered: the Grand Challenge Upward Spiral, Creating a Social Movement, Ecosystem Activation, and more. Today, I want to discuss The Grand Challenge Systems Model for Change. I created this model by heavily drawing on the work of Kenneth McLeroy. In
Grand Challenge Systems Model for Change Read More »
In the picture above my canine companion, Kaya, is drinking from a mountain stream on our recent trip up into the Adirondacks of upstate New York. I took a jeep up into the hinterlands, getting as far as Lyon Mountain, just 22 miles south of the Canadian border. I rented a 2014 Jeep Wrangler (4×4,
Wilderness with Kaya Read More »
Grand Challenges address socially intractable problems. Wicked problems. Problems that have so many moving parts, it’s difficult to wrap your mind around them – like climate change. I’ve had the opportunity to help conceive, design, and execute, five grand challenges. I’ve spent the last few weeks discussing the varied processes, tools, and models key to
Strategic Foresight in 5 Steps Read More »
When you read this, Kaya, my canine companion, and I are deep off the grid in the Great Northeast for a week of Nature. No connectivity. Forest, river, sky, trees, dirt… magic all around. Kaya is being fitted for Sita’s dog pack above. That’s a week ago when I wrote this. Sita and I appear
I am event-driven. I believe bringing people together has the most potential for creating the capability and building the bonds that enable social movements – critical to successful Grand Challenges – to take place. Despite this potential, many corporate events and conferences miss the mark, offering carnival-like atmospheres when you need a profoundly moving and
Touchstone Events: 7 Steps to Impact Grand Challenges Read More »
Here I am holding jalapenos fresh from the garden. Behind me are a mass of marigolds and a wall of cherry tomatoes picked clean for the time being, but more to come. I love jalapenos! They are my perfect heat for so many recipes, including those that call for them raw. Marigolds remind me of
The Fruits of Our Labor Read More »
I’ve spent the last few months focused on Grand Challenges, using Visionary Talk to highlight models, frameworks, and pertinent case studies that would benefit any large-scale change initiative. Remember, a Grand Challenge is a big, bold goal that takes on a socially intractable problem by building alliances of organizations and activists who can attack
Grand Challenge Design Studio Read More »
My son, Gabe, took me to two climbing gyms last week. I was pleasantly surprised at what a great workout it provided. It’s amazing to learn which muscles it draws on, most discernable by the soreness that develops over the following days. But, to be fair, that’s true with any new physical activity. I think
