dimension

Your Version Matters

Your work is special, no matter how similar the route is to those who transited before your voyage. Embrace the nuances, the subtle distinctions, the errant brush strokes, and the highlights that pop a little more than the masterpiece you referenced as a model. It is yours. If we wanted to see the original, it is either visible or gone forever. Your version adds depth and dimension, even if your creation has been attempted thousands of times.

Analog Adds Depth and Dimension

What follows is a strategic plan generated by ChatGPT for a generic nonprofit land trust.

Mission Statement: “Our mission is to conserve and protect natural lands, wildlife habitats, and water resources for the benefit of present and future generations.”

Vision Statement: “A thriving and sustainable ecosystem where people and nature coexist harmoniously, with 1000 acres of preserved land and 10 miles of river safeguarded for posterity.”

I. Executive Summary

In the next five years, our nonprofit land trust aims to secure and protect 1000 acres of land and 10 miles of river, advancing our mission and vision. This strategic plan outlines our key objectives, strategies, and actions to achieve this ambitious goal.

II. Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Land Acquisition

Objective 1: Secure 1000 acres of ecologically valuable land.

Strategies and Actions:

  1. Assessment and Prioritization: Identify and prioritize lands with high ecological value and alignment with our mission.
  2. Fundraising: Launch targeted fundraising campaigns, including grants, donations, and partnerships.
  3. Community Engagement: Engage the community in the selection and acquisition process, seeking public support and donations.
  4. Legal Expertise: Seek legal expertise to facilitate land acquisition processes, including negotiations and contracts.
  5. Landowner Collaboration: Collaborate with willing landowners to explore conservation easements and land donations.

Goal 2: River Protection

Objective 2: Safeguard 10 miles of river and its surrounding habitats.

Strategies and Actions:

  1. Water Quality Monitoring: Initiate a comprehensive water quality monitoring program to assess and track river health.
  2. Erosion Control: Implement erosion control measures to protect riverbanks and adjacent lands.
  3. Riparian Restoration: Collaborate with experts and volunteers to restore native riparian vegetation.
  4. Advocacy and Outreach: Advocate for policies and practices that support river conservation at the local and state levels.
  5. Partnerships: Collaborate with other environmental organizations and governmental agencies with similar river protection goals.

III. Organizational Capacity Building

Goal 3: Organizational Sustainability

Objective 3: Strengthen the financial and operational capacity of the land trust.

Strategies and Actions:

  1. Diversified Funding: Develop a diverse funding portfolio, including grants, membership dues, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships.
  2. Staff and Volunteer Development: Invest in staff training, volunteer recruitment, and capacity building.
  3. Technology Upgrade: Upgrade technology infrastructure to streamline operations and enhance outreach efforts.
  4. Board Engagement: Engage the board in fundraising and strategic planning.
  5. Partnerships: Forge strategic partnerships with organizations, educational institutions, and businesses to share resources and expertise.

IV. Public Engagement and Education

Goal 4: Community Involvement

Objective 4: Engage the community in our conservation efforts.

Strategies and Actions:

  1. Public Events: Host educational workshops, nature hikes, and community clean-up events.
  2. School Programs: Develop educational programs for local schools to foster environmental stewardship.
  3. Media and Outreach: Use social media, newsletters, and public presentations to raise awareness and engage the public.
  4. Advocacy Training: Offer advocacy training to empower the community to champion environmental causes.

V. Performance Measurement

Goal 5: Monitoring and Evaluation

Objective 5: Monitor and evaluate the progress and impact of our conservation efforts.

Strategies and Actions:

  1. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Establish KPIs to measure land acquisition progress, river health, and community engagement.
  2. Regular Reporting: Provide periodic reports to the board and stakeholders on the achievement of strategic objectives.
  3. Adaptive Management: Continuously assess strategies and adjust plans based on performance data and changing circumstances.

VI. Conclusion

This five-year strategic plan outlines our commitment to securing 1000 acres of land and protecting 10 miles of river. Through diligent execution of these objectives and strategies, we will work tirelessly to fulfill our mission and achieve our vision of a sustainable ecosystem for generations to come. Together, we can create a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship and conservation.

It is brilliant and covers the classic strategic areas of focus. It took less than one minute to generate. The linchpin is that it lacks meaning. There is no struggle, no points of resistance, and no need for a culture of curiosity to create the strategic framework. 

Would you nominate a proxy to take your marriage vows on your wedding day? Would you elevate an unknown bystander to present your work at a conference? Would you substitute an amateur for a professional firefighter to attack a working structure fire at your residence? I hope we have sufficient pride and commitment to the organizations we serve that the thought of not being present for critical decision moments is unthinkable. Although AI is efficient, it needs directions and insights to handle the human-centered elements.

How might we use our wayfinding abilities to struggle with the essential questions? How might our commitment to drafting an answer and deploying our best resources provide us greater context, even if we reach a less desired result? The act of striving for mastery to be a force for good and be of service requires tension, struggle, and curiosity. When we listen to an analog recording, it is the scratches, imperfections, and skips that make it one of a kind. It also adds depth and dimension. Creating the art provides a sense of ownership that is impossible when we inherit a template.

Depth, Dimension, and Distraction

Do the details add depth, dimension, or distraction to your journey? Do the activities engage you in a slalom, a barrier, or a brute force exercise? Do you see the individuals within the cluster, or are their commonalities so blended that they all appear the same?

We must make snap judgments and assumptions to navigate our daily wanderings. What is worthy of further evaluation, and what do we navigate in subconscious mode? One of the benefits of encountering a place from multiple directions is we might find a perspective that benefits from further investigation and comprehension.

Exposing Our Critical Infrastructure

Making the inner workings of our organizational visible might be more revealing than professionally polished inspiration. As a former fire fighter, almost everyone who peeked into the fire department’s open bay doors was glad to be offered a tour. Their curiosity to see the fire engines, ambulances, emergency response equipment, and fire fighters in person enhanced their appreciation for the responsibility of the fire service.

How might we provide behind the scene tours that provide greater depth and dimension to our work. How might we engage our community with an authentic show-and-tell moment?

What Gets You On A Plane?

What event or opportunity is meaningful enough to get you on a plane (or another form of transit)? With ubiquitous virtual conferencing platforms, why do we ever need to travel again? Why can in-person connections not generate the same intensity as those created on a screen? Why do groups that exist in a virtual platform hold in-person gatherings (online gaming competitors, Youtubers, etc.)? In my experience, there are planned connections that we can schedule when we gather in person. A friend or colleague we look forward to seeing. Then there is serendipity. The individual we sit next to at a meal or during a presentation. The one we discover a point of confluence with adds depth and dimension to our journey (and work). I have several in-person connections from attending the same conference for over ten years; our online chats archived on the conference app. I have few virtual friends that I connected with on-screen and shared contact information. Creating the necessary depth and dimension from a virtual connection is much more challenging.

I am attending the final World Domination Summit (an unconventional weekend for unconventional thinkers) in Portland, OR. After the pandemic caused a two-year delay, the summit re-launches to celebrate its final iteration. It would be convenient not to attend; a multi-year delay disrupted the cadence of the event and disjointed some of the networks of participants. But the group is remarkable, and the connections resonate. The event does not define me, but it expands my mindset. It adds crucial details to the unmapped portions of my journey. The flight there represents the front door of the odyssey.