Innovative Concepts

Planning Alone

If you plan alone, you create a first draft that embeds ideas influenced by your personal magnetic north. If you bring others into the conversation, you can add perspectives and concepts that you might not consider. When we expand the conversation, especially early in the process, we are afforded a plan that has been influenced by those who see opportunities and barriers differently.

Throwing Objects Over the Fence

If you were asked to throw an object over an eight-foot fence and get one item into a bucket on the other side as quickly as possible, how would you proceed? If the rules state that you cannot use a ladder and you must remain on the side of the fence opposite the bucket but have access to a shed of sporting equipment, is there an opening strategy?

Why are we willing to iterate in a game format but unwilling to take identical chances when executing our mission when the opportunity to start a new initiative arrives?

Air Traffic Control vs Air Plane Passenger

The differences between an air traffic controller and a passenger on a commercial flight are numerous. One of the most important is that the controller has a perspective on the entire sector. As a passenger, there is little awareness about the actions and intentions of other aircraft. Passengers are afforded a spectacular view of the surrounding scenery, which the controller does not get from looking at their screens.

How might we amplify the strengths of each role we inhabit without trying to make them overlap?

But They Have Never Seen…

Last night as I was out a ridin’
graveyard shift, midnight ‘till dawn
the moon was as bright as a readin’ light
for a letter from an old friend back home

He asked me why do you ride for your money
Why do you rope for short pay
You ain’t getting’ nowhere
And you’re losin’ your share
Boy, you must have gone crazy out there
But he’s never seen the Northern Lights
Never seen a hawk on the wing
He’s never seen Spring hit the Great Divide
And never heard Ol’ Camp Cookie sing

Night Rider’s Lament is a classic song illuminating the paradox of a cowboy’s employment for minimal pay versus real-world working opportunities. The song’s refrain provides an insight into the benefits of enduring the challenging conditions; the beauty of nature and the comradery of those who join you in a unique pursuit.

How might we recognize that how we keep score is not universal? How might we remain curious about the motivations of those who take a different route?

Your Single Ride Ticket

Head to the polls, secure a ballot and vote. Vote on every issue. Vote for a single candidate. Or return a blank ballot. Participate in the process. Be heard, be present, be engaged, be unique.

You received a single-ride ticket; how do you choose to use it? It retains no value and cannot be redeemed after Election Day. Participation is your superpower.

Wayfinding
Orientation race in progress

There is not a prescribed route during an orientation race. There are checkpoints but the terrain in between is navigated in real-time with decisions made based on glances at a topographic map and assessing the geography encountered. Wayfinding is a skill that is applied to the expanses we occupy at the moment.

How might we be aligned to checkpoints but not prescriptive about the route? How might we recognize that real-time information is vital to timely decisions? How might we not try to forerun the course when the event is unique to us?