1 Reclaiming Futures Leadership Institute April 9, 2014Embrace the Vision: How Do You Know Where “There” Is? -with Michael Bagley
2 Or… “How to Be A Gina!”
3 How Much of Your Time… …do you spend solving problems and fixing things? …do you spend on generative thinking?
4 Seven Habits Quadrant Thinking
5 Who Is This Guy??? Executive Director of Project U.S.E., a nonprofit experiential education organization based in Newark, New Jersey. Photographer - specialty is pets and animals. U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain. Avid cyclist. Humble servant to three dogs. Creating evangelist.
6 What Is A Vision? (And Why Do I Need One?)“Amazon's vision is to be earth's most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.” “Imagining a world where there are no homeless pets.” (Best Friends Animal Society) Good…but a functional, useful Vision will be more than words on a poster.
7 What Is This Vision Stuff About?A focus on that which you wish to bring into existence. Determining the “there”. Building a structure that supports desired end results. Structure drives behavior! Using the power of “Structural Tension” to help us create (rather than reacting to it). Creating something (a program, a business, a school, a relationship) as if it was a work of art. Commitment - blood, sweat and tears!
8 When We Create We Don’t……rely on the power of positive thinking. …have to be “creative” (although we often are!). …kid ourselves (Please, no psychotic breaks!) …fix all the things that are broken. …swear allegiance to a deity. …wish upon a star (If you build it they will come!).
9 The Creating Model Established by Robert FritzThe Path Of Least Resistance Creating Observed the Creative Process in painters, musicians, etc. “Artists don’t paint because there is an abundance of blank canvases” Applied that process to other endeavors.
10 Model VISION S T R U C T U R A L T E N S I O N CURRENT REALITY
11 VISION ALWAYS the first step in the Creative Process!!What you want to exist. A clear, recognizable result. Something you care about. Exists for its own sake. Described as if it exists now. Not a reaction - not solving a problem, easing pain or fixing something that’s broken. Regardless of whether it’s possible or probable.
12 VISION? Lunch Turkey w/american cheese on a round roll with mayoA red Ferrari w/black leather interior and purple fuzzy dice. A New Car I am debt free and have $10,000 in savings. I am not poor
13 Imagine this… It is June 1, You are crossing the elevated walkway above Raymond Boulevard from the northwest corner of Riverbank Park to the Newark Maritime Education Center (NMEC) located on the bank of the Passaic River. The NMEC has been in operation since the spring of 2010, but has recently realized the vision put forth for the Center several years prior. As you descend down the cobbled ramp to the waterfront area, you observe the following: At the far end of a dock you can’t help but notice the newly christened Spirit of Newark, a 100’ wooden, two-masted schooner. The vessel was constructed over a period of three years, and school children and adults from throughout Newark and northern New Jersey have participated in the building of the boat. She was launched in mid-May with great fanfare and celebration. The President of the United States christened the boat by smashing a bottle of champagne over the bow. You walk to the end of the dock and board Pride of Newark for the first time. You can smell the oak, cedar, mahogany and fir that make up the hull, masts and deck. Paid crew and student volunteers are providing guided tours to the public to share with them the mission of the boat as well as the history of her construction. You learn that she will spend much of her year sailing in the Newark area, educating young people about the maritime history of the area and the environmental issues facing the Port of Newark. You learn that Pride of Newark will also take extended cruises up and down the east coast, and serve as an ambassador for the City of Newark, Port of Newark, and the State of New Jersey.
14 Model VISION S T R U C T U R A L T E N S I O N CURRENT REALITY
15 CURRENT REALITY ALWAYS the second step (NEVER the launching point!).A measuring tool. The TRUTH about what you have in relation to what you want. Current Reality is not “good”, not “bad” - IT JUST IS!!!
16 CURRENT REALITY? We are making good progressWe have raised $50,000 of the $100,000 goal Our record has improved over last year Our record is 12-4 Our trip is taking too long We have exceeded our 6-hour ETA
17 Model VISION S T R U C T U R A L T E N S I O N CURRENT REALITY
18 STRUCTURAL TENSION Tension ALWAYS seeks Resolution.It will follow the path of least resistance (Watch a river! Lick a lightswitch!). “Structure Drives Behavior” Ergo…if we establish a structure that leads to the results we want it will be difficult to avoid creating them! P.S. - This is where the action is!
19 Examples of Structural TensionMystery novel Knock knock “I have something to talk with you about…later.” Atchooo
20 Examples of Creations
21 Imagine…!
22 “I have a dream…” NOT “I have a 12-point plan!”
23 Snohomish and King County RF!!!
24 Let’s K.I.S.S.! (Keep It Simple Stupid)Step 1: “Imagine this…” DO determine what you want to create. DO describe the end result in radical detail. DON’T reference your problems and issues. DON’T consider possible or probable. DO describe the “what” - NOT the “how”.
25 (Keep It Simple Stupid)Next K.I.S.S.! (Keep It Simple Stupid) Step 2: What do we have in relation to what we want to create? Assess Current Reality accurately - if you kids yourself the model doesn’t work! It’s a measuring stick. Remember: It’s not good, and it’s not bad… IT JUST IS!
26 (Keep It Simple Stupid)Last K.I.S.S.! (Keep It Simple Stupid) Step 3: Structural Tension, take me away!! Stay focused on your desired result!!! Take action steps which will resolve the ST. Act, learn, evaluate, adjust. Enjoy the ride! Adjust quantities, deadlines, etc. as necessary. Near the end, beware of reduced ST!!
27 How Have Other RF Sites Used The Creative Process?Snohomish County, January 2013 King County, January 2014 Brought together Fellows, Change Team, Community Leaders, Students, Etc. Two-days of learning the model, practicing the model, and soliciting input for the Vision. Fellows wrote and edited Vision from input. Shared with Community for implementation.