Over the last month I have been working on an Open Master's plan that will help me organize my study and work over the next two years or more to deepen by knowledge, skills and experience in four categories:
- The Art of Making Things Happen - including the skills of project design, business model design, design thinking, and systems thinking
- The Art of Communicating Big Ideas - or, more specifically, the art of writing, speaking, and sketching to help understand and communicate complex ideas or systems clearly.
- The Art of Hosting - or, the art of facilitating group process for teams and communities that are working together.
- The Art of Being - or, the art of keeping the two drops of oil in the spoon in the process.
This is all part of my process of becoming as skillful a social innovator and catalyst of social innovators as possible- the work I would love to have consume all of my days.
Putting this plan together has been one of the coolest learning experiences I have had. Last week I shared it with half a dozen people for some early feedback before it went public. I was totally blown away by the feedback and help I have already gotten. What's more, one friend of mine- Allison Basile, who has known me for a few years- even said she felt like she knew me better after reading it.
I can't wait to see what responses I get now that I am putting it out to the world.
If you want to help, I am looking for some! For example, I'm still working on:
- Finding an opportunity this year to work with an incubator, accelerator, residency, fellowship or other similar program that is focused on social innovation and entrepreneurship- like The Future Project, New Leaf Initiative, co*lab Halifax- or a social innovation center at a university. I believe this is the best way to actually put all four areas of my plan into practice.
- Finding a suitable alternative to Adobe Creative Suite or helping me get it affordably. Are you looking for photoshop too?
Thanks for all of your help getting off the ground. It has been some work, but well worth it!