I enjoy strategic visioning.  It brings me a lot of joy to unroll a clean sheet of paper, pull out my markers, and use my listening, drawing, and improv skills to help a group see their future more clearly. 

Recently, I was asked to speak at the 1st Annual Northern Arizona Center for Nonprofit Entrepreneurship Conference, which was hosted by Northern Arizona University, Moonshot, and your Part Time Controller.  It was attended by dozens of nonprofit leaders, so I used this as an opportunity to share my love of working visually with a talented audience. 

Sometimes the most effective tools are the simplest, which is why I keep coming back to visual timelines for strategic planning.  Visual timelines allow a groups to see where they have been and envision where they are going.  They allow a team to celebrate their recent successes and study recent failures, so they can set realistic goals for the next few years.  Visual timelines are a valuable map of the orgnizational landscape that meeting participants refer to throughout the planning process.

After we draw a historical timelines during a strategic planning session, I like to ask the meeting participants to describe the future of their organization for me.  This is a bluesky conversation. A brainstorming session.  Then I draw their vision as quickly as they speak, so they see their ideas unfold.  Once we have a sketch of the future, we discuss the big ideas and set priorities.  Future priorities become future goals and an  implementation plan.  For some organizations the implementation plan is a concrete, step-by-step plan and others it is just a promise to follow the vibe that takes them towards their goals. 

What are the steps to create a visual timeline?

1. Start with a very big blank sheet of paper (or whiteboard).  Draw a timeline along the bottom. It works well to have this timeline match the length of your planning horizon (i.e. if you are doing a 5-year strategic plan, look back over the past 5 years for this exercise).
   
2. Set out post it notes, notecards or scrap paper at each set along with markers.
3. Ask participants to reflect on the past X years and make notes on paper at their seat of the significant events (5-10 minutes).
4. A recorder will draw / write / stick key ideas on the timeline as people report out. It works well to have each person report their best idea first.  Then go around the room again for the second best ideas.
   
5. Processing: The visual can be used for discussion, people can vote on significant accomplishments, or take this away from the meeting to foster discussions with stakeholders.

Note: If the thought of drawing in front of a group scares you, you can always pre-print clip art or bring magazines that are relevant to your organization.  Use scissors and glue to have fun creating a timeline collage. 

Of course, you are also welcome to email me for support.  I love to draw and have assistance available for non-profit organizations who can't otherwise afford my services.

I stumbled onto the concept of Conscious Capitalism when I attended a Local First AZ event in Tucson in a few months ago.  Since then, I have had the opportunity to clarify my higher purpose (to inspire people to take more creative risks that matter), meet dozens of conscious capitalists from around the world, and capture many, many big ideas as visual notes.  I have to admit that I am a bit skeptical of anything with the word "capitalism" in it because I spent so many years teaching about the damage that big business has done to people and the planet.  However, after attending the three-day conference and a couple of evening events in Phoenix, I think these capitalists are on a different path.  I really do.

First, many of these people introduce themselves by starting a conversation about their passions, such as plant-based foods, sustainable banking, or teaching organizations to think consciously, rather than trying to sell you their product.  Second, it feels like they put relationships first and their egos second.  Nearly everyone I have met at the local chapter meetings and the national conference is so excited about the future of business - of elevating individuals, communities, and supporting the environment in some way - that the conversations flow really easily.  Third, the process of defining a company's higher purpose and building a culture to support it is not an easy or quick task - so they are hard workers who are in it for the long haul. 

If you're intrigued by the idea of Conscious Capitalism, you should check out three things:

1. This book by John Mackey of Whole Foods and Raj Sisodia of Babson College
2. My visual notes (below) from the Conscious Capitalism Annual Conference
3. This 5-minute video that I made to highlight key ideas from the conference

I was invited to draw for the Conscious Capitalism Stakeholder Event in Phoenix in May.  Ten Conscious Capitalists from around Arizona shared five-minute stories of building connections among businesses, universities, suppliers, customers, and neighbors.  Some stories were funny and others were heart wrenching, but all were worthwhile!  Each of the talks was too short to capture completely, but these highlights show the network of businesses that make up Conscious Capitalism AZ.