My friend Alex Kjerulf is a wonderful guy. I say my friend, like I know him really well, but the truth is that I met him online in the summer, linked to his blog, Positive Sharing and then carried on a bit of an exchange with him. Turns out that he and I have a lot of similar interests, including Open Space Technology, a simultaneous reading of Crptonomicon and a love of fun. In fact, he does a lot of work with laughter and is currently writing a book about happiness at work. It’s in Danish, so I have no …
From the comments on improvisation, Andy has added a provocative thought: We talk about “The Organisation” as though it exists as an entity. But what makes it a unique, coherent, singular whole? It is after all a collection of numerous individuals, maybe numerous business units, probably diverse goals. Is it one CEO? One set of corporate accounts? Common shareholders? IMHO the thing that makes an organisation truly a coherent single entity is none of these – it’s having a vision that is truly shared. Now I am going to propose something. I believe that an organization’s vision is as messy …
I’m not sure, but Matthew Baldwin’s experience of a rare medical condition might just be the funniest thing I have read for a while. And then I read the comments: “Dang me! Sorry you were in pain. Btw, I’ve had a kidney stone and been through childbirth (twice). It’s true. You do NOT want the kidney stone.” What a Christmas he had. Here’s hoping 2004 is considerably meeker.
mysterium points me to an e.e. cummings poem, which makes a compelling way to start a new year: all nearness pauses, while a star can grow all nearness pauses, while a star can grow all distance breathes a final dream of bells; perfectly outlined against afterglow are all amazing the and peaceful hills (not where not here but neither’s blue most both) and history immeasurably is wealthier by a single sweet day’s death: as not imagined secrecies comprise goldenly huge whole the upfloating moon. Time’s a strange fellow; more he gives than takes (and he takes all) nor any marvel …
It’s year end, and I’d like to publicly thank the many clients who I have had the privilege of working with this year. It has been a great year full of learning, collaboration and interesting work, and it is largely due to people from these organizations: Urban Multipurpose Aboriginal Youth Centres Committee of Winnipeg Odawa Native Friendship Centre, Ottawa British Columbia Treaty Commission CitiesPLUS Natural Resources Canada City of Vancouver Storyscapes Project BC Assembly of First Nations Union of BC municipalities, Aboriginal Affairs Office Health Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch First Nations Employment Society, Vancouver University of British …