cecily sommers speaks on the art of reinvention
DESCRIPTION
One of the most common ways of describing what we’re looking for in life—at work, at home, and in social relationships—is a “good fit.” We may not know exactly what a good-fit job, place, or person will look like, but we trust that we’ll know it when we find it: it’ll feel both comfortable and stimulating and, in terms of outcomes, will generate satisfaction and success. In other words, we believe that finding what suits and supports our unique strengths, temperament, and interests (the good fit) will make us happy. Concentrating on good-fit opportunities is also important to professional and business development. It’s how careers are advanced and how strategies stay focused and, in times of transition, is a reliable way-finding tool for what’s next. In her presentation, The Art of Reinvention, Cecily Sommers describes how she linked good-fit opportunities to carve an unconventional career path from dancer to chiropractor to professional futurist. As she shares how the pursuit of ‘the good fit’ opened doors for her, and cleared the way when others closed, Cecily shows how these same principles also apply in matters of strategy and innovation. At once inspiring and practical, The Art of Reinvention is a “good fit” for people and organizations facing change. It has direct application for leadership development, brand strategy, and corporate innovation. Participants will learn how to qualify a “good fit’ for them and use it to: • Uncover non-obvious career, market, and innovation opportunities • Manage teams and grow leaders • Navigate uncertaintyTRANSCRIPT
CEC ILY SOMMERS
The Art of ReinventionNavigating Uncertainty, Choosing Change
There is a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what things you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
But you don’t ever let go of the thread.William Stafford
The Way It Is
– Decision (recalculating: who am I, where am I going?)
DISCOVERY
TENSION
RECKONING
DREAM – a desire that pulls you forward
– a moment of awe, a new way of seeing the world, your place in it
– Discontent (tension; no longer fits)
• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
• But you don’t ever let go of the thread
Dancer
Never mistake a clear view for a short
distance.
Form #1: Dancer
There is a thread you follow.
It goes among things that change.
But it doesn’t change. DREAM
DISCOVERY
TENSION
RECKONING
• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
• But you don’t ever let go of the thread
Reinvention
• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
• But you don’t ever let go of the thread
Chiropractor
Form #2: Chiropractor
People wonder about what things you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. DREAM
DISCOVERY
TENSION
RECKONING
• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
• But you don’t ever let go of the thread
Reinvention
• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
• But you don’t ever let go of the thread
Futurist
We can never be born enough.
We are human beings; for whom birth is a supremely welcome mystery, the mystery of growing: which happens only and whenever we are faithful to ourselves. can never be born enough.
We are human beings; for whom birth is a supremely welcome mystery, the mystery of growing: which happens only and whenever we are faithful to ourselves.
- e.e. cummingsExcerpt from the introduction to Collected Poems
Form #3: Futurist
Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
But you don’t ever let go of the threadDREAM
DISCOVERY
TENSION
RECKONING
CHOOSING CHANGEJumping the Border
– Decision (recalculating: who am I, where am I going?)
DISCOVERY
TENSION
RECKONING
DREAM – a desire that pulls you forward
– a moment of awe, a new way of seeing the world, your place in it
– Discontent (tension; no longer fits)
– Choice: follow the thumbs up
DISCOVERY
TENSION
RECKONING
DREAM – “Like that!”
– Awww, Aha!, Awe
– There’s nothing wrong
PRACTICEChoosing change by choosing each moment
Practice
• Courage
• Curiosity
• Optimism
Practice
• Practice– Courage– Curiosity– Optimism
• A life-long journey– A line thread runs through it– Like that!– Thumbs up– There are no successes or failures, there's just what's next
• A place to live from– Row your boat
Row, row, row your boat,Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,Life is but a dream.
10-minute break
FINDING YOUR WAYNavigating Change
EXERCISE
1. What was the pull to do what you’re doing now?
2. “Like that!”s for what’s next• Activities• Experiences• Moments
DREAM
EXERCISE
1. The most significant insight about the work you do now
2. It’s influence on what you want to do next
DISCOVERY
1. What’s beginning to feel like it’s not a good fit?
2. How do you know?
TENSION
EXERCISE
1. What will you have to face/overcome/give up to move forward?
RECKONING
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”
- Socrates
“BUT…” BUSTERSOvercoming Resistance
What Gets in the Way
1. Blame2. Denial3. Fear4. Avoidance5. Inaction6. Resignation
“But…”Something’s Wrong1. With me2. With them3. Things should be a
certain way, and4. Someone should fix it!
Buster:Reference the Facts1. Back away from your
beliefs about what things “should” be
2. “What am I not seeing that might help make sense of the situation?”
3. Seek a broader understanding
Finding Fault (Blame)
“But…”I’ll try harder1. Overdeveloped sense of
responsibility2. “If I just…. They just….
If only…. It’s good for me…”
Buster:Three Strikes1. Give the benefit of a
doubt, and fully commit2. If it doesn’t change, you
must: step up, step aside, get help…
3. Move on, with compassion
Arguing With Reality (Denial)
“But…”I’m too busy1. Overwhelm2. Over-control3. Belief in “balance”4. People-pleaser
Buster:Make a decision1. Learn to say “No”2. Before saying “Yes,”
think it the commitment all the way through.
3. Accept all consequences
Busyness (Avoidance)
“But…”Nothing’s right1. Too hard2. Not fair3. Don’t want to4. It’s stupid5. Not doing it right
Buster:Make a request1. Intentional venting2. Make a decision3. Make a request4. Hold one another
accountable
Whining (Inaction)
“But…”It’ll never change…1. We’ve tried before2. It’ll never work3. I know what they’ll say4. “It’s okay…” Sigh
Buster:Get moving!1. Do something2. First Moveable Piece3. Choose change. Take
action.
Feeling Stuck (Resignation)
best time20 years
Chinese Proverb
The“ to plant a treewa
sago
“
Miracles are to come.
With you I leave a remembrance of miracles: they are by somebody who can love and who shall be continually reborn, a human being;
somebody who said to those near him, when his fingers would not hold a brush 'tie it into my hand'-
nothing proving or sick or partial. Nothing false, nothing difficult or easy or small or colossal.
Nothing ordinary or extraordinary, nothing emptied or filled, real or unreal; nothing feeble and known or clumsy and guessed.
- e.e. cummingsExcerpt from the introduction to Collected Poems
THANK YOUcecilysommers.com
AGENDA
1. Introduction2. Finding Your Core: 6 Moments of Bliss3. Finding Your Way
• Definition• POV• Philosophy
DAY 1 Morning: DEFINE 9 : 0 0 – n o o n
1. The Sigue Way2. Application: Users
1. Constituents– Sender– Receiver– Agent
2. Scenarios– Low-Tech– High-tech
DAY 1 Afternoon: DISCOVER
AGENDA
1 : 0 0 – 5 : 0 0 p m
AGENDA
1. The Sigue Way2. Application: Business
1. Marketing2. Technology3. Training
3. Projects & Priorities4. Plan in Reverse
DAY 2 Morning: DISTILL 9 : 0 0 – 1 1 : 4 0 a m
1. The Road Ahead2. What’s at Stake3. Charting the Sigue Way to $500M in 5 years4. Enrollment Strategy5. Commitments
AGENDA
1 : 0 0 – 3 : 0 0 p m
DAY 2 Afternoon: DISTILL
FINDING YOUR CORE
Six Moments of Bliss
Exercise: Your Bliss
• Each person shares their 6 moments
• Feedback on top 3
• Select favorite
30 MinutesTeams
Group Share-Out
• Each person shares their fave (recorded on wall)
• Look for themes
• What are we defining?
30 MinutesGroup