LIBRARY RESOURCES & BLOG
This area is filled with how-to articles, engaging conversations, and tons of examples of Catalytic Thinking in Action including actual planning sessions. Much to explore and learn from!

5 Crowdfunding Lessons

Back in 2012, when Creating the Future had just wrapped up its 3rd successful scholarship campaign at StartSomeGood.com, we posted a “lessons learned” post, to share what was standing out for us from that campaign.  Fast forward to today, we are now in the early planning stages for our 4th crowdfunding effort in early 2016. It feels … Read more

Change the Questions, Change the World! (Video)

How can the questions we ask in our day-to-day work significantly enhance the quality of life in our communities? Earlier this year, Hildy spoke at Portland’s prestigious City Club, sharing some of the results of our research into what really creates change in communities. And it won’t be a surprise to learn that it’s all … Read more

Rethinking Boards from Scratch: If There Were No Such Thing as Boards, What Would We Build?

It all started so simply. It was February of the still-new year 2015. Creating the Future’s board of directors was discussing its work plan for the year ahead. “What does the board wish to accomplish over the next 12 months? What are the most important questions for the board to consider in 2015, to ensure … Read more

Tech Platform for Online Classes

This October, Creating the Future will launch the first of a whole new series of online classes. These classes will provide the opportunity for participants to learn and especially practice the Catalytic Thinking framework that was previously taught only in 5-day, in-person immersion courses. Our goal is that students have the opportunity to go just … Read more

Catalytic Thinking: A Framework for Creating and Scaling Powerful Results

NOTE: This post is Part 2 of Creating the Future’s “Theory of Everything.” You will find Part 1 – the theory – at this post here. Catalytic Thinking is a set of practices that make explicit the simple factors that create positive results, so those results can be consistently replicated and scaled. The Back-Story In 1998, … Read more

Catalytic Thinking – A Practice for Bringing Out the Best in People and Situations

People often ask about Creating the Future’s frameworks. They experience those frameworks in many ways – noticing a difference in the questions we ask and the results from those questions. And they are curious what is at the heart of that practice. The answer is what we call Catalytic Thinking. Catalytic Thinking is a practice … Read more

Leading a Movement (vs. an Org): June 2015 Board Meeting

LISTEN TO THE MEETING HERE or Download the MP3 (To download to your hard drive, right-click {or click and hold on a Mac} on the link above and select “Save Target As”.. or “Save Link as”… depending on your browser) Creating the Future’s June board meeting will take place at this post on Monday, June … Read more

Leading a Movement (vs. Being a Board)

At its meeting last month, Creating the Future’s board took on one of the most important questions any board might tackle – the future of the board itself. What does leadership mean for an organization that intends to “accomplish a mission” vs. self-perpetuate? As it becomes more and more clear that what we are leading … Read more

Collaborate with Other Consultants — Panel Discussion via Google Hangout

Ever feel a little too independent as an independent consultant? During a recent discussion at Creating the Future’s Facebook group for Community Benefit consultants, many people expressed interest in learning how to collaborate with other consultants to share the work, lighten the load, tap talents, and better serve our communities. Four members of our group … Read more