Introducing the 2022/23 Craft-Building Series
Grey Swan Guild introduces a full year of honing your minds, skills & talents
Chasing and pursuing your craft as a thinker, doer, builder, leader, maker or expert is an extraordinary noble endeavor. Our guild is populated by members who realize learning has no finish line. The fast twitch world we live in demands continuous learning, relearning and sometimes, unlearning. Audaces et sapientes fortuna iuvat — “fortune favours the bold and wise”.
For the last six months, we have been hosting every other Friday on Clubhouse — the F+S Series (short for the Futures + Sensemaking Series). We designed the series back in Sept’21 and we have performed fourteen 75 minute episodes to-date (as a complement to our Sunday News Wrap series). They’re really good. We sometimes colloquially call it the smartest hour on Clubhouse, and recognize that at times, that can be a low expectation bar to jump over.
The events have been designed to improve our craft and get behind the making of our work. They have been well-attended, they have been sharp, they maximize learning, they harness collective intelligence and they bring passionate people around the notion of getting better, not just stealing attention oxygen which accompanies many of these open forums.
We want to continue in that spirit, to embrace the post-modern mission of a guild and build our repertoire of skills for the future. We want to introduce you to our year long commitment to The 2022/23 Craft-Building Series.
In the spirit of the post-modern version of a guild,
- we are trading in our stone masons’ chisels for futures thinking approaches
- we are exchanging the cobblers’ awls for surfacing new intelligence
- we are swapping the barbers’ scissors for sensemaking paradigms
- we are replacing the surgeon’s bone saw for thinking pedagogies
- we are eschewing the tailor’s shears for historical reinterpretations
- we are substituting the poet’s quill for the change agent’s alchemy
- we are transferring the glassmakers’ blowpipe for the innovators’ savvy
- we are shifting from a shipwright’s plane to a scientists’ ‘scopes
- we.are interchanging the weavers’ loom for a venturists’ impact levers
- we are bartering the merchants’ spices for the technologists’ code
The 2022/23 Craft-Building Series — What’s Different
The very process of spending six months together conducting these F+S events have made us realize a few things and improve ourselves. We are looking at performing the next 12 months of craft building with four subtle but important differences:
- expanding our purview beyond F+S (Futures & Sensemaking) to FISTHCISIT (Futures, Intelligence, Sensemaking, Thinking, History, Change, Innovation, Science, Impact + Technology) — yes, a more awkward acronym but more fully reflects the full umbrella of people that join, and experiences they want, of the Guild
- we’re going to rotate in new times to accommodate global audiences and experiment with new platforms beyond Clubhouse (Linkedin Lives, Metaverse,. Expert Mastermind, Twitter Spaces, YouTube Livesteams) between our regular & now rock steady every other Friday 1pm ETs Clubhouses
- we’re going to consider a full range of Swan craft-building list of A-Z over the next year — see below for our 26 two week segments x 4 potential topics
- we’re going to find relevant sponsors for each segment to ensure the caliber of events remain high, that we promote and execute them effectively and we reach the best possible audiences— who is looking to affiliate with 50 of the smartest craft-building events this side of the illuminati?
The Craft-Building Success Formula
I recently ran across an awesome axiom by Ryan Holmes, founder of Hootsuite — no agenda, no attenda. Grammatically incorrect, but on principle — gold. Our craft-building events may vary a little by platform, but here’s the format and expectation we will take moving forward for our new and expanded 2022/23 series:
- Welcome & Context — a one minute opener, setting up the topic, its relevance and importance
- Opening Quote — a one or two liner that sets the stage for our discussion
- Grey Swan Guild Stinger — who is the Grey Swan Guild, why we exist and what do we do
- Sponsor Message — the reason why we have partnered, and what our sponsoring/partnering organization is all about
- Good News —surfacing great stuff, its’a guild ritual and in a world that sometimes has a bad week, it’s a welcome respite
- Opening Perspectives — top starter thoughts from invited guests and experts
- Burning Question(s) — what is one vexing question (sometimes two) we feel has been left unanswered
- Discovery — what remains as an underserved, underrated or overlooked part of the topic?
- Debate — what is a difference, schism or poles of different thoughts our members and attendees can weigh in on?
- Guild Context — what elements make up the Guild whole of activities and how to join?
- Lead Approaches, Tools and Tips — what are some preferred methodologies or practices people use to deal or cope with the topic?
- Top Resources, Books, Research and People — where can people go to pursue more?
- Guild & Sponsor Bulletin Board — the three things going on in the Guild on our radar and sponsor biggest call to action
- “Round the Horn — what did we learn today, cementing the big revelations from our time spent, and what might be a future exploration?
- Thanks & Extro — an exit quote to bookend the session, thanks to all the participants, sponsors/partners and what’s next in craft building
The Sprit of CraftpBuilding
Whether your craft involves futuring, thinking, exploring, making, changing, influencing or within the creative sphere, there are few things more fulfilling in life than working towards: perfecting a craft you are most passionate about, broadening and combining interests to produce something better & wider in application and shoring up skill gaps that prevent you from getting to that next plane .
Oftentimes, the only difference between master craftspeople and those who fail to realize their potential is from three lacks: lack of curiosity, lack of learning and lack of passion & commitment. We’re trying to incubate the opposite with our series. It is highly likely people at the top of their profession started out worse than you; only picking up their stride past a certain point. The difference between success and failure is being close-minded, exuding intellectual arrogance or simply quitting.
Hopefully in our sessions, you can get the seeds of inspiration and kernels of education (we are working on a set of Guild Masterclasses that dives deeper later in the year).
When it comes to honing your craft, keep in mind, talent doesn’t just manifest itself overnight. Getting 1% better everyday vs. letting skills erode 1% everyday has a huge multiplier effect. Even if the result of hard work might not be initially ideal, continuing to invest practically ensures that you improve as a professional and as a person. Stay curious, stay open, and stay passionate my friends!
Our First in the Guild-Building Series (March-April’2022):
Check our our first four.
ADAPTABILITY & FLEXIBLE THINKING — LINKEDIN LIVE (Fri. Mar 25th)
https://bit.ly/gsgliadaptability
ATTENTION & CONCENTRATION — TWITTER SPACE (Tues. March 29th)
Attend on Twitter Tuesday March 29th — https://bit.ly/gsgtsattention
AMBIGUITY/MANAGING UNCERTAINTY — CLUBHOUSE (Fri.April 1st)
Join us April 1st : https://bit.ly/gsgschambiguity
AMBITION & DRIVE — MASTERMIND (Fri. April 1st)
The Rest of the Year — dates/times/leaders TBD:
Why play favourites — we’ve identified four candidate topics for each letter of the alphabet.
The Bs —w/o 4/4 and 4/11
Bias & Stereotyping
Belief & Dogma
Behavior & Attitude
Biomimicry & Bipophillic, Natural design
The Cs —w/o 4/18 and 4/25
Change & Transition
Cognitive Science & The Mind
Creativity & Imagination
Complexity & Systems Thinking
The Ds — w/o 5/2 and 5/9
Data Science & Analytics
Decision Theory & Decision Making
Design Thinking, Desirability, Feasibility & viability
Divergent Thinking & Originality
The Es — w/o 5/16 and 5/23
Emotional Intelligence & Quotients
Emerging Technologies & Convergence
Experimentation & the Power of Doing
Economics, Choices, Incentives, Value & Costs
The Fs —w/o 5/30 and 6/6
Futures Thinking (2022), Possibilities & Wild Cards
Forecasting, Prediction and Modelling
Framing & Reframing Problems
Flow, Synchronicity & Happiness
The Gs —w/o 6/13 and 6/20
Game Theory, Risk & Reward
Goal Setting, SMARTs, OKRs & KPIs
Growth, Development & Mindset
Groupthink, Conformity & Polarization
The Hs — w/o 6/27 and 7/4
Hindsight & Retrospection
Historical Thinking & Inquiry
Heuristics, Probability and Mental Shortcuts
Hypnosis & Suggestibility
The Is —w/o 7/11 and 7/18
Identity, Tribalism & Pluralism
Influence, Persuasion & Advocacy
Innovation, Business Models & Ventures
Insight, Discoveries & A-Ha Moments
The Js — w/o 7/25 and 8/1
Judging, Anchors & Acceptance
Jokes, Humour & Memes
Juxtaposition, Contrast & Linking
Joy, Pleasure & Rewards
The Ks— w/o 8/8 and 8/15
Knowledge Management, Process, Norms & Sharing
Kinesthetics, Physical Leaning & Muscle Memory
KISS, Simplicity & Minimalism
Know-how, Craft and Intuition
The Ls — w/o 8/22 and 8/29
Leadership, Management & Governance
Learning, Unlearning and Relearning
Lying, Cheating & Half Truths
Listening, Filtering & Comprehension
The Ms — w/o 9/5 and 9/12
Meaning, Semantics & Semiotics
Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity
Mood, Arousal & Receptiveness
Motivation — Hedonic, Cognitive and Growth-based
The Ns — w/o 9/19 and 9/26
Neuroscience, Psychology & Thought Patterns
Network Effects, Bandwagons and Social Multipliers
Nootropics & Smart Drugs
Narrative & Storytelling
The Os — w/o 10/3 and 10/10
Optimism, Wishful Thinking & Positivity
Open Innovation, Co-Creation & Outside-In
Observation, Inference & Empathy
Organizational Culture, Change & Embodiment
The Ps — w/o 10/17 and 10/24
Prediction, Accuracy & Algorithms
Probability & Plausibility
Personality, Psychologies, Theories and Assessment
Planning, Strategy & Policy
The Qs — w/o 10/31 and 11/7
Questions, Challenge Statements & Deeper Inquiry
Quantum Thinking & the Opposable Mind
Quantitative Research, Exploratory & Ethnography
Qualitative Research, Statistical & Causal
The Rs — w/o 11/14 and 11/21
Reasoning & Critical Thinking
Resilience & Coping
Regret, Guilt & Pushing Past
Risk, Likelihood, Acceptance & Mitigation
The Ss — w/o 11/28 and 12/5
Sensemaking & the Unknowns
Scenario Planning & Stress Testing
Strategic Foresight & Horizon Scanning
Switching, Loyalty & Choice
The Ts — w/o 12/12 and 12/19
Trauma & Crisis
Truth, Facts & Objectvity
Thinking, Fast & Slow
Transformation, Business & Digital
The Us —w/o 12/26 and 1/2
Unconsciousness & Dreams
Understanding & Comprehension
U & Self-Reflection
Us & Wisdom of Crowds
The Vs — w/o 1/9 and 1/16, 2023
Valence, Positive & Negative Thinking
Visual Thinking — Analysis, Synthesis and Drawing
Values, Personal & Cultural
Volition & Conscious Action
The Ws — w/o 1/23 and 1/30, 2023
Wicked Problems & Big Challenges
Weak Ties — the Power of Colleagues & Acquaintances
Wisdom, Enligtenement & Common Sense
Wayfinding and Navigating Change
The Xs — w/o 2/6 and 2/13, 2023
Xperience Management. Customer, User & Employee
Xenophonia & the Roots of Prejudice
X-Currents & Managing Conflict
X-Fertilization — 1=1 does equal 3
The Ys — w/o 2/20 and 2/27, 2023
You and Empathy for Others
Yesterday and Interpretation
Yes, and … Merit-based Improvisation, Safety & Collaboration
Yearnings and Urges
The Zs —w/o 3/6 and 3/13, 2023
ZZZ and The Power of Sleep
Zig Zag — Vertical & Lateral Thinking
Zen, Meditation and Mindfulness
Zoology — What can We Learn from Animals
Grey Swan Guild — 50 Shades of … Grey Crafters
Hopefully some of you will think about joining our collective that tries to make sense of thee world and the future.
We are a post-modern version of the Guild — this is what we like to do:
- Learn: https://www.greyswanguild.org/
- Read: https://greyswanguild.medium.com/
- Attend: https://www.greyswanguild.org/calendar
- Become a Member: https://bit.ly/gsgsmemberform
- Go Deeper — elevate to a Global Sensemaker: https://bit.ly/lofsenseform
- Join a Cygnus Venture: https://bit.ly/gsgventures
