Thoughts
Ideas that transform people, businesses, and industries
Deeply rooted in our organizational ethos is the celebration of authentic and unapologetic “thought.” We believe each member of our team brings with them a unique view of themselves, our clients, and of the world we live in. We make a point to not only articulate our individual experiences, senses, emotions, and actions internally, but to share them with you here.
How Do We Make a Difference?
Leadership in 2020 Everyone is saying that nothing is going to be the same again after 2020. I’d add being a business leader to that list. I’ll never be the same. In the first few months of the year, I was already working on being more expressive with my...
How We Are Using Scenario Planning to Navigate COVID-19
About six weeks ago, I couldn’t stop thinking about the scenarios that we as a company might be navigating later in the year and in the coming years. Back then (which seems like forever ago), we were in the midst of more immediate reactions to the current pandemic,...
Scenario Planning: A Tool for the Times
As we all make our best efforts, both personally and professionally, to move forward – despite the challenges we are facing with the pandemic and the economy – I’ve found myself thinking more and more about the value of scenario planning. I know it is tempting to just...
3 Reasons Why You Should Host a Virtual Workshop
I’ve started to challenge the commonly held belief that nothing can replace in-person interactions. Since the shelter in place order took effect over a month ago, I’ve facilitated two virtual workshops and have been blown away by how effective they’ve been. In part...
Homeschooling Take 2
A couple weeks back, I wrote in my post about homeschooling challenges that I’d post again once things got better. We have by no means figured it all out yet, but we have settled into a new routine. Our kids’ school has been trying to evolve to support family needs,...
So, COVID-19 Made You a Homeschool Family? Welcome to the Club!
Now that your first week of homeschool is over you may be thinking a lot of things. You may be thinking that it wasn’t as bad as you imagined it would be. You may even be thinking that you enjoyed it. And if that is the case, then I’m very happy for you and for your...
Thoughts for Colleagues of Parents Running Homeschools
I love working from home. I love my kids. However, I do NOT love working from home while also homeschooling my kids. The last few days have been a huge challenge. I’m exhausted. I feel like I’m not doing enough. I feel like I should read this article again. And then,...
Tips from a Veteran of Working Remotely
Before I go into this post, I just want to acknowledge that I realize there are many people out there who do not have the option of working remotely. For an overwhelming number of people, their incomes and livelihoods are dependent on being able to go into their...
Finding Courage Above the Tree Line
Last weekend, my girlfriend and I met up at a spa in Arizona with the promise that we would “enter the healing of an award-winning desert sanctuary and leave chaos behind.” For months, I’d been anticipating total relaxation – laying by the pool, reading books (but not...
Experienced Leader Dave Allston Joins Business Transformation Experts at Thought Ensemble
Dave Allston, senior executive based in Dallas, is joining as Managing Partner of fast-growing business and technology transformation consultancy Thought Ensemble. In his new role, Dave will focus on expanding Thought Ensemble’s Dallas market presence, bringing...
You’ll Get the Best Feedback If You Ask for It, Act on It, and Ask Again
Feedback is a critical part of self-improvement, whether it be in your personal, professional, or metaphysical life. It’s one of the key ways we learn and grow. But, it can also be incredibly detrimental if not given or received in the proper manner. This might...
Back to School and Work
Anyone else notice something different in the air at the office? It might be the first whiffs of the famous/infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte filling the air, or it might be the buzz of kinetic energy signaling that we have just started to enter the most productive few...
How Many Architects Does It Take to Change a Business? Why Business Architects Are Critical to Your Business Surviving a World of Disruption
Now, you may be asking yourself, “I already have an Enterprise Architect on the team, isn’t that the same thing as a Business Architect?” The answer is a resounding, “Kinda…but not really!” An Enterprise Architect is the same thing as a Business Architect in the way...
The Six Infinity Stones of Business Transformation
[WARNING: Infinity War spoilers ahead] In the world of Marvel, having all six of the Infinity Stones (or Gems) can enable someone like Thanos to extinguish half of all life in the universe with a snap of his fingers. In the world of business transformation, having all...
It’s Official: You Can No Longer Avoid Digital Transformation
It’s official. You can no longer avoid digital transformation. It’s actually probably been official for some time now, but when two fast food restaurant chains who make their money selling tangible products produced in manufacturing facilities to customers inside of...
Am I Really That Reliant on… Slack?
I remember the day a couple years back when I was working at home and had no power but still had internet. It was a trade I was very willing to make - I am very aware of how reliant I am on my internet connectivity. This morning, Slack's connectivity has been spotty....
How Golf Made Me Rethink Work
For years, people have told me I need a hobby. (I guess building a company and raising a couple of kids doesn’t count). Regardless, I’m happy to report that I finally have one: I am absolutely obsessed with my golf game. And those people were right – it is good for...
Leading Yourself to Better Remote Meetings
Name a common work activity that makes you feel uncomfortable. Was it leading meetings? If so, you’re not alone; many people find that leading meetings can be quite stressful. You might think, then, that remote meetings, with their web conferencing and dial-in lines,...
Business Transformation’s Parallel Universe
Early in my career, soon after I switched roles from software development to technology strategy, I worked quite a bit on business cases and strategic plans related to technology investments. I wondered why some of the best ideas, with the best-written business cases,...
The Psychological Pitfalls of Transformational Change
If you want your business to prosper long-term, history (and evolution) have taught us that you must (at critical points in time) transform in order to survive or risk wasting away into the lowly dust that the newer, more adept empires will build themselves upon. In...
PowerPointers Episode 2 – Formatting
Last year, I wrote about why you shouldn't blame PowerPoint for your bad presentations. As part of my continued effort to help you make your presentations better, I've just finished Episode 2 of a ~6ish episode series I created with the intent of helping...