
En-route to Boston after Saltire Fellowship kick off week
It’s been a bit of a haul to get here ( logistically, financially and emotionally); as anyone with a job, family and a host of other commitments knows, it’s not always easy to take opportunities which come your way, even if they feel too good to pass up. “Thank you” to the people who have invested in me.
The programme is intense, business orientated and all about entrepreneurial thinking. Lessons scheduled for the first week in Boston Include ‘The Globally Connected Business’, ‘Protoyping and entrepreneurial Action’, ‘Introduction to Value Selling’, ‘Sustainability’, ‘Markets and Marketing’, ‘Leadership’. Reading matter titles include ‘Dynamics of Innovation (Gorillas v Chimps c Monkeys)’, ‘Leading change and Innovation; Big Bang vs Start Small)’ — you get the picture.
But as business orientated as this sounds, it is relvant for the arts and culture sector too. We can learn much from different approaches, and take away what we feel is relevant and that which challenges us.
Chris Van der Kuyl (in his twitter description ‘Chairman 4J Studios, sometime gamer, musician, geek and entrepreneur. Education zealot !’) welcomed us to the programme this week. He pointed out that as fast as the world is changing, it is actually the slowest it will ever be…
So if we want to survive and contribute to this fast paced world we have to get involved; develop, innovate, challenge, protect and educate.
In the spirit of this I’m embracing what’s thrown at me. I’m already out of my comfort zone (and having confirmed my dislike for being put on the spot today, to then be ordered by Les Charm (Babson faculty director) to stand up and describe (unprepared) why he should ‘invest in me’ in front of my fellows, was certainly out of my comfort zone!)
We’ve been unleashed on an environmental project with SEPA, examing and developng solutions to the marine plastics problem. The beauty of a project like this is the power of collaboration. Our group has expertise across a wide range of areas — research and policy writing, creativity, design, education, leadership, industry innovation, tourism and sport. I’m excited to see what happens.
The group is diverse, open and honest. We’ve shared some of the stories which have gathered us here today — death of loved ones cropped up twice (and the step change which that precipitated); challenging self limiting beliefs as well as the limited expectations that society inhibits some of us with; the desire to create a better society.
I’m here because I see the opportunity that change presents and I’m excited about ways in which I can facilitate some of that to happen in really positive and safe ways. I like to think I approach my life with an open mind. Some might call it opportunistic. For me it feels more intuitive. Things come your way all the time. With an open mind you are more likely to take things which find you rather than things you seek.
