This Moment in Time

"In the market, language grew. Became bolder, more sophisticated. Leaped and sparked from mind to mind. Incited by curiosity and rapt attention, it took astounding risks that none had ever dared to contemplate, built whole civilizations from the ground up."
The Cluetrain Manifesto, 2000

Matt and I created MG Taylor, inc. in 1979 for the purpose creating a new way of working that would facilitate individuals and enterprises escaping from the existing paradigm to another. Generally, new paradigms are escapes from a system no longer functioning, to a higher order. We were hopeful, optimistic, and naive as to how long and hard the old paradigm could hold on and constrain new organizing patterns.

With our mission in hand, we went forth as a for-profit business wondering if we could put our ideas and ethics into the market place and be profitable. Over the years we facilitated many good events and worked with clients on their stickiest problems. No one was interested in paradigm shifts however. Whether for profit or not, it was all about near term, bottom-line scarcities and/or profits.

This month that changed. I had the opportunity, in collaboration with The Value Web, to design and facilitate a workshop called This Moment in Time. The workshop focused on the emergent paradigm and the part we, (as thought leaders, designers and entrepreneurs) could do to help shape the paradigm and give it meaning for ourselves. We only had two days but within that time we took leaps and bounds in our understanding of this moment in time and how we could play our hands and attract others to join in our efforts. To me it was two days of practicing - together - how to explore, design, consider and collaborate our way forth into the new paradigm. In those two days we stepped into a different world. Many of the factors were the same, but the framing was very different and the thoughts and actions produced were fresh, unencumbered with the old.

One thing we all recongized is that we needed each other’s ideas. There was a great play of ideas building on each other, creating new questions. And best of all, we recognized many, many new products and services seeding, maturing, gaining ground as we were. The future, as always will be created by the actions of each and every individual. This time, however, we are bold enough to think that we can influence the development of the paradigm through design. See The Value Web's Blog page.

A new paradigm creates a new market place. How well will we do in forging this market? I am hungry to continue playing in this new paradigm, to practice, to explore, to build on other ideas. I hope this is the beginning of many workshops and journeys into this strange new possibility. New patterns are settling in and I am coming to knowing in a profoundly new way.