cecily sommers speaks on the art of reinvention

CEC ILY SOMMERS

The Art of ReinventionNavigating Uncertainty, Choosing Change

There is a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. 

People wonder about what things you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. 

But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. 

Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding. 

But you don’t ever let go of the thread.William Stafford

The Way It Is

– Decision (recalculating: who am I, where am I going?)

DISCOVERY

TENSION

RECKONING

DREAM – a desire that pulls you forward

– a moment of awe, a new way of seeing the world, your place in it

– Discontent (tension; no longer fits)

• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.  

• But you don’t ever let go of the thread

Dancer

Never mistake a clear view for a short

distance.

Form #1: Dancer

There is a thread you follow. 

It goes among things that change. 

But it doesn’t change. DREAM

DISCOVERY

TENSION

RECKONING

• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.  

• But you don’t ever let go of the thread

Reinvention

• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.  

• But you don’t ever let go of the thread

Chiropractor

Form #2: Chiropractor

People wonder about what things you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. 

But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. DREAM

DISCOVERY

TENSION

RECKONING

• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.  

• But you don’t ever let go of the thread

Reinvention

• Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.  

• But you don’t ever let go of the thread

Futurist

We can never be born enough.

We are human beings; for whom birth is a supremely welcome mystery, the mystery of growing: which happens only and whenever we are faithful to ourselves. can never be born enough.

We are human beings; for whom birth is a supremely welcome mystery, the mystery of growing: which happens only and whenever we are faithful to ourselves.

- e.e. cummingsExcerpt from the introduction to Collected Poems

Form #3: Futurist

Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and grow old.

Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.  

But you don’t ever let go of the threadDREAM

DISCOVERY

TENSION

RECKONING

CHOOSING CHANGEJumping the Border

– Decision (recalculating: who am I, where am I going?)

DISCOVERY

TENSION

RECKONING

DREAM – a desire that pulls you forward

– a moment of awe, a new way of seeing the world, your place in it

– Discontent (tension; no longer fits)

– Choice: follow the thumbs up

DISCOVERY

TENSION

RECKONING

DREAM – “Like that!”

– Awww, Aha!, Awe

– There’s nothing wrong

PRACTICEChoosing change by choosing each moment

Practice

• Courage

• Curiosity

• Optimism

Practice

• Practice– Courage– Curiosity– Optimism

• A life-long journey– A line thread runs through it– Like that!– Thumbs up– There are no successes or failures, there's just what's next

• A place to live from– Row your boat

Row, row, row your boat,Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,Life is but a dream.

10-minute break

FINDING YOUR WAYNavigating Change

EXERCISE

1. What was the pull to do what you’re doing now?

2. “Like that!”s for what’s next• Activities• Experiences• Moments

DREAM

EXERCISE

1. The most significant insight about the work you do now

2. It’s influence on what you want to do next

DISCOVERY

1. What’s beginning to feel like it’s not a good fit?

2. How do you know?

TENSION

EXERCISE

1. What will you have to face/overcome/give up to move forward?

RECKONING

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”

- Socrates

“BUT…” BUSTERSOvercoming Resistance

What Gets in the Way

1. Blame2. Denial3. Fear4. Avoidance5. Inaction6. Resignation

“But…”Something’s Wrong1. With me2. With them3. Things should be a

certain way, and4. Someone should fix it!

Buster:Reference the Facts1. Back away from your

beliefs about what things “should” be

2. “What am I not seeing that might help make sense of the situation?”

3. Seek a broader understanding

Finding Fault (Blame)

“But…”I’ll try harder1. Overdeveloped sense of

responsibility2. “If I just…. They just….

If only…. It’s good for me…”

Buster:Three Strikes1. Give the benefit of a

doubt, and fully commit2. If it doesn’t change, you

must: step up, step aside, get help…

3. Move on, with compassion

Arguing With Reality (Denial)

“But…”I’m too busy1. Overwhelm2. Over-control3. Belief in “balance”4. People-pleaser

Buster:Make a decision1. Learn to say “No”2. Before saying “Yes,”

think it the commitment all the way through.

3. Accept all consequences

Busyness (Avoidance)

“But…”Nothing’s right1. Too hard2. Not fair3. Don’t want to4. It’s stupid5. Not doing it right

Buster:Make a request1. Intentional venting2. Make a decision3. Make a request4. Hold one another

accountable

Whining (Inaction)

“But…”It’ll never change…1. We’ve tried before2. It’ll never work3. I know what they’ll say4. “It’s okay…” Sigh

Buster:Get moving!1. Do something2. First Moveable Piece3. Choose change. Take

action.

Feeling Stuck (Resignation)

best time20 years

Chinese Proverb

The“ to plant a treewa

sago

“

Miracles are to come.

With you I leave a remembrance of miracles: they are by somebody who can love and who shall be continually reborn, a human being;

somebody who said to those near him, when his fingers would not hold a brush 'tie it into my hand'-

nothing proving or sick or partial. Nothing false, nothing difficult or easy or small or colossal.

Nothing ordinary or extraordinary, nothing emptied or filled, real or unreal; nothing feeble and known or clumsy and guessed.

- e.e. cummingsExcerpt from the introduction to Collected Poems

THANK YOUcecilysommers.com

AGENDA

1. Introduction2. Finding Your Core: 6 Moments of Bliss3. Finding Your Way

• Definition• POV• Philosophy

DAY 1 Morning: DEFINE 9 : 0 0 – n o o n

1. The Sigue Way2. Application: Users

1. Constituents– Sender– Receiver– Agent

2. Scenarios– Low-Tech– High-tech

DAY 1 Afternoon: DISCOVER

AGENDA

1 : 0 0 – 5 : 0 0 p m

AGENDA

1. The Sigue Way2. Application: Business

1. Marketing2. Technology3. Training

3. Projects & Priorities4. Plan in Reverse

DAY 2 Morning: DISTILL 9 : 0 0 – 1 1 : 4 0 a m

1. The Road Ahead2. What’s at Stake3. Charting the Sigue Way to $500M in 5 years4. Enrollment Strategy5. Commitments

AGENDA

1 : 0 0 – 3 : 0 0 p m

DAY 2 Afternoon: DISTILL

FINDING YOUR CORE

Six Moments of Bliss

Exercise: Your Bliss

• Each person shares their 6 moments

• Feedback on top 3

• Select favorite

30 MinutesTeams

Group Share-Out

• Each person shares their fave (recorded on wall)

• Look for themes

• What are we defining?

30 MinutesGroup