№ 16 | Beautiful Trouble Cards, Conversation Styles, Damaging Communication Patterns, Defensible Moats, and E-ink Playing Cards!

№ 16 | Beautiful Trouble Cards, Conversation Styles, Damaging Communication Patterns, Defensible Moats, and E-ink Playing Cards!

A social activism card deck?

A social activism card deck and game? (6 games, actually!) The Beautiful Trouble card deck is pitched as a collection of “key strategies and tactics that have inspired centuries of people-powered victories… now in a deck of 100+ cards that you can play!” I'm sold!

Beautiful Trouble: A Strategy Card Deck

“Interviewer or Volunteer?”

Does your conversation style veer toward that of an “Interviewer” or a “Volunteer?” Here's an interesting framework for thinking about conversation styles and roles we (hopefully) switch between.  Though after reading through this, there’s an implicit third role I’d add, that of the Researcher—one who leans into and digs deeper into what is said or suggested. Actually, I’d also add a fourth role: Catalyst. One who builds upon and transforms what is shared, leading to more a comfortable back and forth dialogue. 🤪

Speaking of conversations…

10 potentially damaging communication patterns...

I love John Cutlers visual thinking. This graphic representation of 10 potentially damaging communication patterns doesn’t disappoint.

[SRC]

Defensible moats

Defensible moats as part of a company strategy/business model are one of those ideas that both make sense, and have also been seriously disrupted by advances in technology.  For these reasons, I like this article on “The New Moats. Why Systems of Intelligence™ are the Next Defensible Business Model,” as it does a good job recounting the history and evolution of this idea, before leading you into what is, or might be, the new defensible moat for modern businesses.

E-ink playing cards

Yes, you read that right. Introducing Wyldcard—“Physical playing cards which can change!” So. Many. Possibilities. 😲+🤩

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№ 110 | ‘Havens, Hubs & Hangouts’, “Infrastructure for Thinking”, Fractal Gridding + the Hadara Method (for Goal Setting), Bootstrapping Computing,  Catalyst Game, Four Corners Reflection, A Visual Archive of the Jan 6 Capitol Attack, and the Size of Life

№ 110 | ‘Havens, Hubs & Hangouts’, “Infrastructure for Thinking”, Fractal Gridding + the Hadara Method (for Goal Setting), Bootstrapping Computing, Catalyst Game, Four Corners Reflection, A Visual Archive of the Jan 6 Capitol Attack, and the Size of Life

Did you miss me? 🤪 Stephen P. Anderson here, back again with your regular roundup of ‘playful things to think with… and think about’ (wow, that came out sounding like a cheesy DJ announcer!) One of the great things about taking time off between issues is the bounty of amazing finds

By Stephen P. Anderson
№ 109 | Algodeck, Alternatives to Arrows, Comic Lettering, Equations Explained Colorfully, Chemistry Advent Calendar, A Framework for Making Decisions, TikTok’s System Map, Learner Engagement Checklist, and Closing Prompts

№ 109 | Algodeck, Alternatives to Arrows, Comic Lettering, Equations Explained Colorfully, Chemistry Advent Calendar, A Framework for Making Decisions, TikTok’s System Map, Learner Engagement Checklist, and Closing Prompts

Let’s close out the year with an XL-sized roundup of ‘playful things to think with’ and think about. 🗓️NOTE: This will be the last newsletter until next year. I normally publish Thinking Things every two weeks. But, I do like to take a bit of time off during the

By Stephen P. Anderson
№ 108 | Paid Attention, Algorithms to Serve People, Algorithms That Don’t Serve People, the Meaning Matrix, Historical Problem Space Framework, Games as Information Systems, Four Video Games to Change How We Think, and the Circularity Deck

№ 108 | Paid Attention, Algorithms to Serve People, Algorithms That Don’t Serve People, the Meaning Matrix, Historical Problem Space Framework, Games as Information Systems, Four Video Games to Change How We Think, and the Circularity Deck

I’m back again with even more playful things to think with, and think about! Chances are, this edition of the Thinking Things newsletter gets lost in the FLOOD of “best deal of the year” emails.  Anyway… I’m busy. You’re busy. This will be the “straight to the

By Stephen P. Anderson
№ 107 | Reimagining the Now, Surfacing Worldviews of Change, Characteristics of SenseMaking (Illustrated), The Authoritarian Stack, Wheels of Privilege / Power—Remixed!, Four Leadership Modes

№ 107 | Reimagining the Now, Surfacing Worldviews of Change, Characteristics of SenseMaking (Illustrated), The Authoritarian Stack, Wheels of Privilege / Power—Remixed!, Four Leadership Modes

Back again, with even more playful things to think with, and think about. Last issue, I promised more card decks in this edition of Thinking Things. So, more card decks it is! Reimaging the Now card deck The Reimagining the Now card deck was created “to highlight how existing technological

By Stephen P. Anderson