Sitting in the infrared sauna last July, as part of a dietary cleanse, my mind started to formulate an offering to give SenseMaker® beginners a way to be mentored. In ten minutes, I sketched out the essence of what the offer would cover. After that, it was just thinking through the details.
As a market researcher who used quantitative and qualitative research, I fell in love with SenseMaker when I found it back in 2007. It took me a year to get to my first Cognitive Edge workshop. That one was held in Boston and I’m still in touch with several of the people I met then. Fortunately, I had a client who trusted me when I explained the power of SenseMaker, along with its unique methods, that lets you take action with what the stories tell you. I was able to hire Cognitive Edge to do that first project with me. And, while I got paid like an intern during that first project, it cemented my love for this approach.
One of my requirements when I joined Cognitive Edge in 2010, besides running SenseMaker projects, was to create educational opportunities for those who wanted to learn more. Over time, I designed a workshop and then three online courses. In the past year or so, a large part of my focus has been on how to get more practitioners using the software and methods. There is nothing better than the hands-on experience of running a project, especially with a knowledgable guide.
In early March, I will launch a program called “Let’s do a SenseMaker® project.” We’ve set up a webinar on January 13th to talk all about this, and I’m fortunate to have Kimberly Clouthier join me. Kimberly has already signed up as a participant. She has some great insights about the process of getting an organization to join with you in a project.
By the way, the infrared sauna visits didn’t work out for me — I didn’t sweat enough! — but some good ideas emerged while I just sat.