working
in defense of the silo
should we stick to the silos and the grain that we’re used to?
distributed leadership
start the future
let’s build a cooperative, step 4: design your decision-making process
Welcome to step 4 in my series on how to build a cooperative from the ground up. In step 1, I gathered my group of co-op enthusiasts. In step 2, this fictional group started researching our potential niche for the work. Step 3 drafted a working vision to propel our
start the future
let’s build a cooperative, step 3: consolidate a clear vision
This is step 3 in my series on how to create a cooperative. In step 1, I assembled a group of potential cooperative members. We started to lay the groundwork for establishing our purpose. In step 2, our fictional members assigned tasks for us to learn more about the niches
start the future
let’s build a cooperative, step 2: discuss needs and vision; coordinate organizing and business research
This is the second step in my series on how to create a cooperative. In my last post, I began to form my consulting cooperative’s founding members. Now, we’ll assemble those folks to create the groundwork for our new cooperative. Here’s the table of contents: Introduction to
essay
gentlemen's disagreements
Throughout his term, Barack Obama had a call for the activists agitating for change. He recalled what Franklin Roosevelt told his activists pushing for their own reforms. FDR said, “I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.” Then-President Obama met with members of the
essay
creating traction
Everything changes. We can’t change that fact any more than we can stop the rotation of the earth. Most organizations feel designed for permanence. They have boards of directors and succession plans ready for when new people fill old roles. They have a set mission, standing meetings, agenda templates,
start the future
start the future: building a cooperative
No matter where you work, employers hold an incredible amount of power over the people who work there. It often goes without saying, even in our era of resignations, “quiet quitting” (not a thing!), and r/antiwork. It doesn’t have to be this way. Workers in a cooperative share
essay
a vision for the future, part 2
Another week, another horrifying massacre. Any one of these events should have been enough to grind our country to a halt. Instead, there have been 212 mass shootings in america this year, more than one per day. More than one million people are dead from covid in america, almost a
essay
a vision for the future
For the last year I worked on the local health department’s COVID-19 vaccine strategy. This is the third pandemic I’ve worked at a public health agency, and I’m grateful to have taken part in the effort. I’m very proud of the work that my colleagues and
essay
take the wheel
What makes a strong leader? In my experience, leaders need to convey a clear and understandable vision. They must know how to make their vision a reality. They need the respect of their peers and the people who follow them. What makes an expert? Like leaders, they should have the
start the future
start the future: launching a cooperative
I wrote start the future to think about what it might be like to found an organization that serves a public good. I explored a few different structures that are common to organizations like these. The series made me realize a few critical points about starting my own organization. First,
working
changing the wind
One of my strengths at work is creativity. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and different approaches to problems. Some of these ideas are pretty out there! When I started my career, I had to learn how to gain buy-in from leaders in a traditional hierarchy. I would make
