The Magic of Gathering

Nerd alert! How ‘bout that headline!?!

Almost everything in my world feels designed for maximum division. The act of gathering has never been more vital. Getting together with real humans, friends or soon to be friends, for a coffee, or a cookie (IYKYK) or just to chat is restorative.

5 years ago that wasn’t possible. I know it was 5 years ago because my son’s birthday is March 15th (beware!) and it felt like his 10th birthday party was the first in person event cancelled.

So today we focus on the value of togetherness, on convening for change. Something I have been fortunate to be a part of over the last 20 years.

Conversations build communities, and communities shape futures. Whether guiding a focus group, hosting a roundtable, or crowdsourcing ideas, the goal remains the same: spark actionable dialogue. Impacting outcomes so that we all Earn More, Learn More and Live Well is not top down work. It has to move from the outside inward, and back again.

Productive conversations are cultivated - seeded with curiosity, guided with intention and given time to grow. They require a balance of like-minded camaraderie and thoughtful opposition.

Seeding Conversations

When ideas bump up against each other, viewpoints stretch and we see more of the picture.

Define the "why" to minimize debate for debate’s sake.

Explore towards understanding. Curiosity must be the common language.

Make space for the quiet experts, the deep thinkers, the experienced introvert.

Ask better questions. "Can you share your experience?" “What can we learn?"

Guardrails for Good Stewardship

Set expectations early. Clarity is kind.

Keep it moving. Use timekeeping tools and frameworks to ensure balance.

End with action. Chats are for coffee. Assign actions and accountability.

Coalition vs. Committee

Not every convening is the same, and not every gathering should have the same purpose. The difference between building an honest coalition and assembling a steering committee is the difference between a grassroots movement and a targeted strike.

A coalition is built for broad, sustained change. It is diverse, it is powerful, and it will take on a life of its own. Coalitions become champions for change, pushing an issue forward in ways you can’t always predict—or control. But that’s also their strength. When done well, they generate the kind of groundswell that shifts policies, industries, and cultural norms.

A committee, on the other hand, is precise. It’s the tip of the spear, designed to move in exactly the direction you want. It’s effective for quick, defined objectives but is rarely self-sustaining. Once the work is done, the momentum often fades.

Neither is wrong. Both have their place.

The critical question is: What does the situation call for—and what do you have the appetite for?

Coalitions demand patience. They take longer to form and can’t be tightly controlled, but their impact is widespread and lasting.

Steering committees demand precision. They can move fast and hit specific targets, but they won’t necessarily bring others into the fold.

The biggest mistake? Confusing one for the other. If you aim to build a coalition but expect efficiency, frustration will follow. If you form a lead group but need deep, systemic change, you’ll burn through resources without shifting the landscape.

Patience, Persistence & Planting

Conversations happen over coffee. Change happens over years, over thousands of small conversations that nudge perspectives and shift behaviors.

Too often, we want immediate proof that something is working. But the best movements, the ones that reshape industries, communities, and cultures, often grow unnoticed.

Give ideas time to root. Create continuity. 

One-off events are not movements. Sustained engagement is.

Keep the door open. If a situation demands real change, play the long game.

Personal Passion Points

We live in an era of fractured attention spans and algorithms that discourage discovery. The messages that break through are the ones that feel personal. If you want action, speak to what matters at an individual level.

People don’t rally around data points; they rally around experiences, emotions, and stakes they can feel. You’re asking someone to care. Honor their role in the conversation by connecting it to their life, their work, their aspirations.

Intentional dialogue doesn’t just surface what issues are important, it reveals why.

Movements don’t start with mass appeal. They start with personal conviction.