Pontifex Consulting

Systems Thinking, system dynamics, adaptive learning, sustainability, STELLA, iThink

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

@juliegabrielli Although we often ascribe today’s s*show to Reagan and Bush and Gingrich, it’s really because of the likes of christofascists like Leo and Weyrich and the Koch’s. @anelsona

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

On November 3, I’ll be joining the @ObamaFoundation’s 2023 #DemocracyForum.

We’ll be bringing together leaders and experts from around the world to explore the most important issues facing democracy—from how we can rebuild trust in our institutions, to the future of AI and the way we consume information.

Learn more about this year’s Democracy Forum: https://t.co/AlqJQ8ClfN

[Rachel Bitecofer 🗽🦆 @RachelBitecofer]

The Republican Party’s #Project2025 calls for suspension of the Civil Services Protection Act so Republicans can purge everyone who isn’t loyal to MAGA out of agencies like DOJ & Dept of Education.

This was a major part of how the Nazis seized power.

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

@NJHagens National Oil Companies push dark money to capture other nation political systems…to keep the fossil fuels flowing. Propaganda, polarizing, capturing judiciaries. It’s the balancing feedback loop fighting the net zero feedback loop.

[System Dynamics Society @systemdynamics_]

@BBC Radio recently dedicated an episode of their 'Great Lives' program to Donella Meadows, featuring terrific contributions by Kate Raworth, Marta Ceroni, and Beth Sawin and clips of Dana and Dennis Meadows.

🔈 https://t.co/RxZObKiDhn

#SystemDynamics #systemsthinking

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

The power of Dynamic Thinking. Here’s a Dynamic archetype behind great stories. It activates emotions. It generates aspirations. And it unlocks creativity.

https://t.co/95COmEgPio

[Nathan Baugh @nathanbaugh27]

In 4 minutes, Kurt Vonnegut explained stories better than anyone I’ve ever heard.

“The shape of the curve is what matters. Not their origins.”

He plots stories on 2 axes:

X: Time
Y: Good fortune / ill fortune

He goes on to say,

“Somebody gets into trouble, then gets out of it again. People love that story. They never get tired of it.”

Point 1:

Stories have defined patterns.

In Joseph Campbell’s Hero of a Thousand Faces, he makes the case for the Hero’s Journey.

Since then, it’s become the most famous storytelling structure in the world.

Vonnegut argued stories could be divided into 8 shapes.

Each story, he said, fit one of the 8.

Point 2:

Vonnegut says,

“Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them — so the reader may see what they're made of.”

To see who your characters really are, you have to make them suffer.

Only then does your audience have someone worth cheering for.

Point 3:

End on a high note.

Vonnegut says, “It’s not accidental that the line ends up higher than where it began. This is encouraging to readers.”

The way a story makes people feel when they finish is how they remember it.

It’s called recency bias.

Lift people up and they will love you.

***

“There are people. There are stories. The people think they shape the stories, but the reverse is often closer to the truth.”

I wrote this with @RobbieCrab. Follow him for lessons on storytelling + fundraising.

And I talk about creative storytelling. Follow @nathanbaugh27 for more like that.

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

@skdh Stock and flow thinking isn’t as optimistic. If people die, the inflow to the stock of CO2eq will slow in rate. The outflow will not change much. So the stock of CO2eq will drop only slowly. While other feedback loops may accelerate.

[Nate Hagens @NJHagens]

I’d never seen this clip before. What a master communicator (and world class human). Imagine the coal oil wood and gas burned since this presentation 40 years ago. If Carl were alive today he’d be my #1 choice as podcast guest. Bar none

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

@davidminpdx @brianklaas wrote an insightful book on this subject. And his podcast explores. Spoiler: It’s the system.

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

A great team to work with...I'm fortunate to join talented and passionate collaborators in addressing the interdependent challenges and barriers to building thriving communities.

https://t.co/69w9KAt7jr

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

Many strategies to reduce emissions or remove carbon from the air—like offsets or the "seductively attractive" planting trees strategy—won't achieve the desired goal. Follow @climateinteract to stay knowledgeable about what works...and doesn't.

[Andrew Jones @AndrewPJones]

Offsets aren't. Offset's aren't. Listen to this mind-blowingly clear explanation by @drvolts (Dave Roberts) and #JoeRomm about why most all of what we call offsets don't actually succeed at offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
https://t.co/YQWhrdhefG

[Dave Troy @davetroy]

Big picture: The Saudis, UAE, Qataris lose all their power in a future where oil is obsolete. Musk has offered them a bridge to the future with control over information, space, Mars colonization, and electric mobility.

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

LinkedIn post on World Economic Forum's recommendation to embed systems thinking in the education system.

https://t.co/gejIL6A7Id

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

Insightful and empowering article.

If you want to leave a meeting knowing it was better off because you were there, then read this article.

Get to it!

[Craig Weber @CraigAWeber]

We can play a far more constructive role at work by improving how we engage with others. But it’s harder than it sounds. It takes more than just good intentions – it takes discipline. https://t.co/Py9iMAACnz

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

@SteveBrant @jonstewart @ruthbenghiat Excellent suggestion!

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

Or just wait for it to resolve the issue endogenously—by itself.

...which is what's happening.

It's just doin' its thing.

/end

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

We long for heroes! For the Lone Ranger or Man With No Name to ride in and wipe out the "baddies". That's the appeal of the Strongman.
Yes, US inflation's fallen over the past year. But the reason isn't because of one person's policies—no matter how much global influence. 1/5

[🇺🇦Noelle🇺🇦Dem Good @Everything, DeICE America @NReveillee]

@libbage55 @MSNBC President Biden did this!⤵️

[Pontifex Consulting @PontifexConsult]

The interconnected nature of the global economy and messed up supply chains took a while to return to a reasonable normal.

We can't solve a SYSTEMS issue by placing success (or failure) on one individual. It requires a redesign of the system. 4/5