The Power of Attention in an Unraveling World

Last month, I announced the re/start of two Substack series as part of my 2025 word of the year: attention. My aim is to share how, where, and what captures my focus—a thinking / working / research put-loud initiative? I call ‘The Great Unraveling.’ This month, I’ve continued to focus on navigating the rough and raw digital and cultural landscapes, tracking the weaving and unweaving of shifts in policy and technology, and holding space for the curation insights that shape the future of cultural organizations.

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Key Developments & Why They Matter

• Following infrastructure breakdowns in the U.S., we’re witnessing ripple effects across the EU. Understanding these disruptions—what they expose, how they compound, and what they signal—helps us identify structural vulnerabilities and opportunities for systemic shifts.
• Organizing areas of ‘intentional attention’ through a prioritized audit of credible sources has become essential. The era of information overload makes this practice critical for filtering signals from noise. This is a learning / teachable moment for everyone/
• Tracking previous and present waves of similarity helps contextualize current events. By mapping historical patterns, we can better anticipate conditions for change and identify gaps where intervention can alter trajectories.

Behind the Scenes: February 2025 Activities

Time Traveler: I facilitated the co-creation of critical “What if” questions to shape scenario development for two distinct cultural organization initiatives, ensuring a strategic focus for future planning. Rob Hopkins' ‘What If to Whar Next’ podcast continues to be a touchstone for me, particularly episodes addressing new social contracts. I revisited favorite episodes (such as: What if invitations to participate in civic life were creative and caring? What if we could train our imagination to reimagine change? What if our visionaries and activists were properly resourced?) to get myself and my colleagues into the most appropriate heart and head space.

Digital Dragon Wrangler: This month, project research focused on the intersection of AI policy and digital infrastructure. I revisited my notes from Governable Spaces and expanded my Futures Library, identifying and discussing signals of hope and change in digital citizenship and infrastructure. Through collaborative discussions with project teams, we analyzed how these signals emerge, interact, and scale—uncovering critical uncertainties and foundational structures for scenario development. This work enhances individual and organizational awareness of readiness to engage strategically with emerging and exponential technologies.

Storyteller: I prepared my novella for an upcoming workshop session with first readers. My professional work fuels my writing practice, particularly short stories rooted in today's signals of change and hope. I explore how these forces might shape the next decade through narratives grounded in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

Dig Deeper: My Two Substack Series

#BookDNA February 2025 Summary

February’s reading revolved around strategy, change, and shifting perspectives. I launched a new series applying my Take 'CARE to BE CALM' approach to reading This is Strategy by Seth Godin, introducing a Biblio/Audio Therapy Prescription—a structured method for engaging with strategy beyond short-term tactics. Using Godin’s work as inspiration, I developed a framework that pairs key strategic principles with curated books and podcasts, fostering a more intentional strategy development practice. The first post explores Godin’s opening riff: “Strategy is a philosophy of becoming.”

Three standout books shaped my thinking:?

• Polarized by Degrees: How the Diploma Divide and the Culture War Transformed American Politics by Matt Grossmann and David A. Hopkins explores the growing "diploma divide" in American politics, showing how higher education increasingly shapes political alignment.?
• Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera is a surreal, haunting novel blurs the boundaries between the living and the dead.
• Future Cultures: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization Through Leadership by Susan Cox-Smith and Scott Smith is the book I’ve recommended the most this month, offering a compelling framework for organizations navigating uncertainty.

A recurring theme emerged: how we think about strategy, change, and the future is profoundly shaped by the narratives and structures we engage with—both in theory and practice.

Snackable Six February 2025 Summary?

This month’s reflections focused on intentionality (of attention)—how we work, consume, engage with technology, and transition between roles and responsibilities. Key themes included:

• The evolving relationship between AI and cultural work, particularly the challenge of distinguishing human from AI-generated creativity.
• Tensions between innovation and tradition, especially in the realm of strategic foresight and AI governance.
• My approach to structuring mornings with six daily practices cultivating focus and creativity.
• The role of intentional transitions—small but powerful shifts that help recalibrate energy, focus, and engagement throughout the day.

Across these reflections, a central throughline emerged: adaptation, agency, and self-awareness shape how we navigate change—not just externally, but within ourselves.

Extra Credit

• Subscribe to my Substack(s) [#BookDNA and Snackable Six: Curiosity, Consideration & Connection] for deeper dives into these topics.
• Share this post with those interested in a constructive dialogue on advancing with inclusion, reciprocity, and accountability.
• Be a Digital Terroir Sommelier—assess your readiness for alternative digital futures and consider how you might shape or resist them. Reach out if you want to incorporate strategic foresight into your everyday practice.

The Great Unraveling continues.?

Where will we focus our individual and collective attention next?