How did I get into this?

At the strategic meetings and conferences I participate in, I’m asked all the time, “How did you get into this?” Meaning how did I become the visual communicator, the information synthesizer, the strategic thinker, the person in the room with the big paper and pens?

Typically, the initial reaction when people see me doing graphic facilitation for the first time is that they are blown away by how useful and powerful it is, not to mention fun and interesting, because it allows people to see what they are saying in real time and make clear decisions.

The second reaction is curiosity about how I found my way into this field they’ve never heard of before. Because really, how would someone find out about doing this?

All the stories I have heard from my colleagues about how they have gotten into this field involve chance and perfectly aligned circumstances. Mine is no different.

Here’s my story.

The short version is: my path began as a kernel of an idea in the Teton Mountains and took me to a beach on the northern California coast for a workshop on how to do this. There I found a sand dollar that became my touchstone, my mandala, for that weekend in which I opened myself up to trying something new and found a whole new life for myself doing work I absolutely love.

The final task of that weekend workshop was to create a room for yourself to explore what we had learned. Here’s my image. Note the mandala rug.

The longer version of the story appears here at the International Forum of Visual Practioners (IFVP) website where I am the featured member this month. This is the site of the professional society for people who do what I do. And we’re all pretty cool, fun folks.

In the interview you’ll find out about my favorite gig so far (hint: there were whales involved), why I feel like I’ve got job security (hint: what I do can’t be outsourced) and which side of the chalk vs. no chalk issue I’m on.

Hop on over and check it out!

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