Years ago I launched a digital workshop.

My goal was to teach evaluators and researchers how to design, based on the challenges that evaluators who design would face.  It was exactly how I found success, and built a following, during my own research and evaluation career.

The workshop was filled with short courses, activities, and webinars. And by and large, the people who joined the workshop liked it.  But there was a problem.

While I could teach a motivated participant how to improve their design, I couldn’t make their bosses or clients accept that change.  And because of that, I was basically teaching students how to run…right into the proverbial brick wall.

And I don’t know why I didn’t see it.  I had personally been in the position of running into that brick wall, over and over and over again.  It’s what led me away from a good steady paying research job into the unknown consulting world.

Only so many people are in the position, or have the desire, to do the same.

And you shouldn’t have to.

There is a different path.

If you make yourself the spark, you’re going to burn out.

A spark isn’t a catalyst.

While it may create a reaction, it will quickly burn out.

Don’t be the spark!

A catalyst is something different.

Unlike the spark, a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without itself undergoing any permanent change.

A catalyst doesn’t make change happen, it makes change happen faster.

Be the catalyst!

Even the most bureaucratic organizations and agencies can provide fertile spaces for innovative growth.  It just takes two things:

1. Someone with the authority to give the green light or provide funding (an innovative leader).
2. The conditions that make change a desire-able outcome or a necessity (the right context).

If those two things exist, change will happen eventually.

• Will it happen in time for that change to matter?
• Will it be successful?
• Will it cause more harm than good?

What it takes to be the catalyst.

1. You have to be able to assess a situation and decide whether or not the right conditions exist for change to occur.
2. You have to be able to sell the change or set it in motion.
3. You need to take on the burden of proof, and bring lots of evidence.
4. You need to listen and ask.
5. You need to measure impact.

In other words.  It takes Evaluation AND Design to make innovative change happen.

Maker of Change: My Workshop Evolved.

Starting next week (on January 31st) I’ll start releasing new video lessons and activities through my digital workshop.

What used to be DiY Data Design is now Maker of Change.

Through the new topics in the workshop, you will learn:

• What most people don’t understand about catalysts.
• How a story can help you scale your organization’s, business’, or personal impact.
• When different design beats better design.
• The cartoon approach, a simple way to make hard, awkward, and important conversations more productive.
• The very obvious “secret” to becoming a better creative.
• Why not all evaluation is the same.
• How to use qualitative data to give you the edge.
• When to give up on an idea and when to go for broke.
• The hard truth that what you think doesn’t really matter.
• When the sharpie is mightier than the presentation deck.
• AND Lots, Lots, More.

If you are already in the workshop, no need to register again, you’ll have access to all the new material as well as any older material.

For those hoping to learn from the communication design activities and lessons that were already in the original program, you’re in luck.  They are still part of the new program but trimmed down and re-organized to make the course experience easier and less overwhelming.

You’ll have immediate access to those if you register.

You can register for only $35, to join visit makerofchange.com.