Shaping

Who are the people that shaped your thinking?

I have been going through an exercise with my executive coach on what inspires my thinking and approach and how that shows up in my craft.

I believe our view of life is shaped by the people and ideas that challenge and inspire us. For me, the constellation of influences in my life includes Charles Handy, Richard Branson, Rick Rubin, John Kao, and Gordon MacKenzie.

These thought leaders span fields as diverse as management theory, entrepreneurship, music production, innovation, and creative leadership and together they have shaped my thinking.

They share common threads—an unwavering commitment to creativity, a willingness to challenge norms, and a unique ability to connect ideas across domains. In reflection, these nuggets of wisdom and perspective have become the mosaic of me.

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NOW: Realization and Reflection for Today

The shapers of my thinking form a tapestry of perspectives that encourage me to balance structure with creativity:

• Charles Handy revolutionized management with concepts like the "portfolio career" and "shamrock organization," encouraging adaptability in a changing world.

• Richard Branson embodies entrepreneurial boldness, proving that risk-taking and disruption can redefine industries.

• Rick Rubin demonstrates the power of reinvention, urging artists (and thinkers) to push creative boundaries.

• John Kao likens creativity to jazz improvisation, emphasizing the dynamic, collaborative process of idea generation.

• Gordon MacKenzie reminds us to orbit the "giant hairball" of bureaucracy, maintaining creativity within corporate structures.

Each of these figures reflects a facet of the values I strive to embody: adaptability, boldness, creativity, and the courage to challenge conventions.

Who has challenged your assumptions and inspired you to think differently?

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NEW: Learning and Experimentation for Tomorrow

Shaping isn’t static; it’s a dynamic process of absorbing, testing, and integrating new ideas. Kao and MacKenzie offer practical tools for fostering creativity and breaking free of restrictive norms:

• John Kao advocates for creativity audits and treating organizations as "factories for ideas," encouraging leaders to cultivate environments where innovation thrives.

• Gordon MacKenzie inspires nonlinear thinking and “soft rebellion” within structured systems, pushing boundaries while leveraging organizational resources.

Here’s an experiment to explore your own shapers:

1. Identify three people who have shaped your thinking.

2. Reflect on one defining lesson from each.

3. Add one new shaper to your list—a voice or perspective you’ve recently encountered.

By actively seeking new influences, you allow your thinking to evolve and your narrative to remain dynamic.

How can you incorporate the lessons of your shapers into your life today?

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NEXT: Vision for Future Possibilities

The shapers of my thinking don’t just inform my past; they guide my vision for the future. Handy’s intellectual framework, Branson’s bold entrepreneurship, Rubin’s creative depth, Kao’s improvisational approach, and MacKenzie’s rebellion against bureaucracy inspire a future where creativity and strategy coexist seamlessly.

Imagine a future where your narrative is a living mosaic, continuously enriched by the wisdom of others. You don’t simply absorb their lessons—you apply them, adapt them, and pass them on, becoming a shaper for those around you.

Ask yourself:

What role will you play as a shaper for others?

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Payoff: Becoming a Shaper

The shapers of our thinking do more than influence us—they empower us to influence others. Handy, Branson, Rubin, Kao, and MacKenzie have taught me to embrace creativity, challenge norms, and think beyond the obvious.

Their lessons form the foundation of my approach as a narratologist, helping me guide clients to craft stories that are both innovative and transformative.

In the Now, their lessons ground me in clarity and purpose.
In the New, I continue seeking fresh perspectives to evolve my thinking.
In the Next, I apply their wisdom to shape narratives that inspire change and are yet to be written.

“Our creative genius is the fountainhead of originality. It fires our compulsion to evolve. It inspires us to challenge norms.” - Gordon MacKenzie

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If you are seeking a way to optimize your story in uncertain times, book a free consultation with me, and let's consider the possibilities.

I am a creator and my craft is to help others find and design their unique form of self-expression. For companies, it is about alignment around a Narrative Northstar and the mission to achieve it. For executives over 45, it is about owning your personal narrative and helping you to own it.

Do you want to fit in or stand out? For that is where the magic exists.