What we were saying back then
John’s writing from 2002 to 2020, from the first Group Partners forum, his own blogs and the earlier Group Partners sites. Each piece is kept exactly as it was first published, with its original date and a link to the archived copy.
2002
- The fatal flaws of postmodern systems?3 November 2002 / Group Partners forum“All my life I think I have found it easier to think and construct thoughts visually rather than in any other way, in fact I am not sure there is any other way to think, just to make my point again.”
- Defining Knowledge Work15 December 2002 / Group Partners forum“We do this because it works and we have proven it over 400 times across the world.”
2003
- Complex Responsive Processes1 February 2003 / Group Partners forum“This is what I've been developing a solution to for 20 years...we need a way to have the right conversation!!!”
- A Systems Portfolio Approach15 February 2003 / Group Partners forum“I am constantly amazed by just how much sheer power exists within the range of solutions we can leverage in this group.”
2006
- Deep Simplicity and Structured Visual Thinking™5 March 2006 / Contextual Frameworking blog“We create it ourselves, we delight in it, we even question it - which makes it yet more complex.”
- The Whole Enchilada:5 March 2006 / Contextual Frameworking blog“Structured and visual thinking - is one of my passions, I have spent 20 Years thinking about it.”
- The 5 Clients You Meet in Heaven26 May 2006 / Contextual Frameworking blog“Who do I want fiddling with the radio in the blue Midwestern twilight?”
- Apparatus of the Burger26 June 2006 / Contextual Frameworking blog“Apparatus of the Burger or applied existentialism in the hall of the Mountain King.”
- Seeing Stars26 June 2006 / Contextual Frameworking blog““Gotta break your neck to see a star in this yard”.”
- What We Need26 June 2006 / Contextual Frameworking blog““An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense 'intuitive linear' view.”
2010
- Columbo questions and the Semantic Answering Machine.17 April 2010 / Posterous“In the near future the designers and architects who curate these new experiences for us will be the new alchemists of our individual destiny.”
- Zager & Evans - The Eve of Eruption.16 May 2010 / Posterous“People often ask me about thinking visually and how this solves problems.”
- We Was Bored10 June 2010 / Posterous“I have often suggested that I could write a single brief - give it to an advertising agency, a consulting firm and a software company and get back a 30 second TV commercial, a 6 month assessment assignment and an SAP implementation.”
2011
- Thinking like a Structured Visual Thinker!6 February 2011 / Posterous“The Ability To Break The Frame: Leaps of imagination – not jumps to conclusion.”
- My Work!Undated / Posterous“I started a company called Group Partners on the first of January 2001.”
- Living Life Axiomatically!26 March 2011 / Posterous“Isn't it incredible how the arrangements of a few well chosen words can make an almighty difference to things?”
- Etiquette Shmetiquette, David Attenborough and the birthing of a big idea!27 March 2011 / Posterous“Can I have some English Mustard?”
- 11 Years Thinking Change22 April 2011 / Posterous“Really odd that I needed to leave the creative industry to become creative.”
- Said Detective Colombo to the CEO...!29 April 2011 / Posterous“Ah, sorry to bother you Mr. CEO, Sir…”
- Kill The Lists!!7 May 2011 / Posterous“I'm a bit angry today. I am depressed about my own field.”
- Mission Impossible?30 May 2011 / Posterous“My head hurts. I don't know what I do!”
- Is it possible to learn how to have ideas?4 July 2011 / Posterous“Initially let's just imagine that the idea is neither good nor bad – think about IDEA – the idea of that word even.”
- Imagine Nation.13 July 2011 / Posterous“Wherever I go there are people with smartphones – festoons of small high-powered cameras snapping at my heels.”
- iCloudius - Entering an Arena near you very soon!5 August 2011 / Posterous“You get to kill millions of 'Subjects' with a single decision.”
2013
- A New Perspective9 February 2013 / johncaswell.com“You would have to be living in the Man On The Moon’s garden shed with a blanket on your head to have missed that it’s all a bit chaotic on Earth right now.”
- There Is No Certainty – Get Over It9 February 2013 / johncaswell.com““It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much.” – Yogi Berra”
- What On Earth Is A Biosphere?10 February 2013 / johncaswell.com“It’s definitely not a dinner party.”
- Make. Change. Happen.7 April 2013 / johncaswell.com“We live in conflicting, agressive and difficult times.”
- Let’s See. Part 1. What’s Really Going On.21 April 2013 / johncaswell.com“Language and definition have become enemies to meaning, communication and collaboration.”
- #Resilience – Doing It On Purpose2 May 2013 / johncaswell.com“It’s amazing to me how many times we turn up to large, well known/important organisations to hear that they lack a clear aim.”
- The Path To Resilient Thinking6 May 2013 / johncaswell.com“Not being like everyone else – that’s good right?”
- Weapons For Change #1 – The City27 May 2013 / johncaswell.com“From where I stand the City has a major responsibility to shape the future for society.”
- Innovation* Really?27 July 2013 / johncaswell.com“The word should have seen you click away from this page already.”
- Meet Thy Marker24 August 2013 / johncaswell.com“Reluctantly I was ushered into a stinking, long forgotten and oppressive room.”
- 8 Reasons Why You Should Sketch30 August 2013 / johncaswell.com“I’m always getting asked why drawings and the act of drawing makes such a difference.”
- Born To Be Creative23 September 2013 / johncaswell.com“If you watch children at play you will be in no doubt.”