A confluence is a flowing together of two or more streams, rivers, or the like: the confluence of the Platte River and Cherry Creek in downtown Denver shown in the picture to the left.
In the context of the JUMP! Innovative Change Model, the “Creative Confluence” Tool is something I use to help drive the process of discovering synergies.
Synergies come when unexpected connections arise — like the combination someone thought of many years ago to combine the beauty and creativity of wrapping paper with the simplicity and convenience of paper bags. Thus, “gift bags” were created, and they are now a staple for every busy person tasked with buying and “wrapping” gifts when time is at a premium. Other results of synergistic thinking exist throughout the world:
- Trex™ building products — taking the “what do we do with all the plastic that’s recycled” and the need for low-maintenance, long-wearing decking materials; and
- Why is it that you nearly ALWAYS see sod farms connected to large beer breweries? Because the waste water from brewing beer is very high in phosphorus content. Rather than spending $Millions on treatment systems to purge the phosphorus, the brewers divert their waste water directly to the sod farm. The phosphorus provides fertilizer to the grass, and the grass converts the “otherwise categorized as a pollutant” phosphorus waste. Brewers win, new home owners win, environmentalists win.
The template (below) is designed to help take “seemingly” disparate, disconnected things, and create something completely new and different as a result.
JUMP! Creative Confluence Tool Template
The template has three columns:
- “A: Survival” – put things into the column that you KNOW you can do just to survive. These are your fall-back positions if “all else fails”.
- “B: Success” – put things into the column that you believe will create a desirable level of success (monetary, career-level, physical fitness, etc.). These are your “fuel for life” things — the items that allow you to be successful.
- “C: Significance” – put things into the column that you would “do for no compensation, no direct reward”. These are the things that give you energy, that fuel your passion, that you LONG to do — your heart’s desires.
Take the time to fill out six or eight items in each column, and then give yourself an hour, an afternoon at the beach or lake, a weekend in the mountains — some time away from the day-to-day issues even if it’s just five minutes, and then allow your mind to wander… To explore… To connect…
Use one item from column A, one from column B, and one from column C — and look for unexpected connections. One example: Chipotle — a restaurant chain that started here in Denver several years ago.
- A: I can always make burritos.
- B: I can sell burritos if I give people more choices, and they can “see” them being made.
- C: I can “do good” by using sustainable practices, and antibiotic-free (etc.) raw materials.
Chipotle is a pretty successful business — based upon a simple idea.
Is there something out there for you? For your business? For your non-profit? What kinds of synergies might you build by using the Creative Confluence Tool?
Play with new ideas for the column headings too: Try this one, “Business Expectations”, “Environmental Concerns”, and “Political Realities”. Now take on issues like road and bridge construction, or education reform, or social services overhaul, healthcare, etc., etc.
New ideas should come leaping forward! JUMP!-ing, if you will.
