By Tom Peterson On the front of the penny we see an image of Abraham Lincoln. Even though a coin is a small space, it’s a public space and the words and images belong to all of us. When we pass a few pennies to a cashier, we’re probably not thinking about Lincoln’s role as […]
Dismantling Confederate symbols
Let’s commit to oblivion these symbols & what they stand for By Tom Peterson Last week riding with some friends in North Carolina we passed a Confederate flag proudly flying along the highway. It was a jarring reminder that Jim Crow is alive and well. But it wasn’t surprising. After all, I do […]
Finish that last mile
“It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” —Yogi Berra By Tom Peterson If you or your group have a past littered with unfinished efforts you’re not alone. Many of us face this challenge of starting things but never getting the benefits because we didn’t make it to the finish line. All that’s left is a half-cooked […]
Nonprofit Rate = free money for your cause
Use nonprofit discounts to shift funds to your mission By Tom Peterson When you get to be my age you can buy your movie ticket for less because the theatres would rather have an oldster than an empty seat. Or maybe they’re just nice. Either way, I save money doing something […]
Tererai, the improbable story of Oprah’s “favorite guest”
How one guy’s simple goal, and one woman’s determination led to Oprah’s “all-time favorite guest” By Tom Peterson Ray White’s 30-year journalism career and passion for the cause made him a great, though unassuming, leader of public relations much of the time I was at Heifer International. While the team was small—Ray, an associate, […]
Review: Design Thinking for the Greater Good
By Tom Peterson Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector Columbia Business School Publishing, 2017. Authors Jeanne Liedtka, Randy Salzman and Daisy Azer Link to the Book. As far as I know, Design Thinking for the Greater Good is the only book that focuses on design thinking for social change. The authors, […]
10 ways to be audacious (and change the world)
Since this post was written, I’ve written more about Audacity in this book! CLICK for more on the BOOK! By Tom Peterson The meek have never changed the world. If you want to make the world better, give yourself permission to be bold, learn to be audacious. Daring and […]
Find your community (or create it)
By Tom Peterson In the words of an internet meme, “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” The converse is also true: your tribe attracts your vibe—folks like you may be “calling” you. Like magnets, people with similar passions tend to find each other. In the real world, they eat, work or meet together. Virtually […]
Pick your friends: why it matters
By Tom Peterson “The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.” — Hoffman and Casnocha Who do you hang out with? Do you nourish and stretch each other? Do you help each other get through challenges and move toward dreams? […]
Randy Salzman on Design Thinking
Randy Salzman, seen here with co-author and wife Jeanne Liedtka, is a journalist and former communications professor at the University of Virginia. Along with Liedka and Daisy Azer, he is co-author of the recently published Design Thinking for the Greater Good: Innovation in the Social Sector. Interview by Tom Peterson What is design-thinking? […]