Superpowers for Good: Empowering Changemakers for Social Impact via Regulated Investment Crowdfunding from the SuperCrowd.

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Devin: What is your superpower?

Sam: My superpower is that I'm in on the joke, and I want to say it this way. We know we make a difference in our family, and we make a difference on our block. And yes, we make a difference in our community. But I say that when we look to our state and our nation and our world, people don't see the difference they make. It's just crystal clear to me. I'm in on the joke that it's not accurate that we don't make a difference. We do. I just see it in a crystal clear way.

Sam Daley-Harris has updated his seminal work, Reclaiming Our Democracy, Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy. Originally written decades ago, it reflected the success of the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS. Since then, it has helped guide that effort.

RESULTS has earned respect for being a critical piece in lobbying on behalf of the global population of people living in or near extreme poverty. The result has been a 66 percent reduction in infant mortality, saving tens of millions of lives.

“This 66 percent decline wasn't only RESULTS, but when it comes to the advocacy, RESULTS was a central leader in the US and then Britain and Canada and Australia and elsewhere in this tremendous progress that volunteers had a real hand in,” Sam says.

Why update the book? The answer seems simple to anyone whose read a newspaper in the past decade. Sam matter-of-factly summarizes the context, saying, “Our democracy is in trouble.” He adds, “We need to really get our act together.”

Sam explains the meaning of the book’s cover image, saying, “We're saying that there's a missing piece in this puzzle, and the missing piece is us.”

To do this work on behalf of those living in poverty, Sam deploys a superpower he describes as being in on the joke that what you do to change the world doesn’t matter–because it does.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe, the host of the Superpowers for Good show, introduces his guest, Sam Daley-Harris, an influential figure in social change, the author of Reclaiming Our Democracy, and the founder of RESULTS, an anti-poverty lobby.

2. Sam shares his origin story, beginning with a background in music and two impactful deaths that occurred during his high school and college graduations, leading him to ponder his life's purpose.

3. His journey shifted when he attended a presentation on ending world hunger organized by The Hunger Project, which inspired him to get involved after realizing hunger solutions existed, but people were not acting on them.

4. Sam's advocacy work started with educating high school students about political will and engaging citizenship, subsequently creating RESULTS based on the disconnect he saw between public awareness and political action.

5. RESULTS focuses on child survival issues and has been a significant influence in reducing the global child death rate by 66% over the past 40 years through continuous lobbying and advocacy.

6. A personal story of success is recounted, where Sam received written gratitude from Jim Grant, the then-head of UNICEF, for the advocacy work RESULTS volunteers did to increase the Child Survival Fund.

7. Sam details the reasons for updating his book "Reclaiming Our Democracy" in response to the current challenges faced by democracy and the public's eagerness for ideas on making a difference.

8. The puzzle piece on the cover of his book symbolizes that the "missing piece" in democracy is the citizens themselves, awakening to their power to make a difference.

9. Sam's superpower, "being in on the joke," refers to his awareness and conviction that individuals do have power and can make a significant impact on state, national, and global issues despite common skepticism.

10. The book Reclaiming Our Democracy provides guidance on transformational advocacy, highlighting the importance of organizational enrollment and community building, skill development, and enabling individuals to experience breakthroughs in advocacy.

If you want to help reclaim our democracy, please share this post!

How to Develop Knowing We Can Change the World As a Superpower

Sam cleverly describes his superpower, knowing that we can change the world, as being in the joke. He explains, “You do make a difference. Don't believe all that stuff that you read or you think that you don't.”

Sam shared an impressive example of how volunteers organized using the principles of his book to make a big difference in the U.S. Federal budget for international aid.

In 2019, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria had saved 38 million lives since its inception in 2002 to 2019. It was up for a three-year replenishment, and President Trump called for a 29 percent cut to the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. 

Now, most people would go, “Well, what can you do? You can't fight city hall. President's calling for…” No, no, no, no! RESULTS volunteers–there were others, but results volunteers led in getting hundreds of Republicans and Democrats to sign letters to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to the leaders of the appropriating subcommittees in the House and Senate to co-sponsor resolutions, all in support of the full funding for the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

At the end of that year, 2019, two Republicans and two Democrats stood on a stage in Lyon, France, at the Global Fund replenishment and announced that the US Congress would increase the Global Fund by 16 percent and by the end of the year, the president, President Trump signed into law legislation that didn't cut it by 29 percent but increased the Global Fund by 16 percent.

That incredible achievement alone will save millions from the triple-health threat fought by The Global Fund.

By following Sam’s example–and the guidance in his book–you can learn to make your confidence in knowing we can change the world into a superpower that will allow you to do more good.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Sam Daley-Harris (he/him):

Founder and Senior Partner, Civic Courage

About Civic Courage: Civic Courage trains nonprofit organizations to create structures of support that allow their members to make a profound difference as advocates on issues they care about. 

Website: civiccourage.org and reclaimingourdemocracy.com

X/Twitter Handle: @civiccourage

Biographical Information: After a career in music, Sam Daley-Harris founded the anti-poverty lobby RESULTS in 1980, co-founded the Microcredit Summit Campaign with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and FINCA founder John Hatch, and founded Civic Courage in 2012.  The completely revised and updated edition of Sam’s book, Reclaiming Our Democracy: Every Citizen’s Guide to Transformational Advocacy, will be released on January 9, 2024.  Publisher’s Weekly BookLife has made it an “Editor’s Pick” and called it “[A] rousing guide to…enacting change in cynical times.”  Kirkus Reviews has said, “Overall, the author’s analysis of effective action is as persuasive as it is accessible, and his call to democratic participation is inspiring.”  

X/Twitter Handle: http://twitter.com/samdaleyharris

Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/sam.daleyharris/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sam-daley-harris

Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Devin: What is your superpower?

Mayo: I would say speaking and speaking with authority and power is really my superpower.

Alphonso Mayo founded Mentoring Mentors in 2014 “with one mission and one mission only, and that was to inspire young people to become the best version of themselves,” he says.

Mayo, as he is known to all, says, “Growing up in Baltimore is no easy feat, especially when you grow up in poverty.” He was raised by his paternal grandparents, noting that the household included 16 people.

Knowing only the community defined by the blocks of his neighborhood, he lacked exposure to the broader world and the opportunities beyond the narrow borders that defined his life.

He arrived in high school with a learning disability, reading on a first-grade level and struggling more with math.  

“I had big goals, and I had no idea how I was going to achieve them,” Mayo says. “I just knew I didn't want to be like the community I came from. I didn't want to be like my family. I didn't want to be like my father.”

“In high school, I realized this goal to become an NFL player wouldn't be realized unless I graduated from high school, attended a decent university, and was able to perform,” he says.

“I wound up entering this center called the Ambrose Outreach Community Center, and I was offered a job to be a tutor. Now, mind you, I couldn't read. I was pretty much failing everything,” Mayo recalls.

The opportunity to teach first and second-graders how to read allowed him to learn to read. “I wound up becoming in the top 10 percent of my class and the first person in my family to go off to college.”

“Everything that I do is informed from my upbringing,” he says, noting that in 2015, he changed the direction of Mentoring Mentors to focus on helping high school students become mentors to junior high school students. He calls the program “near-to-peer mentoring.”

The profound insight recognizes that the younger kids respond to mentors near their age better than they do to adults, while at the same time, the older students learn to flex leadership muscles they didn’t know they had. Older and younger students alike gain tremendous benefits.

The program is relatively small today, but that is by design, Mayo says: 

I think about all of the friends I've lost, all of the teammates that I played with who were far more talented than me. I just know if we want to change that, it has to be deep-rooted work. And so our work is really, really deep. It's not wide, but it's deep.

Throughout this work that now spans a decade, Mayo has been using a superpower he discovered in high school: he can use his voice to change the world. He can speak!

Mayo will speak at SuperCrowdBaltimore on March 21st at the B&O Rail Museum. Register now using the discount code SUPERCROWD to save 30 percent. 

AI Episode Summary

1. Alphonso Mayo, also known as "Mayo," is the CEO and founder of Mentoring Mentors, a nonprofit in Maryland that focuses on inspiring young people to become the best versions of themselves.

2. Mentoring Mentors initially served high school athletes but later shifted to a near-to-peer mentorship model where young people are trained to mentor even younger individuals.

3. The organization's current mission is to develop the next generation of community leaders with a focus on exposure, personal/social/emotional development, and leadership development.

4. Mayo's own challenging upbringing in Baltimore, characterized by poverty, a lack of exposure, and familial struggles, deeply influences the work he does with youth today.

5. After overcoming his own obstacles, including learning to read while mentoring first and second-graders, Mayo became the first in his family to attend college, showing the power of mentorship and perseverance.

6. Mayo believes in creating a family-like atmosphere for young people, offering consistent and lifetime mentorship to help them navigate life's challenges and inspire them to achieve more.

7. As a former athlete, Mayo discovered his speaking abilities unexpectedly during a football game, realizing he could influence and inspire his teammates effectively.

8. Mayo advises that to use our voices effectively and reach our potential, we should write our plans down, not be afraid to fail, eliminate distractions, and be okay with incremental improvements (the 1 percent rule).

9. To support Mentoring Mentors, Mayo invites viewers to visit the website at www.mentoring-mentors.org to donate and become monthly supporters.

10. Mayo can be reached on social media platforms by typing in his name. His personal Instagram handle is @20mayo_mayo, and he invites people to directly email him at [email protected] for strategic support and collaboration.

If you think others could be inspired by Mayo’s work, please share.

How to Develop Speaking As a Superpower

Mayo shared the story of how he discovered his superpower:

It was 2005 when I identified my superpower. Because I've always been an athlete, I've always been very outspoken. But I was a quiet leader. I just let my play speak for itself. 

There was one particular game in Baltimore we were playing a powerhouse school, Dunbar Poets. Man, they've been winning championships since I can remember; my school wasn't the best. I intentionally went to Northwestern to improve the culture of athleticism because that's what I was taught from my coach. 

Man, they were beating on us so bad. I had never spoken. I wasn't considered a team captain or anything. Then, at halftime, our coach came down and he pretty much just threw in the towel and just talked about how bad we were performing and how we didn't deserve it.

Parents were concerned about their athletes’ health because we were getting hit pretty brutal. I just took my helmet off, and I just spoke up. I'll never forget I said something along the lines of, “Somebody call my grandmother.” They didn't know what I was talking about. I told them that because I would much rather die.

Showing them that I'm going to do everything in my power for them to not score again; I refused to quit. Any person out there that wanted to be a part of that, “Stand with me!” 

I was crying and things like that. But I think the fact that I said something like that inspired my teammates. Dunbar didn't score another point. We lost the game. But that was at that moment that I realized that my voice had power. So I would say speaking and speaking with authority and power is really my superpower.

The story illustrates how the spoken word influences action and changes outcomes. It has power.

Mayo offers some tips for developing your speaking.

“When I walk into every classroom, the first thing I tell them is, you're a leader. You just don't know it yet. You just haven't discovered discovered it yet. I'm here to help you do that,” he says.

When you want something, make it a goal. “ when you hear something that's in your heart that you want to do, you write it down.”

“You don't have to know it all in order to achieve it all,” he says. “I think sometimes we psych ourselves out of our promise.” Just take it one step at a time.

He suggests striving to follow the “1 percent rule,” getting 1 percent better every day, allowing you to make 365 percent improvement in a year.

Finally, he suggests learning from people on parallel paths rather than resenting them. He says:

I champion them, you know, and then even more importantly, I try to connect with them because every good coach has a coach, every good mentor has a mentor, every great pastor has a pastor, every great therapist has a therapist, every great doctor sees a doctor. So, who are we not to do the same?

By following his example and advice, you can make speaking with power and authority a skill you can use. With practice, it can become a superpower that enables …

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Michael: I believe that I have a lot of empathy towards people, and I think that's a good way of just getting to know people and being able to understand what people are going through.

Michael VanZetta is the CEO of PiZetta Media. He hosts a show on YouTube that, like Superpowers for Good, hosts changemakers and people driving social impact. In addition, he focuses on mental health, often targeting people in the military community and first responders. He’s found empathy to be an essential part of his work. He recently hosted me on his show, too.

In 2023, we both had General Gregg Martin on our shows (Michael’s episode, Devin’s episode). Michael’s interview felt personal and relevant in a unique way. “I don’t talk to a lot of people that also have bipolar disorder,” Michael says of their shared diagnosis. “So just hearing his story and in my head, I'm like, ‘That was me.’”

“I know it will help others,” Michael says of the episode.

As a veteran of television, Michael was able to reconnect with and host famous TV host Montel Williams, who he notes “does a lot for the military.”

Despite his connections to fame and influence, Michael says, “The best people I feel like I talk to are the people on these smaller nonprofits just trying to spread their message and how much they want this to succeed.”

Michael has produced over 250 episodes of his show since he launched a year ago. He likes to attend conferences and conducts interviews there. “It makes me feel good that I am helping people.”

Michael’s wife and father-in-law are veterans, inspiring some of the focus on the military community. “What I've noticed when people talk to me, they talk about how the transition to civilian life is challenging. I love telling those stories because there are a lot of people who feel alone once they leave the military. Having these stories and having people talk about this, I think, helps a lot.”

Michael identifies empathy as a superpower that enables him to be effective in both life and work.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe, the host of the "Superpowers for Good" show, introduces his guest, Michael VanZetta of PiZetta Media, who has a background in TV broadcasting and focuses on people and their stories, particularly in relation to social impact and mental health.

2. Michael shares that after working in local TV and seeing the focus on negative events rather than people, he started his own platform to tell stories of non-profits and individuals, especially those on mental health journeys, as he personally lives with bipolar disorder.

3. They discuss the importance of focusing on people rather than events in news stories, as personal stories can provide ongoing interest and emotional impact compared to transient news events.

4. Both hosts have had General Gregg Martin on their shows, a person with a bipolar disorder diagnosis who has transitioned from a military career to helping others, demonstrating how personal challenges can resonate and connect with others going through similar experiences.

5. Michael mentions interviewing various guests, including famous personalities like Montel Williams and individuals from smaller non-profits, emphasizing that talking to people involved in meaningful causes is what he enjoys most.

6. Michael has been running his show for about a year, with over 250 episodes produced, and he highlights his focus on military and veteran stories, expressing empathy for the challenges they face transitioning to civilian life.

7. Asked about his superpower, Michael identifies with having a lot of empathy, which he feels is key to understanding and listening to others, both in his professional work and personal life.

8. Michael advocates for building trust as a means to foster empathy, emphasizing that by trusting in people's inherent goodness, one can be more open to listen to and understand others.

9. To connect with Michael and his show, he directs viewers to his YouTube channel at PiZetta Media, with over 43,000 subscribers, to his LinkedIn profile (Michael Vanzetta and PiZetta Media), Facebook at PiZetta Media, and his website at PizettaMedia.com, even offering his phone number for direct contact.

10. Devin concludes by commending Michael's work on mental health and social impact, wishing him continued success in his endeavors to make a positive difference in the world.

If you feel that discussions of mental health and social impact are important, please share.

How to Develop Empathy As a Superpower

Michael shared a powerful example of using empathy early in his career in a way that helped him hone his ability to connect with people:

I remember when I was 19, 20, I was working at a Walmart and just talking to older people and just being a good listener and understanding what they were going through meant a lot to them. So that's a big thing. You don't have to fix anything. Just listen and understand what people are going through.

His suggestion that empathy is about listening more than fixing is helpful.

He adds a surprising insight to thinking about empathy:

You’ve got to trust other people are good because if you think someone's just trying to pull one over you, you're not going to listen. You have to trust and learn about another person. 

With all my interviews, I do heavy research so I'm prepared and I know as much as I can. You could do that in daily life. Just talk to someone, ask them about their lives. Then you could trust them a little bit more. They're good people. They just want to be listened to or helped. 

People can do that if they just let their guard down just a little bit.

This is a potent insight about empathy. The act of listening alone isn’t empathy–even though it is an essential part. Trusting in the inherent value and goodness of the person you are connecting with enables your heart and mind to engage in empathy and compassion.

If you follow Michael’s example and advice, you can strengthen your ability to empathize with others. With practice, you can make it a superpower that enables you to change the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Michael VanZetta (he/him):

CEO, PiZetta Media 

About PiZetta Media: PiZetta Media is a beacon of compassionate storytelling, founded by CEO Michael VanZetta and his wife, Jennifer. This media platform distinguishes itself by shifting the spotlight from events to people, presenting authentic video narratives that explore the lives of individuals on the frontlines, nonprofit organizations, and those navigating mental health journeys. Michael's journey with Bipolar Disorder 2 adds a deeply empathetic touch to PiZetta Media's mission, aiming to bridge the gap of understanding and offer solace to those facing similar challenges. With over two decades of broadcasting experience, Michael's vision, coupled with Jennifer's creative contributions, has propelled PiZetta Media to become a powerful force for destigmatizing mental health, fostering connections, and bringing hope to a diverse audience of 40,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel. PiZetta Media stands at the intersection of empathy and media through compelling storytelling and a commitment to community impact, illustrating the transformative power of sharing authentic human experiences.

Website: pizettamedia.com

Company Facebook Page: fb.com/PiZettaonfb

Other URL: youtube.com/@pizettamedia

Biographical Information: Michael VanZetta, a seasoned and accomplished media professional, serves as the visionary CEO of PiZetta Media, a platform dedicated to authentic storytelling with a profound social impact. With a rich background spanning over 20 years in bro…

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Forgive the extra post today, but we’re sharing a two-hour television special I’m hosting now called “How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding.” This is your video guide to profitable investing in support of diverse founders, social entrepreneurs and community builders.

AI Summary

1. The host, Devin Thorpe, introduces his show "Superpowers for Good," where he provides education on making money with impact crowdfunding, investing for positive change, and matching market returns.

2. Devin emphasizes the importance of making money while having an impact, explaining that financial returns allow for continued investment and greater impact over time.

3. He provides an overview of the stock and bond markets, mentioning the average returns (10% for stocks and 6% for bonds) and the risks involved, including significant losses during downturns.

4. Devin delves into the concept of impact investing and how it can address issues such as climate change, global health, and poverty through investments in companies working in those areas.

5. The episode covers the regulated nature of impact crowdfunding, which is overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and the growth of this form of investing.

6. Thorpe mentions the Impact Cherub Club, a group he is involved with that focuses on investment crowdfunding for social good, encouraging listeners to join and invest collaboratively.

7. Six common investment types in impact crowdfunding are discussed: term loans, revenue-based financing, convertible notes, simple agreements for future equity (SAFEs), preferred stock, and common stock.

8. Three specific investment strategies are outlined: yield (focusing on interest and dividends), venture capital (seeking appreciation of investment), and hybrid (a mix of yield and venture capital approaches).

9. The importance of due diligence is highlighted as the critical difference maker in investment outcomes, with Devin providing five keys: understanding risks, assessing impact, evaluating the management team, considering deal terms, and looking at business prospects.

10. Finally, Devin explains how individuals can start small by investing as little as $10 in impact crowdfunding deals, specifically mentioning the platform "SMBX" as a place where small initial investments are possible.

Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Cameron: The resonance through my story is that I build things that matter.

“Our perspective at LendForGood is that all-of-us is the largest untapped impact investment fund in the world,” says Co-Founder and Director Cameron Neil.

LendForGood is a global crowdlending platform based in Australia. Cameron explains the relatively simple model:

What we're using here are pretty simple standard agreements where, as a borrower and impact enterprise founder, you kind of know what your cash flows, repayments and timelines look like at the outset. 

And as a lender, you know that as well. There's some certainty and some clarity coming into it that says, “I'm going to back you, and in return for me backing you, you're going to repay me on these terms at these times.”

By using straightforward debt agreements, the deal structures are relatively simple, making it easier for ordinary folks to understand as investors.

Simple debt models are also open to a host of entities, including nonprofits and cooperatives that may issue debt but can’t sell equity. 

“We think it's a hopeful and courageous act to, as individuals, invest in the future, invest in a better world in a very tangible way by backing these enterprises,” Cameron says.

Throughout his career, Cameron has been honing an ability that has become a superpower: building things that matter.

AI Episode Summary

1. Cameron Neil is the CEO and founder of LendForGood, an Australian crowdfunding portal that specializes in debt deals for mission-driven companies.

2. LendForGood is designed to democratize impact investment, making it accessible to ordinary people, not just high-net-worth individuals or sophisticated investors.

3. The platform provides a way for individuals and organizations to collaborate and support impact enterprise founders who are creating positive change in their communities but struggle to access capital from mainstream markets.

4. LendForGood utilizes debt as a simple and flexible financial tool, providing a more inclusive option for funding impact businesses, including those that may not be structured to offer equity.

5. Debt deals offer clarity and certainty with defined repayment terms, appealing to both borrowers and lenders and providing an alternative to equity investment.

6. Cameron highlights the importance of community involvement in crowdfunding and the potential to build local community wealth by allowing individuals to invest in local initiatives they care about.

7. Crowdfunding platforms like LendForGood enable people to make investment decisions based on personal values and connection to causes, considering the emotional and impact-oriented aspects of investing.

8. Cameron identifies his superpower as being a builder and creator, having a track record of constructing intangible organizations and systems that mobilize people toward social change.

9. He recounts his work in building the Fair Trade movement in Australia and New Zealand and how it shifted mindsets about what business can achieve, influencing consumer expectations, business practices, and even legislation.

10. To those looking to initiate change or build something new, Cameron advises building a support network of individuals with diverse skill sets and adopting a lean startup methodology—starting small, learning quickly, and gaining momentum.

To learn more about LendForGood or connect with Cameron, individuals can visit LendForGood.com, which accepts global participants or connect with Cameron on LinkedIn.

How to Develop Building Things That Matter As a Superpower

Cameron describes how he builds things that matter:

I've got this ability to see or understand things that need to be. And then can do the nitty gritty, dirty, getting your hands dirty stuff of actually making that work, and all those things are required with that in terms of collaboration and partnerships and relationship building and articulating a vision and strategy and all those kinds of things that go with building. 

That's how I think about myself, and how I think about my superpower is I've got this ability to build with others in collaboration, in partnership and to drive getting something from 0 to 1.

He shared the story of his success in building the Fair Trade Association of Australia/New Zealand. As the first employee–starting at half-time–he built an organization with over ten employees and a $1 million annual budget. More importantly, he helped build a movement that has global impact on both people and the planet. 

Today, consumers expect manufacturers to bake fair trade into the goods they purchase. Legislation around the world prohibits child labor and modern slavery.

Collaboration was critical to his success, working with diverse individuals and communities to build a movement and change mindsets.

Similarly, he offers some tips for building things that matter. 

* The first is to build a team that includes people with different skills than you have. 

* Second, you’ve got to test your hypotheses quickly to see what works and what doesn’t.

By following Cameron’s example and advice, you can improve your ability to build things that matter. With practice, you can make this skill a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Cameron Neil  (he/him):

Co-founder and director, LendForGood 

About LendForGood: LendForGood is democratizing impact investment through its decentralized crowd lending platform.  We are connecting courageous impact enterprise borrowers, impact intermediaries, and a global movement of individuals and organizations who lend their capital to unlock impact potential and growth to create a world we all want to be part of. 

Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/lendforgood/ 

Website: www.lendforgood.com.au

Biographical Information: Working at the intersection of finance, business, technology, and startups, I'm passionate about transformation and evolution of human systems beyond our failed (and failing) 20th-century models.  My interests currently lie in fuelling the growth of the impact economy in Australia, the Asia-Pacific, and around the world. Catalytic capital, frontier finance, collaboration and cooperation, Zebras. A better way is possible and necessary. Living and working in Naarm, the unceded land of the Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin nation. 

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cameronneil

Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Devin: What do you see as your superpower?

Richard: We are trained–this is what I have used–what is called inductive reasoning. In inductive reasoning, what happens is you're given a solution, and you say, “Now, what problem can I solve with this?” That's upside-down thinking to a lot of people. But it's what we've been able to do–what I've done with everything, every new technology that's landed on my desk. I pick it up and go, “Wow! I don't know what the heck to do with this, but I'm going to try to find something.”

Archimage founder and President Richard Buday built an architectural firm that used the skills and technologies of architecture to create visually appealing and educational video games.

He explains how this happened:

I've often had this discussion with other architects who say, “Richard, looks like you're having a lot of fun, but it's not architecture.”

In fact, it is architecture. My firm began in 1983 under another name. We were early adopters of computers at that time. It was computer-aided design or computer-aided drafting, and we were just coattailing onto what was called the computers and architecture revolution at the time.

As we were early adopters, we were getting the attention of new software companies, one of which was Autodesk. We knew the original founders of that company, and we became early alpha and beta test sites for a lot of their products, including their animation software. 

One thing led to another and 20 years into our almost 40-year history, we were doing video games. That's the short story, but it's still architecture.

Here’s a promo video for one of the games Archimage created.

In Richard’s work, he honed his ability to use inductive reasoning, making it a superpower.

AI Episode Summary

1. Richard Buday is the founder and president of Archimage, an architectural firm that has ventured into video gaming.

2. Richard's firm was an early adopter of computers in architecture, which caught the attention of companies like Autodesk. This led to their involvement in animation software and, subsequently, video gaming.

3. Archimage developed "serious video games" with Baylor College of Medicine to promote healthy behaviors, including a game designed to assist single-parent moms with children's eating and exercise habits.

4. Richard reflects on architecture's role in society and advocates for incorporating narrative transportation theory into building design, making architecture more meaningful and communicative.

5. Discussing the dangers of aging condo buildings, specifically high-rises, Richard points to the collapse of a tower in Florida as a symptom of homeowner association boards failing to address necessary repairs and maintenance due to psychological and social dynamics.

6. Richard writes about various topics, including the challenges of maintaining aging condominiums and their reliance on homeowner boards for critical decision-making and funding.

7. He sees his superpower as the ability to apply inductive reasoning: taking a solution and finding problems it can solve. This has allowed him to explore new directions in technology and architecture.

8. Richard advises others to learn inductive reasoning skills and understand narrative transportation theory, which can powerfully influence behaviors for good or ill.

9. To read Richard's writings on architecture and his views on persuasive design, he directs readers to Common Edge.org, where most of his articles are published.

10. Richard Buday can be reached for further discussion and inquiries about his work through his email at [email protected] and his website archimage.com. He is open to engaging with interested individuals on relevant topics.

How to Develop Inductive Reasoning As a Superpower

Richard shared a story to illustrate how he used inductive reasoning to full effect during his remarkable career:

We were working on Buena Vista's work for Walt Disney. Of course, Disney has its own animators. But we were brought in because we had an architect's eye that we could apply to the animation that was needed for those kinds of projects.

But our whole path from standard architectural planning and designing, working with buildings and interiors to virtual environments–cities, societies living inside of a computer–came about because we were trying to find ways to apply our new technology to new kinds of projects. 

After a while, we started thinking along those lines. We had a tagline for the firm for many years called “Designing what's next.”

By following Richard’s example, you can make inductive reasoning a skill that enhances your work. With practice, you could hone it into a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Richard Buday (he/him):

President, Archimage

About Archimage: Archimage clients include Baylor College of Medicine, Compaq Computer Corporation, IBM, Knowledge Adventure, Nintendo, Northwestern University, the National Cancer Institute, the Texas State Education Agency, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The Walt Disney Company, Time Warner Communications, and Ziff-Davis Communications.

Website:

https://www.Archimage.com

Other URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimage

Biographical Information: Richard Buday, FAIA, is an architect, writer, educator, and member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. He co-founded Buday Wells Architects in 1983, which became Archimage in 1990. The digital arts studio won more than 40 design awards during its 33-year run, from buildings and interiors to short films, broadcast television commercials, illustration and graphics, websites, and interactive media. Today, Richard is applying lessons learned in researching and developing health video games to architecture theory.Richard was an early pioneer in computers in architecture, teaching digital graphics at the University of Houston College of Architecture for more than ten years and publishing on new media in design. He co-authored the American Institute of Architects CAD Layer Guidelines, which is now part of the US National CAD Standards. Richard began research on the use of entertainment technology for teaching, training and improving health behaviors in the 1990s, serving as a collaborator and as Principal Investigator of numerous National Institutes of Health grants. He has shared his research through more than 90 articles in magazines, refereed scientific journals, and edited books, leading to invited lectures at over 100 national and international conferences and symposia. He also co-authored a novella for middle-school-age children, novels for parents of young children, and an ethics course for health profession students written in the form of a choose-your-own-adventure story. He continues publishing articles on architecture and behavior.Articles about Richard, Buday Wells Architects, and Archimage have appeared in U.S. News & World Report, The Financial Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, ID Magazine, Architecture, Progressive Architecture, Architectural Record and broadcasts on CBS, ABC, Pacifica, and National Public Radio. Archimage clients include Baylor College of Medicine, Compaq Computer Corporation, IBM, Knowledge Adventure, Nintendo, Northwestern University, the National Cancer Institute, the Texas State Education Agency, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The Walt Disney Company, Time Warner Communications, and Ziff-Davis Communications.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-buday-faia-54b2342/

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Devin: What is your superpower?

Aunnie: I don't mind going out and saying things and being a little bit crazy and radical because I think it's needed.

Oxford professor and author Aunnie Patton Power joined me for a conversation about her domain of expertise: impact investing. In her book Adventure Finance, she writes to both investors and founders, helping them see how they interrelate.

She has a crucial message for entrepreneurs, “There are funding options that do not require you to sell your soul, or to promise exponential growth, or to try and be something that you're not.”

“You can be a community-owned organization and find funding,” she says. “You can be a small-scale–and continuing to be a small-scale organization. You can be very committed to your social purpose and not be willing to compromise that. It's about finding the right type of funding for you.”

She notes that the trick is figuring out the right type of funding for your social enterprise.

For investors, she says that good due diligence combined with portfolio construction can provide better than venture capital returns from investing in slow-growing, high-impact social enterprises.

First, she notes that “most venture funds lose money.” It shouldn’t be hard to beat that level of performance! (Of course, many VC funds do.)

With careful diligence, investors can find social enterprises that can double or triple their money over reasonable periods, often using revenue-based financing rather than venture-style forms of equity. Building a portfolio of companies likely to repay debt can yield impressive results.

Venture capitalists often invest with a gambler’s eye for risk, hoping one or two investments in a portfolio skyrocket to the moon. This risky approach sometimes leaves portfolios with more holes than one winner can file. More careful analysis, paired with setting aside moonshot investments, allows investors to build portfolios of high-impact companies.

Aunnie's superpower could be described as audacity, but she uses the term “crazy” to describe her willingness to confront conventional wisdom and chart a new path.

AI Episode Summary

* The podcast features Aunnie Patton Power, an author, Oxford professor, and expert on impact investing.

* Aunnie's book, Adventure Finance, focuses on creating funding journeys that blend profit and purpose, exploring alternative funding options beyond traditional avenues.

* The book addresses founders and funders interested in mission-driven funding and offers various options for them.

* Aunnie highlights the importance of understanding oneself and the organization when embarking on a funding journey.

* One key message from the book is that there are funding options beyond traditional routes, allowing organizations to align with their values and mission without compromising.

* The conversation shifts to impact investing and the need for investors to create toolkits, including various funding options tailored to specific challenges like supporting female entrepreneurs.

* Aunnie emphasizes the importance of impact-linked incentives in funds, urging investors to design strategies that align with their mission and goals.

* The discussion delves into due diligence and portfolio construction, stressing the need for thoughtful scrutiny and diversification to achieve better-than-venture returns with lower risk.

* Aunnie shares insights into her superpowers, including her ability to convene and facilitate discussions, as well as her fearlessness in pursuing innovative and radical ideas in the field of impact investing.

* Aunnie discusses a recent accomplishment, challenging the impact investing industry to adopt impact-linked compensation, and shares ongoing research on the subject, aiming to change the conversation and make impact-linked compensation more prevalent in the field.

How to Develop Audacity As a Superpower

Aunnie’s audacity–forgive me for using my description over hers–is powerful. She shared a story to illustrate how she uses it:

About a year ago, I was at the GIIN conference, the Global Impact Investing Network conference, and made, I would say, what I kind of thought was a bit of a controversial statement on the stage. I said that I didn't think that impact funds should be able to call themselves impact funds if they didn't have some sort of impact-linked incentives in there as a fund. 

It sparked some controversy. There were some great discussions on some of the different platforms and things like that. I got a lot of people saying, “Well then, how do we do it? How do we do impact linked carry? How do we do impact linked bonuses?” 

So, for the past ten months, I've done a piece of research work with a research team. We've done a survey of 200 GPs and LPs, and we're about to release the report. That is quite a substantial report on the considerations you need to consider and the framework to do impact-linked compensation.

We had over 100 funds that do impact-linked compensation that we were able to engage with, which is more, I think, than anyone in the industry knew was possible. So, even though it's more mainstream than most of my work because it's dealing with traditional funds, I'm quite proud of the fact that now we have this data and this guide to impact-linked compensation.

That guide to impact-linked compensation is excellent evidence of both Aunnie’s audacity and her ability to back it up.

Aunnie offered some tips for being more audacious:

* Take courage!

* Remember, you can shape the world.

* Lean into what you think is right.

* Start with small steps.

* Push yourself to be more radical and push boundaries and perspectives.

* Recognize what needs to be done and take responsibility for doing it.

By following Aunnie’s example and advice, you can make audacity an arrow in your quiver. With practice, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Aunnie Patton Power (she/her):

I like to say that I am an Academic, Author, Advisor and Angel Investor. The ImPact and Oxford.

Biographical Information: I specialize in creating innovative financial structures and strategies to create positive social and environmental impact. I teach innovative finance at the University of Oxford and the London School of Economics. I write and research on innovative finance. My first book, Adventure Finance, was published in 2021, and I'm currently writing my second. I also advise family offices, foundations and other funders globally around innovative financing. Finally, I invest in female founders. 

Website: www.adventure.finance

X/Twitter Handle: @Aunnie

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/aunniepatton

Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I’m not a financial advisor; nothing I write in Superpowers for Good should be considered investment advice. You should seek appropriate counsel before making investment decisions.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Devin: What do you see now as your superpower?

John: When you're working with experienced people, you know what it's like to be in the trenches trying to keep a business running and raise capital. You have this attitude of “we will find a way” that powers my superpower if I have one.

Folla Capital CEO John Panaccione speaks in a matter-of-fact manner that makes his unusual wisdom and insight seem banal. It’s not. Trust me. He gets things others miss; you’ll want to tune in to understand what he’s sharing.

“We're an investment banking firm,” John says as he begins introducing his firm. “We help small businesses and entrepreneurs think through capital strategies; if and when they need to raise capital, we help them do that. We focus on minorities, women and veterans.” 

John served as an Army paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division in the first Gulf War. “Because of my background, we've served a lot of veterans,” he says.  “But we're not exclusive to those three groups.”

Folla Capital helps small businesses raise capital at a meaningful scale, typically over $1 million. FINRA and the SEC authorize the firm to conduct offerings under six different exemptions from registration, including Regulation Crowdfunding and Regulation A+, offerings open to everyone. The firm often helps clients raise under Regulation D 506(c), offering offerings open only to accredited investors. 

Looking at the investing landscape, John sees advantages for issuers using debt rather than equity.

“We're a big believer in debt offerings for small businesses,” John says. “One of the biggest advantages of a debt offering is the investor doesn't have to wait till the company sold to get their money back.”

John teased the audience with an upcoming $10 million debt round for a small business in Virginia that is building a manufacturing facility.

Folla Capital is currently supporting veteran Marines with a raise for Rally Point Grill. The eight-year-old restaurant business is working to create a successful franchise model to facilitate expansion. The restaurants feature genuine artifacts from past service, much like a museum, to honor veterans in the local community around the restaurant. The $1.2 million revenue-sharing offering is open to accredited investors.

John uses his superpower, a combination of experience and a can-do attitude, to grow his business and help clients.

AI Episode Summary

1. Devin Thorpe hosts the Superpowers for Good Show and introduces John Panaccione, CEO and founder of Folla Capital, emphasizing John's dedication to supporting the veteran community.

2. John's firm, Folla Capital, is an SEC-registered broker-dealer investment banking firm that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs develop capital strategies and facilitates capital raising, particularly focusing on minorities, women, and veterans.

3. John expresses his dislike for the term "crowdfunding," preferring to describe the capital raising process as using internet technology to leverage various SEC exemptions to fund businesses.

4. Folla Capital has successfully completed several capital raises using different SEC regulations, including Regulation D for accredited investors and Regulation CF (crowdfunding) for general public investment.

5. John highlights an innovative debt offering through Folla Capital that enables Rally Point Grill, owned by prior-service Marines, to raise capital as if they are the bank for their franchises, allowing both investors and franchisees to benefit from the capital raised.

6. Devin discusses the importance of investment crowdfunding in filling funding gaps that banks can't, highlighting the diversity of crowdfunding's role in different stages of companies' growth.

7. John believes in the value of debt offerings as opposed to equity for small businesses, as it allows investors to potentially see returns without waiting for a company sale.

8. An example of a complex convertible bond offering is mentioned, starting at $10 million for funding a manufacturing facility in western Virginia, with an intention to roll into a $40 million Regulation A offering down the line.

9. John credits his military background with the paratroopers as a source of his 'superpower,' which he sees as the never-quit attitude and a strong focus on teamwork honed by his experiences that lead towards finding solutions during tough times.

10. John emphasizes the significance of building a strong team of advisors and mentors, especially in entrepreneurship, to foster resilience and suggests that those new to business should not go it alone and instead learn from experienced individuals.

How to Develop Experience and a Can-Do Attitude As a Superpower

John didn’t come by his superpower–the combination of experience and a can-do attitude–as a genetic trait. He earned it through two framing experiences.

“I've been a small business owner and startup entrepreneur,” John says. “I've raised capital the old-fashioned way, and everything that could go wrong did go wrong over 17 years that I ran my startup and I sold it. I like to say I had to have the smile surgically removed from my face the day after I sold it.”

That experience provides one-half of his superpower. The other comes from his military service.

I was privileged to serve in the Army. I was privileged to serve the country. My specialty was I jumped out of airplanes. I was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, and that occurred in my 20s. I was a young man then, my early 20s into my mid to late 20s is when I served there. 

I was around great leaders, and I learned a lot from great leaders. The top leaders in the Army lead that division because it's the first one to go to war. 

The culture there was unbelievable. A paratrooper typically–never–has enough resources and is always surrounded. But the culture is you're never going to lose; like there's always a way to win.

So, the can-do attitude he learned in the Army pairs with his business experience to give him a superpower to support entrepreneurs.

He shared a defining experience from his days as an entrepreneur:

I had three banks that provided debt to my first company, a total of about a little over 1.4 million–three different loans. Then, one day, I got three letters from three banks at the same time calling their notes back. I had 30 days to find that money. 

I remember popping up, thinking about it long and hard. One of the things the military does is it teaches you how to make decisions under pressure. So, I figured out a way out of that–I won't bore you with the details, but I worked a deal with the bankers and my investors to get us through that. 

And we got through that. That's usually lights out for a company when that happens. But I figured out a third way.

The story is powerful evidence of his superpower!

John offers two bits of advice for developing a superpower like his.

The first is resilience. “To become resilient, you have to expose yourself to danger and failure. And a lot of us don't want to do that. We have a culture where failure is bad,” he says. The reality is our challenges are our most valuable experience.

Second, he says, is to remember that business is a team sport. “So, if you're new at it, I'd say quickly develop a team of advisors and mentors around you that have been down the trail before.”

By following John’s example and advice, you can strengthen your ability to leverage your experience and develop a can-do attitude. With practice, this could become a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpow…

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

When you purchase an item after clicking a link here, we may earn a commission. It’s an easy way to support our work.

Devin: What is your superpower?

Trista: My superpower is helping other people predict and shape the future.

Trista Harris is the author of FutureGood and founder and president of a consulting firm by the same name that helps “visionary leaders build a more beautiful and equitable future” using strategic planning and visioning tools.

The future is scary to anyone who has seen one of the Terminator movies or who has read about a self-driving car killing someone. There is some valid foundation for that fear, Trista notes.

She shared a recent experience of a large robot hugging her; factory managers can train it to replace humans performing various repetitive tasks. The owners who replace humans with more cost-efficient (profitable) robots will naturally benefit. How do workers benefit?

Trista suggests taxing robots and distributing the funds as a universal basic income (UBI), celebrating the fact that humans could be relieved of work that we don’t enjoy. She sees a future where we work fewer hours and still earn as much.

“We're doing a lot of work at FutureGood to think about what a more beautiful and equitable future looks like where we can use these tools but not get the sort of dystopian science fiction version of the future that I think many of your viewers are probably a little worried about,” Trista says.

There are good uses for AI as well. It can also enhance the work of nonprofits, helping them become more efficient at delivering impact and raising more money. 

Over the years, Trista has polished her superpower, helping others predict and shape the future. It enables her to help organizations do more good.

AI Episode Summary

* In this episode, Devin Thorpe interviews Trista Harris, the President of FutureGood, about the future of good and philanthropy.

* Trista shares her experience of attending a futurist conference where she saw a robot designed to replace humans on a production line.

* She believes that robotics and artificial intelligence can free humans from repetitive work and allow them to focus on more meaningful tasks.

* Trista mentions the challenges of ensuring a more equitable future and emphasizes the need to tax these tools appropriately and redistribute the wealth generated.

* Devin discusses the impact of technology on his own life and how it is changing at an unprecedented rate.

* Trista highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in the social sector, particularly in fundraising and customization of donor communications.

* She cautions against organizations using these tools to replace human workers entirely and advocates for a reduction in work hours with fair compensation through universal basic income.

* Trista shares her experience of interviewing Richard Branson, who she admires for his philanthropic work, and how it inspired her to write her book, "FutureGood."

* Trista Harris talks about her consultancy, FutureGood, which helps visionary leaders build a more equitable future through strategic planning, visioning work, and teaching futurism skills.

* Trista’s superpower is helping people predict and shape the future. She shares a success story of a politician who was able to transform her community through her leadership, facilitated by FutureGood retreats and training programs.

How to Develop Helping Others Predict and Shape the Future As a Superpower

Trista hosts mastermind retreats for her clients in the social sector who want to increase their impact. At her first event, one of the participants expressed interest in running for office. Another had recently run; she shared the challenges and difficulties in an hours-long conversation. 

In the wee hours of the morning, as the group adjourned, she admitted, however, that many opportunities had come from her campaign. She recommended running.

“Soon after the retreat, this woman decided to run. We fundraised for her, and we had a group chat of encouragement. One of the mastermind members became our finance chair for her campaign,” Trista says. “She was elected, the youngest and the only Filipino American woman that had ever been on the county board for Hennepin County, the largest county in Minnesota.”

Trista has some tips for developing the ability to predict and shape the future:

* Set aside 5 percent of your time for working on the future

* Set and follow Google alerts using the keyword “future” along with your domain’s keywords

* Connect with others over Slack or similar communities to discuss the ideas

By following Trista’s advice, you can develop skills that will help you predict and shape the future–and help others do the same. With practice, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

Trista Harris (she/her):

Philanthropic Futurist and President, FutureGood

About FutureGood: FutureGood is a consultancy that helps visionary leaders build a better future through strategic visioning, retreats, cohorts, and online learning programs.

Website: www.WeAreFutureGood.com

Twitter Handle: @WeAreFutureGood

Company Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreFutureGood

Biographical Information: Trista Harris is a philanthropic futurist and is nationally known as a passionate advocate for leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. Trista’s work has been covered by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Forbes, CNN, the New York Times, and numerous social sector blogs. She is also the co-author of the book “How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar” and the author of “FutureGood.” She is the President of FutureGood, a consultancy focused on helping visionaries build a better future. 

She has spent her whole career dedicated to the social sector, starting with a job as a summer parks assistant at the age of 15. Before starting FutureGood, Trista was President of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, a vibrant community of grantmakers who award more than $1.5 billion annually. Prior to joining MCF in 2013, she was executive director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice in Minneapolis, and she previously served as a program officer at the St. Paul Foundation.

Trista has been certified in strategic foresight by Oxford University, earned her Master of Public Policy degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, and her Bachelor of Arts from Howard University. She is a board member for Tides, one of the largest social justice funders in the world that provides fiscal sponsorship, donor-advised funds, impact investing, and a variety of grantmaking solutions to advance social justice and equity. Trista served on the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee and the Governor’s Council on Law Enforcement and Community Relations, which was convened after the shooting of Philando Castile. She is a passionate national advocate for the social sector, using the tools of futurism to solve our communities’ most pressing challenges.

Twitter Handle: @TristaHarris

Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/Tristaharris

Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/futuregoodstudio

Instagram Handle: @weare_futuregood

Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Remember, you can watch the Superpowers for Good show on e360tv. To watch the episode, download the #e360tv channel app to your streaming device–Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV–or your mobile device. You can even watch it on the web.

Devin: What is your superpower?

DG: I sat with that because that is the name of your program. I asked friends and acquaintances, “How would you define that for me?” I think where people landed is the power of helping them remember who they are, who they want to be, who they can be, and that they can be who they want to be and who they are.

DG Mawn is the president of the National Association for Community Mediation, an association of organizations and individuals founded nearly 30 years ago that is engaged in community-oriented peacemaking inspired by the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

With the Civil Rights Act’s 60th anniversary arriving next year, along with the organization’s 30th anniversary, members are planning 30/60 celebrations.

Earlier this year, the Alliance for Peacebuilding named him the Peacemaker of the Year.

Pundits sometimes describe America’s political divides as the worst since the Civil War. Noting, “Our country has always had significant tensions,” DG is not so dire in his analysis.

He says there are nine different cultures within the US, including First Nations. “Those cultures have different ways of living out who they are,” he says.

Observing that the country has been through some difficult times, DG says, “If we can get through some of those events that our country has gone through since its establishment, we can get through this as well.”

“Part of the way to get through that is recognizing our shared values, regardless of the political spectrum,” he says. Everyone wants to be heard. “That is a shared value.” Everyone wants their children to be safe. People “want to be in a place where they feel connected.” We have genuine shared values.

DG suggests that we need to “unpack the what we call the coats we wear,” referring to our partisan political and other labels we use for ourselves–and others.

In addition to remembering shared values, he notes that we need to understand that someone who works for political or other causes you don’t support isn’t “against you.”

He summarizes his thoughts:

One of the beautiful gifts of our country is that we do have these nine very distinctive cultures that have always been co-creating, have always been trying to figure it out.

If we can embrace that beauty, then we know you don't have to agree with me, whether it be about hunting, whether about being a vegetarian, or whether it be about what political alignments you have. It's not necessary. In fact, it's a gift that our country has given us that we have cultivated those different types of ways of connecting with each other.

It is wonderful to imagine living in more harmonious times. I imagine it is better to begin working toward them.

DG builds peace using his superpower, helping people remember who they are.

AI Episode Summary

* Devin Thorpe introduces DG Mawn as a great peacemaker and the US peacemaker of the year.

* NAFCM (National Association of Mediation) was founded almost 30 years ago by community mediators inspired by the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

* The organization focuses on creating opportunities for peace, justice, and engagement in communities.

* NAFCM formed associations throughout the country to amplify voices and aggregate wisdom.

* The organization has nine hallmarks, including anchoring in the community, relating with alternative systems for justice, and working to make systems responsive to the community.

* The current challenging time in the United States is characterized by deep divisions, but the country has always had significant tensions.

* The key to bridging these divisions is recognizing shared values, such as the desire to be heard, to be safe, and to be connected.

* DG Mawn's superpower is helping people remember who they are, who they want to be, and that they can be who they want to be.

* The superpower is cultivated by being still, listening, and journaling to reflect on thoughts and learnings.

* To connect with DG Mawn and learn more about NAFCM, visit the organization's website and consider joining as a member or supporter.

How to Develop Helping People Remember Who They Are As a Superpower

DG helps people not only remember who they are but also recognize who they want to be with confidence to become that version of themselves.

As we chatted, he offered some advice on how to develop this ability yourself.

* Be still and listen

* Remember your own superpower and who you wanted to be as a kid

* Think of the people who helped you calm yourself and how they influenced you

* Emulate those behaviors

* Journal daily

* Acknowledge the lessons learned from challenges

* Express gratitude for those insights

By following DG’s example and advice, you can learn to help others remember who they are and become the best versions of themselves. With practice, perhaps you can make this a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

D.G. Mawn (he/him):

President, National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM)

About National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM): Serving as the hub for the community mediation movement initiated by the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Part X, the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) is here for all those who are facilitating the possibility of justice, social cohesion and peace in their communities. Come join NAFCM, and let us advance your work, aggregate your wisdom and amplify your voice. More than half of NAFCM's budget funds local efforts throughout the United States and Canada. These efforts have addressed concerns such as Veteran's rights, Older Adults, Formerly Incarcerated Adults, Houselessness, Marginalization of Young Adults, African-American communities, Immigrant communities. As well as current efforts focuses on School-Community Relations, Re-imagining Safety and Rural Empowerment. Connected through a multitude of on-line platforms NAFCM co-creates opportunities with our members to maintain a culled Virtual Library, Webinars, large group gatherings such as Big Tuesdays, Momentum May and the Assembly and more intimate gathering such as TRUST+. Come experience the support and cohesion of being part of the NAFCM family, part of the community mediation movement and experience of the abundance of being part of a community that knows we are only as amazing as all those who make up the we- like you.

Website: nafcm.org

Twitter Handle: @nafcm

Biographical Information: Alliance for Peacemaking: U.S. Peacemaker of the YearD.G. Mawn, M.A., J.D., is the current President of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM).  As President, Mr. Mawn supports the efforts of NAFCM’s members to amplify the voice, aggregate the wisdom and advance the work of community mediation across the continent.  NAFCM received the 2023 Alliance for Peacebuilding, US Peacebuilding Award of Excellence.  He also currently serves as co-convenor of the TRUST Network, designed to develop a braided forum for the strengthening and expanding the possibility for community cohesion and security infrastructure.   Mr. Mawn is also implementing the Wellbeing Retreat designed by Intuitive Synergies, which focuses on the intersection of trauma, empathy and systems across the state of Indiana.

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/dg-mawn-23ab38a/

Superpowers for Good is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.