As our reflection of thirty years of our clients, people and history draws to a close, we caught up with Founding Director, Allan Tranter, for his take on the next logical step on the road ahead for Creating Communities.
CCA: Looking to the future of CCA, what do you see as the next logical move?
AT: I’m not sure there’s ever a logical next step.
Some at CCA will say that strategic planning will unveil the future, and they’re absolutely right. But, to use an example, we were talking about the fact that we lived in an itinerant society back in 2006, and it became a catalyst for CCA diving into the FIFO space. But it was based on the notion of our transient population. So, FIFO work was one of the most tangible spaces we could identify where we could add value.
It may have taken a decade of research to reach the point of having an income stream from that work. Still, it began with identifying a sociological dynamic.
CCA: So, that speaks to opportunity, is that posture of being agile and responsive what the future looks like?
AT: Yes, but more than that, it looks like maintaining a broad base so that we can be adaptable to whatever the context becomes. Rather than a specific focus, we need to be specific in applying the unique skill set to a broad base. The goal is to be positively opportunistic within the social, business, and economic environment we’re located.
There isn’t magic fairy dust or some secret sauce that we’ve discovered and no one else has, but it’s maintaining a broad base and the ability to dive deep into any of them and rigorously apply what we know well to add value.
CCA: So, the future is to pause, ponder, and understand?
AT: Sounds simple enough.
Look, my oversimplified summary of the last 30 years of Creating Communities is in four chapters.
In Chapter One, there was an opportunity, and someone (Allan) with a propensity to seize an opportunity grabbed it, played with it, and turned it into a business.
In Chapter Two, someone (Donna) arrives who is business-like, savvy, and academically grounded, and elevates and diversifies that business into a sophisticated, sustainable way of operating.
In Chapter Three, as the years unfold, there is depth, intentional practice, and the application of brilliant models to every stream of our business.
In this emerging chapter, CCA’s group of emerging leaders lay hold of those individual streams of business and apply that legacy of systems with innovation and strategic thinking to move it forward into new opportunities.
There’s a whole lot of fun to be had in that emerging chapter!
CCA: It sure sounds like it – thanks for your time.
AT: Thanks – It’s been good to think about those early chapters and that the guy in Chapter One may have some value in the emerging chapter!
