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Get to know Changemaking Systems
I am John Johnson, and I founded Changemaking
Systems in 1982. I am the owner and principal consultant
of the firm. I work with a dozen consulting partners
and professional associates on a contract basis, but I
oversee each project of Changemaking Systems. I have
working alliances with several firms that complement my
scope of work such as customer and employee research services,
work flow mapping and analysis, marketing consultation,
and financial management. As changing client needs
dictate, I draw on the services of these alliances, which
is essential for my total solutions, strategic partnership
approach to business.
My own professional background is diverse. I
have worked as a consultant to businesses, a general manager,
a community organizer, counselor, the vice president of
a 120-member professional firm, an administrator, educator,
writer, small business owner, and a minister.
My formal learning has come through Gustavus
Adolphus College, Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary,
the Preparing Educational Trainers and Consultants study
and laboratory series at the Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory and the University of Michigan School of Social
Research, as well as many days of workshops, seminars,
labs, practicums, and tutorials on the various dimensions
of organizational, personal and management development,
including those of the National Training Laboratory.
I worked for many years with Dr. Richard E.
Byrd, one of the pioneers in the behavioral sciences as
applied to organizations. Charles Darwin, Kurt Lewin,
Ron and Gordon Lippitt, Saul Alinsky, Peter Senge, Peter
Block, David Cooperider, Ben Tregoe, Kenichi Ohmae, Michael
Porter, and Tom Friedman have all had great impact on how
I see the world and my work.
My own sense of mission keeps growing. Right
now a new area of mission is emerging, and that is to work
with others in trying to impact the lives of young people
who see no hope in the future and have little constructive
engagement in life. Since terrorism and other destruction
comes from such places, the lack of hope and engagement
must be addressed. Fun for me comes from being
actively engaged with others in doing meaningful work. And
fun also is cooking, hiking, lunch conversation with a
friend, art, theater, my off-and-on golf, and experiencing
the ever-changing lives of my family.
My wife's name is Joyce. She laughs a
lot, reads a lot, and travels a lot. I have a son,
Tim, in Denver, who used to sell telecom equipment and
access. He and his wife Julie now own a yoga
studio. My son Kirk, lives in a maple forest in southern
Minnesota. He takes care of people's animals, makes
walking sticks and canes, works with stained glass, and
does editing over the internet. Daughter Molly lives
near Minneapolis and does marketing and community organizing
for a health care system. All three are very kind
and positive, and they are very interesting people. I
am very thankful.
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