Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, *Tony* Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT>

Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in this forum. Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for meaningful change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change behavior. I’m sure that’s not news to most of you. What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole group processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and AoH, etc) is provide a process/method that creates the conditions for the “strong ties” that change behavioral norms to actually happen. So what’s missing? It’s not case studies. Centola has loads. I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for meaningful change. How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change we have the tools to create? On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work > > > https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 > > In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, > *Tony* > Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

Hi Rijon— Responding to your question, "What's missing?" my experience suggests there isn't one single, common ingredient missing from every system. Depending on the situation, any one (or more) of these essential ingredients may be missing: - Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action. - Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring people together. - A shared theory of change. - A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory. - Effective methods and practices. I perceive our challenge is to discern which ingredients are missing and help cultivate them (iteratively, experimentally, and adaptively). Cheers, John *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM Rijon Erickson via OSList < everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in this > forum. > > Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for meaningful > change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change behavior. I’m sure > that’s not news to most of you. > > What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole group > processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and AoH, etc) is > provide a process/method that creates the conditions for the “strong ties” > that change behavioral norms to actually happen. > > So what’s missing? > > It’s not case studies. Centola has loads. > > I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for > meaningful change. > > How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change we have > the tools to create? > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList <everyone@oslist.org> > wrote: > >> Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work >> >> >> https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 >> >> In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, >> *Tony* >> Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> >> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >> See the archives here: >> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

- Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action.
- Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring people
together.
- A shared theory of change.
- A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory.
- Effective methods and practices.

John, Thanks for taking the time and care to respond. It matters. “What’s missing?” was more of a rhetorical question than anything. I agree with everything you said. One question is VERY alive in me. “What support do each of us here - right here, right now - want or need from others in this group in order to create the change we seek?” The way to begin to support each other is for one person to ask for that support. Awkwardly (kind of) and vaguely (definitely) but *ASK*. With no expectations or obligation to respond. *My* ask? I need support finding sponsors. Who can help me? Rijon 513-375-8350 P.S. I agree with everything except your use of the word “leaders”. 😉 On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 6:41 PM John Warinner <johnwarinner@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Rijon— > > Responding to your question, "What's missing?" my experience suggests > there isn't one single, common ingredient missing from every system. > > Depending on the situation, any one (or more) of these essential > ingredients may be missing: > > - Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action. > - Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring people > together. > - A shared theory of change. > - A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory. > - Effective methods and practices. > > I perceive our challenge is to discern which ingredients are missing and > help cultivate them (iteratively, experimentally, and adaptively). > > Cheers, > John > > *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 > johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> > > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM Rijon Erickson via OSList < > everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > >> Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in this >> forum. >> >> Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for >> meaningful change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change >> behavior. I’m sure that’s not news to most of you. >> >> What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole group >> processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and AoH, etc) is >> provide a process/method that creates the conditions for the “strong ties” >> that change behavioral norms to actually happen. >> >> So what’s missing? >> >> It’s not case studies. Centola has loads. >> >> I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for >> meaningful change. >> >> How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change we have >> the tools to create? >> >> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList < >> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >> >>> Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work >>> >>> >>> https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 >>> >>> In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, >>> *Tony* >>> Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> >>> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >>> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >>> See the archives here: >>> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >> >> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >> See the archives here: >> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > >

- Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action.
- Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring people
together.
- A shared theory of change.
- A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory.
- Effective methods and practices.

Thank you Rijon. Yeah, I similarly stumbled a bit on your use of the word "sponsors." I hear you (loud and clear) saying: "I need support finding sponsors." I do not have a clear understanding of what you mean by "sponsors." But once I do, I am happy to help you find them! Cheers, John *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 5:35 PM Rijon Erickson <rijon@rijonerickson.com> wrote: > John, > > Thanks for taking the time and care to respond. It matters. > > “What’s missing?” was more of a rhetorical question than anything. I agree > with everything you said. > > One question is VERY alive in me. > > “What support do each of us here - right here, right now - want or need > from others in this group in order to create the change we seek?” > > The way to begin to support each other is for one person to ask for that > support. Awkwardly (kind of) and vaguely (definitely) but *ASK*. With no > expectations or obligation to respond. > > *My* ask? > > I need support finding sponsors. > > Who can help me? > > Rijon > > 513-375-8350 > > P.S. I agree with everything except your use of the word “leaders”. 😉 > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 6:41 PM John Warinner <johnwarinner@gmail.com> > wrote: > >> Hi Rijon— >> >> Responding to your question, "What's missing?" my experience suggests >> there isn't one single, common ingredient missing from every system. >> >> Depending on the situation, any one (or more) of these essential >> ingredients may be missing: >> >> - Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action. >> - Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring people >> together. >> - A shared theory of change. >> - A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory. >> - Effective methods and practices. >> >> I perceive our challenge is to discern which ingredients are missing and >> help cultivate them (iteratively, experimentally, and adaptively). >> >> Cheers, >> John >> >> *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 >> johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> >> >> >> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM Rijon Erickson via OSList < >> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >> >>> Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in this >>> forum. >>> >>> Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for >>> meaningful change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change >>> behavior. I’m sure that’s not news to most of you. >>> >>> What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole group >>> processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and AoH, etc) is >>> provide a process/method that creates the conditions for the “strong ties” >>> that change behavioral norms to actually happen. >>> >>> So what’s missing? >>> >>> It’s not case studies. Centola has loads. >>> >>> I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for >>> meaningful change. >>> >>> How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change we >>> have the tools to create? >>> >>> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList < >>> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work >>>> >>>> >>>> https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 >>>> >>>> In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, >>>> *Tony* >>>> Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> >>>> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >>>> See the archives here: >>>> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >>> >>> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >>> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >>> See the archives here: >>> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >> >>

- Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action.
- Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring
people together.
- A shared theory of change.
- A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory.
- Effective methods and practices.

Sponsorship is funding, convening authority and visible and vocal support. On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 9:12 PM John Warinner <johnwarinner@gmail.com> wrote: > Thank you Rijon. > > Yeah, I similarly stumbled a bit on your use of the word "sponsors." > > I hear you (loud and clear) saying: "I need support finding sponsors." > > I do not have a clear understanding of what you mean by "sponsors." > > But once I do, I am happy to help you find them! > > Cheers, > John > > > *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 > johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> > > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 5:35 PM Rijon Erickson <rijon@rijonerickson.com> > wrote: > >> John, >> >> Thanks for taking the time and care to respond. It matters. >> >> “What’s missing?” was more of a rhetorical question than anything. I >> agree with everything you said. >> >> One question is VERY alive in me. >> >> “What support do each of us here - right here, right now - want or need >> from others in this group in order to create the change we seek?” >> >> The way to begin to support each other is for one person to ask for that >> support. Awkwardly (kind of) and vaguely (definitely) but *ASK*. With no >> expectations or obligation to respond. >> >> *My* ask? >> >> I need support finding sponsors. >> >> Who can help me? >> >> Rijon >> >> 513-375-8350 >> >> P.S. I agree with everything except your use of the word “leaders”. 😉 >> >> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 6:41 PM John Warinner <johnwarinner@gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Hi Rijon— >>> >>> Responding to your question, "What's missing?" my experience suggests >>> there isn't one single, common ingredient missing from every system. >>> >>> Depending on the situation, any one (or more) of these essential >>> ingredients may be missing: >>> >>> - Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action. >>> - Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring >>> people together. >>> - A shared theory of change. >>> - A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory. >>> - Effective methods and practices. >>> >>> I perceive our challenge is to discern which ingredients are missing and >>> help cultivate them (iteratively, experimentally, and adaptively). >>> >>> Cheers, >>> John >>> >>> *John Warinner*(541) 815-4103 >>> johnwarinner@gmail.com <johnw@watersolving.com> >>> >>> >>> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM Rijon Erickson via OSList < >>> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >>> >>>> Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in this >>>> forum. >>>> >>>> Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for >>>> meaningful change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change >>>> behavior. I’m sure that’s not news to most of you. >>>> >>>> What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole group >>>> processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and AoH, etc) is >>>> provide a process/method that creates the conditions for the “strong ties” >>>> that change behavioral norms to actually happen. >>>> >>>> So what’s missing? >>>> >>>> It’s not case studies. Centola has loads. >>>> >>>> I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for >>>> meaningful change. >>>> >>>> How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change we >>>> have the tools to create? >>>> >>>> On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList < >>>> everyone@oslist.org> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 >>>>> >>>>> In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, >>>>> *Tony* >>>>> Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> >>>>> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >>>>> See the archives here: >>>>> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >>>> >>>> OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org >>>> To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org >>>> See the archives here: >>>> https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org >>> >>>

 Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in
 this forum.

 Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for
 meaningful change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change
 behavior. I’m sure that’s not news to most of you.

 What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole
 group processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and
 AoH, etc) is provide a process/method that creates the conditions
 for the “strong ties” that change behavioral norms to actually happen.

 So what’s missing?

 It’s not case studies. Centola has loads.

 I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for
 meaningful change.

 How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change
 we have the tools to create?

 On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList
 <everyone@oslist.org> wrote:


       Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work

     https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647

     In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff,
     *Tony*
     Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT>

     OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
     To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
     See the archives here:
     https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

 OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org
 To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org
 See the archives here:
 https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org

/Just had this conversation with MS Copilot;/ * Damon Centola Research Sources* https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/MPM7mamE1HeUCS3Sc9cDs In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, *Tony* Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> On 7/19/2026 6:41 PM, John Warinner wrote: > > Hi Rijon— > > Responding to your question, "What's missing?" my experience suggests > there isn't one single, common ingredient missing from every system. > > Depending on the situation, any one (or more) of these essential > ingredients may be missing: > > * Stakeholders who genuinely care enough to take action. > * Leaders with the legitimacy and convening authority to bring > people together. > * A shared theory of change. > * A compelling shared quest that emerges from that theory. > * Effective methods and practices. > > I perceive our challenge is to discern which ingredients are missing > and help cultivate them (iteratively, experimentally, and adaptively). > > Cheers, > John > > *John Warinner > *(541) 815-4103* > *johnwarinner@gmail.com > > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM Rijon Erickson via OSList > <everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > > Tony has been sharing the work of Damon Centola for years now - in > this forum. > > Centola has a theory that makes sense. Good theory is vital for > meaningful change. Sadly, theory and diagnosis alone don’t change > behavior. I’m sure that’s not news to most of you. > > What we do as practitioners of invitation-based change and whole > group processes like OST (and World Cafe and 6 Conversations and > AoH, etc) is provide a process/method that creates the conditions > for the “strong ties” that change behavioral norms to actually happen. > > So what’s missing? > > It’s not case studies. Centola has loads. > > I believe it’s sponsors with convening authority and a hunger for > meaningful change. > > How do we *help each other* find sponsors who can fund the change > we have the tools to create? > > On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM Tony Budak via OSList > <everyone@oslist.org> wrote: > > > Science Says Your Change Network Was Never Going to Work > > https://johnedpatton.medium.com/science-says-your-change-network-was-never-going-to-work-60dbd343d647 > > In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, > *Tony* > Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT> > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: > https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > > OSList mailing list -- everyone@oslist.org > To unsubscribe send an email to everyone-leave@oslist.org > See the archives here: > https://oslist.org/empathy/list/everyone.oslist.org > -- In Solidarity for more joy, and less stuff, *Tony* Click HERE to Meet with Tony <https://bit.ly/3WtAIgT>