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HATCH 20 | Impact Summit 2024

HATCH 20 Alumni - group shot - justadandak.com
HATCH 20 Alumni – group shot.

A unique conference where hugs are longer / more sincere.

Situated in the high desert of Bend, Oregon at the superb Juniper Reserve, the four-day-20th-anniversary event of HATCH just rocked my soul.

This was my fifth time attending (see 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2023 write-ups) so I knew what to expect, however, what blossomed for me was the understanding that even though the events of this past year had broken me in many ways, HATCH broke me open…

…open to connect (with self / others / ideas), to listen (really listen), to appreciate music, to dance, to explore, to talk, to sing, to move, to write, to participate, to observe, to learn, to lead, to play, to be tempted, to be.

A cherished time which greatly expanded my already hungry curiosity, accelerated my muted creative belief / potential whilst amplifying the obvious but not-heard-often-enough-truth that we all need other humans to thrive.

Dual badger.

Apparently, I was the first to register this year and was honoured to play a dual role: as an attendee / alum and also leading a reflection activation on the last day / eve, running a pop-up session on speaking with purpose, facilitating an ‘intention session’ plus arrived a day early to help set-up:

HATCH 20 - justadandak.com - DK DIY session
HATCH 20 - justadandak.com - DK on stage from Stu

Attendees are medley of seekers, doers, artists, creatives, business greats, technologists, environmentalists, investors, next generation’ers—simply, a confluence of talent (what I learned after my first two is not to be awed but instead be playful / grateful in the possibility to learn from impressiveness):

HATCH-Bend-20th-HATCH-100-small-gif

One of the cornerstone pieces of any HATCH is the ‘ask and offer’ whereby the community is invited to create in-situ the reciprocal-ness we all need to flourish. For most, the offer part is easy, it’s the ask which causes challenges as it should be personal, honest and intentional. These are then displayed for the duration, amended and added to via other offers from those in the room who can aid the call:

My ask of the community.

HATCH is the most effective event I know at creating the conditions for people to feel trust, find purpose, see kindness manifest and generate creative value. All stemming from the curative skills of the organisers, the space / place, the talks / sessions offered, emotional positioning by the MC’s, as well as those who answer the call to step into the unknown and embrace the fluid nature of the experience:

Thank you HATCH for again being there when I needed it. For allowing me to be seen. For providing the space and place for others to shine. For giving us the belief that connection, true human connection is the currency of success.

BONUS playlist from some of the artists sharing their talents on stage:

Published

HATCH Europe 2023 | The Analogue Trust Factory

Colliding creative spirits to hatch a better world.

HATCH Europe was a three and half days of connections and conversations, performances and talks, breakout labs / workshops through to participatory and invitational expressions of creativity.

“Humanity moves at the speed of trust!”

Jurgis Didžiulis

HATCH appears in your life when you need it, pulls you up and into its swirling vortex of human kinship, then gently places you back into the world, changed, turned around, emboldened, enriched, enthusiastic.

This was my fourth time attending the twenty year initiative and the experience keeps getting better with age (see 2013, 2014, 2016 write-ups).

The curation of attendees is impressive⁠—wide ranging, audacious and folks simply doing stunning things in the world⁠—and this event had 140 attending (77 of which I have on a list to contact to follow up personally).

They and myself are now part of a larger network of over 3,000 HATCHers globally. A community of doers spanning the globe and forming a living chain of magnificent souls.

It was the first time the experience had been held in Europe and just as a brief aside, what a venue: the Caux Palace is one of the most intriguing places I’ve ever been to (from the funicular ride up from Montreux train station which weaves in and out of tunnels to deliver you neatly outside this vast property, to the vistas and superb aura / history of the place)⁠—I think HATCH has found a new (Europe-side) home!

It’s hard to summarise the time although it did include (in no particular order):

Art. Participation. Hope. Dancing. Puppets. Performance. Forgiveness. Transformation. Activism. Unity. Tears. Evolution. Discomfort. New friends. Old friends. Conversation. Integration. Confusion. Laughter. Hugs, lots of hugs.

Thank you HATCH, the organisers and volunteers, the Palace staff, the attendees, the sunrise and sunsets, those deep conversations, the silliness and delicious connections made.

I am (again) HATCHed!


A few days out was asked to get involved as the speaker coach / liaison (briefly MC). As an event professional I’m always happy to assist when attending other experiences as know how hard it is to pull off these things with so many moving parts needing attention:

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#9 September 2019 | Monthly Digital Breadcrumbs

Time to get clicking and fill your eyes / brain / heart.

READ

Boris Johnson’s threat of a no-deal Brexit will not break EU unity, says the the Brexit coordinator for the European parliament.

Seven of the top carbon emitters are being sued for their failure to protect New Zealanders from climate change, in a new High Court proceeding.

Facebook launches ‘clear history’ tool – but it won’t delete anything.

Electric scooters aren’t as eco-friendly as they seem, study finds.

WATCH

“For the first time in a thousand years, I have no path”:

Official 10 Hour Version of a track which is scientifically proven to chill you out:

The hope generator that is TEDxWellington (full 2019 event review here):

EXPLORE

Outlier.org: the world’s best for-credit online courses (from the cofounder of masterclass.com).

This online collaborative effort to name every color in the RGB/web space.

2019 Montana HATCH Experience will take place in Paradise Valley, October 13-16th, at Mountain Sky Guest Ranch! Take a tour of their facility (gutted not to be there this year).

All monthly digital breadcrumbs posts.
Image credit: Photo by Alfonso Ninguno on Unsplash
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HATCH 2016 | Curating People, Creating Space And Crafting Engagement

#becauseofHATCH we find purpose.

I’ve just spent four days participating in HATCH.

Located this year at Moonlight Basin, deep in the Montana Rocky Mountains, a stunning setting with an elevation (7,000 feet) which matched the magnitude of experience.

hatch-lone-peak-rilke-quote

It was a delicious cacophony of hugs, conversations, hugs, challenges, hugs, inspiration, hugs, provocations, hugs, presentations, hugs, performances, hugs, exploration, hugs.

As a third time attendee, I still find it hard to describe: it’s an event of sorts, a space where mentorship and personal/professional development is rife. A tribal, enriching, challenging, fulfilling, frustrating, expressive, dangerously optimistic place. Where it fails in fluidity it excels in impact, spurned on by the vast variety of the 150 curated souls.

There were diplomats, rappers, actors, app developers, inventors, sustainability champions, musicians, students, academics, makers, scientists, marketeers, film-makers, entrepreneurs, dancers etc all openly sharing, hungry for collaboration, being present.

The long and full days are littered with immensely powerful stories offered through presentations and unique performances, workshops driving deep questions like ‘what is your intent?’ coupled with sessions to truly play and create, accompanied with relaxed evening activities and an abundance of opportunities to simply converse and connect. These layers provide a richness which resonates beyond the traditional event format to create a community of shared experience that endures.

I’ve learned over my three visits that my favourite and most important thing to do at HATCH is to listen.

There is a copious amount of legacies being built for those who take notice and new pathways being treaded lightly or with barbaric servitude (a first time for many). These are extremely talented people who are shaping their future in the open, raw, honestly and with encouragement.

HATCH is a unique place which gives permission and provides the support to start/continue/stop (depending on where you are).

We were offered a fantastic lexicon to explore around ‘intent’ and ‘purpose’, whilst also being challenged to decipher our ‘ask’ and ‘offer’ to not only those in attendance, but also to the world.

It’s a new model for mentorship based on designing a space and time to cultivate relationships, which manifests trust through shared narratives (a forgotten element in creating deep and lasting change).

And as the event continues to mature and polish it’s rougher edges, the brilliance has always been in the people curation (as it’s invite only and deliberated through the lens that is Yarrow Kraner, founder / organiser who understands magnificently that if you bring a group of fantastic souls together, you can trust in their ability to add value to each other).


What I learned

Listening is an art.

Better questions really do exist.

Curation + purpose + space + time = impact.

Be bolder and don’t shy away from your voice.

Your worth is amplified when adding value to others.


Thanks

There are too many to mention although HUGE thanks to the organisers, facilitators, performers, sponsors, volunteers and all the HATCHlings who hugged me, shared their story and listened to mine.

Together, we’re hatching a new world:

The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things
To dance and love and be apart
To hug and hold those around you
Fill your soul with the life of others
Embrace your place in life through your soul
Challenging more and more tomorrow.

hatch-poem

Deep thanks to BizDojo for contributing to the costs of this trip.

Past posts / HATCHs: HATCH 2014 and HATCH 2013

hatch-drone

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Hatching A Better World | HATCH14

HATCH family 2014

Imagine a cacophony of good souls who lean in to conversations with deep curiousity which always ends with them asking how they can help (very much the opposite of most events). That’s HATCH!

Packed with people who you want to be when you grow up and cradled by the genuinely brilliant folks at 320 Ranch, this four day event is how the world should be: challenging, creative, inspiring, friendly, dangerous, open, vulnerable, adventurous.

Was humbled to be invited back (last years review) and also present a piece on the wisdom thinking I’ve been exploring (more to follow on that in the next couple of weeks).

Deep waist bows to Yarrow and the HATCH14 team for their energy / effort in crafting an experience so that hearts and minds can relate and add value to each others lives.

Personally and through tears and laughter, here’s what I’ve learned:

  • Kindness—the only way to live;
  • Listen—the fastest way to connect, learn and show you care;
  • Create—a body of work so your talent catches up with your taste (see Ira Glass On Storytelling).

Some pics:

INSIDE JOKE: no Rugrats / ferrets this year.
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Big Sky Montana Thinking | Hatch 2013

Hatch is about connecting a group of madly curious people and trusting in their ability to generate creative value.

Split over two locations (one in the Montana hills at the Rainbow Ranch Lodge, Big Sky and the other in the heart of Bozeman via an innovation lab / space), no other event has ever challenged me as much to be present and in the moment (hence the lack of notes):

hatch10-notes

This was due to the loosely structured agenda and being surrounded by film-makers, musicians, technologists, artists, entrepreneurs, marketeers, architects, trouble-makers, designers, writers, inventors, specialists, generalists (full attendee list here), all of whom ignited the brain with conversations that dripped in inspiration and possibility!

And oh those delicious Rugrats moments:

rugrats

Deep waist bows to all attendees, partners, sponsors and obviously the organisers—humbled to have been invited and definitely learned (again) that giving is living!

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