The Reach

Hello hello, Tom & Corissa here, We used to be called Trigger Strategy but now we're Crown & Reach. Thank you for welcoming us into your inbox. Today we're getting all hot and bothered about assumption mapping. First though, a spot of housekeeping: NEW! Join us for Multiverse Mapping Live on Thursday 11th July. This is live mapping for a real person's real business situation, no safety net. Get your free ticket Our next "what the heck's goin' on in tech?" live sense-making session will be...

As you may or may not know, there's a scene in The Lego Movie where everyone’s trying to build a spaceship. Emmet’s following some rather old-fashioned instructions. Wyldstyle’s going rogue with a “cooler” design. Batman’s insisting on “black, or very dark grey” bricks. And Unikitty’s adding rainbows because, well, why not? The result? A chaotic, incoherent mess that barely holds together. This is pretty much what happens on a lot of teams when they’re planning a technology roadmap. Everyone...

You too can take advantage of the asymmetry of adaptiveness Originally published via Substack, May 09, 2025. Hello! On Monday I’m running another Intro to Multiverse Mapping. Spaces are free but limited, and it’s a live event that won’t be recorded. It’s the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to learn how to make a Multiverse Map. Register here. I’m also running Intro to Multiverse Mapping at Delta CX Hive 2025, on 27th May 2025, alongside a host of speakers you’ll want to see. (You can get...

An updated repost about a meeting format you should really try. Originally published via Substack, Mar 04 2025. ↓ Today, a new stand up format to try that will make your team more strategic, increase accountability, and decrease the need for micromanagement. OK here we go. The Context: Progress Updates (mostly) Sucked When I started leading teams, that meant sitting in “Progress Update” style meetings. Too many of these meetings were a firehose of technical nitty gritty. Often, it sounded...

Strategy: using what’s inside your control to influence what’s not. Originally published via Substack, Feb 25 2025. ↓ This idea works whatever time and resource scope you’re operating in, from “how could I use the next hour of my own time?” to “how could I use the next year of my 100,000 person-strong organisation?” Strategy is often mistaken for a plan. You do usually need a simplistic high-level plan to navigate the political aspect. This is your deliberate strategy. But remember: at the...

A bolt of lightning Originally published via Substack, Feb 23 2025. ↓ Quick one for a Sunday evening: check out a lightning talk that features some awesome tactics from the deck of cards I made with Pip Decks, Innovation Tactics. To answer the question, “how could Web3 be introduced to the mass market?”, seasoned researcher Georgia Rakusen shares awesome, pragmatic examples of: Chasm Crossing Watering Holes Pain X-Ray Pitch Provocations “Huh” Test Hard Test, Easy Life Punchy Prototypes … and...

Constraints, processes and sailing through the middle. Originally published via Substack, Feb 16 2025. ↓ Meme riffing on the original by Visakan Veerasamy One person says, “you must ship to learn!” Another says: “you much research first!” But who’s right? Both! And neither. I’ll tell you why in a moment, but first: Grab one of a few spots left in my Intro to Multiverse Mapping session this Tuesday. Alongside a few other dazzlingly smart and magnetic people, you’ll feel exactly how making a...

The hydra you're wrestling probably won't be mollified by a mirror Originally published via Substack, Feb 01 2025. ↓ Our friend Ben shared a fun prompt to get you thinking: “What the heck is up with teams arguing round and round to find out who’s right? Why don’t they just DO SOMETHING!??” Thanks for the question, Ben. I know I've experienced that frustration – have you? What do you think is up with teams arguing round and round to find out who’s right? My thoughts coming right up. First,...

Multiverse Mapping Series Part 2: WOPSTAD and embracing uncertainty Originally published via Substack, Jan 17 2025. ↓ 3 quick notices and then we’ll jump in: The first Intro to Multiverse Mapping free workshop filled up in less than 24 hours, so I’m putting on more dates. Choose a time that works for you. Prefer to learn by watching videos? Grab my Master Multiverse Mapping course. Or fancy bringing me in to teach your team? Hit reply and let’s chat. There are thousands of moving parts in any...