Hi friends —
This week I revisited an idea that sits right at the heart of our turbulent moment: the shift from predict-and-plan to sense-and-respond. Frank Diana’s recent article, "Sense and Respond: A Survival Trait for a Converging World," offers a compelling perspective: when multiple forces converge — technological shifts, climate shocks, and geopolitical uncertainty — the only way through is to build systems that can adapt in real-time.
It resonated with my own work on Regenerative Possibility Chains (RPCs) — a framework for turning systemic pressure into pathways for renewal, not just survival.
What struck me most?
Frank describes the need for “real-time sensemaking, fluid operating models, and dynamic resource allocation.”
In RPCs, we map how systems might fracture under stress — then deliberately redirect those ruptures toward regenerative pathways. However, that redirection isn’t a one-time move; it’s a continuous process.
Regenerative attractors — the seeds of what wants to emerge — can’t be managed by static plans. They demand the same continuous sensing that Frank describes:
Sensing early signals of stress and possibility.
Responding by reallocating resources — capital, talent, trust — where leverage naturally arises.
Feeding new learning back into the system so it evolves with the world around it.
How Sense & Respond Strengthens RPCs
For me, Frank’s lens sharpens the practical side of regenerative development:
Digital twins & real-time data bring precision to our early detection of collapse vectors and attractors.
Adaptive operating models mirror how possibility chains emerge at the margins — edges where local actors experiment, align, and scale what works.
Human-in-the-loop governance ensures the shift stays rooted in shared values and local context — a vital check against purely technocratic “optimization.”
It’s a reminder that regeneration isn’t a blueprint — it’s a dynamic dance.
An Invitation
If Sense and Respond is a survival trait, then regenerative possibility chains are a thrival trait. Together, they remind us that resilience isn’t about resisting change — it’s about becoming more alive to it, more able to shape it, and more capable of stewarding it toward life-affirming futures.
I’m curious:
Where in your work or community do you see this sense–respond–regenerate cycle already happening?
What enabling tools — AI, digital twins, local governance models — feel missing or underdeveloped?
What would it look like to build hinge-ready infrastructure for sensing and responding together?
Hit reply, share your reflections, or forward this to someone who’s working at the edge of complexity and coherence.
I believe this is where our best work begins.
With possibility,
Dave
More From Me
If you’d like to explore more of my regenerative thinking, you can also find my longer-form articles and frameworks on Medium. I use Substack for reflections and early ideas, and Medium for deeper dives. Thanks for reading!