About KnowledgeBase

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

Thumbtack Profile 

KnowledgeBase provides customized data analyses, visualization & reporting; and "skills and drills" coaching / training (via Microsoft Excel, ArcGIS and Tableau).

We also advise clients in the wise, skillful, and efficient use of technology.

Our detailed skill set includes ...

1.    Data Visualization
2.    Geocoding / Geomapping
3.    Software Tutoring (Microsoft Excel / Word, Tableau, ArcGIS, Windows Server 2008 R2, eBay.com, Amazon.com)
4.    Public Speaking / Training / Workshops / Seminars
5.    Mentoring / Life Coaching
6.    Mediation & Conflict Resolution
7.    Character Development
8.    Business / Strategic / Technology Planning
9.    “Ghost”, Business, Speech, Song / Lyric, Creative, Expository, and Technical Writing
10.    Email List Management / Marketing
11.    Online Survey Design
12.    Curriculum / Program Design and Implementation
13.    Computer Recycling and Refurbishing
14.    Film and Music Editing / Production

About Derrick Brown (Principal Consultant)

 

I am Keisha's husband, and Hannah's father.

My *other* passion is empowering people via methods that balance skill & will, analysis & synthesis, ideas & execution, and activity & achievement.

I solve problems.

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

Dear Hannah: Stand Your Ground (Remix)

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

 

Dear Hannah,

Sometimes things happen that upset us. We have to feel what we feel, take the time to heal, remember what is real, and keep moving forward ...

As I lay me down to sleep
I kiss my wife and ponder deep

I wonder why, and that's OK
Answers tomorrow are questions today

Then I kneel and start to pray
Ask the Lord to have His way
Stay focused on a future day
Hope to keep all harm at bay

So my baby girl can play
Jump on me, yell "Daddy, yay!"
Master piano, dance ballet

Tell her about our wedding day
How to wait for her fiance'
Relationships begin with "hey"
Then take their course - la vie c'est

Do her work for more than pay
Know when to go, and when to stay

Correct her course if she should stray
See that this world is still cray cray

The brave are scared to disobey
But sometimes do it anyway
The fools rush in, the wise survey
Think twice, act once - avoid the fray

Accountable talk never starts with "they"
Power is more than being able to sway

Then I reach "amen" and rise again
Ready to embark, engage and win

Eyes wide shut, but with open heart
The game ain't fair, so play it smart

The road ahead is still paved with LIFE

Despite all circumstance and strife

She can change the world if I maintain
Stay on my grind, and in my lane

Love,

Daddy

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

The BIG Picture: Success = Understood Failure

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

To anyone who ever failed …

thought u knew

right church – wrong pew

ideas askew

what to do, what to do?

bid yesterday adieu

take a cue (or two)

to get a clue

about what to do

to begin anew

find a wise crew

just a couple - or a few

that believe and achieve, too

mortgage is due

so plan your coup

let lessons brew

as u sleep & chew

work just like glue

so they can’t c u

but get a clear view

of how much u grew

About Derrick Brown

 

I am Keisha's husband, and Hannah's father.

My *other* passion is empowering people via methods that balance skill & will, analysis & synthesis, ideas & execution, and activity & achievement.

I succeed because I understand failure.

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

The BIG Picture: Handling Hidden Conflict - With Six-Word Stories

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

Mediation allows conflicting parties to recognize that they may be diametrically opposed points on the same circle - and that preservation of the circle may be more important than their points.

Formal two-party mediation is rarely sought voluntarily. It is often suggested (or mandated) by our courts or other civil authorities.

Present-day conflicts have become stickier and trickier, and usually do not result in the costly litigation that then makes mediation an attractive option. 

Rather, these conflicts are often hidden. They are maintained and intensified through the vehicles of dogma, innuendo, subversion, and marginalization.

How do you handle situations where your ...

1. Boss bullies via emails (that no one else sees)?
2. Neighbor / client / employee / co-worker is "strong in their wrong"?
3. Board of directors needs directing?

None of these scenarios have perfect solutions, but their resolution includes a few powerful steps.

We present them below using six-word (or fewer) "stories" (a comprehensive, concise, simple way to handle sensitive communication) ...

Handling The Sticky & Tricky

Count All The Costs Of Resolution

1. Accept that you cannot control others.
2. Recognize that you can control yourself.
3. Acknowledge that resolution may be expensive.
4. Acknowledge that inaction may cost more.

Weigh Your Options; Choose Your Path

 

          1.  You are neither omnipotent nor powerless.
    2.   Identify all your sources of power ...
          a.  Resources (creativity, relationships and finance)
          b.  Interests (passions, purpose, and ministry)
          c.  Communication (discourse, charisma, and audience)
          d.  Expertise (information, knowledge, and wisdom)
    3.  Choose a powerful way to proceed.

Pray So You See Yourself Clearly

1. Humility, healing, and patience are virtues.
2. Angry roots produce many bitter fruits.
3. Healed roots produce much better fruits.

Say What You Need To Say

1. Freedom of speech means come correct.
2. Learn to tell your story well.
3. Value listening much more than speaking.
4. Economy of words facilitate greater comprehension.
5. Civil discourse between dissenters promotes growth.

Pay What You Need To Pay

1. You must protect time and family.
2. All money is not good money.
3. You must get your money right.
4. Freedom from oppression is not free.

Stay Committed To Actions and Consequences

1. Your fear is your only courage.
2. Opportunities are often disguised as conflicts.
3. Do not mistake activity for achievement.

Please reach out if you (or someone you know) needs our help!

Sincerely,

Derrick Brown (derrick.s.brown at att.net)
Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution #39788

About Derrick Brown

 

Derrick Brown has 15 years of collective (and firsthand) experience (as a school and homeowner's association board member, school administrator, consultant, and registered mediator) handling the sticky and tricky. 

He has published more than 100 case studies based on those experiences.

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

Dear Hannah: Daddy Duty

Published on June 19, 2014

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

Buy This Poster (Digital Copy)

Buy This Poster (Hard Copy - 18" x 24" on glossy or satin paper):

Dear Hannah,

Daddies ...

provide
protect
teach
connect

play
pray
consider
reflect

care
share
convey
respect

explore
discover
show
expect

ask
move
improve
redirect

listen
respond
initiate
express

encourage
inspire
motivate
impress

live
love
demonstrate
confess

embrace
heal
comfort
caress

give
forgive
forsee
bless


Love,

Daddy

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

Throwback Thursday: KnowledgeBase Projects (1994-2010)

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

KnowledgeBase (1994-2010)

The Universal Black Pages ("The UBP") (1994-1998)

Produced by Georgia Tech graduate students, The Universal Black Pages ("The UBP") (1994-1998) was the world's largest search engine / directory of African Internet content.

Experts and funders told us that ...

1. Search engines were not "technology".
2. Black people did not use the Internet.
3. Internet advertising would never become popular.

We did not listen, and created a timeless record of our history.

We also learned that faith protects your beliefs from doubt.

Believe in yourself and your ideas.

FOOTNOTE: Google was founded on September 4, 1998. They have done well.

 

The KnowledgeBase Summer Academy (1998-2003) 

The KnowledgeBase Summer Academy (hosted at Georgia Tech) (1998-2003) taught over 300 students how to (re)build, network, and use computers. Many of them were able to take their rebuilt computers home!

KnowledgeBase's Project CHIP (1998-2003)

KnowledgeBase's Project CHIP (1998-2003) recycled over 300 computers and redistributed them to families.

"Writing Your First Business Plan" (2000-2002)

"Writing Your First Business Plan" (2000-2002) helped 6 cohorts of entrepreneurs convert their GOoD ideas into mission-driven enterprises.

Tech High School (2004-2012)

Tech High School (2004-2012). We learned more than we taught. Love to Alex Mazyck for the logo!

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

The BIG Picture: Commencement (Shortest.Graduation.Speech.EVER.)

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

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Buy This Poster (Hard Copy - 18" x 24" on glossy or satin paper):

1.     Equality requires both opportunity and circumstance.
2.     Education begins when you finish school.
3.     Education requires learning, unlearning, and relearning.
4.     You must protect time and family.
5.     Faith protects your beliefs from doubt.
6.     Purpose is more important than ambition.
7.     Creativity is more important than knowledge.
8.     Freedom of speech means come correct.
9.     Value listening much more than speaking.
10.    Learn to tell your own story.
11.    Influence your circle, then expand it.
12.    Sometimes "let go"; sometimes "let know".
13.    Civil discourse between dissenters promotes growth.
14.    Sometimes the cause masks the agenda.
15.    Sometimes our causes mask our issues.
16.    You must get your money right.
17.    All money is not good money.
18.    Truth tellers often encounter great resistance.
19.    Real friends will hold you accountable.
20.    Count all the costs of victory.
21.    Winners first conquer conceit, then defeat.
22.    Everything we measure does not count.
23.    Everything that counts cannot be measured.
24.    Angry roots produce many bitter fruits.
25.    Healed roots produce much better fruits.
26.    Do not mistake activity for achievement.
27.    Simple approaches are easily replicated.
28.    Real power is work done efficiently.
29.    Success results when preparation meets opportunity.
30.    Opportunities are often disguised as work.
31.    Tradition begins and ends with change.

About Derrick Brown (KnowledgeBase's Principal Consultant)

 

I am Keisha's husband, and Hannah's father.

My *other* passion is empowering people via methods that balance skill & will, analysis & synthesis, ideas & execution, and activity & achievement.

I am the product of my mentoring relationships, peacemaking (and peacekeeping), and problem-solving ability.

I am a publisher, filmmaker, executive coach & registered mediator with engineering degrees from Clemson and Georgia Tech.

My education began when I finished school.

After school, I enrolled in a lifelong curriculum that includes the following classes ...

• ministry (serving people)
• entrepreneurship (developing solutions that serve people)
• stewardship (taking care of relationships, possessions, talents, body, mind, and time) 
• literacy (reading & writing skills)
• numeracy (math skills)
• language (communication skills)
• self-expression (sharing "who you are")
• self-identity (knowing "who you are")
• analysis & synthesis (solving problems & sharing solutions)

KnowledgeBase is a ministry that has evolved from wisdom earned through lessons learned.

I want to share this wisdom to build teams of "triple threat" fellows - mentors, mediators, and problem solvers.

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

The BIG Picture: Johnny (Reach.Then.Teach)

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

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Buy This Poster (Hard Copy - 18" x 24" on glossy or satin paper):

Why oh why can't Johnny READ?
Probably because the brother's name is Khalid
Yet the majority of so-called experts agreed
On the cultural ideas they would force-feed

Why oh why can't Johnny WRITE?
'Cause instead of him creating he just has to recite
We offer him a perspective that he finds quite trite
Then have the gall to try to label him as "not too bright"

Why oh why can't Johnny do MATH?
Might it be that he fails to see the relevance of its path
He'll tell you that he's tried to get it, but that not yet he hath
Its oddities sometimes confuse and ultimately draw his wrath

Why oh why can't Johnny LEAD?
'Cause we've instilled in him a false way to succeed
Servitude and loving take back seats to greed
Destiny and purpose are supplanted by need

Why oh why can't Johnny CREATE?
Perhaps it's because the boy just can't relate
To the stark & cold reality that continues to await
Solutions to the problems of our existing state

Why oh why can't Johnny THINK?
Maybe we've not yet shown him the missing link
Between ideas and paper and that pen of ink
That leads the horse to water, and also helps him drink

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

The BIG Picture: U Can't C Me (Ode To The Invisible)

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

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My life is but an instrument

Singing songs in many keys

Wisdom earned through lessons learned

From mistakes of several degrees

Do not mistake activity for achievement

Arriving on time means you're late

To be on time arrive early

Fall seven times - get up eight

One time is an accident

Two times is a trend

Three times might be a problem

But forgiveness is your friend

The race is not to the swift

But to the ones who maintain

So stay aligned on your grind

And stay in your own lane

Keep it slow and steady

That's it - nice and smoove

Always do your homework

Believe that God will approve

Every moment matters

You had better realize

Then you can quickly respond

To opportunities that you recognize

Don't despise the small tasks

Pursue them diligently

For passion and purpose are discovered

Through acts of ministry

Keep a pad and paper

And a nearby pen of ink

Write your visions plainly

Make time to pray and think

Don't believe the hype

Avoid the glittery and bejeweled

When we think with our eyes

We are often easily fooled

All money ain't good money

Sometimes less is more

Make a living through your giving

Learn to turn two into four

Your fear is your only courage

Be scared to disobey

Be scared to rock that boat

But sometimes rock it anyway

Know how to keep your quiet

Until it's time to say

If your heart ain't feelin' right

Then say it another day

Freedom of speech

Means come correct

Be quick to listen

Be quicker to respect

Be slow to speak

Even slower to get twisted

Meek ain't weak

Self-control beats double-fisted

The only thing to know

Is that you don't know squat

Nobody cares what you know

If they think you care not

So pick your spot

Practice - don't preach

When the student is ready

The teacher will teach

If faced with a fool

Proverbs 26 - verses 5 and 4

Sometimes you can let it go

Sometimes you gotta let em know

Train your child with loving instruction

Encourage growth, but discourage rambunction

Know you are equal in essence

But very different in function

No good deed goes unrewarded

But the payoff is seldom immediate

Dreams manifest at God's appointed time

Though it tarries, wait for it

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.

The BIG Picture: Stand Your Ground

By Derrick Brown (follow on Twitter @dbrowndbrown)

Buy This Poster (Digital Copy)

Buy This Poster (Hard Copy - 18" x 24" on glossy or satin paper):

As I lay me down to sleep
I kiss my wife and ponder deep

I wonder why, and that's OK 
Answers tomorrow are questions today 

Then I kneel and start to pray
Ask the Lord to have His way
Stay focused on a future day
Hope to keep all harm at bay

So my baby girl can play
Jump on me, yell "Daddy, yay!"

Play piano, dance ballet

Tell her about our wedding day
How to wait for her fiance'
Relationships begin with "hey"
Then take their course - la vie c'est

Do her work for more than pay
Know when to go, and when to stay

Correct her course if she should stray
See that this world is often cray

The brave are scared to disobey
But sometimes do it anyway
The fools rush in, the wise survey
Think twice, act once - avoid the fray

Accountable talk never starts with "they"
Power is more than being able to sway

Then I reach "amen" and rise again
Ready to embark, engage and win

Eyes wide shut, but with open heart
The game ain't fair, so play it smart

The road ahead is still paved with LIFE
Our seed is growing inside my wife

She can change the world if I maintain
Stay on my grind, and in my lane

Love,

Daddy

Copyright © 2014 Derrick  Brown. All Rights Reserved.