Ian Carmichael - Logic Models & Program Design
One-Time and Minimum Viable Actions
Now we come to designing an intervention. Knowing what we know about habits, what steps do we intend to take? Will we apply a Direct or an Indirect method? Some combination of the two? Do we try to adjust frequency of a cue? Will we seek to replace a behavior, or change the physical or… Read More »
Ian Carmichael - Logic Models & Program Design
Habit Change
A Habit is repeating the same behavior in the same context and being rewarded for it soon after. Habits follow a regular cycle: a cue initiates a behavior resulting in a reward. Habit change can come in two main flavors: Direct and Indirect. Direct methods involve influencing the habit cycle itself, while indirect methods influence… Read More »
Ian Carmichael - Logic Models & Program Design
Habits & Theory of Change
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Will Durant, from his 1926 work The Story of Philosophy The above was Mr. Durant’s attempt to summarize the philosophy of Aristotle in a pithy turn of phrase. I would say he did an excellent job, given how often… Read More »
Ian Carmichael - Logic Models & Program Design
Markedness and The Human Index
We have all experienced a moment where someone came along, glanced at a longstanding problem for a moment, and offered a solution so horrifyingly obvious once it was said out loud that we feel blindsided. We all have had that one friend who subverts every social convention, and with a single comment, a funny face… Read More »
NORTHEASTERLY: Ye Olde Theater on Main Street
In this Northeasterly, we review some recent economic data and then dig into a couple of revitalized community-focused theaters that have caught my attention over the past few years. If you’ve been keeping up since we soft-launched Northeasterly a couple of months ago, you know that we like to focus most of our work on… Read More »
NORTHEASTERLY: Economic Indicators for Non-profit Budgeting
It is the time of year when most non-profit organizations across the region are preparing their FY27 budgets. What are the economic forces and trends that could affect giving over the course of the next fiscal year? In this Northeasterly, we scan the macro environment for clues about what is in store for non-profits in… Read More »
NORTHEASTERLY: Coworking Spaces in Rural Communities
Exploring Public Workspaces in Rural Places In this Northeasterly, we take a quick look at some recent data releases (inflation for the Northeast Region and metro area labor force and unemployment data) and then look at an approach that some rural communities have used to finance publicly accessible workspaces to drive economic development in their… Read More »
NORTHEASTERLY: Co-working Spaces, Shared Offices and Business Incubators
Northeasterly is a blog about prosperity and opportunity in Northern New England. May 1, 2026 | Comprehensive plans and economic development strategies across this (generally) rural region often include recommendations related to growing high-wage industries, accommodating or attracting knowledge industry talent and innovators, and facilitating remote work – often these recommendations relate to co-working spaces… Read More »
Chuck Sink - Community Connections
Communications for Better Economic Outcomes
Economic development on any scale requires the collaboration of not only stakeholders but community members at large – the public. In order to succeed long term, most infrastructure and construction projects, as well as park or land preservation initiatives require strategic public awareness and consensus building. You need to get enough people interested in making… Read More »
NORTHEASTERLY: Spotlight on the New Hampshire Healthcare Sector
Northeasterly, April 9, 2026 A Blog about Prosperity and Opportunity in Northern New England Healthcare in New Hampshire and across the region faces a shortage of workers (both in health care support and health care practitioners). In fact, 29% of the state’s healthcare workers are nearing retirement, according to an assessment of the State’s workforce… Read More »
