This how to was shared at Wisdom 2.0 Business in May 2012, and practiced among 400+ business leaders to help get the conference attendees present and connected to themselves and the people around them. The check-in exercise was led by Chris Murchison, VP of Staff Development, Learning and Innovation at HopeLab. For more information on HopeLab, visit hopelab.org.

1. Fortune Teller Check-In Exercise
We created this exercise to help Wisdom 2.0 Business conference
participants connect with each other and experience the value of such check-in exercises.
This particular exercise is a “riff” off of a childhood game called Fortune Teller or Cootie
Catcher. To create the game, use the pre-made templates we used at Wisdom 2.0 or create
your own. To play, have one partner (A) hold the Fortune Teller. The other (B) chooses one of
the outer words. Partner A spells out the word, opening and closing the Fortune Teller
horizontally then vertically. When finished spelling the word, four inner words will be revealed.
Partner B chooses one of htem. Parnter A lifts up that panel and reveals and reads the
question there. Partner B responds and thus ensues a great “get to know you” conversation!
May 2012

2. Design Template
This template displays the multiple panels in the Fortune Teller. Use it to
map out your design.

3. Version #1
distracted
hopeful
If you
In this think about
moment, what your
distracting “personal
thoughts are mission
recurring for statement”
you? What is what words
it about these come to
things that mind? What
eager has you parts of your kind
hooked? life connect
you to that
kindness. What
was the impact
mission?
to do that you
been wanting
keep pushing
seems to get
in your way?
of this act on
recent act of
consistently
something
Describe a
you have
off. What
What is
you?
someone in
your life that
you feel
great love
story about
them and
why they are
so dear to
you.
Who is
for. Tell a
why?
choose and
one would you
power” which
“super-
have one
love If you could curious
experience?
you? to learn or
has delighted most excited
far this week that What are you
experienced so conference?
thing you have you to this
What is one What brings
delighted
joyful

4. Version #2
distracted
hopeful
If you
In this
think about
moment,
your
what
“personal
distracting
mission
thoughts are
statement”
recurring for
what words
you? What is
come to
it about these
mind? What
things that
eager has you
parts of your kind
life connect
hooked?
you to that
kindness. What
was the impact
mission?
to do that you
been wanting
keep pushing
seems to get
of this act on
in your way?
recent act of
consistently
Describe a
something
you have
off. What
What is
you?
was it helpful?
you? How
it surprise
you? Why did
surprised
recently that
have received
feedback you
What is some
someone in
your life that
you feel
great love
story about
them and
why they are
so dear to
you.
Who is
for. Tell a
love curious
experience?
delighted you? to learn or
that has most excited
far this week What are you
experienced so conference?
thing you have you to this
What is one What brings
delighted
joyful

5. Version #3
distracted
hopeful
In this If you
moment, think about
what your
distracting “personal
thoughts are mission
recurring for statement”
you? What what words
would it take come to
to let go of mind? What
eager these parts of your kind
thoughts? life connect
you to that
from someone.
mission?
create in you?
have on you?
kindness that
you received
What energy
recent act of
impact did it
What was it
forward to?
Describe a
something
and what
does this
you are
What is
looking
on you?
think that had
impact do you
Raised? What
you born?
Where were
about them
Who is a
work
colleague,
present or
past, that
you really
admire.
What is it
that you like
so much?
to you?
love meaningful curious
was it so
beautiful? liked? Why
incredibly particularly
struck you as you
recently that received that
noticed you have
something you compliment
delighted
What is What is a
joyful

6. Version #4
distracted
hopeful
If you
In this
think about
moment,
your
what
“personal
distracting
mission
thoughts are
statement”
recurring for
what words
you? What
come to
would it take
mind? What
to let go of
parts of your
eager these
life connect
kind
thoughts?
you to that
mission?
from someone.
create in you?
have on you?
you are really
kindness that
you received
What energy
recent act of
impact did it
What was it
forward to?
Describe a
something
and what
does this
What is
looking
had on you?
ancestry has
think your
impact do you
from? What
ancestors
your
Where are
someone in
your life that
you feel
great love
story about
them and
why they are
so dear to
you.
Who is
for. Tell a
to you?
love meaningful
curious
was it so
beautiful? liked? Why
incredibly particularly
struck you as that you
recently that received
you noticed you have
something compliment
delighted
What is What is a
joyful

7. Folding Instructions