Making a Difference While Making a Living

Cultivating Brilliance

As I understand it, diamonds are the result of coal combined with plants, fungi, and bacteria under extreme pressure over a really long time. And the brilliant multi-faceted gems we know as diamonds are the result of a refined process of cutting and polishing.

As I reflect on the process of launching Working for Good over the past few months, and of the work we are doing with each other and with our clients and projects, including the Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism (C3) Summit, Natural Enlightenment, Generocity Partners, and Compassion Happens, I recognize a similar process of pressure applied over time, accompanied by cutting and polishing. While the process in this case may have more of an ebb and flow, between pressure and reflection, the metaphor of the diamond and cultivating brilliance feels true to me.

In the case of a Conscious Business (at least, we intend and aspire to work in a way that can be called Conscious), we recognize the effect of the pressure, cutting, and polishing on ourselves, each other, our collaborators, clients, and others who we touch through our work. And we explicitly engage in explorations of how we can refine and enhance our process – to apply pressure, cut, and polish in different ways, with different intensities – or even to change our process more dramatically.

While I have always focused attention on how my presence and actions can facilitate my colleagues, collaborators, and others to learn, grow, and develop, as I more fully embody the role of CEO (thanks to my team who truly appointed me to play this role), I deeply recognize that cultivating brilliance is among the principal roles of a leader – in business or otherwise. Coincidentally, the focus of our business is in cultivating brilliance – presence, creativity, connection, collaboration, etc. in and through business. And all of our clients and projects are directly and explicit focused on this to a significant degree.

The theme of the 2010 C3 Summit – Exploring the Edges of Conscious Leadership – is catalyzing energized conversation and rich engagement with the event and its development process. Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Seventh Generation, who enthusiastically accepted our invitation, was surprised and delighted when I told him I wasn’t looking for him to make a presentation, but to engage in an authentic conversation with other corporate leaders and visionaries. Jean Houston, who will play a magical role in the Summit again this year, commented that what we have developed is “the kind of program that does not bore God.” And my friend and teacher Gabrielle Roth, who will support us with embodied experience proclaimed “It sounds fascinating and I am at your service.”

As I think about it now the C3 Summit is designed to create pressure (very explicitly) and through facilitated conversations, to engage participants in a process of reflection and refinement, ideally leading to more of their brilliance shining through when we emerge through the final celebration.

The process of facilitating the emergence of the expression of the perspective of Natural Enlightenment - which my friend Peter Baumann has been cultivating for more than a decade - through a booklet, a book, and other media, is very much one of applying pressure, cutting, and polishing. Writing and producing a book or other expression of complex ideas is definitely a process of cultivating brilliance. And, at times, intensely pressurized!

For the past several years I have written monthly reflections – looking back at the main themes and lessons of the prior month. And for much of last year and continuing into the beginning of this year I wrote multiple blog postings each week, reflecting more frequently. For the past several months I have been so fully immersed in the work represented by the preceding reflections, that I have barely posted on my blog or updated my Facebook or Twitter status. As I think about this, I recognize that I have been under pressure. I see it as part of the process of hardening the carbon and facilitating its transformation into beautiful, radiant, and resilient diamonds. While in nature the process is sequential – pressure over time creating the rough diamond, followed by cutting then polishing – for us the process is iterative and sometimes simultaneous.

This afternoon I had the great pleasure of meeting in person Kristin and David Morelli, whom I had met virtually through their internet radio program, Everything is Energy. The resonance and connection we shared  was a powerful reminder of how we can cultivate brilliance for ourselves and with others with kindness, generosity, and ease.

Pressure has its place. And so does flow.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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June 7, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments

The Role of the Conscious Leader: Facing Edges & Embracing Emergent Process

I note that I have been relatively quiet with my blog posting and external communications in general during the past couple of weeks. While I have been under the weather for over a week (which undoubtedly has something to do with the silence in this realm) and intensely focused on the work at hand, I think the deeper reason is a period of introspective reflection, growth, development, and integration. While this phase is still in process, some key insights and implications are beginning to clearly emerge, and are reflected in the title of this posting.

Among my current projects is the design, development, and, ultimately, production of the 2010 Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism (C3) Summit, to be convened in Lake Arrowhead California in October. While this is the fourth C3 event I have been involve with, it is the first one that is not being designed by committee, but by a small team (principally Rick Voirin and me) in close collaboration with Rand Stagen, who heads the Conscious Capitalism Alliance, the organization presenting the event, and with Ted and Chris Robb of InHouse Creative Studios, for production design. Rick and I are both process facilitators and are delighting in facilitating the process of the unfolding of the idea and experience that wants to express itself for this year’s C3 Summit.

What is speaking to us, and confirmed in our conversations with CEOs, thought leaders, and others, is the recognition that the role of the Conscious Leader building a Conscious Organization is that of facing growth edges and embracing and facilitating emergent process - for themselves, their colleagues and collaborators, and for the organization and its stakeholder ecosystem. On several occasions I have heard John Mackey talk about periods in the growth of Wholes Foods Market when the company has been stuck and when he worked through his personal baggage, the company shifted. This is not to say that what he or any one person experiences or holds controls the destiny of their organization, but it is to recognize that we exist in and as interconnected systems, and our individual processes reflect and affect the whole, and visa versa. A CEO and his or her consciousness and process can and do certainly affect their entire company. I certainly witness this with many entrepreneurs and CEOs, and their companies.

Moving through edges is what growth is all about. To be conscious is to be continually learning and growing.

As I play the role of CEO for the newly formed Working for Good, LLC, I recognize how my mindset and energy inform the overall team and its process. And when we make this explicit, as we often do, my colleagues confirm the affect I have as I work with and through my edges. The extent to which I can articulate my understanding of and relationship to my edges and to the emerging processes that I sense we are moving within, and we share a recognition of these emerging processes, our attention is unified and our energy is amplified.

As reflected by our signature line, “Making a Difference, Together” and our first principle “The Process is the Product,” we recognize that collaboration is an essential process for making a difference, and if we can face our individual and collective edges, together, then we will make a profound difference, and truly be Working for Good.

I sense that this is a dense posting, with many elements that can be expanded and more fully illustrated. And I sense this is a topic I will revisit often over the months ahead as we continue to deepen in the development of the C3 Summit and the business of Working for Good. I welcome reflections and insights for others, as we are truly all in this together.

With gratitude.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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April 9, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments

Deepening

When I opened my Facebook page Monday and read “What’s on your mind?” my response was “Deepening.” Here’s why.

The weekend of March 12th I facilitated a Working for Good workshop at Mii Amo Spa in Sedona, Arizona. The journey through the workshop was profound and catalytic, for the participants, my collaborator, and me, and its effects continue to reverberate. A main theme of the workshop and one I purposefully facilitated was that of finding and facing edges, and cultivating awareness and conditions to move through them. Moving through edges (those places where we feel fear, apprehension, strong energy, excitement, etc) invariably leads to deepening - of understanding, embodiment, relationships, and more. This process of facing edges continues daily since then.

A couple days after returning from Sedona, the Working for Good team, including our collaborator Julie van Amerongen, converged in The SF Bay area for a series of internal and external meetings, facilitated by my friend, colleague, collaborator, and mentor Rick Voirin. While the team is relatively new - only really working together for a couple of months - I knew that mid-March would be good timing and Rick’s facilitation would be essential for deepening our relationships and our overall team and business development process. Not only did we develop deeper understanding of each other, but all of the unexpressed and unresolved emotions, energies, and insights into our process came up with relative ease and grace (even if they were uncomfortable), and we stayed with them until we felt individual and collective resolution.  Here’s an example of the nature and substance of the process. Early in our meetings we addressed the question “if you were/are a superhero, who would you be?” My answer was Spiderman, as I recognize myself and am recognized by others as moving fast from one “building to another” and making connections along the way - weaving webs of relationships. While we all recognized the valuable asset that Spiderman is to our Working for Good team, later in our meetings, my teammates acknowledged that Spiderman was moving a little too fast and covering too much terrain, leaving them somewhat disoriented. (When I lived in Baja, the people who worked on our farm referred to me as “el coyote,” reflecting the fact that one moment I would be in one place and the next moment in another place, often far away.) based on this we agreed on a discreet, focused plan and a parameters for my movement and the way I stay connected to them while I am moving. So far, this insight and adjustment seems to be working well, and continually deepening our process and connection, releasing energy, opening communications, deepening relationship, and intensifying clarity and focus.

I witness a similar deepening process in my relationship to the Conscious Capitalism Alliance and its head, Rand Stagen, as we work together on the 2010 C3 Summit and on the first board meeting of the newly constituted Conscious Capitalism, Inc. board next week. Key to this deepening is the trust we have built and our courage to say what we see and feel, in ways that respect and honor each other. The deepening of understanding and trust reflects a virtuous cycle born of showing up openly and honestly. Rick Voirin plays an essential role in this process. I refer to him as a mentor in part to highlight the essential role mentors can play in our development. Rick’s deep experience and refined skill in facilitating individual and group processes inspires me and reveals another level of development, which I aspire to and am now cultivating through observation of and collaboration with him. In this case, “another level” reflects a deepening.

One more relationship that I experience a deepening is with my long-time friend and collaborator Peter Baumann, with and for whom I build a music company in the mid-80s called Private Music, and with whom I have worked on various projects, including a retreat center in Southern Baja California, a research and development project with the Institute of Noetic Sciences, among others. Peter’s work over the last 15+ years on what he is now calling Natural Enlightenment is deeply aligned with our work through Working for Good, and reflects and refines many of the insights I have garnered through my journey. As we approach another, deeper level of collaboration, our relationship and way of relating deepens. In this case, the experience of 26 years of friendship and various phases of collaboration, coupled with our individual growth and development, provides a context for deepening. Persistence has its rewards.

Deepening to me reflects a grounding of insight, understanding, and skill; connecting to what we might call soul: rooted in what lies under the surface, including shadows and blocks, which may hamper connection, growth, and development. As we deepen, we face and integrate them, allowing us to continue to deepen. The deeper the roots, the taller the tree can grow. So it is with our individual growth and relationships, as we deepen, we can expand and elevate our function on and above the surface.

In our Working for Good business development plan, we have identified as the highest priority the ongoing development of our ethos and culture - the ground upon which we cultivate everything else. We recognize that embodying our insight and commitment to the concept “the process is the product” is essential to the health, well-being, and success of our business.

I expect that I will have much to explore and report on deepening for a long time.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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March 25, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Principles, Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments

Making a Difference, Together

Shortly after I finished writing my book, Working for Good: Making a Difference While Making a Living, people started asking me if I planned to write another (as if finishing one weren’t enough!) My response typically was, “If I do, I will probably call it Working for Good: Together.” Out of all of the insights I garnered and lessons I learned or reinforced through and during the process of writing the book, the power and primacy of collaboration was among, if not the, most essential.

I truly would not have been able to write the book without the support from and collaboration with Elad Levinson and Julie van Amerongen. And without Kelly Notaras’ early editing and guidance it would not have been worth publishing.

During the same time I was writing the book, as I was navigating challenging territory with the production of the 2009 Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism Summit, without the tireless presence of Phyllis Blees and the moral and creative support from Ted Robb, I don’t know if the ship would have sailed.

And as I reflected on all of the “missions accomplished” over the years, in every case there was a team of collaborators (myself included as one among a team) who made it possible.

This recognition purposefully led me to find, attract, and engage a new team to build Working for Good and to continue the work I have been doing for the past ten years under Cause Alliance Marketing. The process of catalyzing the team, (with Susan Hollingshead, Velco Farina, and Chris Robb at the core, Julie and others deeply engaged and connected to it), and laying the foundations for our conscious collaboration, is one of the most energizing and inspiring things I have ever experienced.

While the process is still unfolding, and we have many miles to go before we sleep, it is no mistake that the signature line (or tag line) for our business recently emerged as Making a Difference, Together. And, I must add, I really did not drive the process of getting there. It truly emerged as the essence of what we are about.

True to the principle of transparency, which is core to our process, I intend to document much of our process in my blog and, eventually, we are likely to do so via video.

Stay tuned, and please share your insights into the process of collaboration - the ups and downs, principles and skills, and anything else that feeds the journey.

Yours in Working for Good!

Jeff

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March 8, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Principles, Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments

Coherence

At the recommendation of my general physician during my annual physical, I recently purchased a portable emWave device from the Institute of HeartMath as a tool to reduce stress and increase heart wave coherence and overall health. In this context, coherence is the “highly efficient physiological state in which the nervous system, cardiovascular, hormonal, and immune systems are working efficiently and harmoniously.” More coherence = less stress.

The benefits of coherence include greater ease, faster recovery from stress, increased health, more presence, deeper sleep, and better performance in general, among others. Kind of a no-brainer, and very easy to practice in very little time.

I have no doubt that the coherence cultivated through the emWave practice will enhance coherence in other aspects of my work and life, and will serve as a metaphor for the cultivation of coherence in general.

Coherence in our work implies aligning ourselves with work that connects with our passion and draws on our strengths. This requires inquiry and exploration. Coherence in our relationships implies greater synchronization and alignment - working together harmoniously and efficiently. This requires listening, learning to connect, and practicing dialogue (rather than diatribe or debate).

While the HeartMath tools provide easy-to-apply technology to cultivating heart wave coherence, the Working for Good tools for cultivating coherence with our purpose, passion, and action, and coherence with our relationships take a little more initiative on our parts. But they are relatively straightforward. With clear intention and ongoing practice, coherence becomes increasingly easy and over time becomes our baseline pattern.

It is never too late to start or restart the practice of cultivating coherence and, as in most Working for Good practices, doing so together makes it easier and faster to progress.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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February 22, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Principles, Working for Good  No Comments

Take Care of Yourself

Boy, this is a big issue. I’ve always know it to be so, but since I started writing this piece a couple weeks ago it’s significance has become even more apparent.

People frequently ask me how I do all that I do and how I look and act so young. I suppose I have a pretty full life - working essentially all the time, while (solo) parenting, working out regularly, and always finding time to play. And, I acknowledge, I carry my nearly 52 years well. I actually think I am in the best physical condition of my life, with strength and endurance comparable to, if not better than, that of my teens. And I seem to be healthy in other domains - including emotional, mental, spiritual, and social - too. (Have to be careful not to presume too much!)

I think the answer to the question (how I do what I do and look and act so young) is simply “I take care of myself.” While that may be a simple answer, I realize that, for many people, doing so is not so simple. While laziness or busyness may explain it, as I think about this more and more and observe others, I think the root of the difficulty for many people is that they were never really encouraged to take care of themselves or taught now to do so. Many of the explicit and implicit messages in our culture say “Follow the rules.” “You don’t really have any power or authority.” “Someone else will take care of making important decisions.” “Something wrong, the professional will take care of it for you (you pay, of course).” “To get the golden ring you have to sacrifice almost everything except the pursuit of the golden ring (and the golden ring is a single, specific goal, usually material or status related).”

I vividly remember my visit to Bainbridge Graduate Institute last April and how exhausted and stressed so many of the students were and, with my invitation, they acknowledged this to be true. And this is at a wonderful program designed to cultivate conscious, sustainability-minded MBA students.

So, what does it mean to take care of yourself, of ourselves? First, is to recognize that we are multi-dimensional beings with an array of needs, including physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, relational, etc. Second, is to truly understand the nature of interdependence and to recognize that healthy systems, sustainability, peace, and other virtues we aspire to manifest in the world begin with healthy individuals, embodying the attributes we envision defining the system. “Put your own Oxygen mask on first before you assist other passengers.” And third, we need to understand that, as with all things, we reap what we sow - it takes focused, persistent attention and effort to cultivate health in every domain, but this effort ultimately creates a positive inertia - movement in the direction of health. And the process of focusing of self care generates a sense of confidence, capacity, and sensitivity that carries over into other realms, including caring for others, and creating or building whatever it may be - a company, project, product, work of art….

Over the years I have found countless ways with countless teachers or guides to care for different aspects of my being, which I actively apply to myself and my relationships, and which I enthusiastically share with others. I think we need to create a culture in which open exploration and collaboration in caring for ourselves, each other, and our groups is a primary focus. This is one of the core commitments of the Working for Good team and we embody it in practice every day. The result is deepening understanding of and love for each other, and a safe and supportive container that allows us to more fully show up, express our unique gifts, and co-create together. While our team is relatively new, the depth and openness of our relationships is stunning, and the results are magnificent.

I find the same to be true in relationships in general - with my daughter Meryl Fé, with friends old and new, and in intimate relationship. If we can truly hold ourselves, then we can hold each other without grasping. We can celebrate each other and enthusiastically embrace the success and full expression of our beloved, without feeling diminished or out of balance.

While it may seem counterintuitive, I think a key to liberation is to love yourself and to truly take care of yourself. From there, you can care for all people and things, and transcend your self. The object is not to become self absorbed or narcissistic, but to become healthy and secure, so you can fly beyond yourself.

I encourage you to give yourself full permission to take care of yourself, and to find ways to do so that really serve. Asking others for support and attention may be one of those ways.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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February 20, 2010  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments

Gestation

This is my first blog post in over ten days, after posting twice a week since April 2009, with a little break over the holidays. Interestingly (at least to me) I wrote or started a few pieces since my last post - Restoration – on February 1st.

For some reason, I decided not to post, but to wait – to be with the great flow and deep development process unfolding with Working for Good and Conscious Capitalism, among other things.

As I reflected on all of this yesterday, I had a clear sense of gestation – that period and process between conception and birth, when life is dramatically developing, form and function are revealing themselves, and character begins expressing itself. With all of it being invisible to the naked eye, though very much available to subtle perception.

The gestation periods for a new business, a social movement, a sacred relationship, and other collaborative creations are not as predictable as those of biological beings, but, at some point, birth happens. While the births my collaborators and I are midwiving are not yet crowning, the signs of emergence are quickening.

Stay tuned!

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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February 13, 2010  Tags: , , , ,   Posted in: Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments

Restoration

I’ve been dancing with this blog post since last Saturday, when the theme appeared to me. I recognized that the week ahead (now nearly past) called for a deep level of retreat and restoration, while maintaining full out engagement with the river of activity in my life (parenting, training, building, serving, etc.).

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I heeded the call and wove real retreat and purposeful restoration into the week. It began with the weekly Sweat Your Prayers convergence Sunday morning in Sausalito. Fortunately, the music perfectly supported a flowing, reflective, restorative wave for me (I didn’t even break a sweat, which is incredible since, as Meryl Fé observes frequently, I sweat just thinking about moving - i.e. dancing, running, training, etc.).

On Monday I was able to swing by Kabuki Hot Springs in San Francisco between meetings, and Wednesday afternoon I made a quick foray to Harbin Hot Springs for a deep dive into healing, hot water, beautiful open nature, and all that goes with it. Just the drive - taking in the mountains and music, fed the place that was calling for attention. And a 30-minute nap after a long soak probably replaced hours of sleep (I am still sleeping only 3 - 5 hours a night).

So what is this all about? I think it is a call to cultivate the ability to source stillness in any situation at any moment. I just started reading Yoga Nidra by Richard Miller (and beginning to explore working with Richard and his iRest material) and recognize this opportunity eloquently expressed in his work.

As I engaged with the rest of my life this week (that is, the aspects of my week that were not in hot water or slow movement) I recognized the profound effect of connecting to this source while engaged in action. Among other things, I was able to stay steady and present in a meeting that was not starting out with flow, and guide it to beautiful resolution. I held Meryl Fé through tears without leaving her (in any respect) and supported her to find solace and ease in spite of her fears and sadness. And yesterday, I had the most fun I have ever had sparring in a martial arts class. Coming from a relaxed, easy place, my speed, strength, precision, and seeing reached a level I have never really recognized before in that context. It was awesome. And I realize that it was the presence and energy that flowed through me by coming from the stillness that enabled the experience.

As I write this I am en route to a Conscious Capitalism leadership retreat at John Mackey’s ranch outside Austin. While a month ago I was somewhat reticent about attending, I am as enthusiastic as a child going to the circus, anticipating adventure, joy, and lots of energy. The facilitator (a good reason I am looking forward to this so much), Rick Voirin, is profoundly masterful. Last night, in an email to set the tone and deepen the context, he referenced the US Constitutional Congress and the work of Mark Gerzon Leading Through Conflict: How Successful Leaders Transform Differences into Opportunities, and truly set a transcendent frame for our retreat - tapping into the vast field of time and space in which Conscious Capitalism is emerging and supporting us to relax our small I - our individual interests and differences - to tap into the potential of a profound collaboration between us, with others, and with the unfolding potential of Conscious Capitalism itself. I like that it is called a retreat and I feel that the personal restoration process I tuned into this week is right in sync.

I look forward to witnessing and diving into what next week calls for. Right now, I’ll just show up for what presents itself - right here, right now.

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January 29, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Principles, Reflections, Working for Good  4 Comments

Foundations

Yesterday the Working for Good founding team met to finalize our formal organizational process, discuss our business development strategy, review current project, and break bread together (we’re really good at that!).

Consistent with the rich organic process by which we have come together, it was so enjoyable and productive, no one wanted to leave when it was time to disperse. Deep roots like to stay in the ground.

Among other things, we got clear on our respective roles and even manifested our respective titles. Here’s what they look like:

Velco Farina, Chief Business Design Officer

Chris Robb, Chief Creative Officer

Susan Hollingshead, Chief Integration Officer

Jeff Klein, CEO + Chief Activation Officer

Like a good Gurkha team, we all have a broad range of skills and can cover each others’ backs, yet we excel at one area, which is reflected in our roles and titles. Creating a business is truly an artistic process and we get to paint the picture or compose the symphony or cook the meal, with ourselves as the ingredients!

The focus of our business is threefold:

CAUSE ALLIANCE MARKETING PROGRAMS: Working for Good produces and promotes Cause Alliance Marketing programs, which drive social and environmental change through multi-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder engagement. By cultivating ecosystems of companies, NGOs, government agencies, and other organizations with aligned vision and values, the Working for Good campaigns catalyze collective conscience, intelligence, and energy to drive profound, positive change.

CONSULTING: We provide consulting services to Working for Good Program Partners to support them to deepen more fully integrate their practice of conscious business and, in the process, to more fully engage their stakeholders to create a more resilient and sustainable business ecosystem.

COMMUNITY: WorkingforGood.com will be the web-based home for all of the Working for Good programs and related campaigns. As communities - of companies, NGOs, other organizations, and their stakeholders - come together to collaborate on the programs, a vast and diverse community of organizations and individuals from all walks of life will converge to learn, communicate, and collaborate together.

We are already immersed in our first projects, have several others in the pipeline, and designing the web platform.

I look forward to providing an ongoing story of the development of our work, and invite comments and questions along the way.

Yours in Working for Good,

Jeff

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January 20, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Working for Good  No Comments

Reflections on the Week of 1.10.10

The second full week of 2010 was quite extraordinary. If I try to characterize it in a word or two some of those that come up for me are movement, signs, early fruit, acceleration, foundations, and can’t forget full and fulfilling!

There was so much energy flowing in and around me that I found myself waking up at 2 or 3 am, fully awake, even if I only got a couple hours of sleep. I think I averaged 4 1/2 a night. While not optimal, I think I made it through OK. Ended Friday with a visit to Steven Finkbine, my acupuncturist and, as I expected, my energy was unlike he has ever felt it before. And while my eyes showed signs of insufficient sleep, all the other signs were strong.

Some of the highlights of the week included deepening collaboration for the Working for Good Team and we closed our first client/project as a team (details to follow soon). We also had an incredible meeting with leadership of the Women’s Funding Network to explore collaboration. My W4G partner and collaborator Chris Robb nailed the conceptual design of our web platform this week. Our partner Velco Farina, who arrived tonight for a series of meetings next week, pulled out his highly sophisticated tool-box (built through studying as an Industrial Engineer and MBA, and working as a consultant for Bain, McKinsey, and Sapient), which we anticipate employing on our next project, which we are meeting on next week. And Susan Hollingshead manages to shine her brilliance on us even as she focuses most of her time on facilitating her transition from B Labs to Working for Good. I am delighted that my long-time collaborator Julie van Amerongen will be working with us on various projects too.

The week began with a mind-expanding and inspiring call with Rand Stagen and Rick Voirin (one of the smartest and most skillful people I have ever met) who will be facilitating an upcoming Conscious Capitalism Retreat at John Mackey’s ranch outside Austin. To be honest, my interest in attending went from marginal to enthusiastic after the call. It promises to be an extraordinary retreat with surprises for all. I am certainly going with the expectation of being surprised. Tuesday I had the great delight to dine with my friend and fellow CC Alliance board member Cheryl Rosner, which is always fun and expansive. In addition to being a great friend and impeccable collaborator, I consider Cheryl to be a mentor and guide in the art of being a CEO and running a company.

The O.N.E. Coconut Water Campaign I am producing/facilitating is coming together beautifully, as are the materials for the campaign, which we formally launch mid-February. Given the intensification of my exercise regime, I find myself increasing my already high consumption of O.N.E. Coconut Water. What an amazing drink.

Tuesday I drove up to Ukiah for an interview with Michael Toms of New Dimensions Radio, which was somewhat like going to visit a wise man (and wise woman, his wife and partner Justine) for a deep conversation, which will air sometime in the next few months.

Another highlight of the week was my weekly facilitated inner work session (which some might call therapy). Every so often I find a good facilitator/guide and I’ve found an excellent one with whom I have been working the past several months. This week the shift was palpable - coming into the session and leaving. One thing I will attest to - ongoing practice does yield results.

After an incredible Mixed Martial Arts conditioning class last Saturday (at Marin MMA), I decided to do both the Thai Kickboxing and Brazilian Ju Jitsu classes back-to-back today. I must admit, the old guy was really sucking it up by the end, but I made it through, and feel great for having done so. After a full week of moving and engaging, it feels like icing on the cake to move physical energy with great intensity. I’ll start next week with a Sweat Your Prayers session first thing tomorrow morning, to dance the week in.

As always, the greatest moments of the week are those spent connecting and going deeper with Meryl Fé, friends, colleagues, and people I am just meeting. I am blessed to be surrounded by an ever-growing circle of inspired and inspiring people. I look forward to exploring new dimensions, within myself and with others, in week number three!

Wishing you the same good fortune.

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January 17, 2010  Tags: , , , , , , ,   Posted in: Reflections, Working for Good  No Comments