Looking for leverage…

September 30, 2012

“Small changes can produce big results – but the areas of highest leverage are often the least obvious.” –  Peter Senge, “The Fifth Discipline” Do we best change the world by pushing it – or does just pushing  hard only  generate resistance? For change-makers, the concept of leverage can be a useful one to work…

Inspirations from Cradle to Cradle…

September 28, 2012

One of the early books that hooked me into Regenerative Business was “Cradle to Cradle” by Michael Braungart and Bill McDonough.  I loved it – not just for the cool plastic “paper” it was printed on, but for the exciting ideas inside it. I tried to share it with some of my executive coaching clients,…

Need an energy recharge?

September 19, 2012

Found this video – an energy recharge and a sense of perspective.

Blue wrens on Bourke Street?

September 16, 2012

Sitting in Kinfolk community cafe talking about Regenerative Business recently with a Melbourne Hubber, we got to the topic of creating positive visions. What would a regenerative City of Melbourne look like?   How would we know a deep and significant shift had occurred?  What small, tangible thing would we be seeing differently? Maybe a…

The ‘how’ of being the change…

September 8, 2012

“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi As an Ontological Practitioner I take this quote as more than a challenge to act sustainably.  Ontology is the study of how humans go about the process of being, and Ontological Coaching takes an approach to change and innovation that focuses on our Way…

Creating clarity on a sustainable future

September 5, 2012

In an earlier post “Conversational practices for smart sustainability professionals” we outlined four types of conversations that contribute to effective communication and collaboration. The most overlooked type of conversation is a conversation for clarity, where we articulate and test our understanding of a situation; explore the understandings of others; and develop a shared understanding.  Conversations…

Is there a process behind our heroes?

August 19, 2012

Joel Makower’s recent blog “Why aren’t there more Ray Andersons?” was an interesting read with great insights into who Ray was from other famous sustainability players.  The ongoing conversation from that article is the basis of this post. There was a PROCESS behind Ray Anderson’s “aha” moment on sustainability… I only met Ray through his books, including…

Are your opinions making you impotent?

August 10, 2012

Our assessments and opinions limit our ability to see opportunities. Here’s an exercise to help validate your assessments.

My ideal (regenerative) iPhone

August 10, 2012

My ideal iPhone wouldn’t be mine… My ideal iPhone would be a product of service. It’s body would belong to Apple and I’d lease its services – as an entertainment and communication platform. My data (music, notes, apps, movies, etc.) would be on a removable memory card in the same way the SIM card is…

Farewell Stephen Covey

August 6, 2012

Vale Stephen Covey. Author of FIRST THINGS FIRST and THE THIRD ALTERNATIVE – useful resources for change-makers.

Powerful conversational practices for smart sustainability professionals

July 19, 2012

“It is through conversations that we interact with each other, coordinate actions and get things done.  Conversations underpin and accompany everything we do, and what we do and do not accomplish.” Alan Sieler, ‘Coaching to the Human Soul. Volume 1’ p.249 Getting things done in the world – and particularly in business – happens through conversation. …

Spreading sustainability: innovation diffusion applied

June 24, 2012

In the book “Crossing the Chasm“, marketer Geoffrey Moore proposed that there is a specific challenge in moving innovations from the early adopters (technology enthusiasts and visionaries) out into the broader community – particularly in engaging the early majority ( who are pragmatists).  Many innovations never make it across “the chasm” into the broader population, regardless of…