Entries
Redefining your personal economy
Saturday, April 17th, 2010Dan Robles nails it again. 4 Square, redefining currency, revaluing knowledge. What’s your personal economy going to look like in 10 years?
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Archive for the ‘Economy’ CategoryThinking about soft infrastructureThursday, April 15th, 2010Our national attention finally turned to our aging transportation infrastructure this past decade, although we’ve just begun to restructure and fund these priorities. But we may be even father behind in communications technology, despite private and public efforts. Most people’s eyes glaze over when you mention ” broadband”. Here’s a good article that presents a different meme, “soft infrastructure”. While it will never overcome the focus on Dancing with the Stars, maybe this can better capture our group consciousness and attention, so we can really do something about it. What Happens AFTER The Canary In The CoalMine Dies?Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
corporate mindshift: management ICELAND 3 MONTHS LATER This tiny island of fewer than 300,000 people was the sacrificial canary in the coalmine for the global economic collapse just 3 short months ago. The Icelandic economy, laden with overseas debt of more than 10 times GDP, was the first to collapse in what will most likely be a global domino effect from the credit fallout, despite huge bailouts. SO WHAT IS A GUY GOING TO DO? You have lost your life savings, your job and possibly, your home…what comes next? This story is near to my heart because of my Icelandic roots…and my grandfathers story. A Clucking Good Way To A Greener, Self-Sustaining CityTuesday, March 10th, 2009
enlightened orgs: inspiration VANCOUVER CLUCKS! Chickens in your back yard?…what do you think? This “Monday” blog is written to honor what we believe are enlightened organizations and communities, and is normally posted on Monday, but our Monday posting has been delayed in hopes of results on a great story coming out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Unfortunately, the City Council will not vote until tonight on a resolution that will determine what you, if you live in Vancouver, can have clucking in your back yard. So I felt I could be late no longer. Lets talk about it and on Wednesday, I will give you the results of their vote. IN A NATION OF FOOD BANKS – WE ARE JUST BEGINNING TO GET IT… What Does It Take For An Organization To Change Its Mindset?Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009
corporate mindshift: management CHANGING ONES OWN MINDSET CAN BE CHALLENGING – BUT CAN YOU SHIFT AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION? If you have ever tried to make a lifestyle change, perhaps to exercise more, eat healthier, spend more time with loved ones and less time at the office, you know what a challenge it can be just to make a small change in behaviourial patterns. If you think it is challenging to change behaviours, consider how much more challenging it is to make significant mental or consciousness shifts, for oneself, and particularly, for an entire organization. So, how on earth do you begin to shift? Your IntuitionTuesday, February 24th, 2009
corporate mindshift: management WHY DO WE NEED TO TRUST OUR INNER SELF? The global economy is in transition. Times of transition are accompanied by stress and uncertainty. Transition means a journey into new and uncharted waters. Which means, no one has the answers. A prime example can be found in the debates raging around the world on how best to handle this first-ever global financial crisis. Be at least as interested in what goes on inside you as what happens outside. When you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place.Primary reality is within, secondary reality is without. -Eckhart Tolle, author, The New Earth Intuition is a guidance that comes from within. It is our inner self. It comes from a feeling place and seems to signal something that is TRUTH for us. We have structured a society with heavy reliance upon outside expert sources and double-blind studies to tell us what we should think and how we should act. Advertising bombards us daily in an attempt to shape our thoughts. We have lost touch with our own guidance systems. Poop – Planet – ProsperityMonday, February 16th, 2009
enlightened orgs: inspiration A NEW BLACK GOLD In the debt-free province of Alberta, where the black gold that first gushed from the ground in the 1950’s, has resulted in a Heritage Trust fund worth of billions of dollars being set aside for a “rainy day” – getting anyone to think about alternative energy sources is not an easy sell. But two framers from the tiny farming community of Vegreville have risen to the challenge. Their innovation to create Biogas from cattle manure seems a perfect fit for a province that has ranching as it second largest industry. It is also timely for a province aware of the implications of the depleting sources of non-renewable oil and gas, and the challenges of a reliance on an industry with a Boom/Bust economic cycle.  “Inventing a new technology is a pure Alberta story… a great example that building a knowledge economy can happen on the farm, not just in ivory towers” – Evan Chapko, CEO, Highmark Renewables (Edmonton Journal, 02/08/09)
FROM POOP TO PROFIT…Alberta’s new Black Gold… Greed Addiction Blocks Ethical FunctioningTuesday, February 10th, 2009
corporate mindshift: management SCARCITY VS ABUNDANCE Last Thursday I posted an article titled Let’s Redefine Abundance. Thanks to Nick Corsi for this link from the PopTech Conference 2008 that expands on the topic. Listen as Peter Whybrow, neuropsychiatrist, author of “American Mania: When More Is Not Enough,” describes the brain physiology of addiction of a society that demands more and more, yet is left empty, devoid and sick. This clip outlines the HOPE that underlies this economic crisis, if we will take the opportunity to make a cultural shift in our evolution.
Click on photo for video presentation of Peter WhyBrow at the PopTech conference 2008 on the brain physiology of BLESS BLESS
The Power Of A Small Group Of PeopleThursday, February 5th, 2009
Consciousness: inspiration CONGRATULATIONS, CANADA! Today, we are celebrating the significant acts of two groups of people who are making a difference – first, a group of Canadians doing, 1 million right things...and secondly, 2500 Australians, who peacefully stood up for their beliefs. My usual approach to this Friday post on Consciousness, is to recognize the inspiring efforts of an individual who is committed to doing something special to make a difference on the planet. We call this person an enlightenor. They are, typically, someone who is quietly going about doing the right things, for the right reasons. It is exciting to see groups of people coming together – one dream – one team! On Wednesday, February 4th,2009, a Canadian team reached its goal! Slow MoneyMonday, January 26th, 2009
Will YOU save the planet for me? enlightened orgs: inspiration SLOW AND STEADY Will we sleep better knowing we have made a few million dollars on a “paper” or “security” that is not tied to something tangible and could collapse at any minute? … or will we leave this world pleased we have restored the planet to the beauty and abundance it once held for all? We had the Slow Food industry, as a backlash to unhealthy eating, now Woody Tasch has initiated his Slow Money movement to offset the lust for speedy profits, at any cost. Tasch is our honored CEO of Enlightened Orgs for the work he is doing to bring sensibility to a world made giddy by financial greed. THE MOST POWERFUL SOLUTIONS ARE OFTEN THE SIMPLEST… Understanding the Big Economic Picture – Debt and MoneyMonday, January 19th, 2009
AWARENESS AND ATTENTION ARE OUR STARTING POINTS We mentioned the great program, PopTech, last week. If you haven’t watched it yet, here’s another excellent presentation from the October 2008 conference. Debt-crisis expert Juan Enriquez diagnoses and prescribes a reasonable 10-point remedy to America’s pressing financial ills. Juan calls it a “systemic problem“. Please understand what he means. Only if you do, can you be informed and educate your elected officials who you hired to act on your behalf. For all of our sakes, please listen carefully, then follow up at PopTech. Can’t see it? Get FlashPlayer, or view at PopTech. Do you have your head around what “our” Federal Reserve Bank, mortgage bankers, financial “experts” and insurance executives have done with derivatives? $531 trillion??? BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT MONEY REALLY IS AND HOW IT’S CREATED? This is important. What Are the Canaries In the Economic Coalmine to Watch?Monday, January 19th, 2009
global trends: economy: non-traditional revenues BREATHE DEEPLY Our last post talked about the adult entertainment industry’s request for a government bailout as a canary in the economy’s coal mine – a harbinger of the thinning oxygen of cash flow. But to see one canary doesn’t necessarily give us good direction. What are the other canaries to watch? There are so many. We’ll look at just a few. This week we’ll focus on specific “non-traditional” revenues, forms of value added taxes, or goods and services taxes [Wikipedia] based on your travel, entertainment and gambling activities. In the coming weeks, we’ll observe others. WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT NON-TRADITIONAL REVENUES? Porn Industry Seeks A Federal Bailout – A Canary in the Economic CoalmineMonday, January 19th, 2009
global trends: industry upheavals CANARIES GALORE We all know the story of the coal miners who would take a canary in a cage with them as they entered mine shafts. If the canary died, it indicated oxygen depletion and acted as a warning to the miners to move quickly to avoid their own deaths. The livelihoods of real people and their families are at stake with every loss of a job, but if watch the big picture, we see interesting changes. The adult sex industry has been the bulwark of Internet revenue and growth since nearly the beginning. Now CNN reports that the porn industry is asking for a handout.
FORGET YOUR RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL PERSUASIONS FOR A MOMENT… Humor as Reality, The Subprime Crisis ExplainedFriday, January 16th, 2009
Friday Funnies Have you watched Bremner, Bird & Fortune, the satirical British television program? [Wikipedia] Here is John Bird and John Fortune’s totally believable take on the investment banking community mindset and the subprime crisis. Can’t see it? Get FlashPlayer, or view at YouTube. GOT ONE TO SHARE? What Is Mindshift?Tuesday, January 13th, 2009
 A Balanced Mindclick to enlarge corporate mindshift: management:global trends THINGS DON’T CHANGE: PEOPLE CHANGE THINGS I like the quote from Andy Warhol, “They say time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself.” One of my best life lessons was coming to the realization that when I changed the way I looked at a situation – the situation itself seemed to change - when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change! EASIER TO SAY, THAN TO DO… Paul Krugman Video for Big Think on 2009 EconomyMonday, January 12th, 2009
global trends: economy IT’S NOT HARD TO PREDICT, NOW THAT WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE Thirty years ago, not many people were looking forward to this transition. Not even a few year ago. Otherwise, books like Michael Mandeville’s 2003 book, The Coming Economic Collapse, would have been best sellers. Now that we’ve experienced the last quarter of 2008, detailed info what what comes next is available online if you want to read it. Our focus is help folks get through the mess, but also to realize that life on the other side will be much different, and can become very positive and life supporting. Each Monday we’ll try to post a few articles touching on the immediate 2009 economy, what comes after the meltdown, and how to survive and thrive with your business. Economist Paul Krugman was one of the few voices of dissent during the early Bush-2 administration when most everyone was in lockstep. “Normal rules do not apply as long as depression economics prevails.” Paul Krugman Can’t see it? Get FlashPlayer, or view at BigThink. WANT MORE? Recovering Main Street & Reshuffling the World EconomyMonday, January 12th, 2009
global trends: fixing our economy Welcome to the first Monday edition of Global Trends, focused on what’s happening today that is turning your life on its head. We can’t ignore it any longer. If we bury our heads in the sand, there won’t be any sand left within months, not decades. “THIS IS GOING TO BE A HARD TIME” PopTech (The PopTech story) has begun a series of video interviews, Diagnoses and Prescriptions: Global Economic Crisis. Here’s an insightful one with Robert Borosage on what to do to fix things. Can’t see it? Get FlashPlayer, or view at PopTech. “IDEAS START ON THE OUTSIDE AND ARE DRIVEN BY PASSION” The Market Is Finally Set For MicropaymentsMonday, January 5th, 2009
Economy: Micropayments WILL MICROPAYMENTS TAKE OFF? For years, developers and investors have tried to create a system to collect micropayments [Wikipedia] for online goods or services. Web businesses have been stuck between free/subsidized, and about $1-$5, since the charges for credit card processing don’t usually justify payment processing for items less than $5. This has led to advertising as being the only viable web model for businesses that might rely on micropayments. Following a 15% growth in $11 billion in the first half of 2008, Web advertising is taking a hit from its exponential web growth with the economic downturn, as reflected in the PubMatic Ad Price Index. A NEW REVENUE OPTION FOR WEB BUSINESSES The TAO OF Conscious Business Slide 3Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
enlightened organizations: global trends: inspiration
FROM “TAKERS” TO “GIVERS” – SLIDE 3 Whether you currently have a business, anticipate starting a business, or want to invest in a business; we believe this model will help you pick the winners! Abundance, Inter-connectivity and Consciousness are the main characteristics of the emerging economy. Today, I present the third of our trio of slides explaining our TAO of Conscious Business(tm). You can use the links below to review Slides 1 and 2. Power In Business Is On The Way Out – TAO Slide 2Tuesday, December 16th, 2008
enlightened organizations: global trends
WE’RE RIGHT AT THE TURNING POINT A big shift in all our institutions, businesses and governments is underway. The old power regime is struggling to retain control but, as in any evolutionary process, it must adapt or be replaced by a more adaptable system. In this discussion of Slide 2 of our TAO of Conscious Business(tm) trio of slides, we point out a few of the symptoms that confirm for us the decline is underway. Click to review Slide 1 |
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Rognvaldson Spinning Wheel
Intuition guides you in a quantum world
Hustler’s Larry Flint
