Gaia: Working for Good

Re: Working For Good

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:43:21 GMT

Thanks, for sharing. The good deeds we do make us feel good inside.

Re: Working for Good Update

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:39:42 GMT

I wish you the best of luck with your book , as I believe it will be amazing.
Thanks for the update, and I will look forward to more blogs.

Loriann

Working for Good Update

http://babajeff.gaia.com — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:30:12 GMT

Greetings all. This is a copy of the email I sent and Blog post I made on 3.31.08.

[Working for Good] Working for Good Update

I find that there are two principal ways I “seal in” new learnings. 1. is to reflect on them, 2. to pass them on to others. What I love best about writing my reflections like this, is I get to do both simultaneously!

It has been quite a while since I have put the two together, as it has been a long, intense run of productions and personal passages (including divorce and mastering the art of full-time, single fatherhood). But here we are, on the other side, with a little break from event production and settled into a good rhythm at home, even with a quickly expanding almost 10-year-old!

My focus over the past 6 – 12 months has been on:

Building FLOW in general
Applying my cause alliance marketing model to building the FLOW campaigns
- Conscious Capitalism
- Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs
- Peace through Commerce
Beginning to distill my learning into a Working for Good book and program to support others to cultivate conscious entrepreneurship and to build successful social enterprises.

Here is a brief overview of some of the developments with each of these:

FLOW

The FLOW Book – Liberating the Entrepreneurial Spirit for Good is essentially complete and available for download
FLOW Activation Circles are alive and well in NYC, San Francisco and Austin, and soon to be beginning in other cities. The SF FAC is becoming a Conscious Capitalism Circle, beginning in April.
The FLOW team is solid and slowly expanding. Randy Eisenman just joined the FLOW board, and Praveena Vadrevu is brilliantly filling the core administrative support position in Austin.

Conscious Capitalism

We recently convened a small gathering at John Mackey’s ranch outside Austin, focused on Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism. In two days, the highly aligned group, which included David Wolfe and Raj Sisodia, co-authors of Firms of Endearment, Robb Smith, CEO of Integral Life, Michael Strong, and others, initiated an array of development projects to bring the Conscious Capitalism movement to a new level of activation, including a Catalyzing Conscious Capitalism conference, scheduled for November 7 – 9, 2008, at The Crossings in Austin.
If you have not yet read John’s seminal article on Conscious Capitalism, you can read it in the new FLOW book.

Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs (formerly Empowering Women Entrepreneurs):

Right after the Conscious Capitalism retreat we convened the AWE retreat at The Crossings in Austin. The group of 30+ (mostly women) worked with great intensity and focus to infuse the Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) campaign with wisdom, focus, and energy. Many collaborations were forged out of the retreat, including core partnerships between FLOW and others on the campaign. One of the key developments, which reflects how we are advancing the FLOW mission, is the broad and deep recognition of the critical need for legal reforms to provide the context for women entrepreneurs to flourish. Michael Strong’s superb presentation on the role of economic freedom and legal reforms was brilliantly reinforced by Dahlia Khalifa of the Doing Business project of the World Bank’s IFC.
Graphic facilitator Diana Arsenian brilliantly captured the substance and spirit of the retreat and the campaign, which you can view on the FLOW web site. Here is one of the many reflections we received after the retreat from participants:

Congratulations on an AWEsome retreat!! It was a stellar group of women that you drew together to discuss a significant subject – women’s economic empowerment. Each presentation and working session continued building upon the previous discussions, thus propelling both the development of the movement and the enthusiasm of the retreat participants. Cheryl was a magnificent facilitator who inspired great thinking and helped to keep conversations focused. Michael’s presentations drew upon insightful research and highlighted the importance of economic empowerment. Your hard work over the past months paid off spectacularly!

It was a thrilling experience to reflect on the progress that was made in such a concentrated amount of time. We look forward to accelerating the framework that was established at the retreat.

Congratulations again!

Warmly,
Barbara Barrett
And Jamie-Brooke Forseth

Peace through Commerce

The PTC campaign continues to develop, thanks to the funding catalyzed by the challenge grant from Ken and Frayda Levy and Harvey Cody, and matched by many FLOW supporters. We recently viewed the nearly complete, and very exciting, PTC promotional video produced by Jim Tusty and Maureen Castle of Free to Choose Media (and Mountain View Productions). Michael Strong is working with Jim and Maureen to refine some of the language, and we’ll be ready to put it out. Simultaneously, Jim, Maureen and Michael are completing the treatment and plan to produce an hour-long Peace Through Commerce documentary, with three segments that will be repackaged for distribution to high schools throughout North America (and, ideally, beyond).
We have also begun to collaborate with Timothy Fort, Executive Director of the Institute for Corporate Responsibility at George Washington University, School of Business, to produce a Peace through Commerce conference in November in Washington, DC. Michael and Tim have been cultivating a “thought-partnership” for over a year, and Tim attended the Conscious Capitalism retreat this month.

Working for Good

Since the time I came up with the name and concept for Working for Good over two years ago, I have been immersed in the process of working for good, principally in FLOW and the FLOW campaigns. I have been inspired my colleagues and collaborators, by the amazing people and projects I encounter daily, and by the continuing flow of people who join this community at Gaia (formerly Zaadz). I recently acknowledged that I feel a sense of responsibility to myself and to others, to draw from my diverse experience exploring and engaging in working for good, and on stories of the countless others I have encountered who are doing the same, to share information and inspiration for others who are committed to working for good. On that note I intend to blog (and email) more frequently and have begun to work on a Working for Good book and related workshop. Over the weeks and months ahead, I will post excerpts here and will send them to you in you ask me to do so.
I have come to deeply realize the power of collaboration at all levels of enterprise creation and I look forward to engaging the Working for Good community to collaborate in creating Working for Good content that truly serves others in their journey to do good and do well simultaneously.

I welcome your reflections back to me and I look forward to the unfolding of our collaboration within and beyond this community.

Namaste,

Jeff

Re: Working For Good

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:18:54 GMT

I admire your efforts very much! I too try to do a good deed for the day and am continually working to better myself.

Working For Good

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 21:03:03 GMT

WORKING FOR GOOD

Well I thought this is something that I really need to ponder Working For Good.

How can I work for the good of others, and also the global community?

As this is who I am about working to improve the good to empower myself, and also to empower others. So what have I done so far to empower myself, and others?

For myself I have been on a mission for my health, and wellbeing. I have had to change my life dramatically, as I have lived a life of abuse for so many years.

So I had to change the patterns, and learn new tools, so that they could help me on a better path, and a better life. With the tools, and skills that I have discovered, I have learned that I want to give this to others, so they can learn they can grow.

I believe that we can build a global community, and grow, and learn from each other.

I have worked with many students from all over the world, I have learned so much from every culture. I have given them my love, and given them my support, and told them I believed in them. I am an adviser at my children's school , we have a group that inspires young children to follow there dreams , and work in the community , and give back to the community .I also have a small home based business that the core beliefs are surrounded on health , and wellness , and helping our mother earth.

So when I thought this over I believed that I was beginning to work for good, and even the little things seem to help.

One day I was in the grocery store doing my usual weekly shopping, and I saw a man sitting, taking his blood pressure, he was a tall older man. He was having difficulties getting out of the seat. I thought to myself how can I help?

I didn't want to embarrass him so I said nothing; I simply held my hand out.

He looked at it for a moment, looked up at me. Then he took my hand, and I helped him up. I gave him guidance, yet I waited for him to accept it. He thanked me kindly, and said that was my good deed for the day.

I guess for me it can be as simple as going to the grocery store, and helping someone out when they need a helping hand.Or respecting other cultures , and learning from them as well.

calling all students: oikos US Convergence

http://nopoverty.gaia.com — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:49:49 GMT

Hey all,

thought some of you may be interested in the oikos US Convergence. Oikos is a European organisation similar to Net Impact. It focuses on encouraging students to help solve social and environmental problems through business and entreneurship. (See links for more information)
It has organised a fantastic conference at Cornell, with S. Hart no less, to exchange ideas and specific approaches, and to connect what it sees as quite a disparate but potentially powerful student movement for social change. The line-up looks exciting and the venue could not be better chosen. Personally though, what I am looking forward to most is meeting so many different people who think and act along the same lines. Lots of new faces, but familiar all the same. Hope to see you there.

ATB Andre

LINKS:

http://oikosinternational.org/usconvergence/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2206958533

http://www.oikosinternational.org/pages/aboutus/aboutus.html

More information:

What is the oikos Convergence?
An academy of highly competent and motivated US and international student leaders interested in learning and applying the tools of business and entrepreneurship to affect positive social and environmental change at their universities and beyond.

Where and when is it?
At Cornell University in Ithaca, New York USA.
Thursday, January 18th to Sunday, January 21st in 2007 (3 nights, 4 days)

Who is it for?
Undergraduate students committed to carrying out a project based on the principles of sustainable enterprise at his/her home university.
We encourage at least two applications from each university.

oikos - be informed, get involved, make a difference

Muhammad Yunus on Jon Stewart 11/16

http://maryc.gaia.com — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:10:25 GMT

I was excited for Muhammad Yunus winning the Nobel Prize, but now he's on Jon Stewart. What a cool thing! :)

Re: Resources that complement this pod!

http://armila.gaia.com — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:28:32 GMT

I am so happy to return to this pod which I joined on my first few days at zaadz without having read the W4G Curriculum. I couldn't access the PDF file with my old computer and thank God I got a new one just three days ago.

Just a while ago I did get to read it and am on page 29. I am so inspired by it and have decided that I complete reading the document, I would focus my energy to zero in on what social enterprise I could best dedicate my efforts on. WIsh I read it much earlier.

I've been out of a full time career in international development since Jan2005 and have been using part of my time running a family fairtrade export company. I feel I have a lot of time and energy that is unutilised and I must find something meaningful to pour myself into soon.

Thank you for this pod and for zaadz.

Mila

my simple idea

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 00:00:01 GMT

live a minimal ifestyle while making decent money to network with others toward helping people, the environment, and animals. this requires a monster sacrifice-you not wanting much american style fun and excitement; ie. possessions and attatchments. who cares about that stuff anyway in this short term life. p e a c e

Working for Good Business Plan Competition extended to 11/30/06

http://babajeff.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 22:48:16 GMT

We have extended the deadline for submissions to the Working for Good business plan competition until 30 November 2006.

We encourage you to sumbit your inspired vision and plans.

Working for Good in the Wall Street Journal

http://babajeff.gaia.com — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 22:44:48 GMT

From Tuesday's WSJ

Students Get Push To Become 'Social Entrepreneurs'
By AMAN SINGH
The Wall Street Journal
August 15, 2006

Tapping into the trend for "social entrepreneurship," a crash course called Working for Good uses Webcasts, videoconferencing and seminars to encourage entrepreneurially inclined high-school and college students to go out on their own and do something for the global good.

The program took root at FLOW, a nonprofit group that supports projects, online communities and contests geared toward a free global flow of goods, services, capital and people.

"Commerce plays a big role in promoting peace," says Working for Good co-founder Jeff Klein, chief executive of Cause Alliance Marketing, a company that handles public relations for nonprofit and corporate alliances.

Adds John Mackey, chief executive of Whole Foods Market Inc. of Austin, Texas, and a financial backer of the program, "We want to change this image that entrepreneurship is business-related. Today, there can be social entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs who focus on animal rights, those who are environmentalists."

The first phase of the Working for Good program was held in May and consisted of a series of videoconferences with topics such as how entrepreneurship stretches to social causes like the environment. The second phase, starting Sept. 30 in Washington, D.C., will focus on multicultural interaction and social dialogue. It will be live and feature more student discussions with entrepreneurs.

The fee is $50 with half the proceeds helping to fund future initiatives and half supporting student projects. The projects that get funding will be chosen via a competition. Awards range from a $2,000 cash prize to a mentorship with Mr. Klein and Brian Johnson, CEO of social-networking site Zaadz, and an invitation to attend FLOW's annual board retreat at Mr. Mackey's Texas ranch.

Free Teleclasses for the Conscious Entrepreneur

http://juliastewart.gaia.com — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:57:33 GMT

Free Teleclass: UNCHAINED AT LAST! The Coach Who Cured My Networking Phobia and How She Did It

Friday August 18, 10 AM Eastern Time

With Julia Stewart and Mattison Grey

Networking: Ugh! I used to stand in a corner, not knowing what to do. The funny thing was, I really wanted to talk to people and I admired people who did it easily. For years, I tried to find a coach who could help me. I worked with some of the biggest names in the business and they all said the same thing: "You're an introvert. Forget it!" Then I worked with somebody new and in ONE HOUR, she transformed my approach to networking (and marketing & sales) FOREVER. Now it's easy, fun, and my roster of clients is growing. Want to learn the secret? Join me for this free call with my Coach, Mattison Grey!

To Register for this Free Teleclass, go here: http://www.cartville.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=67748&ProductID=3147333

For more information, email coach@yourlifepart2.com or call 718-408-9188

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Free Teleclass: People's Lives Suck and It's Your Fault

Wednesday, September 6 at 3 PM Eastern/NY

Mattison Grey with Julia Stewart

As a conscious entrepreneur, you help people have great lives, right? Well, the only way your business can impact those people is if you can talk to them in a way that inspires them to hire you. In other words you have to Sell your business to Do business. AND you have to Do business to help people have better lives! If you don't do that well....see the title above.

Selling your business is your Obligation and your Responsibility and if you can't, then it's your Challenge to learn how. If you aren't willing to learn, well...better get a regular job!

The good news is if you ARE willing to learn then we can teach you! If your business is your brilliance then you can Learn to Sell it in a graceful, inspiring way that's not pushy, not manipulative, doesn't involve canned speeches and is highly effective. Think that's a pipe dream? It's not. Come find out!

To Register for this Free Teleclass, go here:

http://www.cartville.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=67748&ProductID=3151919

For more information, email coach@yourlifepart2.com email coach@yourlifepart2.com or call 718-408-9188

****************************************************************************

Free Teleclass: From Clueless to Fearless: How I became a Certified Coach In One Weekend

Tuesday, August 22, 8 PM Eastern/NY time

Mattison Grey with Julia Stewart

As a successful Business Coach, I knew sooner or later that I would need coach certification. But, because I'm busy taking care of my clients, I wanted to do it fast. So I signed up for a live weekend IAC Certification event. When I arrived, I had no idea what to expect and I didn't know anyone there. Heck I had only seen the coaching proficiencies 3 weeks before the event. I'd studied them on paper, but hadn't seen or heard them in action. I truly was clueless!

As luck and fate would have it Julia Stewart was my certifier. I watched carefully, paid close attention and knew right away that she was going to be the one to get me thought this ordeal. I was a great coach before the event AND I came away a fearless, masterful coach!

If becoming a fearless, masterful coach in one weekend appeals to you, join Julia and me for this teleclass to find out how you can do it.

To Register for this Free Teleclass, go here:

http://www.cartville.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=67748&ProductID=3151917

For more information, email coach@yourlifepart2.com or call 718-408-9188

****************************************************************************

Free Teleclass: Attract Coaching Clients Successfully

Monday, August 28, 11 AM Eastern/NY

Julia Stewart

This free teleclass is for coaches who want highly successful coaching businesses. You'll benefit whether or not you've had coach training. Participants say it's easy, fun and takes the fear out of approaching prospective clients. Most of all, it makes it easy to convert prospects to paying clients.

In this one hour free teleclass, you'll also find out about the best strategy for building a coaching business. How to leverage your first few contacts into paying clients, referrals to new prospects and even gets testimonials! It's extremely flexible and works whether you're a brand-new coach or a coach who's been at it for years. This is a priceless method for mastering coaching skills, which is one of the most important ways to become a successful coach. It's flexible enough to work for any coach and gives you experience, credibility, and confidence. Plus your coaching business will be as busy as you want!

To register Click here: http://www.cartville.com/app/javanof.asp?MerchantID=67748&ProductID=3151956

For more information, visit http://www.experiencedcoach.com/ or email julia@experiencedcoach.com or call 718-408-9188

Re: In the News: Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank

http://coolmel.gaia.com — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 11:49:44 GMT

P.S. thanks for this list. i blogged it here :)

Re: In the News: Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank

http://coolmel.gaia.com — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 11:35:17 GMT

thanks for this link. speaking of Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank, also check out this interview with Dean Kamen. he gave lots of props to Mr. Yunus too :)

Re: AngelHEROS - Intro & Request for BrainStorming

http://angelmom.gaia.com — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:07:12 GMT

Clarification:

My apologies for not making this clearer - this would be a for profit social enterprise (under the not for profit umbrella) - the game and the different enterprises and franchises that come about because of the AngelTOWNs will be for profit social enterprises in partnership with AngelAID and whoever (would not need to be a not for profit)

The game has a scenario of its own - based on the battle between positive and negative energy in our world. The premise is that we are all born as angels - we forget until we obtain the necessary lessons - and meet the necessary teachers. The Earth can no longer compensate the the massive imbalance that mankind has created - so she is fighting back - and unless manking finds a way to balance the energy in our world (by ceating excess + Blessings) she will eliminae mankind to save herself. So the job is to create venues (towns communities that work toward find solutions to our worlds real problems) it would be done online and in the real world - but all would count toward the positive balance (shoot and destroy games in other worlds can sign up to interact - and their choice could be to continue to create negative energy -- the challenge is for AngelHEROS to consciously choose to counterbalance whatever negativeis being created - What is the WORLDS balance - what can we do to fix it? - real life happenings would be reflected in the balance - and shown on the town overlays (which we can choose to aid or not)

Does that make more sense re the online game - that is why is is a game within a game (war of the world could be parti cipating in the OVERALL world imbalance or balance - etc.

I so appreciate your taking the time to answer - I obviously don't know how I am to go about this - I just know it will be done - Half of my vision has already come true -this will too - I just need to know the path to follow -

Arlene

AngelHEROS - Intro & Request for BrainStorming

http://angelmom.gaia.com — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 21:54:13 GMT

Arlene Shipley here - I laughingly refer to myself as a woman who thinks shecan change the world - and can't even change her own sheets! I also refer to my race as "intentional human being"

I have been getting the "lay of the land" for the group interaction for about 3 months - read the materials online - watched the video conference - all great stuff. Iam impressed by the energy and ideas generated on zaadz and WFG - so I am divingin.

I work for free so $ is always a nebulous commodity :) Hmmmmm possibly that explains why my vision for changing the world always includes a concurrent currency! I know this is a professional group - and that we all understand individual content is copyrighted - Bri was nice enough to make that very clear recently - it is one of the reasons I have not been posting.

As it states below - I have a foundation, AngelAID - we are 100% volunteer and take no gov money (see why there is never any money?) We founded AngelAID 14 years ago after our first foster daughter died of AIDS from sexual abuse. Thousands of people's lives have been impacted in her memory - and God willing, once the AngelHEROS program is worldwide - millions will be in our family of choice.

What I am hoping to find here is guidance, brainstorming and support (being the keeper of the vision is hard work!) - I am not a techie -nor a programer , i'm not rich or powerful- my title at AngelAID is Co-Founder, ALCHEMIST AND CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER.

14 years ago we mortgaged our home, spent our savings and risked everything we had because we believed in our vision, the lessons Tashia (and 50 teenage boys from the juvenile justicesystem who lived in our home inthe last 14 years) taught us. The vision is large -- I usually overwhelm people just by telling them about it :)! -- and we didn't know any rich or powerful people, so we took the piece of the vision that we could accomplish on our own, AngelAID and steped out in faith (we were so nieve). AngelAID is now self-supportting and it is time to risk everythying again so that the rest of the vision can come true. We are selling our home to fund this.

We've gotten to an age where we realize we have to provide a means for the next generation to take our vision where THEY want it to go. We believe the rest of our vision will empower young people everywhere to have hope for the future - and a means to unite behind our commonality -- our love of our families and a desire to leave a better world (while celebrating our differences).

In a nutsell it is a program called AngelHEROS - it is a game within a game - and a game within real life. AngelSOURCEis the umbrella not for profit online portal. Blessings are the concurrent currency and the positive energy by which we will unite.

So where do I start? 14 years ago I never dreampt that the online 'game' portion of this vision would evolve into an industy that needs $10,000,000 just to START developing a game!!!! Obviously I can't write this program - and I don't have millions- so brainstorm with me?

What I do have is a compelling story to launch the game ( I am writing a book about our experiences with these children- this game is the "global" happy ending - story within a story :)) the book will be PR - and we are also planing to launch the game via a reality tv show "possibility tv" which will have the first three AngelTOWNS actually setting up their concept for the local community - deciding what their town needs, how to go about it, what to reward, etc. - and the nation will watch and go online and play along - sign up - vote, etc. (starting the pool and self funding for the future) voting wit their dollars for the ideas they like the best (and sending gtheir own ideas)

The game will interact with real life - and the internet - so it is a game inside a game. The platform would be something like "2nd life" - or "There!" - But with a commmunity purpose. When it is set up - existing games could have links - and use the Blessing currency - and interact with the game via it's own interface. I see AngelSOURCE as the umbrella, not for profit - that would be the liaison - the jumping off point for all games and communities. And all would be able to use the benefits of the Blessing currency and rewards online and in real life.

Real towns (mashup overlays from Google Earth or simililar) would be accessed via the AngelSOURCE portal (the home for all of the participating games and towns) So I live in jacksonville, FL - our town would set up an AngelTOWN JAX location - participants who already own property (not for profits, businesses, gov, etc., malls) could acquire the right to have their location live on the map. Participatnts could click and "enter" their world.

Other games - for instance There" could have a location where folks can move between AngelTOWNS and other MMPG games. There would be a common currency and language (Blessings) which would be useable in the real world and anywhere in the AngelSOURCE portal world - and the other games - (in addition to barter, trade, hour/hour trades (time dollar type) and ebay/amazon type sales where Blessings can be used as part of the multicurrency. A mashup could be with the offerings on micorsoft live, etc.

Blessings are earned or given. and kept track of via online accounting. With a meetup type of situation and cell phones, skype etc. folks would be notified by computer that there was a function (by theire sign up desires) - in the Real world - going there and volunteering for say - the red cross, etc. would earn them Blessings - into their account - which could then be spent and traded online and in the real world.

For instance AngelAID has a 10,000 sq foot thrift shop - AngelATTIC and we are opening a 40,000 sq foot 2nd location - all the times are donated and Everyone is a volunteer - so people can Spend their Blessings at the thrift store. I need someone to watch my mom at night for a few hours - and I am willing to trade frozen homemade dinners. (millions of possibilities for trade of services and goods.)

It would be very involved - each "AngelTOWN" community would decide how the local Blessings were earned and spent - discounts - movies, restaurants (entertainment book on steroids). They could be earned for staying in school, not doing drugs, not being late for school, improving grades, not beating up the teachers :) being in school clubs, doing volunteer hours, cleaning up the neighborhood, grocery shoppping for old folks, the list is endless.

Towns could decide what they want to focus on - say a town in Africa needs a well dug and a portable water treatment setup. They could put out a "request" and anyone could trade/advance them Blessings to purchase the equipment (mini microloans of their time hours) or they could offer their local handicrafts for trade andthen repay the blessings within their own commuity (hours spent setting up the community water system, etc.)

All of the banking would be done online - via AngelBLESSING swipe card (like visa) and via cellphone. towns without computer access could have cell phone access - and could keep manual accounting that could be mailed to a contact to enter.

As individuals we could give our blessings (which we earn) to organizations or towns that we agree with what they are accomplishing - a business like Merril Lynch could set up online at their company location where kids join an investment group- learning stocks etc. and earn Blessings for participating. rooms could be set up to meet for tutoring - and all received blessings - for tutoring and for being tutored.

I could donate my blessings to my local school to augment the teacher's salaries o to reward atendance or turning in homework. Mother against Drunk drivers could give blessings forevery month that kids in school stay off alcohol - or don't get speeing or drinking tickets. . Families could use their Blessings to buy basic needs - food, day care, clothing, etc. - and that way available cash could be used for other things. Mothers could stay home and care for their children, if they wished, because their hours could be rewarded with Blessings that would create family income while they did good things.

Blessings could be for any life-enhancing deed or decision - classes such as: balancing a budget 101 - being a good parent 101 - being an environmental citizen 101 - negotiation and compromise 101; how to be a good parent 101; how to choose a good mate 101 - zillions of possibilities.

By interacting in the REAL and Online world - actual live communities would be created - and good wold be done - games could build into them that a certain "actual task" had to be performed in the real world to be able to advance in the online game (game in a game) but people wouldn't only have a life online - it would carry over to bettering their own town.

Last weekend we had a fundraiser for AngelAID - a boat poker run - the Marines usually send 30 guys to help with all the hard work (thank God! I'm too old to do this any more) but they were put on alert and couldn't come.

I could have put a notice via the game - for emergency help - that I would issue Blessings for every hour worked - and the computer would send out emails and cell notice alerts and anyone who wanted to could show up. You could come - or you could email that you can't make it but will donat Blessings to help get the work done.

When this is in place world wide - an an emergency like the tsunami or New orleans hits - it would be in place - immediate response - immediate "needs" posted and filled. alternate currency immediately available.

It's much more involved than this (I have had this vision for 14 years - a long time to dream) But we are finally in the place with the two thrift stores - to offer a starting point where the Blessings can be physically spent - as a model. We will start rewarding volunteers with Blessings when we open the new store. We are starting to set up a Teen and a Young Adult Board to decide what they want this to be. The entire idea is so that young people can have hope and a venue to change their world - the way they want to.

Need someone to even suggest what to do next! But you are all future and present shakers and movers!

Need volunteers to write the business plan

need volunteers to write the video game

need voluneer editor for the book (need everyone to pitch and buy the book)

need website and techies for the portals - etc.

need soeone with banking contacts (or knows Mr, Hock at Visa) to help set up the multicurency baking and blessings accounting

need public relations

need someone to organize the possibility tv show - and contacts in the industry

and we need ten million people to send us $1 each - as an investment in the future - their first Blessing!

All of these will be for profit social enterprises under the AngelAID not for profit (so the people who accomplish this with AngelAID - will be co-owners of the particular portion of the vision they create - and benefit from it)

Eventually I see Blessings being used to pay taxes, and health insurance, etc. the possibility or expoential!

Please help me change the world - one blessing at a time!

ps - need a volunteer to help this storyteller (me) be able to encapsulate and verbalize this vision so I don't scare people to death! I know it will happen - the first half of my vision has already come true - so will this.

Have a blessed day, it is a choice

Arlene Shipley

AngelMOM@angelaid.com

http://www.angelaid.com

AngelAID is a foundation for children with life-threatening diseases or situations (homeless, abused, etc.)

Re: Resources that complement this pod!

http://juliastewart.gaia.com — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:52:28 GMT

Hello Kind Jeff & Zaadz Friends -

Recently, my coach and I did some work on my "game" in life (aka purpose, calling, why I'm here on Earth) and it became clear that I've beeen playing way too small a game, which is called coaching!

My real game in life, the thing that truly lights me up, is Saving the World!

That's why I'm attracted to Zaadz, that's why I study Spiral Dynamics and that's why I became a coach.

I am a coach because I believe Coaching can Save the World.

But being a coach is not all that I'm here to do. I am an evangelizer for coaching, because I know how powerful it is.

You may not agree with me. You may even believe that the world doesn't need saving, but I have unique gifts that only I can share with the world and those gifts are needed in order for the world to reach its highest potential in the coming years and I express these gifts through coaching and through teaching others to become masterful coaches.

And I've watched my clients and the clients of my students become transformed. This transformation not only makes the impossible possible, it is infectious! A ripple effect happens and many more people benefit and are inspired when one person is masterfully coached. Awareness is spontaneously raised. It's like a chain reaction.

These people go on and BE and DO things that make the world better for people and make people better for the world. If the world is in trouble, then this is one extraordinary tool for creating solutions!

How can you help? Please help spread the message that coaching can save the world. Tell the wonderful people that you know, who have so much to give, but may not know how, that they can be helped to be and do and give (and have) far more by working with a coach.

Tell people who have a desire to help others that they will be able to do so much more powerfully when they know how to coach.

If you help light up even one person who wants to know more about coaching, there is lots of info on the web for them, but it can be confusing and overwhelming. If they need someone to talk to, I can help them. Please send them to http://juliastewart.zaadz.com/ or to my pod, RADICAL Self Care. I have powerful tools and I know where they can find more - and many of these tools are free.

My purpose in life is to spread the value of coaching to millions of people and thereby transform the world. Please help by emailing this post to anyone who needs to read it!

Thank you so much!! XO

take great care, Julia

Re: Resources that complement this pod!

http://babajeff.gaia.com — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 05:51:27 GMT

Hi Beth. Thank you for your questions. The answer to both is "Yes!" You can still watch the web casts and download the curriculum. If you go to www.workingforgood.com you will find easy links on the home page. Let me know if you need further assistance. And let me (and others) know what you think.

Best,

Jeff

In the News: Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank

http://maryc.gaia.com — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 22:13:22 GMT

Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank (and mentioned liberally by the folks at both Working For Good and the Flow Project,) was just named as one of the 50 People Who Matter Now by Business 2.0 magazine. Here's an excerpt of why Muhammad matters right now...

"By offering tiny loans to Third World entrepreneurs, Yunus isn't just building a healthy stock of karma -- he's inventing a new model for global capital investment."

When you get to the list of 50, be sure scroll down to #30 and check out the rest of what they have to say about Muhammad.

Re: Resources that complement this pod!

http://bethfreeman.gaia.com — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 03:46:13 GMT

I noticed that the webcasts for Working for Good were back in May - can we watch them, and can we get access to the lessons? Even though the event is over,
I'd still like to review the materials.
Thanks!