Why I launched a social enterprise?

Because of them.

Healing obesity and hunger at the same time- that’s Pounds for Poverty’s mission
It may seem strange to consider these two epidemic and catastrophic disasters in the same breath or same category. Really isn’t obesity and over eating just a matter of will power and determination to resolve? But then many feel that the poor and the hungry through their own efforts could rectify their situation also. From many perspectives they share a cultural belief that the problem is personal, individual and a matter of intention and effort to solve.
We don’t look at both that way. We assert that hunger and obesity or simply over consuming anything are cultural phenomena and that we can solve both in tandem. It is a curious paradox- that on one hand it is up to the individual to do their part in helping themselves and on the other hand it is also a much bigger problem than any individual can solve.
Our assertion is that hunger can be healed by the very same forces that are contributing significantly to the cause. In one big way, hunger is a redistribution problem- some have too much while many have too little. I know it is not that simple. Our insight is that by exchanging our tendency to over do (food, spending, alcohol, sugar) for converting the money to a donation to a charity fighting hunger like Second Harvest (our featured charity this quarter) the donor builds a foundation to change for the better. In a very real way everyone is better for the exchange and how often does that happen?
Our insight about the relationship between hunger and over consuming came out of personal experience. In my case, I have had a sincere desire to be of service to others for my whole lifetime. I have learned that one of the quickest ways to improve my positive feelings about myself is to give to something of value to the recipient. It makes me feel more self worth and improves my reputation with myself which has suffered mightily with over eating and weight gain.

Powerful courses for Project, team leaders and new managers

Project and Team Leadership for time-starved technical companies and the new managers program- Management essentials for the time -starved technical company are huge successes everywhere they have been implemented.
Based upon the question: "what is the absolute essence of causing and implementing results in a technically driven and time-hungry company?" I have designed a program that answers the question with integration of:

• Influencing conversations for results for the person with little formal authority.
• Creating the environment for speaking and listening that leads to problem-solving and sound decision making.
• Leading conversations one on one and one to many.
• Constructing clear , sharply focused and SMART desired outcomes.
• Using tools to move meetings forward to an intended outcome.
• Enrolling others in decision making whenever possible in the right way- not too much and not too little.

I invite you to have a dialogue about your companies needs with me soon.

It is never too early or too late to develop the right skills to cause the right results

Inaugration day and a new beginning

It is January 20th, 2009. Barack Obama who is a Noble person with a noble vision for America is now my president. I am moved beyond belief, tears stream down as I watch the mix of faces from all over the country and I am once again restored to faith in our wondrous country.
It is a time when the word noble can be used without fear that it will be misunderstood as there is no one on the countries leadership who exemplifies it at least at the top posts.
I am ready, willing and able to be one of the ones that Barack spoke to regarding being a responsible member of the countries' effort to put back together in a brand new way a place for hope, vision and fortitude.
I have been working for the last year on launching my own Noble Purpose Social Enterprise. Please look over the link www.poundsforpoverty.com and see what I have been up to with my co-founder Maryann Marks.

Transform Excess Weight Into an Answer to Poverty and Hunger - wikiHow

Transform Excess Weight Into an Answer to Poverty and Hunger - wikiHow

You can find inspiration anywhere-what are you looking for?

I was watching Brett Favre retire last week.
Here I am sweating up a storm on the elliptical trainer in an effort to save this 61 yr old body from rack and ruin and one of my nemesis- well really the 49ers antihero, is talking in a way that was inspiring and uplifting. It is not what he said so much as the way he said it- I was moved by his genuineness, his emotions flowing because what he loved he no longer had passion and willingness to endure to experience. And he was getting out when it didn't have the same meaning for him.

I loved his trueness- he is what he is and nothing less or more. I am inspired by people who are genuine even if I hated his ability to decimate what used to be my team that I gave blood for on Sundays.
I look for things to be inspired by- he is just one small example but I am puzzled and appalled by how few also look to be moved, touched and inspired.
I think we live in an era of commonality and lowest standards for human decency and respect that I have witnessed in my six decades.
I encourage you to consider this:
Inspiration means to breathe in- we take in oxygen- we inspire. Breath- the source of life- inspiration is a source of life too.
How does one become inspirable?
By committing to looking for what is good and kind and wholesome and beautiful and making note of it in your mind and out loud. Watch what happens to a conversation when you say what you are awed by or moved by or care deeply about. Notice how different it feels to watch for what is right and true and authentic in the world.
Pollyanna? maybe but it feels better than to watch for what is wrong and bad and harmful.
Maybe Brett is not a good person really- maybe some day I will find out that he is an Elliot Spitzer kind of guy but for that moment and in his glorious career he showed me what it is like to be completely passionate about a game that he gave his all to with no reservations.

Finding things wrong with someone is like shooting fish in a barrel

It is very easy to criticize. I love the quote from Michelangelo that the CEO, Michael Strong of Flow -a Not for profit says in response to the habit of finding fault"Criticize by creating"
If you don't like something go it one better. If you are so sure that you can do it better try.
I feel that it is ignoble- that is- the opposite of nobility to always finding fault with people, institutions and companies.
It is not that there is not a lot to criticize. It is true that without watchdog groups and individual consciences there would be little social change or improvement.
It isn't that I am pointing to- it is the habit of consistently finding what is wrong with this picture without the balancing movement of appreciation and acknowledgment of what is good and true and wholesome.
So let me start with me:

On this blog I want to say thank you to all those who have influenced our lifestyles for the better. C. Everett Koop for taking a stand on tobacco as the Surgeon General, the pioneers of exercise- like Ken Cooper- Mr Aerobic exercise, Adelle Davis, Jack La Lanne, the first people in the integrative medicine movement like Dr Andy Weil and a special thanks to John P Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods. I assert that John and his colleagues at Whole Foods have revolutionized the way we think about what we deserve in food, "fast" food, and the myriad products that we are exposed to because Whole Foods supports entrepreneurs in the natural foods industry in so many ways.
John is a great example of someone who it is easy to find fault in- the blog entries, the hoopla surrounding his faux pas/indiscretion/mistakes- I am not one who can comment on the veracity or hype of the inquiry- what I can speak to is his leadership of one of the best companies in the world and his sparkling example of visionary, conscious capitalism.
I felt like an onlooker to a pack of hungry junkyard dogs looking for ways to bring him down when the news hit.
It is the same garbage that we will be subject to for the next nine months in the election cycle- just watch the ratio of facts and deep, thoughtful inquiry compared to judgement,labeling, "expose" and sparse information blown into stories.
I feel so strongly that part of being a noble person or having a noble cause includes the power of creation and taking the risk to try to do something well if you are not satisfied with things the way they are now.
My encouragement to you is to fast for one month on criticism. Notice when you are habitually jumping to finding fault and ask yourself- "what would I do better and can I demonstrate that in my actions today?"
Shooting fish in a barrel is not very much fun or interesting. Try doing something truly challenging- find something inspiring in what people are up to right now.

Butterfly docents are Noble too

Yesterday I went to the Pacific Grove sanctuary for the Monarch Butterflies as they cluster- 10,000 at a time. The orange and black filled the air. Two Docents gave lively vignettes about the tagging process- just imagine yourself at dawn in the Monterey cold air tinged with ocean salt and your taking each individual Monarch from his scrum and placing a round tag on its wings and then blowing warm air on it so that its wings will open again and they can fly away.
The Docent's seemed to me an example of Nobility of purpose put to a reason that is small but inspiring nonetheless.
There are so many examples of people who spend thier time doing small acts of kindness, courage, grace and love with no thought of being on stage or recognized by others- no applause for these two who braved the cold and were hanging out with a creature that could not vote or pay them a salary.
I like the saying that you will see a miracle when you believe in it, not that miracles happen when you believe. You have to look for the Noble- it is there.
I worked with two women at a High tech company recently who were so unselfish and looking for ways to show that there was good in people through the medium of adult learning courses- they were working in an environment that was not at all conducive to optimism but they chose to be a demonstration of positive well being regardless of the external circumstances.
My point? Take this new year and look for the kindness, the compassion, the generosity in others. Or be the one who loves no matter what.