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GreenSHIFT:
Designing Renewable Organizations In a previous article, I considered GreenSHIFTing toward renewable lifestyles in terms
of understanding who we are and expressing ourselves healthfully in terms of how we live on a daily basis. The focus of the
present article is GreenSHIFTing through the next “ripple of influence” – renewable organizations. As with
individuals, organizations express who they are as a function of how they present and conduct themselves on a daily basis.
And similarly, organizations may express and manifest healthfully or not so healthfully. Renewable organizations are inherently
healthful. This article addresses the question, What is a renewable organization?
full article...
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GreenSHIFT:
Designing Renewable Lifestyles GREEN. Enough said.....Then again perhaps not. I’ve been seeing “green”
connected to just about everything these days. Are you green? How about your house? Is your company green? What green investments
do you recommend? Does that business have green ethics or are their marketing campaigns merely green-wash (attempt to pass
off an unsustainable product as eco-friendly)? “Green” is ubiquitous. And before we all acquire green fatigue
(not the outfits surgeons wear), let’s consider the meaning of greening.
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Sustainable
Organizations: The Hospi Prophecy
Sustainable success in organizations is shaped by the dedication of leaders and stakeholders
to a shared vision, a clear sense of purpose or mission, guiding principles that set the culture, and an evolutionary strategy
that connects beneficial practices and processes to meaningful outcomes in the midst of changing conditions. Thank you and
drive safely everybody. Wait! We’re not finished yet. Actually, this fairly concise statement represents a lot of work
integrating head and heart, experience and innovation, and stability and movement. Let’s break it down, or perhaps I
should say let’s build it up beginning with the essential components noted above. Vision portrays and inspires a beneficial future state. The most
successful visioning practices employ a variety of methods that are stimulating both intellectually and emotionally to convey
this viable or healthy future. An effective characterization tells a memorable story of a future foretold, in a word, a prophecy.
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Home
Green H.O.M.E. Picture that cross-stitched heart enveloping the words “Home Sweet Home” hanging on a wall. You know
the one. It must hold meaning since it appears in various languages on thousands of items around the world, perhaps your very
own doormat. I remember another saying. “Home is where the heart is.” What is the universal appeal of these proverbs?
I invite you to consider their relevance to you.
Given the current realities of greening our lifestyles –
and the “greenwash” (false impressions of greening) that comes along with them – I’d like to explore
with you the seeds of green. This article discusses the connection between Heart and Home beginning with a few interpretations
of the sayings above. Once we find the green seeds within us, we are better able to express healthful values in our lifestyle
choices every day. For the purpose of framing the experience of home, I’ll employ my own perspective called H.O.M.E.,
or Healthy Organic Mindful Environments (© 2007).
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Renewability:
Raising the Sustainability Bar
Conversations about change are often very brief. Perhaps you have experienced one
yourself. Change? No thanks I’m good. And so it goes. Expanding
the conversation usually requires an imaginative and engaging sports metaphor. This idea is a home run and getting the VP to support the project
will be a slam-dunk. Wow, sign ME up. Yes, these are sample clichés.
The focus of this article embraces a less abused metaphor, raising the
bar. It represents the commitment to aspire to more substantial goals. I employ this phrase to illustrate a meaningful
shift from the present calls for sustainability to the expanding renewability movement, the true game-changing shift.
Let’s
first characterize a shift. To me, a shift involves movement toward something related in purpose yet understood to be more effective
in some substantial way. Shifting transforms the essential nature of something, usually entailing mindsets, processes, and/or
behaviors. In my view a shift may integrate accepted perspectives with yet-to-be accepted ones or lead to new strategies that
replace conventional wisdom. In either case, shifting is most successful emerging from an holistic, or systems perspective.
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Footprints
to Soulprints: Choosing Your Mark
Have you seen that familiar picture of footprints on an otherwise untouched beach? It
seems so serene. It doesn’t matter who made them. It is an acknowledgment that someone walked there once, perhaps a
moment ago or a thousand years ago. The message for me is that someone’s personal path has been witnessed. Yet we know
that in a short time nature will summon the ocean tide. Gradually and gracefully the evidence of a unique being will blend
imperceptibly with all experiences throughout time. The canvas will be cleared once again for the next artist.
If
only all human markings could be dissolved into nothing overnight by Nature’s etch-a-sketch. Given enough time, nature
can and will erase all indications of our collective presence. Considering practical human time scale however, let’s
say 1 to 7 generations, we make our choices, the outcomes of which become our daily experiences – and those of our children,
grandchildren, etc. – for a long time.
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Office
Concepts:
Creating Work Spaces that WORK for YOU
At one time the American Institute of Architects (AIA) provided a statement accompanying their sponsorship of National
Public Radio (NPR) programs. Clearly and simply, it said “…
the AIA, shaping the way Americans live and work…”. I invite you to consider this more personally. How
do buildings influence the way YOU live? How about the way YOU work?
These
days we see the emergence of agile entrepreneurial ventures setting a new standard of sustainable success – the integrated
triple bottom line where benefits occur in the areas of Community, Ecology, and Economy.
Former employees are developing new visions and strategies of their own as they build Virtual (ethical) enterprises with many
virtual (non-local) partners. Wherever they choose to locate their new base (home, nearby office suite, etc.), they are seeking
to employ all of their gifts, talents, and wisdom to serve beneficial purpose. The vision and effort of many contributors
and participants in this cultural GreenShift is accelerating all of us toward renewability. The intention of this article is to
facilitate YOUR success by helping you create workspaces almost anywhere that are a
natural extension of YOUR greatest gifts and talents. |
Your
Renewable Lifestyle PART 1: Assessing without Guessing
Let’s get personal. You’ve been exposed in greater frequency to terms such as green, sustainable,
and environmentally responsible in more places than ever – TV, newspapers, magazines, web sites, advertisements, your
children, etc. I’m almost overwhelmed just trying to be inclusive. Some of you may already be green-shifting your lifestyles in beneficial
ways. Others may feel guilty thinking that you should be doing more of this and less of that. Perhaps you don’t know
where or how to begin. Well I’m here to say that it doesn’t much matter where as long as you begin. You may start
simply by changing light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluorescent (CFL) in order to improve energy efficiency. Or you
may delve into a lifestyle shift by challenging your identity on a daily basis, say from being one who disposes to one who recycles.
To me the most effective starting point and the focus of this article (Part 1) is assessing YOUR lifestyle
as it is now, as well as how your situation is likely to shift during the next several years. You may ask yourself how long
you would prefer to live in the same place, for instance. You may consider daily activities that work well and those that
do not. I find it helpful to understand that assessing empowers us whereas guessing gives our power away.
full article...
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Renewable
Residential Communities Part 1: A Brief Vision
Many empty-nested adults
are becoming more interested in residential communities. Beyond sharing the burden of responsibilities at a larger scale,
advantages may include a number of amenities depending upon the climate, natural elements, siting (urban or suburban), local
activities, available products and services, and transportation. Residing within such communities may also enhance people’s
engagement in arts and entertainment, recreation, education, and relationships in accordance with their interests and preferences.
The proliferation of these communities continues as the population matures. Some developers may make assumptions about
the needs of a maturing customer base and build communities accordingly. Others, perhaps thinking more holistically, will
innovate and respond to the values and life-affirming qualities embraced by a growing “wisdom class.” The intent
of this article series is to characterize the greenshifting nature of developments from occupancy and privacy to inhabitation and connection.
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Your
Renewable Lifestyle PART 2: Addressing without Stressing
The focus of the previous article in this pair, “Assessing without Guessing,”
was to help you assess your lifestyle in order to pursue your own personal green-shifting. Remember that the assessment considers your lifestyle as it
is now and how your situation is likely to shift during the next several years. The assessment integrates issues pertaining
to your purpose (intentions), the people
in your household (now and later), and the place(s) you inhabit.
This companion article recommends addressing
your goals in ways that are both meaningful and practical, while minimizing the stress induced
by fear or an expectation of instant gratification. Once you’ve experienced such a “fear and now” mentality,
you know that there must be a better way. Let’s consider several assessment-driven scenarios whereby lifestyle shifts
can be designed and addressed. I invite you to focus on a single issue or several, remembering that households – and
extended families – share interrelated experiences that may very well share mutually beneficial solutions. As you read
this article, be mindful that different considerations will likely emerge as you assess and address your own green lifestyle
redesign.
full article...
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Renewable
Residential Communities Part 2: Living La Vita Local
Continuing
this series on Renewable Residential Communities, the present article focuses on the benefits derived from living a local
life. Not to worry, this is not a contradiction to the prior article’s comments on challenges associated with boundaries.
It is, however, a recommendation for the community development professionals and potential inhabitants of communities to integrate
essential elements of living within a community. Connectedness with other communities of interest is also essential. Let’s
consider qualities that embody some of these essential elements.
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