The cosmic situation report for this month is - Feeling ragged and launching anyway.
Each month(ish) we send out a summary of what's what here at NEI with new developments and upcoming programs. We also take the temperature of what's happening in the larger world and offer wisdom (ahem) and insight in meeting these best of all possible times.
Hi, I’m Lawrence Kampf Executive Director and galley slave chained to the writer’s bench for this Month’s News and Situation Report from the Nova Earth Institute. We are all about creating a beautiful new world starting with your own life and creativity right here and now.
I’m looking forward to writing about the post-corona situation, but for now I’m appreciating how we’re all rolling through the 2nd or even 3rd waves (Hi Hong Kong), or making magnificent use of a highly leveraged first wave - talking to you United States. Way to maximize value.
Someone once told me big things are little and little things are big. Laugh at funerals and cherish a cup of tea. I’ve found this to be particularly true in this reality show life has become lately. Tea anyone? Let’s share some laughs.
It is also important to celebrate victories with your people, YOU are our people! We recently concluded a full session of the first Embodied Creators: Awareness program and it was a tremendous success!!! (Happy dance). We’re super excited to be so validated and encouraged in our vision and efforts. There is NOTHING like it out there, but orgs like the WEF, EC etc are all pointing to Human Creativity as the way successful forward for both people and the planet right now. We’re thrilled to be coming into the limelight with this work of supporting Human creativity.
In my work of supporting creators and leaders, I also have the benefit of input from a variety of high order leaders around the world and their learning as we navigate this historical inflection point together. A couple of significant things are revealing themselves across this group recently.
One, people are ragged. The pressures of leadership (participation is leadership too) in a time of constant uncertainty is asking more and more of us every day. Calling us to higher and higher levels of performance. Self care is no longer a cute option, it is a key responsibility for survival of ourselves and our organizations.
I think simplicity is the key to success here. Clear focus on the basics is ultimately more effective than making a research project out of what’s possible.
I focus on meditation (twice a day now), clarity of goals (every goal goes through a clarity process to validate and focus) and alignment with core values (every meeting or design charette starts with an invocation of our mission).
There are lot of other layers - diet, hydration, social restraint, media limits etc, but that’s the core of what supports my well being and growth through this incredible time of changes - and in turn, NEI. (see more about this system of transformation in our next program, EC: Capacity).
The uncertainty of life now is a powerful source of evolution or confusion, you get to choose. Need help? I’ll be adding a couple slots for coaching and mentorship soon, ping me to get on that list.
The other factor at play right now is Launching. Those who, like us, began to respond some time ago to an inner sense of urgency to transform themselves and their work are all launching their projects now. It is a courageous thing to be launching in the middle of the storm, and also necessary. We are the ones that will be helping the next wave come to maturity and be the change.
This month we’re Launching:
The full 3 part Embodied Creators Series for our core individual programming
Fall Program Schedule including EC: Capacity and another session of EC: Awareness
The Creator’s Guild - a donor membership program for visionaries supporting the development of the EC series.
Fund raising campaign - Help us make a measurable difference in Social Equity by supporting the transformation of the people that are creating it.
Volunteer Program - Looking for your people? So are we!
We also updated our About page to reflect our shift from a transition phase to production here In the EU. Wheee! We made it! Blue cards and all. Inspiration -> vision -> plan -> execution. Bam. Done.
Ongoing is the Creators Desk program, a monthly zoom offering a taste of who we are. Get some free insight and guidance for your projects, drink tea, have some laughs, and spend some quality time with fellow creators.
Professional Services - Coming soon with a reinvention of our Coaching, Mentoring and Incubator programs for leaders, institutions and communities.
Is your launch still on the horizon as you fight the Covid undertow to reinvent your work and organization? Are you and your whole staff ragged from 70 hour weeks cobbling together high maintenance, experimental solutions to your Corona’ed business? Take heart, focus, and keep going. Even if it means taking a break first so you can.
It might feel like the tide is against you, but this heavy lifting phase is changing the tides themselves and there are great opportunities arising as we combine our efforts to turn this ship to a healthier course.
A couple of NEI friends and allies that are launching now are:
Kind Village with their global In Kind giving platform and services - Yay Tanya and the Kind team!
Legacy17 with their Year of Transformation program offerings (Hint: you might see some of ours there as well, I’ve been recently invited to join these esteemed folks!)
Have a launch or a success? Give us a shout, we would love to celebrate it and share. Even small things are great victories at this time.
Hat tip this month to Craig Mod - an inspiration in creative generosity and a fellow launcher.
And to Jeanette Bronee for holding the beacon of self care in the stormy seas of human leadership.
Huge love and happy creating,-Lawrence