so I began my adult life in a monastery as a seeker
as a seeker
as a seeker drawn by the path of awakening and deep
drawn by the path of awakening and deep
drawn by the path of awakening and deep knowing it was a powerful informative
knowing it was a powerful informative
knowing it was a powerful informative experience but after a couple of years I
experience but after a couple of years I
experience but after a couple of years I realized I wasn’t going to find when I
realized I wasn’t going to find when I
realized I wasn’t going to find when I was looking for there so I left and then
was looking for there so I left and then
was looking for there so I left and then driven by the same impulse I pursued
driven by the same impulse I pursued
driven by the same impulse I pursued degrees in physics and philosophy which
degrees in physics and philosophy which
degrees in physics and philosophy which was also a powerful and formative
was also a powerful and formative
was also a powerful and formative experience and then I realized I had to
experience and then I realized I had to
experience and then I realized I had to make a living through a series of happy
make a living through a series of happy
make a living through a series of happy accidents I landed in the building
accidents I landed in the building
accidents I landed in the building industry it was exciting and I was good
industry it was exciting and I was good
industry it was exciting and I was good at it
at it
at it I loved seeing the tangible results of
I loved seeing the tangible results of
I loved seeing the tangible results of my efforts and as long as there was
my efforts and as long as there was
my efforts and as long as there was another challenge in front of me I was
another challenge in front of me I was
another challenge in front of me I was pretty happy but as I grew into a
pretty happy but as I grew into a
pretty happy but as I grew into a successful business person I gradually
successful business person I gradually
successful business person I gradually let the seeker in me recede
let the seeker in me recede
let the seeker in me recede unconsciously learning to check my inner
unconsciously learning to check my inner
unconsciously learning to check my inner knowing at the door of the office so
knowing at the door of the office so
knowing at the door of the office so that I could succeed at life it was like
that I could succeed at life it was like
that I could succeed at life it was like there were two sandy’s the inner sandy
there were two sandy’s the inner sandy
there were two sandy’s the inner sandy the seeker much quieter but still
the seeker much quieter but still
the seeker much quieter but still yearning for awakening and the sandy
yearning for awakening and the sandy
yearning for awakening and the sandy that the world saw the outward sandy the
that the world saw the outward sandy the
that the world saw the outward sandy the professional businessman and the to
professional businessman and the to
professional businessman and the to Sandy’s grew further and further apart
Sandy’s grew further and further apart
Sandy’s grew further and further apart over time for many of us there’s a real
over time for many of us there’s a real
over time for many of us there’s a real disconnect between what we know at our
disconnect between what we know at our
disconnect between what we know at our deepest level and how we operate in the
deepest level and how we operate in the
deepest level and how we operate in the world that disconnect is powered by a
world that disconnect is powered by a
world that disconnect is powered by a delusion the belief that were just not
delusion the belief that were just not
delusion the belief that were just not permitted to operate from that place of
permitted to operate from that place of
permitted to operate from that place of knowing so back to my story
knowing so back to my story
knowing so back to my story fast-forward about 20 years and I woke
fast-forward about 20 years and I woke
fast-forward about 20 years and I woke up one day with the startling
up one day with the startling
up one day with the startling realization that I was leading a
realization that I was leading a
realization that I was leading a mercenary life I was working for money
mercenary life I was working for money
mercenary life I was working for money and without purpose now it happened at
and without purpose now it happened at
and without purpose now it happened at that time that I was putting together a
that time that I was putting together a
that time that I was putting together a project in my hometown of Philadelphia
project in my hometown of Philadelphia
project in my hometown of Philadelphia with a friend of mine who was the
with a friend of mine who was the
with a friend of mine who was the architect we went out to lunch one day
architect we went out to lunch one day
architect we went out to lunch one day to talk about the approach and during
to talk about the approach and during
to talk about the approach and during lunch he pulled out a magazine to show
lunch he pulled out a magazine to show
lunch he pulled out a magazine to show me a tiny article was maybe three column
me a tiny article was maybe three column
me a tiny article was maybe three column inches they talked about the
inches they talked about the
inches they talked about the environmental impact of building I was
environmental impact of building I was
environmental impact of building I was stunned I’d been a lifetime
stunned I’d been a lifetime
stunned I’d been a lifetime environmentalist an outdoors person but
environmentalist an outdoors person but
environmentalist an outdoors person but I’d never connected that passion with my
I’d never connected that passion with my
I’d never connected that passion with my work life my need to understand it
work life my need to understand it
work life my need to understand it became an itch that I just couldn’t stop
became an itch that I just couldn’t stop
became an itch that I just couldn’t stop scratching and although I didn’t
scratching and although I didn’t
scratching and although I didn’t understand why at the time it created a
understand why at the time it created a
understand why at the time it created a tendril of connection between the inner
tendril of connection between the inner
tendril of connection between the inner sandy and the outer sandy that began to
sandy and the outer sandy that began to
sandy and the outer sandy that began to draw them together I rejoined the path
draw them together I rejoined the path
draw them together I rejoined the path of awakening
of awakening
of awakening a decade later I found myself at the
a decade later I found myself at the
a decade later I found myself at the epicenter of the global transformation
epicenter of the global transformation
epicenter of the global transformation of one of the world’s largest industries
of one of the world’s largest industries
of one of the world’s largest industries as chair of the US Green Building
as chair of the US Green Building
as chair of the US Green Building Council as I traveled back and forth
Council as I traveled back and forth
Council as I traveled back and forth across the country meeting with
across the country meeting with
across the country meeting with communities of business people I
communities of business people I
communities of business people I increasingly found myself called to
increasingly found myself called to
increasingly found myself called to speak from that place of inner knowing
speak from that place of inner knowing
speak from that place of inner knowing and surprisingly people responded they
and surprisingly people responded they
and surprisingly people responded they were waiting for the invitation to
were waiting for the invitation to
were waiting for the invitation to operate from that place themselves I
operate from that place themselves I
operate from that place themselves I realized then that the engine that was
realized then that the engine that was
realized then that the engine that was driving the massive change that I was
driving the massive change that I was
driving the massive change that I was witnessing had nothing to do with green
witnessing had nothing to do with green
witnessing had nothing to do with green buildings it wasn’t market demand or
buildings it wasn’t market demand or
buildings it wasn’t market demand or shifting economics or the LEED rating
shifting economics or the LEED rating
shifting economics or the LEED rating system it was the transformation of
system it was the transformation of
system it was the transformation of people who were waking up and
people who were waking up and
people who were waking up and discovering meaning in their lives their
discovering meaning in their lives their
discovering meaning in their lives their engagement in green building fostered a
engagement in green building fostered a
engagement in green building fostered a growing sense of connection to the rest
growing sense of connection to the rest
growing sense of connection to the rest of the human family and our planet home
of the human family and our planet home
of the human family and our planet home eventually altering the way that they
eventually altering the way that they
eventually altering the way that they operated in every every aspect of their
operated in every every aspect of their
operated in every every aspect of their lives and it drew them together with a
lives and it drew them together with a
lives and it drew them together with a sense of common purpose the nested
sense of common purpose the nested
sense of common purpose the nested self-organizing networks that emerged as
self-organizing networks that emerged as
self-organizing networks that emerged as a result of their internal
a result of their internal
a result of their internal transformations changed an industry in
transformations changed an industry in
transformations changed an industry in less than a decade so what was going on
less than a decade so what was going on
less than a decade so what was going on here my own immersion in green building
here my own immersion in green building
here my own immersion in green building let’s call that the it required me to
let’s call that the it required me to
let’s call that the it required me to examine the mental model
examine the mental model
examine the mental model that I use to construct my world it
that I use to construct my world it
that I use to construct my world it fueled an inner journey the I as I met
fueled an inner journey the I as I met
fueled an inner journey the I as I met others who were having similar
others who were having similar
others who were having similar experiences a deep sense of connection
experiences a deep sense of connection
experiences a deep sense of connection and common purpose emerged the we and
and common purpose emerged the we and
and common purpose emerged the we and the multiplier effect of the we
the multiplier effect of the we
the multiplier effect of the we accelerated the change we were seeking
accelerated the change we were seeking
accelerated the change we were seeking the it and so it went I stumbled on this
the it and so it went I stumbled on this
the it and so it went I stumbled on this relationship or cycle the I that we the
relationship or cycle the I that we the
relationship or cycle the I that we the it accidentally from my front-row seat
it accidentally from my front-row seat
it accidentally from my front-row seat in the midst of change but I now know
in the midst of change but I now know
in the midst of change but I now know that this is a pattern that is at the
that this is a pattern that is at the
that this is a pattern that is at the root of all successful movements and
root of all successful movements and
root of all successful movements and that we can use it to intentionally
that we can use it to intentionally
that we can use it to intentionally accelerate change so the nugget that I
accelerate change so the nugget that I
accelerate change so the nugget that I want to share with you is this it’s the
want to share with you is this it’s the
want to share with you is this it’s the most effectively nurture systems change
most effectively nurture systems change
most effectively nurture systems change begin by focusing on the I tending to
begin by focusing on the I tending to
begin by focusing on the I tending to your own awakening and the awakening of
your own awakening and the awakening of
your own awakening and the awakening of others one of my teachers calls this the
others one of my teachers calls this the
others one of my teachers calls this the definition of love the fearless and
definition of love the fearless and
definition of love the fearless and unrelenting commitment to respond to the
unrelenting commitment to respond to the
unrelenting commitment to respond to the need for awakening in oneself and the
need for awakening in oneself and the
need for awakening in oneself and the other in every moment so back to my
other in every moment so back to my
other in every moment so back to my story during that period when I was
story during that period when I was
story during that period when I was gallivanting around the country for the
gallivanting around the country for the
gallivanting around the country for the US Green Building Council I realized
US Green Building Council I realized
US Green Building Council I realized that everywhere that I went I was
that everywhere that I went I was
that everywhere that I went I was hearing the same refrain
hearing the same refrain
hearing the same refrain we’re committed we want to do this work
we’re committed we want to do this work
we’re committed we want to do this work but we can’t find the money before long
but we can’t find the money before long
but we can’t find the money before long that became a new itch that I couldn’t
that became a new itch that I couldn’t
that became a new itch that I couldn’t stop scratching tomorrow a metaphor from
stop scratching tomorrow a metaphor from
stop scratching tomorrow a metaphor from the building industry I realized that
the building industry I realized that
the building industry I realized that finance was the pig in the pipe but what
finance was the pig in the pipe but what
finance was the pig in the pipe but what a big pig and how do you change that
a big pig and how do you change that
a big pig and how do you change that well the answer is the same way you
well the answer is the same way you
well the answer is the same way you change any system begin with the I the
change any system begin with the I the
change any system begin with the I the process of awakening transforms the
process of awakening transforms the
process of awakening transforms the mental models or paradigms that underlie
mental models or paradigms that underlie
mental models or paradigms that underlie any system that we’re trying to change
any system that we’re trying to change
any system that we’re trying to change and to paraphrase the late Donella
and to paraphrase the late Donella
and to paraphrase the late Donella Meadows the transformation of power die
Meadows the transformation of power die
Meadows the transformation of power die paradigms is the most powerful lever for
paradigms is the most powerful lever for
paradigms is the most powerful lever for to change today I used all of this
to change today I used all of this
to change today I used all of this knowledge in work that I do with two
knowledge in work that I do with two
knowledge in work that I do with two remarkable Oregon organizations for the
remarkable Oregon organizations for the
remarkable Oregon organizations for the last five years I’ve chaired Valley the
last five years I’ve chaired Valley the
last five years I’ve chaired Valley the Business Alliance for local living
Business Alliance for local living
Business Alliance for local living economies it’s an organization that
economies it’s an organization that
economies it’s an organization that stands in service of economies that work
stands in service of economies that work
stands in service of economies that work for all life their work is grounded in
for all life their work is grounded in
for all life their work is grounded in the understanding that our relationships
the understanding that our relationships
the understanding that our relationships to each other matter more than any other
to each other matter more than any other
to each other matter more than any other element of economy I’m also a senior
element of economy I’m also a senior
element of economy I’m also a senior advisor with RSF social finance an RSF
advisor with RSF social finance an RSF
advisor with RSF social finance an RSF purpose is to transform the way the
purpose is to transform the way the
purpose is to transform the way the world works with money the shorthand for
world works with money the shorthand for
world works with money the shorthand for that transformation is from a financial
that transformation is from a financial
that transformation is from a financial system that is complex opaque anonymous
system that is complex opaque anonymous
system that is complex opaque anonymous and focus solely on short-term return to
and focus solely on short-term return to
and focus solely on short-term return to a system that’s direct transparent
a system that’s direct transparent
a system that’s direct transparent personal and grounded in relationship
personal and grounded in relationship
personal and grounded in relationship with RSF in Bali I helped to convene and
with RSF in Bali I helped to convene and
with RSF in Bali I helped to convene and facilitate communities of practice
facilitate communities of practice
facilitate communities of practice we call them circles of individuals who
we call them circles of individuals who
we call them circles of individuals who are pioneering the pathways to this new
are pioneering the pathways to this new
are pioneering the pathways to this new economic system circles play a special
economic system circles play a special
economic system circles play a special role in systems change because when you
role in systems change because when you
role in systems change because when you connect them to each other the synergy
connect them to each other the synergy
connect them to each other the synergy of pioneers can seed a tipping point
of pioneers can seed a tipping point
of pioneers can seed a tipping point where they’re pioneering practices which
where they’re pioneering practices which
where they’re pioneering practices which are usually viewed as fringe suddenly
are usually viewed as fringe suddenly
are usually viewed as fringe suddenly become the norm this is exactly what I
become the norm this is exactly what I
become the norm this is exactly what I witnessed in 2006 when green building
witnessed in 2006 when green building
witnessed in 2006 when green building quite suddenly went from fringe to
quite suddenly went from fringe to
quite suddenly went from fringe to mainstream to illustrate here’s a story
mainstream to illustrate here’s a story
mainstream to illustrate here’s a story of one joint RSF valley circle that
of one joint RSF valley circle that
of one joint RSF valley circle that begins at the intersection of their
begins at the intersection of their
begins at the intersection of their common focus on relationship based
common focus on relationship based
common focus on relationship based economies now the most effective way to
economies now the most effective way to
economies now the most effective way to build relationship based economies is by
build relationship based economies is by
build relationship based economies is by fostering meaningful connections between
fostering meaningful connections between
fostering meaningful connections between people who are engaged in economic
people who are engaged in economic
people who are engaged in economic transactions so farmers – eaters
transactions so farmers – eaters
transactions so farmers – eaters consumers to producers lenders to
consumers to producers lenders to
consumers to producers lenders to borrowers and investors to the people in
borrowers and investors to the people in
borrowers and investors to the people in the businesses that they’re investing in
the businesses that they’re investing in
the businesses that they’re investing in that’s what we call community capital a
that’s what we call community capital a
that’s what we call community capital a few years ago we noticed that there was
few years ago we noticed that there was
few years ago we noticed that there was some nascent energy building
some nascent energy building
some nascent energy building in the world of Community Foundation’s
in the world of Community Foundation’s
in the world of Community Foundation’s around this idea of community capital
around this idea of community capital
around this idea of community capital and that that represented a whole lot of
and that that represented a whole lot of
and that that represented a whole lot of systems change potential there are over
systems change potential there are over
systems change potential there are over 900 Community Foundation’s in North
900 Community Foundation’s in North
900 Community Foundation’s in North America and all of them are focused on
America and all of them are focused on
America and all of them are focused on the health and vitality of their places
the health and vitality of their places
the health and vitality of their places like most philanthropies they invest
like most philanthropies they invest
like most philanthropies they invest their money and they use the returns
their money and they use the returns
their money and they use the returns from those investments to make grants
from those investments to make grants
from those investments to make grants but often those investments are creating
but often those investments are creating
but often those investments are creating the very systems conditions that they’re
the very systems conditions that they’re
the very systems conditions that they’re trying to solve with tour with their
trying to solve with tour with their
trying to solve with tour with their philanthropy so what if we could help
philanthropy so what if we could help
philanthropy so what if we could help them shift those investments about a
them shift those investments about a
them shift those investments about a hundred billion dollars almost all of
hundred billion dollars almost all of
hundred billion dollars almost all of which is parked on Wall Street into
which is parked on Wall Street into
which is parked on Wall Street into their communities in alignment with
their communities in alignment with
their communities in alignment with mission so we hunted down the pioneers
mission so we hunted down the pioneers
mission so we hunted down the pioneers and convened a circle of 12 foundation
and convened a circle of 12 foundation
and convened a circle of 12 foundation executives who had a fire in their belly
executives who had a fire in their belly
executives who had a fire in their belly to change their institutions over the
to change their institutions over the
to change their institutions over the course of the next 18 months we came
course of the next 18 months we came
course of the next 18 months we came together in a series of immersive
together in a series of immersive
together in a series of immersive retreats designed to address the change
retreats designed to address the change
retreats designed to address the change we were say seeking the it but the
we were say seeking the it but the
we were say seeking the it but the exploration of the it the content in
exploration of the it the content in
exploration of the it the content in these retreats was always joined with
these retreats was always joined with
these retreats was always joined with the exploration of the eye we as many
the exploration of the eye we as many
the exploration of the eye we as many different practices to support this
different practices to support this
different practices to support this inward journey and to grow each person’s
inward journey and to grow each person’s
inward journey and to grow each person’s capacity and courage to work and lead
capacity and courage to work and lead
capacity and courage to work and lead from their place of deepest knowing
from their place of deepest knowing
from their place of deepest knowing because you see as we awaken the
because you see as we awaken the
because you see as we awaken the delusion that we cannot operate from
delusion that we cannot operate from
delusion that we cannot operate from that place evaporates as always happens
that place evaporates as always happens
that place evaporates as always happens when you do this work together the we
when you do this work together the we
when you do this work together the we emerged and we fell in love with each
emerged and we fell in love with each
emerged and we fell in love with each other today these leaders are working to
other today these leaders are working to
other today these leaders are working to deploy collective assets of over two and
deploy collective assets of over two and
deploy collective assets of over two and a half billion dollars into meaningful
a half billion dollars into meaningful
a half billion dollars into meaningful investments in their communities and
investments in their communities and
investments in their communities and they’re innovating like crazy that’s
they’re innovating like crazy that’s
they’re innovating like crazy that’s great
great
great what’s even greater is that they’ve
what’s even greater is that they’ve
what’s even greater is that they’ve owned responsibility for changing the
owned responsibility for changing the
owned responsibility for changing the field they’ve developed a manifesto to
field they’ve developed a manifesto to
field they’ve developed a manifesto to broadcast that change to other
broadcast that change to other
broadcast that change to other foundations but most importantly each of
foundations but most importantly each of
foundations but most importantly each of them understands that tending to the eye
them understands that tending to the eye
them understands that tending to the eye is absolutely foundational to their work
is absolutely foundational to their work
is absolutely foundational to their work in the world and they now carry that
in the world and they now carry that
in the world and they now carry that understanding as leaders to their
understanding as leaders to their
understanding as leaders to their institutions and their communities when
institutions and their communities when
institutions and their communities when we work for
we work for
we work for and I know that many of you do we
and I know that many of you do we
and I know that many of you do we usually do a great job of focusing on
usually do a great job of focusing on
usually do a great job of focusing on the it but it is tending to the I the
the it but it is tending to the I the
the it but it is tending to the I the journey of awakening that unleashes your
journey of awakening that unleashes your
journey of awakening that unleashes your full potential as leaders and change
full potential as leaders and change
full potential as leaders and change agents and when you join your journey
agents and when you join your journey
agents and when you join your journey with the journey of others who also
with the journey of others who also
with the journey of others who also share your vision then the power of we
share your vision then the power of we
share your vision then the power of we becomes unstoppable
becomes unstoppable
becomes unstoppable [Applause]
”
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