"This is a moment in history when the average person has more power than any other time." - Katherine Fulton
We are all rooted in striking and potent processes of social and personal change. Change is happening and change is needed. Freedom is being conscious and empowered in your own process and our shared experience of change. How free are you?
In this video Katherine Fulton looks at five philanthropic innovations and explores the assumptions these innovations challenged. We all walk around with assumptions about ourselves, others, and the world. These assumptions are generally unconscious and tend to go unchallenged. These assumptions guide our lives and inhibit empowered change and growth.
While looking at this video, consider the assumptions you have about yourself keeping you from doing what life is asking from you. What holds you back? Why? Are you sure it's absolutely true? What would you do if it wasn't?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Now Is The Time To Start A New Business
Some of our biggest companies today began as a start-up during a recession. There truly is no better time to birth a vision and create a new business.
A recession is one of the best markets to start a new business. A recent study conducted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation found that more than half, or 51%, of the companies on the Fortune 500 list this year began during a recession or bear market or both. Proctor & Gamble, IBM and GE are just a few of these companies.
With lower start-up costs, a lack of interest in investing in traditional markets, the liquidation of equipment and talent, and a radio active pop corn burst of ideas, visions and intentions explode during a recession. Gaps in services and products become apparent, and the intuitive, willful, and visionary step into these gaps sometimes changing the market and world forever.
There truly is no better time to birth a vision and create a new business.
Krama Consulting is in the business of business and in the business of change. We instigate greater success in businesses and organizations through creating intelligent strategy and communication, while developing business' greatest asset: people. A few of our services are essential for every business start-up:
Krama Consulting is in the business of business and in the business of change. We instigate greater success in businesses and organizations through creating intelligent strategy and communication, while developing business' greatest asset: people.
Our work in the world is to support your work in the world - whether professional or visionary. We want to change the world through making your work, passion projects, and world change initiatives successful, while believing that world change should be a highly profitable endeavor.
We offer these services to support your vision and idea:
- Vision and mission refinement
- Business and strategic planning
- Branding, marketing and social media planning
- Coaching for new business leaders
A recession is one of the best markets to start a new business. A recent study conducted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation found that more than half, or 51%, of the companies on the Fortune 500 list this year began during a recession or bear market or both. Proctor & Gamble, IBM and GE are just a few of these companies.
With lower start-up costs, a lack of interest in investing in traditional markets, the liquidation of equipment and talent, and a radio active pop corn burst of ideas, visions and intentions explode during a recession. Gaps in services and products become apparent, and the intuitive, willful, and visionary step into these gaps sometimes changing the market and world forever.
There truly is no better time to birth a vision and create a new business.
Krama Consulting is in the business of business and in the business of change. We instigate greater success in businesses and organizations through creating intelligent strategy and communication, while developing business' greatest asset: people. A few of our services are essential for every business start-up:
- Vision & Mission: Your vision is your inspiration, guiding light, and one of your biggest tools in inspiring your employees and customers. Your mission is the way you go about realizing your vision. Sadly most have a vague idea about what they're going for, but few have sat down with the guiding help of another to really become clear and refine their offering to the world. This is essential for every decision you make and directs each turn on your path. We at Krama Consulting offer a very refined and tested process for creating and defining your vision. One recent client said, "Everything in my business is now based on the vision work we did. This is the most important thing I have done for my business ever."
- Business & Strategic Planning:Vision and mission work always leads to business and strategic planning - it becomes the practical vehicle for which you strive towards your vision through your mission. If you already have done serious work around developing your idea and vision, business and strategic planning are the next essential steps.
- Branding, Marketing Plan & Social Media: Your brand is the face of your presence and vision in the world. And your marketing plan is figuratively your brands social calendar - it is the medium through which you share your vision, product and value. Social media is an extension of your marketing plan and customer service, and is a low cost practice for reaching your customers. Establishing a brand that reflects your vision and values and a marketing plan the reaches the people that care is one of the most important things you can do for your business.
- Coaching for New Business Leaders: Running a business is hard. Leading a team is hard. It is essential to have someone that you trust in your corner to listen and advise. We offer both short term and long term coaching paths helping you deal with the business, leadership and relational elements of your business.
* * *
Krama Consulting is in the business of business and in the business of change. We instigate greater success in businesses and organizations through creating intelligent strategy and communication, while developing business' greatest asset: people.
Our work in the world is to support your work in the world - whether professional or visionary. We want to change the world through making your work, passion projects, and world change initiatives successful, while believing that world change should be a highly profitable endeavor.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
You Will
In 1993 AT&T released a massive ad campaign called “You will.” How many of them came true? EZ-Pass, books online, video conferencing, and voice recognition technology. How many of them didn’t? Faxing from the beach (touch technology did though), or public phones with Skype built in - who uses a public phone now? I don't even know how they work anymore.
The great thing about this ad campaign is that I take most of these technologies for granted now. They're a part of my every day life. However, not to long ago, they were simply dreams in people's minds and hearts - dreams that were birthed through vision, strategy, and process.
Krama Consulting and Development is about a lot of things (I'm ambitious). But it's mainly about one thing - assisting people in realizing their dreams through vision, strategy and process.
As you watch this video with these commercials, think about your dreams and how they might come.
Best wishes and happy dreaming:
The great thing about this ad campaign is that I take most of these technologies for granted now. They're a part of my every day life. However, not to long ago, they were simply dreams in people's minds and hearts - dreams that were birthed through vision, strategy, and process.
Krama Consulting and Development is about a lot of things (I'm ambitious). But it's mainly about one thing - assisting people in realizing their dreams through vision, strategy and process.
As you watch this video with these commercials, think about your dreams and how they might come.
Best wishes and happy dreaming:
Friday, July 10, 2009
Leading From the Heart II: The Nature of Being
As leaders, coaches, and change agents each of us have so much to give and offer. It seems from the desire to give, the fear of not knowing, and the push for a result we can so easily loose ourselves in the process. I’ve certainly found myself so lost in trying to solve someone’s problem or decide what technique to employ I have completely lost touch becoming removed from myself and the person in front of me.
The large majority of our leadership development and coach training programs focus on technique, tool gathering and process. It's about the processes, metaphors, theory, tools, skills, and such all leading to clear results and understanding, with little attention given, except for perhaps a morning meditation, to yourself and your presence. I like tools, skills, theory, and technique. They are helpful and essential, and we couldn’t do our jobs without them. I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not engaged them. However, what gets lost in this is the most important thing: who the leader coach is will impact people, space and time more than anything else.
Did you see Kung Fu Panda? It’s brilliant, simple and funny, and Jack Black is always jovial. In the film, the secret of Kung Fu is contained in a hidden scroll and much of the film’s journey involves finding the scroll. Upon discovering the scroll we learn that it’s blank except for a simple reflective surface. Perplexed the Panda wanders away to only later discover that the secret to Kung Fu is the reflection, himself – it’s in him and it’s who he is.
Transformation happens because of who you are - it's about you. Change occurs as a result of your presence, listening, attention, and seeing. Insight and development happens because you show up in each moment. Tools and techniques are expressions and extensions of your rich and present interior. Metaphors are good, detached questioning is good, and other techniques, both hands off and on, are good too. But they’re really only as good as your attention and only as big as your heart.
In developing your leadership and impact, work as much on yourself as you do on your technique. Cultivate your being presence, what ever your unique expression of that is. Bring yourself to your coaching sessions trusting that this is enough. Bring your watchful presence to your leadership experiences trusting this is enough. Don’t show up to use shiny tools, though important, and achieve results, which will happen; show up to be fully you and trust that this is enough always. Spend less time in the moment trying to figure out what technique or method is going to get the results, and trust that you, just you, will create the impact that is necessary.
Trusting that you're enough is where leadership and change begins and ends. All of the amazing tools and techniques we have created to instigate change and growth are expressions of the transformative you.
The large majority of our leadership development and coach training programs focus on technique, tool gathering and process. It's about the processes, metaphors, theory, tools, skills, and such all leading to clear results and understanding, with little attention given, except for perhaps a morning meditation, to yourself and your presence. I like tools, skills, theory, and technique. They are helpful and essential, and we couldn’t do our jobs without them. I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not engaged them. However, what gets lost in this is the most important thing: who the leader coach is will impact people, space and time more than anything else.
Did you see Kung Fu Panda? It’s brilliant, simple and funny, and Jack Black is always jovial. In the film, the secret of Kung Fu is contained in a hidden scroll and much of the film’s journey involves finding the scroll. Upon discovering the scroll we learn that it’s blank except for a simple reflective surface. Perplexed the Panda wanders away to only later discover that the secret to Kung Fu is the reflection, himself – it’s in him and it’s who he is.
Transformation happens because of who you are - it's about you. Change occurs as a result of your presence, listening, attention, and seeing. Insight and development happens because you show up in each moment. Tools and techniques are expressions and extensions of your rich and present interior. Metaphors are good, detached questioning is good, and other techniques, both hands off and on, are good too. But they’re really only as good as your attention and only as big as your heart.
In developing your leadership and impact, work as much on yourself as you do on your technique. Cultivate your being presence, what ever your unique expression of that is. Bring yourself to your coaching sessions trusting that this is enough. Bring your watchful presence to your leadership experiences trusting this is enough. Don’t show up to use shiny tools, though important, and achieve results, which will happen; show up to be fully you and trust that this is enough always. Spend less time in the moment trying to figure out what technique or method is going to get the results, and trust that you, just you, will create the impact that is necessary.
Trusting that you're enough is where leadership and change begins and ends. All of the amazing tools and techniques we have created to instigate change and growth are expressions of the transformative you.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Telecourse: Becoming Change – Essential Awareness and Capacities for our Changing World
Telecourse: Becoming Change – Essential Awareness and Capacities for our Changing World
August 5th – September 2nd
with Kris Nelson
Ever feel like you can do better? Do you find yourself in the same action and thinking patterns? Are you on the edge of change and growth but unable to move forward? Do you feel you're being pulled towards something new but are unsure what's next? Are you ready to again step forward into a more conscious, effective, and actionable life?
The world needs your service, vision and hope, and you need the capacities and awareness to offer.
If you have recently found yourself:
* inspired to create change and support others,
* moving through job and career transition and want a new direction,
* seeing a new potential but are unsure how to create it,
* tired of helplessness and are looking for a new empowered conversation,
* interested in shifting the way you feel about our current culture and economy,
* seeking new solutions with hope and vision,
Then Becoming Change - Awareness and Capacities for our Changing World was created for you!
Becoming Change is a course designed to empower effective transition. Through a month, 4 conference calls, and 2 coaching sessions you will be guided through a process of transformation. Stepping into new perspectives, strategies, and a community of support you will create the life that you desire and the world needs.
Through your participation in this course you will get:
* tools to alleviate stress, fear, confusion, and anxiety.
* practices to create a clear picture and open to a broad view.
* empowering experiences of vision and purpose.
* methods to stop knee-jerk reactions and make powerful choices.
* practical processes and support for creating and implementing strategy.
* a community of support and guided, hands-on help.
Join us for a complimentary introductory session on August 5th at 5:00 PM PDT (8:00 PM EDT). Start your journey of transition, vision, and purpose, and experience an interactive conversation with Kris. You will be given practical tools, a course experience, followed by a question and answer session.
To register please email Kris at kris@kramaconsulting.com
Course Outline:
August 5th, Week One: Complimentary Introduction
August 5th - 11th: Orientation and Intention Coaching Session with Kris
August 12th, Week Two: Becoming Change
August 19th, Week Three: Transition
August 26th, Week Four: Vision
September 2nd, Week Five: Strategy
September 3rd+ Continued Support Coaching Session with Kris
Detailed Information:
Investment: $295
To Register Now:
Contact Kris at kris@kramaconsulting.com or 310.779.8587
Friday, July 3, 2009
Beyond The Triple Bottom Line (Integral Business II)
There is a lot of talk in the business world, especially the post-modern new business world of value and vision, about the Triple Bottom Line: profit, people, and planet. I like this approach. I think it's a great start towards building businesses that are sustainable in the long-term and impacting, meaningful in the short term. However, an integral business needs to go beyond this.
I know some of us are just getting our feet wet to the idea and practice of the Triple Bottom Line. For some of us, it's not even yet on the radar. An integral business of profit and impact needs a Penta Bottom Line. I was going to add just one more to the mix (quadruple bottom line), but we, as a business community, need to take a huge leap. Now.
The Penta Bottom Line: Profit, People, Planet, Principles, and Progress.
Most when talking about the Triple Bottom Line put profit last, as in: planet, people, profit. I think this is wonderfully visionary, and yet it fails to acknowledge that a business exists, in my perspective, to primarily create capital. Certainly, not at the harm of the other points on the bottom line, but it's primary reason for being a business, is again, making money. Otherwise, it would be a non-profit or something different.
I assume most of you understand profit, people, and planet, so I will explain principles and progress.
Principles: Rules are out. Principles are in. Principles act as guides and measures in vision, strategy, process, operations, and out-reach. Principles are interactive, directive voices in the process of decision making. Rules are rigid, limit creativity, and exist to create measured and tested results. Principles, on the other hand, acknowledge that our world is complex, changing, and unstable. No longer will rigid rules work to guide organizations that need dynamic and responsive action in a rapidly changing market and business landscape - we need interactive principles. What are the known and unknown principles that guide the decisions in your organization? Do you like them? Are they effectively guiding the outcomes you desire? Do you need a guiding principles tune-up?
Progress: I forced myself to stick with P's, but by progress I really mean development. Integral businesses consider the development of their people, culture, organizations, and the systems they interact with as important as profit. A direct investment in the development of each employee in your organization is a direct investment in your organization. Development programs are generally geared towards management (which is great and certainly needed) and those that are really screwing up, but what would your organization look like if it valued the development of each person, group, and the world around you? How can you create systems where each person is given the chance to build capacities and self?
By operating with a Penta Bottom Line, your organization opens up the sphere and valuation of success to areas that directly relate to your organization's success in the short-term and long-term.
As always, more on this soon.
I know some of us are just getting our feet wet to the idea and practice of the Triple Bottom Line. For some of us, it's not even yet on the radar. An integral business of profit and impact needs a Penta Bottom Line. I was going to add just one more to the mix (quadruple bottom line), but we, as a business community, need to take a huge leap. Now.
The Penta Bottom Line: Profit, People, Planet, Principles, and Progress.
Most when talking about the Triple Bottom Line put profit last, as in: planet, people, profit. I think this is wonderfully visionary, and yet it fails to acknowledge that a business exists, in my perspective, to primarily create capital. Certainly, not at the harm of the other points on the bottom line, but it's primary reason for being a business, is again, making money. Otherwise, it would be a non-profit or something different.
I assume most of you understand profit, people, and planet, so I will explain principles and progress.
Principles: Rules are out. Principles are in. Principles act as guides and measures in vision, strategy, process, operations, and out-reach. Principles are interactive, directive voices in the process of decision making. Rules are rigid, limit creativity, and exist to create measured and tested results. Principles, on the other hand, acknowledge that our world is complex, changing, and unstable. No longer will rigid rules work to guide organizations that need dynamic and responsive action in a rapidly changing market and business landscape - we need interactive principles. What are the known and unknown principles that guide the decisions in your organization? Do you like them? Are they effectively guiding the outcomes you desire? Do you need a guiding principles tune-up?
Progress: I forced myself to stick with P's, but by progress I really mean development. Integral businesses consider the development of their people, culture, organizations, and the systems they interact with as important as profit. A direct investment in the development of each employee in your organization is a direct investment in your organization. Development programs are generally geared towards management (which is great and certainly needed) and those that are really screwing up, but what would your organization look like if it valued the development of each person, group, and the world around you? How can you create systems where each person is given the chance to build capacities and self?
By operating with a Penta Bottom Line, your organization opens up the sphere and valuation of success to areas that directly relate to your organization's success in the short-term and long-term.
As always, more on this soon.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Integral Business I: Short-Term and Long-Term
For the purpose of this blog and post, business is defined as any operation creating capital increase. The hub of a business is making money. This, of course, doesn’t mean that businesses can’t do other things, as they both do and need to – look for a future post: Penta Bottom Line. This simply means that the creation of new capital is the generalizing principle for all things defined as business.
The core intention of this blog is to illustrate what an integral business is, how it operates, and how it is created. My assumption is an integrally framed business will ultimately be more profitable and sustainable (meaning: existing for a longer period of time) than a business that is not.
Businesses typically focus on capital and profit. This makes sense given that business’ organizing and general principle is generation of new capital; however, in our contemporary world with stockholders and stakeholders operating at multiple levels, this has come to mean consistent quarterly increases with solid strategy reaching generally about three quarters out.
An integral business considers many different things as essential to both its existence and profitability. Short-term profit growth is important, as is long term. There are many examples of individuals and organizations that have made decisions that boosted short-term increases, but were ultimately detrimental in the long-term (both to profit and sometimes the viability of the organization).
I recommend that organizations visionize and strategize ten years forward. I understand that ten years is a very long time. Things change rapidly in this world: the market, technology, governments and law, generational preferences in the workforce, social values, and the environment. However, with the assistance of forecasting, intuition, and highly developed leaders and strategists, a ten-year vision and strategy is not simply possibly, but functional and necessary.
Visions and strategies are not fixed, concrete things. They are meant to be dynamic, adjustable, and molded with the feedback of the market and further insight. Though they adjust over time, vision and strategy becomes the guide for every decision made in the present moment. Each decision for profit in the present is measured against a ten-year vision and strategy, and the evaluation considers both short-term and long-term impact (imagine if Enron did this).
An integral business works dynamically in the present while always keeping its sight ten years forward. The relationship and tension between the present and the future (while considering the past) more greatly enables a business for present and future profitability.
The core intention of this blog is to illustrate what an integral business is, how it operates, and how it is created. My assumption is an integrally framed business will ultimately be more profitable and sustainable (meaning: existing for a longer period of time) than a business that is not.
Businesses typically focus on capital and profit. This makes sense given that business’ organizing and general principle is generation of new capital; however, in our contemporary world with stockholders and stakeholders operating at multiple levels, this has come to mean consistent quarterly increases with solid strategy reaching generally about three quarters out.
An integral business considers many different things as essential to both its existence and profitability. Short-term profit growth is important, as is long term. There are many examples of individuals and organizations that have made decisions that boosted short-term increases, but were ultimately detrimental in the long-term (both to profit and sometimes the viability of the organization).
I recommend that organizations visionize and strategize ten years forward. I understand that ten years is a very long time. Things change rapidly in this world: the market, technology, governments and law, generational preferences in the workforce, social values, and the environment. However, with the assistance of forecasting, intuition, and highly developed leaders and strategists, a ten-year vision and strategy is not simply possibly, but functional and necessary.
Visions and strategies are not fixed, concrete things. They are meant to be dynamic, adjustable, and molded with the feedback of the market and further insight. Though they adjust over time, vision and strategy becomes the guide for every decision made in the present moment. Each decision for profit in the present is measured against a ten-year vision and strategy, and the evaluation considers both short-term and long-term impact (imagine if Enron did this).
An integral business works dynamically in the present while always keeping its sight ten years forward. The relationship and tension between the present and the future (while considering the past) more greatly enables a business for present and future profitability.
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