EVOLVE Communities

A former yoga student of mine asked me if I still manage my daily meditation/yoga practice (I have not taught yoga classes for a few years now).

BD (before daughter), I was reasonably consistent in getting up at 5:30am (absolutely NOT my natural body clock) for a 1 hour practice of yoga, meditation and asana (postures). I found this helped with focus, connection and clarity.

AD (after daughter), while I still (mostly) get up at this time 6 days a week – I am doing a multidtude of things other than yoga. Having said that, I do manage a ‘daily  practice’ albeit with some novel approaches, with the ADDITION of the feelings of surrender, spontaneity and even more joy.

This week, I will share how looking at things a little more laterally, being adaptable about the WAY in which an outcome is achieved, has led to greater depth and enrichment rather than feeling time and spiritually poor.

I call it my “drive through” practice – which in essence is about being in the moment and letting go.

1. The Context: Last week I went on a  ’meandering mystery tour’ in our Local Library to randomly select a book. It was a speedy meander. Ironically, I selected the “Idea Accelerator – How to solve Problems faster using Speed Thinking” by Dr. Ken Hudson (2008). I had noticed over the years that the most popular activities in any workshop, training and the marketplaceTM itself, were time bound. They were also the activities that generated the most ideas (and laughter).

2. The Adventure: I read the book in ½ day, while applying the concepts to a ‘real problem’. In this issue, I share my ’speed thinking’ story, make you an offer ‘too good to refuse’ and invite you to the ‘Speed Thinking’ challenge.

3. The Problem or BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal):  “By June 30th 2009, to have an organisation that URGENTLY and DESPERATELY needs to engage meaningfully and joyously with its community (including staff), successfully applying the marketplaceTM concept”

4. Accelerate and Blast Off! I then worked through 25 activities in the book for idea generation, building and evaluating the ideas. Most of these activities are time bound by 2 minutes (120 seconds) and 9 responses.

5. The ‘Idea’ (or one of nine) – an offer to YOU too Good to Refuse: Do you know of an organisation that URGENTLY and DESPERATELY needs to engage meaningfully and joyously with its community (including staff) for immediate impact and results? Yes? If not familiar with the marketplace approachTM, take a few minutes to look at http://www.evolves.com.au/facilitationandparticipation.htm . If you know of someone who may benefit, then, by Friday 5th June 2009: 

• Email me with their details and you will receive FREE Evolve Club Membership ($59AuD);
• Arrange an introduction and facilitate a meeting between us and you will receive a FREE Marketplace Toolkit and 1 month of Marketplace^TM Mentoring ($350AuD);
• If your contract proceeds with a marketplace series ^TM co-faciliated with Evolve, then you will receive an Intentional Living Coaching Program (valued at $1500 AuD).

We want to reach organisations that are in NEED and that don’t ‘do’, or do average, ‘run of the mill’ (boring!) engagement (staff or community). If you think the marketplace would benefit an organisation in great need, and don’t want to purse the above options, we of course respect this choice and still welcome the contact.

6. An offer too ‘GOOD’ for an organisation/host to refuse: For the host organisation, we will provide a number of incentives including marketplace and community engagement trainingTM  and on-going coaching and mentoring.

7.  Insights: My ’speed day’ confirmed several  ’gut feelings’: Through ’speed thinking’, I was more focussed, excited to get to action, creative and I felt great about my day. I could do it in short bursts only. I am currently incorporating ’speed thinking’ activities into a workshop for an indigenous community creating employment and training opportunities – I will keep you posted.

8. A challenge to you – Let’s Play: Give yourself 120 seconds to define a ‘burning issue’ or problem. With a piece of paper, run 3 lines across and 3 down. Give yourself 120 seconds to respond with  9 possible solutions – 1 idea for each box.

9. What Next? What can you do in 120 seconds? Share your ’Speed Thinking’ experience at the Evolve blog , have a go (those of you who have been to a marketplace will know that I LOVE running ’speed dating’ in a workshop’). May is still Evolve celebration month –  5 more days left of half price Evolve Club membership! You can sign up for this in 30 seconds and become a part of it. 

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EVOLVE NOW BOTTOM LINE: Making your activities ‘time bound’ (try 120 seconds) can lead to increased focus, creativity, productivity and enjoyment. Try it for yourself NOW (have you got 2 minutes?) or in your next workshop. 

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I had something interesting happen overnight. This blog crashed. We decided that the safest thing to do was to start afresh and wipe all of the old files. Deep breath – press the button – bingo! Interestingly, I often find that ‘Take 2′ is invariably more focussed, refined, the essence distilled.

My question for today is how I might slow down a little to enable the time to put more of my work, actions and thinking through the distillery so that what emerges is sparking with crystal clarity.