Here is an executive summary: The AWAKENED COMPANY comes at a time where there is a crisis in the business world – a desperate need for something more. But what is “more”? From an era of profits first and growth at all cost, businesses and the people within business are coming to the realization this is no longer sustainable. Our book offers practical ways and useful examples from business, community, social, and academic leaders to take business to a new and awakened level through the merging of wisdom traditions including mindfulness and yoga with best practices in business. The depth, scope, and practicality of THE AWAKENED COMPANY set it apart from other books on business.
Our fundamental premise is that work is not separate from life, and the metrics for success in business need to change at a fundamental level for human life on this planet to continue. The statistics on climate change and its impact on our planet are not positive. There is another way of doing business and a shift in behaviours on our planet, and that business success and respect for our planet are not mutually exclusive.
There are three main focuses at the individual and community levels of business: energizing, sustaining, and regenerating. There are also three main focuses at the relationship level in business: heartfulness, mindfulness, and spaciousness. In THE AWAKENED COMPANY, we show the reader how to shift their business and/or organizations through a process of “being”--an awakened state where we fully inhabit the present moment--with more of an emphasis on regeneration, and regenerating behaviours. To awaken is to become aware that you are more than your thoughts about yourself and the world. We experience deep fulfillment and a sense that we are connected with all people and things on this planet. To discover who we truly are is our primary purpose in this life. When we do not know who we are we feel disconnected, we struggle to find meaning in our lives, and fulfillment evades us. Our dissatisfaction and sense of separation from everyone and everything propels us on a futile quest for more things and experiences in the hope that we will finally feel fulfilled.
We also build our businesses in our own image--a distorted and incomplete impression of who we are and why we are here…until we wake up. When we awaken, our businesses also awaken and discover their higher purpose beyond profits to sustainability, and yet profits consistently grow as we grow in awareness. Awakening requires individuals to work on themselves in the movement of life, and to undo their habits in the midst of life, using life itself as the teacher. The more we commit to change in the midst of conducting business, the more fully “being” becomes the modality of growth and opportunities. It undoes the delusion of always wanting more, more, and more: more from ourselves, more from our employees, more growth, and more from the environment.
The most recent financial meltdown was a big cry for help from a business model that is failing. Too many businesses have been putting profits before the employees and the wider community that give their company life. Businesses need to, fundamentally, turn a profit, but when we value profits far more than people, society, and the planet, disastrous results occur. From the drive for always more grows a special class of mercenary enterprise: using their power to defang regulations and aggressively engage in high risk activity.
At the same time, something profound is happening. Beneath the wreckage of collapsing businesses, communities, and families--all suffering from the side effects of the current economic paradigm--more and more have found their way out of this mode of being. More and more businesses and their employees are wiping off the dusty mirror and taking a hard look at themselves. And in the process they, as individuals and as entire companies, are finding a truer calling, their soul.
This is a book about awakening corporate culture through developing the characteristics and attributes that lead to an Awakened Company. Corporate culture is malleable. It can be developed and transformed. In this book we are proposing the transformation of corporate culture through adopting the characteristics of an Awakened Company.
The Awakened Company grows from lessons learned, encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness. It draws upon methods and approaches from various philosophical perspectives and wisdom traditions to positively influence corporate culture. Obviously, this is easier said than done. Developing these capacities takes commitment and work. Most of us could easily recognize that it is far easier to be awake sitting on a mountaintop than it is to be awake in a contentious relationship or in a boardroom with 13 assertive people. A greater level of skill, compassion, and experience is required. Here, right now through this book, we are learning how to bring a development of our awareness into our everyday lives, into our work, and our relationships.
Learn from wisdom makers, academics, private equity builders, breakthrough renewable energy companies (even some traditional energy companies), healers, entrepreneurs, one of the top publishers in the world, and social enterprise. Join us on this journey of awakening as we all become more aware of who we are and how we are all interconnected. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn who is joining you on this journey of transformation, and even more surprised by how rewarding it is for your own business.
Here is an executive summary: The AWAKENED COMPANY comes at a time where there is a crisis in the business world – a desperate need for something more. But what is “more”? From an era of profits first and growth at all cost, businesses and the people within business are coming to the realization this is no longer sustainable. Our book offers practical ways and useful examples from business, community, social, and academic leaders to take business to a new and awakened level through the merging of wisdom traditions including mindfulness and yoga with best practices in business. The depth, scope, and practicality of THE AWAKENED COMPANY set it apart from other books on business.
Our fundamental premise is that work is not separate from life, and the metrics for success in business need to change at a fundamental level for human life on this planet to continue. The statistics on climate change and its impact on our planet are not positive. There is another way of doing business and a shift in behaviours on our planet, and that business success and respect for our planet are not mutually exclusive.
There are three main focuses at the individual and community levels of business: energizing, sustaining, and regenerating. There are also three main focuses at the relationship level in business: heartfulness, mindfulness, and spaciousness. In THE AWAKENED COMPANY, we show the reader how to shift their business and/or organizations through a process of “being”--an awakened state where we fully inhabit the present moment--with more of an emphasis on regeneration, and regenerating behaviours. To awaken is to become aware that you are more than your thoughts about yourself and the world. We experience deep fulfillment and a sense that we are connected with all people and things on this planet. To discover who we truly are is our primary purpose in this life. When we do not know who we are we feel disconnected, we struggle to find meaning in our lives, and fulfillment evades us. Our dissatisfaction and sense of separation from everyone and everything propels us on a futile quest for more things and experiences in the hope that we will finally feel fulfilled.
We also build our businesses in our own image--a distorted and incomplete impression of who we are and why we are here…until we wake up. When we awaken, our businesses also awaken and discover their higher purpose beyond profits to sustainability, and yet profits consistently grow as we grow in awareness. Awakening requires individuals to work on themselves in the movement of life, and to undo their habits in the midst of life, using life itself as the teacher. The more we commit to change in the midst of conducting business, the more fully “being” becomes the modality of growth and opportunities. It undoes the delusion of always wanting more, more, and more: more from ourselves, more from our employees, more growth, and more from the environment.
The most recent financial meltdown was a big cry for help from a business model that is failing. Too many businesses have been putting profits before the employees and the wider community that give their company life. Businesses need to, fundamentally, turn a profit, but when we value profits far more than people, society, and the planet, disastrous results occur. From the drive for always more grows a special class of mercenary enterprise: using their power to defang regulations and aggressively engage in high risk activity.
At the same time, something profound is happening. Beneath the wreckage of collapsing businesses, communities, and families--all suffering from the side effects of the current economic paradigm--more and more have found their way out of this mode of being. More and more businesses and their employees are wiping off the dusty mirror and taking a hard look at themselves. And in the process they, as individuals and as entire companies, are finding a truer calling, their soul.
This is a book about awakening corporate culture through developing the characteristics and attributes that lead to an Awakened Company. Corporate culture is malleable. It can be developed and transformed. In this book we are proposing the transformation of corporate culture through adopting the characteristics of an Awakened Company.
The Awakened Company grows from lessons learned, encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness. It draws upon methods and approaches from various philosophical perspectives and wisdom traditions to positively influence corporate culture. Obviously, this is easier said than done. Developing these capacities takes commitment and work. Most of us could easily recognize that it is far easier to be awake sitting on a mountaintop than it is to be awake in a contentious relationship or in a boardroom with 13 assertive people. A greater level of skill, compassion, and experience is required. Here, right now through this book, we are learning how to bring a development of our awareness into our everyday lives, into our work, and our relationships.
Learn from wisdom makers, academics, private equity builders, breakthrough renewable energy companies (even some traditional energy companies), healers, entrepreneurs, one of the top publishers in the world, and social enterprise. Join us on this journey of awakening as we all become more aware of who we are and how we are all interconnected. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn who is joining you on this journey of transformation, and even more surprised by how rewarding it is for your own business.
