Do you also have the impression that we live in times of chaos? It feels – and more than likely is – the time of a breakdown for one of the most significant breakthroughs in human consciousness. We could compare it to the dysfunctional caterpillar that’s about to transform into a beautiful butterfly, and without doubt, we’re in the process of a major metamorphosis. Big transformations come with crises, upheavals and storms. This disruption is necessary to bring about accelerated advancement, just like it sometimes happens in our personal lives or professional careers.
I personally am not a fan of the saying “no pain, no gain.” Because it implies that the harder you work, the more you get out of your work, and this is simply not true. However, sometimes we humans are not willing to create positive change the “easy” way, which would be by opening our minds and eyes to see. And that’s when we are forced to move through pain in order to gain advanced consciousness. We humans do seem to need challenges in order to grow and generate the evolution we are here for.
This doesn’t only apply to our lives outside of work. It also (and possibly even more so) applies to our current business and political environments. So, for the length of this article, let’s focus on the realm of business. Even if it doesn’t always seem that way, we can make a difference as individuals in the business world, in any entrepreneurial or organizational environment, however hostile it may seem. Any contribution to higher consciousness, however big or small, adds a drop to the ocean, and the more drops, the stronger the wave becomes.
So, if we acknowledge that we are going through a dysfunctional time of crisis, turmoil, and confusion, how then can we move out of the current, darker consciousness of competition, greed, and power hunger, which is still prevailing in many organizations and societies, to larger or smaller extents? What can we do as players in this environment without being affected or even destroyed by this crisis, or rather, by this darkness that has reigned for decades, if not centuries?
For some of us, this may only have become more evident recently, especially those who have lived in relative comfort and not looked far beyond their own, small world. For others among us, who have scrutinized the mechanisms of our global economy, with all the intended exploitation not only by governments, corporations and groups, but also by so-called philanthropists (who turned out to be ruthless misanthropists in disguise); those of us who have been watching earth-shattering events that were never properly investigated with a critical eye, and who have done our own research (as far as that’s possible with all the data that’s kept from the public), the darkness has been in our faces for a long time. The latter group of us are probably impatient for an accelerated chain of disclosures so that the current divisive path through the crisis can be shortened and we can come out on the other end.
But independently of what happens or doesn’t happen in the future, independently of how broad or narrow our horizon is, in order to create change, we must first take stock of what is going on, at least in general terms. We can only change what we acknowledge. I think most readers, if they are deeply aware of the drivers of current events or not, will agree that we live in an environment of fierce, if not aggressive competition. On a large scale, business is characterized by greed, especially some large corporations and certain sectors. Entire populations are controlled by fear, conquered and ruled through division to satisfy the power hunger of a few. And even our school systems are an expression of this greed as they feed the current economic system and its beneficiaries. It’s noteworthy that the essence of education hasn’t been reformed since the Industrial Revolution. College degrees are greatly overrated as they are, first and foremost, big business, while they leave students completely unprepared for a successful life and in many countries also knee-deep in student-loan debt. We live in times when certain industries purposefully work towards an increasingly sick population to fill their pockets with even higher profits; it’s easy to guess which ones. All of this is happening in dimensions that wouldn’t fit in an entire book, let alone a short article. To summarize, our entire economic and political systems are built on corruption.
Organizations want to survive within this chaos, so they play along in the power game, even if the intentions of their founders might have been different. Most of us somehow need to function within these organizational structures, especially as employees, but also as entrepreneurs who provide services to corporations, professional firms, associations, non-for-profits, etc., or for the people in them. Even for those of us who move mostly in B2B relationships, it’s impossible to just build a bubble around ourselves… We may lose business if we speak up in unpopular ways in a society where people’s opinions are predominantly shaped by streamlined information (or shall we say, propaganda?) that is spoon-fed to those who will swallow it (many). It’s almost impossible to escape these mechanisms; I know of very few who have accomplished this independence sustainably. Because it’s hard to break out of the matrix. Most of us are still a piece in the bigger puzzle of the economy and of society, so we are – at least to a certain extent – forced to play by its rules. – Or are we? This is the big question.
What if we decided to step into a New Business Consciousness of Love, Compassion and Co-Creation? What if we could lead and interact with others respectfully, from our hearts? What if we could be empathetic and compassionate with our co-workers, our teams, our clients, our customers, our patients, our suppliers? What if we could exchange prejudice for empathy, judgment for compassion, competition for co-creation, separation for connectedness, contempt for respect, and fear for love? Can you imagine such a work environment?
This would also mean producing healthier foods, offering and encouraging ways to prevent disease, paying fair prices to those who grow our food, treating employees as partners in business rather than as a disposable resource, and so much more. So let’s dream a bit!
What if
● we could have corporations where all employees are respected, valued and fairly compensated?
● doctors and hospitals treated their patients as people they want to see healthy rather than sick?
● food manufacturers cared about healthy ingredients for their products?
● team members at all levels treated each other with respect?
● customer service actually provided service to customers rather than defending the corporation’s interests alone?
● it was safe to speak your mind as an entrepreneur with an opinion that’s not mainstream?
● we made an effort to understand rather than judge or even condemn each other?
● we could save energy and frustration by competing less and co-creating more?
● we all could do business and live life free of stifling fear?
● business could be ruled by a spirit of compassion, goodwill and true service? And why not say it, LOVE (in big letters)?
You may say: Dream on! – And you know what? I will! Because without this dream, I wouldn’t do the work I do. My proprietary framework Powerful Leadership Transformation (PLT)™ is very practically focused, and it’s built on four pillars: a Self-Empowering Mindset & Heartset, Distinctive Uniqueness, Body- & Energy-Conscious Presence, and as a result, Inspired & Effective Action. It is also based on the principles of collaboration, co-creation, and connectedness. And these principles are deeply enmeshed with Consciousness of Love, Compassion and Co-Creation.
Why? – Because I believe that Co-Creation is the future, and the current environment of competition and greed simply has no future… at least not one we have a space in, except maybe that of a servant of greed, where we will be controlled by a few. It becomes easy to understand the implications of this statements when you follow the (big) money. Freedom is another key component of not only living a
worthwhile life but entertaining a fulfilling business or professional career.
That’s why everything I do is in the service of freedom: The freedom to Speak up, Stand out and Shine, as the title of my book says.
It's time to wake up to the possibility of doing business differently. Some (many, in fact) already do. But we need more of us to embark on this path of New Business Consciousness of Love, Compassion and Co-Creation.
So my question to you is: Are you ready to jump on board?
Maybe you’re in a leadership position, however high up on the echelon of your organization, and
you could have an impact on others with your own way of spreading this New Consciousness? Or maybe you’re an influential entrepreneur, speaker, author, comedian, artist whose voice is heard by many? But even if your circle of influence is small; you still have a role in this transition to a better world of business, where there is no discrimination, no exploitation, no undercompensated slave work; where all are encouraged to use their voice and to contribute their unique creativity; where everyone’s contribution is valued and acknowledged; and where money and business are tools and structures in the service of people rather than the other way around.
This is the world I want to live in. – How about you?
So, I wonder, can we move toward more co-creation? Can we move out of old consciousness of fear, suffering, threat, stress and pain… into the New Consciousness of Love, Compassion, and Co-creation? A consciousness of joy for the work we do and how it serves others and our planet? This starts with every single one of us.
And to move it forward, we need courageous leaders. Leaders who guide us toward more connectedness, unity and peace. Courageous leaders lead from the heart. Leading from the heart isn’t just about love and compassion. It’s also about courage. Because courage comes from the heart. It is high time to move out of antiquated structures and paradigms… through courageous leadership. Could you, as a self-empowered human being, be one of these leaders who promote this New Consciousness? Can you start a ripple in your job, your business – however small it may be?
Together, we cannot only stay strong in this current storm, but use the storm to create bigger ripples. Are you ready?