Here is a great video that makes it crystal clear exactly why our consumer society cannot continue the way it has been. It is powerful in its’ simplicity. Watch it and forward the link to everyone you know. The simple truths it reveals will inspire your resolve to find another way.

Watch: The Story of Stuff

Our modern ‘plastic’ economy is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, we benefit from the ultra convenience of being able to pay instantly for something without having to physically carry cash, on the other hand, we lose the instant tangible feedback that good ol’ cash leaving a wallet brings.

Beyond debit, extrapolating the faux security of credit, it’s not hard to see how quickly things can get out of hand.

Perhaps you’ve played with different levels of budgeting with varying degrees of success. But unless you’re hyper-disciplined it can be difficult to maintain the fortitude to persist. Over at getrichslowly.org there’s an interesting blog on using a Per-Diem system to achieve a tangible sort’ve budget. Check it out!

As kyosei is both the name of our company and the fundamental philosophy on which all of our work is based, I thought I would use my next few posts to blog more specifically about kyosei, its meaning, origin, and the way that it can and is being used in business and life today.

With roots in (more…)

I received a link to this video on youtube this morning from a friend. It reminded me how much power we have to create our world the way we want it through simply making choices about the story we choose to tell ourselves and others. Creating a kyosei world where people are thriving on living and working together for the common good depends on more people choosing inspiration vs. cynicism. As you watch the video, pay attention to how you feel listening to each version of the “poem”. I hope this link inspires you to rescript the stories you are telling yourself and others in your life and work. One day post-inauguration of Obama, this video is a powerful reminder of our capacity to be part of leaving the doom and gloom of the past and creating a vibrant future for us all.

At this time of year, many people’s minds turn towards making a fresh start and creating positive changes in the new year. While this is a laudable idea, all too many people end up frustrated when they look back on their year (or even the first quarter) to see that many, if not all, of their New Year’s Resolutions fell by the wayside. Here are a few ideas I recently shared with my coaching clients to help them experience greater success and fulfillment in 2009. (more…)

My husband and I had a gorgeous baby boy this summer. As the first few months of parenthood are a marathon of sleep deprivation, when we discovered the secret to getting our son to sleep through the night – swaddling – it was all I could talk about for weeks.

(For those of you unfamiliar (more…)