The Systematic Approach:

Transcription

1 The Systematic Approach: Using Permaculture (+ Other Wisdom) to Reshape Life and Work Presented by Chris Tobias, Lead Strategist

2 What we re talking about Quick Outline 1) The need 2) Overarching issues 3) Patterns to details 4) Change isn t bad. 5) Introduction to Permaculture 6) Forward Case Study: 12 Principles in Action 7) Business as a tool for change 8) Wrap up and conclusion

3 Why? Life as we know it needs to be redesigned to: - solve the problems we created - to be more enjoyable - live in a balanced way in the world we inhabit so what are the main problems we are facing?

4 Girl, we got issues! Macro level - climate change - peak energy - mismanaged financial systems, etc. Systemic problems - inadequate design - over consumption of resources - short term outlook, etc. Individual issues - selfishness - laziness - debt + consumerism cycles - disconnection from our environment - isolation from our community - wrong values, lost morals, confusion with complexity We re impacted by these Which are enabled by these And rooted here.

5 Working From Pattern To Detail: It all starts with us. It will all end with us. - Elevate personal responsibility - Take individual initiative - Stop making excuses for the things that don t work - Be bold enough to change and adapt Time is not on our side.

6 The real Earth does not need saving. It can, will and always has saved itself and it is now starting to do so by changing to a state much less favourable for us and other animals. What people mean by the plea is save the planet as we know it. That is now impossible. James Lovelock

7 Business as usual isn t doing us any favours. If our pattern of existence is killing us, is change really that scary? or is it just a matter of perception and priorities?

8 This is not about gloom and doom. This is a case study of proactive action. This project looks at how permaculture principles can be applied at an individual level to solve problems and affect the bigger picture. It is about practical examples vs. theory.

9 The most harmonious life is the one in which theory and practice are unified. Helen + Scott Nearing

10 Permanent Culture. Oxymoron, or possible reality with better planning? Permaculture is a design system based on ethics and principles which can be used to establish, design, manage and improve all efforts made by individuals, households and communities towards a sustainable future. -- David Holmgren Permaculture was co-originated between David Holmgren and Bill Mollison in the 1970s. The system was originally applied to agriculture, (permanent + agriculture = permaculture) but has evolved for use in society and business. It uses patterns and logic found in nature to solve problems. For more information, visit

11 Observation + Interaction = Involvement Personally and professionally we do this in person and online.

12 We do this in a number of ways. We believe interaction is better than advertising. - Green Drinks + networking - Leading community projects like UHS - Mentoring groups like Nexus - Guiding organisations like Trade Aid - Learning through workshops - Sharing information on Forward Thinking

13 This enables us to: - Be visible - Meet people - Help others - Share expertise - Keep knowledge current - Understand context - Grow and influence culture - Take leadership opportunities and also means: - No need to waste money or material in advertising or excessive marketing.

14 Let s be energetic. Energy comes in many forms. - as information - as interest, curiosity, and catalyst - in human relationships - in money

15 For example: - We use website mechanisms to capture contact information and interest from visitors, and to publicly archive beneficial information - We use an energy strategy and efficient equipment to save power and money - We deliberately make the conscious effort to connect with people - We use a financial plan to help grow earnings and strategically use what has been earned - We spend with locally owned businesses that support our ethics - We invest locally to contribute to financial sustainability

16 What are you working for? Are you making a life, or earning a living? It s about: - finding and seizing new opportunities - skill set development - creating goodwill - improved satisfaction - maximised tax benefits - efficient business processes - reduced stress - improved quality of life - empowerment and control - realising dreams - learning through success and failure - freedom - exploration - experimentation in short, experience is the best yield.

17 For Example Starting a business enables yields of many kinds: - Positive lifestyle changes (enabled by implementing a Results Only Work Environment or ROWE) - Focused, meaningful way to make a living - A way to progress ethics, values, morals, and goals - Visible way of walking the talk through client projects that reinforce values and brand and yes, control over $$$ does come into the mix. It just isn t the primary driver or reward.

18 What the hell would I want with $50 million compared to the satisfaction of putting together something worthwhile? Sir Angus Tait

19 Control what develops. Systematically design the process from the ground up. Enable critical examination and judgment by implementing - business plan and practices - quarterly and annual reviews - feedback from clients, website visitors, and the general public - personal development log

20 This is an easy one. Source renewable, carbon-neutral energy.

21 Waste = poor design. Linear thinking is so last century. Emphasize redesigning processes, reducing consumption, reusing, recycling materials and nutrients. Engineer out the waste to begin with.

22 Translating this into action: - Consumption is de-emphasized. We do not need the latest, greatest everything simply because it has been made and we can afford to buy it. - What we do buy, we handle responsibly. Our average weekly output profile: 8L material to recycling (send the materials back to use) 6L sent to compost (send the nutrients back to the soil) 1L to landfill (usually food wrapping that cannot be readily reused or recycled) - We purchased a perfectly good Aeron office chair (ergonomic, repairable, and able to be disassembled for end of life recycling) & deliberately bought it used. - We avoid the temptation to needlessly print by not having a printer to begin with. Communications, invoices, and other materials are sent in electronic format via PDF and . - Ongoing reuse of packing supplies for moving and shipping purposes, reuse of scrap paper for notes and design exercises. - Use of reusable shopping bags. - All hazardous materials (e.g. CFLs, electronics, etc.) are appropriately recycled in safe fashion.

23 It s all in the details. Think it through, plan it out. Relate individual choices and decisions to the big picture, think laterally, and seek to go with best practice at all times. Use creative thinking rather than cop outs. Your too hard basket just got recycled for you. This presentation gives proof of possibilities and new ways forward.

24 Stop my patch mentality. Collaborate to problem solve and find new opportunity. Less time competing, more time innovating. Blue Ocean Strategy. Focus on cooperation, synergy, and maximising benefits.

25 How we did it: We continually reach out to other businesses offering similar and complimentary services to ours. We seek to build relationships, arrange contra agreements, share information, swap expertise, and pass along clients. It s about dovetailing and cooperation. One successful partnership has evolved with our website development company, Netpotential. We actively sell on each other s behalf, assist each other s clients, and help with in house questions and projects. Projects go smoothly. It is a great example of a partnership based on mutual respect and maximising the benefits for all involved.

26 What s the big rush? It s about quality, not necessarily quantity. Why is bigger, better, faster, more still the paradigm? What really is a career? What is progress? What is success? We re about redefining growth for its own sake. Let s be adaptive in uncertain times, rather than rely on definitions from the past.

27 The world has many examples of short-sighted thinking and its tragic consequences. We d like to take our time and do it right. There are two stereotypes in New Zealand businesses (especially small business): 1) The kind that runs blindly at a seemingly good idea, only to fall over a year later because it missed some pivotal details. 2) The kind that runs on jet fuel with an overly ambitious growth strategy, and finds failure by the very success that it initiated for itself. For us, development looks like this: Year 1: Foundation year, exploration, reputation building Year 2: Reinvestment and recalibration Year 3: Evolving and progressing service offerings + client base Year 4: Expand business, new clients, new initiatives + goals and we will go from there

28 Only after the last tree has been cut down Only after the last river has been poisoned Only after the last fish has been caught Only then will you find you cannot eat money -- Cree prophecy

29 Maybe one rule holds true. Diversify, diversify, diversify. So it is in the natural environment, so too should it be in business. We actively seek: - interdisciplinary projects - new colleagues and collaborators - ways to expand our network - diversity in clients (business, nonprofit organisations, government)

30 so far, so good.

31 Sustainability is stale. We need to stop talking to ourselves in the movement, and start influencing others. That s one of the main reasons we got started. There s a limit on self-indulgent chatting and armchair solutions to major problems. Its time to take action, to carry the discussion and the solutions forward into a new era, and push the boundaries.

32 I believe that sustainability will not emerge in human affairs until we begin to conduct economic activity in harmony with the principles that shape all living systems on earth. Then we will view a business as a natural living system that thrives in a context of cooperation, restraint, and quality, not in a context of competition, growth and accumulation. That will be sustainability -- H. Thomas Johnson

33 Peak energy and climate change. Let s use business to creatively tackle these big problems. And let s have fun doing it.

34 There is no rule saying you cannot use business for purposes other than financial gain. Let s show what s possible. Our business plan serves our ethics and changes we d like to see happen in the world. Rather than fund the purchase of a company car, expensive billboards, or promotional merchandise, we currently put profits towards two main goals: A low-impact, integrated living demonstration site (you might call it our corporate headquarters ) A low-carbon, around the world journey to explore and document evolution of sustainable development

35 You never change anything by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete. -- Buckminster Fuller

36 What we covered Quick Summary 1) The need we re in trouble! 2) Overarching issues let s start with the individual and go from there! 3) Patterns to details- see the big picture, boil it down, recognise the need, take action 4) Change isn t bad. in fact, not doing anything just might kill us. 5) Introduction to Permaculture a design philosophy based on natural principles 6) Forward Case Study: 12 Principles in Action what we ve implemented and how we ve innovated 7) Business as a tool for change the answers and solutions come from us!

37 Tomorrow doesn t need to be another yesterday. Starting from square one, we are the change our world needs.

38 Contact Forward: We d like to hear from you. Chris Tobias, Lead Strategist E chris@forward.net.nz W M Skype Forward.net.nz Presentation 2009 Forward Thanks for your attention. We ve been