March 1, 2004
In this issue:
1. Readers Respond: The Votes Are In
2. Newsbriefs: New Book for the CSR Movement
Conscious business taught in business schools?
3. March Feature: Ending Fatalism: An Interview with John
4. More Newsbriefs: Conscious Choosing Mentoring
FutureShapers Roundtable Charter Group Being Formed
5. Next Month: Working in America: Killing Ourselves at Work
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READERS RESPOND
Most of the communications with subscribers this past month has been about formatting, not editorial content. I asked for “yeahs” or “nays” about the new delivery format of the last two issues of BFN, which featured a simple Table of Contents and a link to the whole newsletter. The voting was tight with nearly as many subscribers preferring the link option as those who preferred receiving the entire newsletter. In addition, we found a drastically reduced number of subscribers clicking through to the newsletter, therefore never seeing it, so readership dropped to less than 50%! People do get a lot of email these days and it appears that one extra step can be a hindrance in the massive ‘traffic jam’ in our inboxes these days.
As a result of the close voting and the low click-through rate, I’m returning to the old format, sending the entire newsletter each month, beginning with this issue.
For those who preferred the link option version, I hope that you will remain active subscribers.
Thanks to all of you who took the time and offered feedback.
With gratitude,
John
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NEWSBRIEFS:
New Book for the CSR Movement
Seventh Generation founder/CEO Jeffrery Hollender’s new book, What Matters Most, is a great “documentary in a book” for the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement; highly recommended!
Conscious business taught in business schools?
The Presidio Dialogues is hosting a public conversation on this subject on Tuesday, April 7, at the University of San Francisco. Participating in the exploration with be Andre’ Delbecq, Thomas J. and Kathleen L. McCarthy University Professor and Former Dean, Leavey Business School, Santa Clara University; Michael Ray, Professor Emeritus, School of Business, Stanford University; Bill Sonnenschein, Communications Group Faculty, Haas Business School, University of California; Michael Whitty, Professor of Management and Labor Relations, College of Business Administration, University of Detroit Mercy; and Gary G. Williams, Dean of the USF School of Business and Management.
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MARCH FEATURE
[Ending Fatalism: An Interview with John: In early February, the following press release was sent out through PRWeb and John’s media contacts under the following headline. We thought it would make a good feature for this month.]
Challenge for Our Times: Do We Have the Courage to Live Together?
(PRWEB) February 2, 2004–Living in a terror economy isn’t new for most people, claims John Renesch, an international futurist based in San Francisco. People have been living in fear long before September 11, 2001 and will continue to do so as long as we continue living as if we are all separate from one another. But this disconnect doesn’t need to continue if people summon a new kind of bravery, claims the author of Getting to the Better Future: A Matter of Conscious Choosing. Renesch champions the idea that humans can create a more desirable future rather than settling for “whatever happens.”
“Every choice we make contributes to the future our children will inherit,” states the renowned visionary. “There’s a huge epidemic of denial, cynicism and an array of addictions – like workaholism, indulgences in the media, consumption and general busy-ness. Addictions aren’t restricted to substance abuse,” he says, “but they are all ways of avoidance, just like drugs or alcohol.”
What’s possible if we give up our addictions? How does kicking these habits lead to ridding ourselves of the terror economy we are perpetuating? According to Renesch, these addictions are serving as anesthetics, numbing us from the realization that we are part of unsustainable lifestyles – the result of a Western worldview that focuses on short-term gratification and is based upon a “we versus them” scarcity mindset. “Once people take the plunge and allow themselves to feel their numbed-out emotions, feelings they’ve been avoiding, they can begin to make more conscious choices that will begin shaping a more desirable future,” says the 66-year-old businessman turned futurist. He claims we presently have a major epidemic of “fatalism” – the doctrine of mass resignation to happenchance. “Fatalism is disempowering,” he says firmly, “which disallows hope, idealism, and optimism for our collective future.”
A new kind of bravery is needed to create a future we can be proud to leave our descendents, claims the social commentator and prolific author. “Turning this terror-based culture into a society based on trust and optimism requires a new kind of ‘spiritual courage’ previously unneeded in our evolution. This isn’t physical bravado,” he says. “It calls for truth-telling about the way things really are and the stand-taking to call forth a change of mindset – a transformation of a profound nature – that will openly recognize the interconnection of all living human beings, respect for life and Nature, and a real commitment to living in harmony with each other rather than separately, divided and opposed.”
He points out that the new kind of hero who will populate the world in this “better future” will not resemble the small number we usually label as such, like classic war heroes, firemen or police officers. The heroics being called for will come from ordinary people standing tall for their values, knowing they are responsible for future generations.
“Behind it all is a major question to ask ourselves,” he points out, “Do we have the courage to live together?”
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Next Month’s Editorial: Working in America: Killing Ourselves at Work
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NEWSBRIEFS:
Conscious Choosing Mentoring
John still has a few openings for mentoring clients with whom he works by phone on a weekly basis. Presently he has three openings. Details about the process can be found as Mentoring. Subscribers to Better Future News are entitled to a 10% discount.
FutureShapers Roundtable Charter Group Being Formed
John just announced the formation of a peer group for executives, The FutureShapers Roundtable; this year-long program for a maximum of 14 Members will meet monthly; Members receive many benefits including personal mentoring with John between meetings; invitations for Bay Area executives were sent to several dozen potential members of the Charter Group, presently being formed; the objective is for Members to become better integrated knowing that this makes them greater assets for their organizations.
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About John Renesch
Better Future NEWS is prepared monthly by John Renesch, a San Francisco writer, business futurist, and consultant/executive coach.
His latest book is Getting to the Better Future: A Matter of Conscious Choosing. For a list of all the SERVICES John offers, go to Services.