Mini-Keynote Editorials

Mini Keynote Editorials

One More Advantage of Coming from Love

By John Renesch | April 1, 2022

April 2022 We frequently hear how much healthier1 people are when they act from love rather than fear, or how much smarter2 they will be. I had an insight recently that I’d like to share about yet another advantage of acting from love instead of fear. When one lives in a context of love the […]

The Ubuntu Way: Learning from South Africa, Nearly Thirty Years Later

By John Renesch | March 1, 2022

March 2022 [adapted from one of John’s 2006 newsletter editorials] As longtime readers of this newsletter know, I’m a big fan of the South Africans who were able to end apartheid in 1994 without resorting to either civil war or anarchy which many of us outside the country anticipated. They addressed the challenging transition to […]

Regret: Self-Directed Resentment

By John Renesch | January 27, 2022

February 2022 This is time of year when people consider New Year’s Resolutions, future aspirations, sometimes related to mistakes or omissions from the past. In a recent holidays gathering of friends, one man shared his own challenges with recurring regret over things he has done or not done expressing a desire to leap over them […]

The Art & Practice of Conscious Leadership

By John Renesch | December 30, 2021

January 2022 All of the leaders who I consider conscious have some sort of personal practice, sometimes called a “spiritual practice,” which keeps them fit, more conscious and aware when it comes to managing their egos, and staying awake most of the time. Naturally they meander from one state of consciousness to another* as we […]

Geography of the Mind: First Take

By John Renesch | December 7, 2021

December 2021 Where do we find the human mind? Most people think of the mind as synonymous with the brain and is, therefore, located in the head. Even theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku does so in his NewYorkTimes bestseller The Future of the Mind. But my personal experience is that the mind is […]

Racism: Learned Because It’s Taught

By John Renesch | October 31, 2021

November 2021 In the 1958 movie South Pacific, a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical set during World War II, U.S. Marines are challenged with racism issues in relating to the local South Pacific natives. One song in particular from the musical seems to have nailed the cause of racism quite directly. The song was “You’ve Got […]

The Eighth & Ninth Killer Attitudes

By John Renesch | September 30, 2021

October 2021 In September’s editorial I identified seven common attitudes that are killing us – contributing to the decline of our civilization, the divisiveness of our society, and the deterioration of our global environment. I ended by asking for any additional attitudes readers might suggest, recognizing my list of seven was not intended to be […]

Personal Attitudes That Are Killing Us: A Look at How Popular Social Opinions Are Heading Us Toward Extinction

By John Renesch | September 2, 2021

September 2021 Recently I wrote an editorial asking if what we collectively think of as normal in our society might be killing us. This phenomenon continues to remain with me and I awoke the other day with a more specific slant on the matter. This led me to consider more precisely how we – as […]

Is Normal Killing Us? Part Two

By John Renesch | July 30, 2021

August 2021 In writing “Is Normal Killing Us?” last month I made the point that as youngsters we found ourselves in a reality that we never asked for and most of us did our best to fit in to what seemed to be expected of us. After publishing it, I was left pondering where our […]

Is Normal Killing Us? A look at the reality we have but never asked for.

By John Renesch | June 29, 2021

July 2021 Most of us had some difficulty when we were growing up, largely around “fitting in.” It was an awkward time full of pretending we fit in even though deep down we were at worst scared or, at best, unsure of how to be in order to be accepted by society. If we were […]

Causing Our Own Suffering: Lessons from the Universe

By John Renesch | June 5, 2021

June 2021 In the last several years I have written about half a dozen article/editorials on how we cause our own suffering and I thought it was time for a fresh inquiry into the subject since it remains a persistent malady for most people. You’ve heard the quote “Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional”? While […]

The Next Buddha

By John Renesch | May 3, 2021

May 2021 The following two paragraphs are excerpts from Thich Nhat Hanh’s (pictured right) closing remarks* to over two thousand people attending his Day of Mindfulness at Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California, in October 1993. The Buddha, Shakyamuni, our teacher, predicted that the next Buddha would be Maitreya, the Buddha of love. We desperately […]

The Source That Unites Us All

By John Renesch | March 29, 2021

April 2021 Through the ages there have been a multitude of references to how God, or Spirit, or Source, is within each one of us. Some have theorized that we all contain holographs of God. Gandhi is quoted as saying, “I know God is neither in heaven nor down below, but in everyone.” Some prefer […]

Getting Unreasonable: The Path Toward Ultimate Responsibility and Freedom

By John Renesch | March 1, 2021

March 2021 [This article has been adapted in large part from an editorial in this newsletter published in February 2009; it seems even more pertinent now.] Many of the problems in the world are due to people acting less than consciously. This is not to say that there is a black-and-white, all-or-nothing state of mind […]

The Wizards of Awe

By John Renesch | February 2, 2021

February 2021 Awe, which Webster describes as “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime,” is brought on when the mind stops thinking or, at least, when thought is suspended temporarily. You could say when the mind is “blown.” In 2003, two academics published […]

On Belonging

By John Renesch | December 27, 2020

January 2021 On a recent Zoom call with one of my communities the conveners suggested an inquiry into “what drives true belonging?” As I engaged the question my mind initially went where it has gone for many years, recalling Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and my belief that one of humanity’s basic needs is to belong. […]

Loving Thy Enemies – Part Two

By John Renesch | December 7, 2020

December 2020 [Last month my editorial focused on “Loving Thy Enemies” and more has been revealed since. I suggest reading “part one” (see link above) if you haven’t done so; then read this follow-on piece] Several people who read last month’s editorial shared how difficult it was to think of an enemy as I defined […]

Loving Thy Enemies: The Challenge for Our Time

By John Renesch | October 28, 2020

November 2020 Loving our enemies is no longer merely a nice idea advocated by Jesus Christ and other spiritual prophets throughout history. It no longer fits exclusively into Sunday School classes, catechism studies, or theology discussions. Loving our enemies has become a requisite for our survival. Hate is killing us. Division and separation is destroying […]

Finding Truth: Real Facts Versus False Beliefs

By John Renesch | October 6, 2020

October 2020 Recently one of my newsletter subscribers took issue with an editorial I wrote in which I was critical of people who were ignoring protocol for preventing the spread of COVID-19. The reader challenged the wisdom of wearing masks and admitted he wasn’t sure they didn’t add to the infection rate instead of minimizing […]

Human Adulthood and The Great Growing Up

By John Renesch | August 29, 2020

September 2020 The point I was making when I wrote The Great Growing Up book was that the human species needs to stop acting like adolescents and grow up into fully functioning adulthood, being responsible for our collective future. In my more recent delving into non-dualism, Advaita and unity consciousness I discovered a writer who […]

A Time for We to Transcend Me

By John Renesch | August 1, 2020

August 2020 As of yet, I haven’t written anything on the two crises the world is currently dealing with right now – racism and the COVID-19 pandemic; but I awoke the other day with the urge to speak to a principle underlying both of them. I see the matter as a conflict between individual liberty […]

Remembering Angie

By John Renesch | June 29, 2020

July 2020 Angeles Arrien (1940-2014) was a beloved colleague whose influence lives on in me to this day. “Angie,” as most of her friends called her, was a Basque-American cultural anthropologist, educator, author, lecturer, and consultant, best known for her book The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Healer, Teacher and Visionary. In […]

The Nondual and Dualistic Jitterbug

By John Renesch | June 4, 2020

June 2020 Studying the philosophy of unity conscious, what the ancient Hindus called Adavita* or what many modern sages call “nondual,” I have noticed a shortage of graphical depictions that might be helpful for people who are visual learners. As a result, I created a graphic in an attempt to describe and distinguish the two […]

By John Renesch | May 1, 2020

May 2020 Christopher Davis is a Northern California-based consultant who offers the Wa Explorations teachings on dissolving suffering which he defines as not experiencing the delicious opportunity of life. Suffering often shows up as having experiences that you don’t think you should be having whether that is a political party in power that you disagree […]

I Made My Living Looking Foolish

By John Renesch | March 31, 2020

April 2020 Looking back on the most recent part of my career, say, the last thirty or forty years, it occurred to me that I made a living by being willing to say and write things that went against the grain for most people. I see how I was willing to be unreasonable and even […]

Misdirection: A Key Tool for Magicians and the Negative Ego

By John Renesch | February 24, 2020

March 2020 Most of us have heard that one of the most valuable resources for a magician is the ability to misdirect the audience’s attention so the illusion will appear even more magical. Here’s what Wikipedia says about misdirection: Misdirection is a form of deception in which the attention of an audience is focused on […]

The Biggest Crisis in the World

By John Renesch | January 30, 2020

February 2020 M-K Contrary to the way most people think today, the biggest crisis in the world is not climate change, political divides, deforestation, water pollution or any of the other global threats that make the headlines these days. The biggest crisis in the world today is the lack of really effective leadership – […]

The Art & Practice of Conscious Leadership: Architecture for a Learning Experience

By John Renesch | January 9, 2020

January 2020 All of the leaders who I consider conscious have some sort of personal practice, sometimes called a “spiritual practice,” which keeps them fit, more conscious and aware when it comes to managing their egos and staying awake most of the time. Naturally they meander from one state of consciousness to another*, as we […]

Unmasking the Inner Victim

By John Renesch | December 1, 2019

December 2019 I have noticed a widespread social acceptance of a behavior I’ll call the “inner victim.” This largely unconscious phenomenon allows the individual to complain about many things, incessantly, yet not thinking they are acting like a helpless victim. Complaining about something you aren’t doing anything to change is the action of a victim. […]

Altered States and Unity Consciousness

By John Renesch | November 1, 2019

November 2019 I recently read Michael Pollan’s 2018 book How to Change Your Mind* since it was highly recommended by a neighbor of mine. I didn’t realize it was a bestseller since popular books rarely find their way onto my stack of books to be read. I took a break from my pile of nondual […]

On Friendship

By John Renesch | October 2, 2019

October 2019 “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt I have been very fortunate to have many cherished friendships in my life. People remind me of this constantly, seemingly impressed by the variety and richness of the friendships in […]

Radical Acceptance: The Ultimate Sense of Self

By John Renesch | August 31, 2019

September 2019 Recently my meditation group* got into a stimulating conversation about sense of self and how simple it was to achieve a state of being at ease with oneself, to end the seeking or having a goal for spiritual nirvana. I say it is simple because there’s no place to go, way to be […]

Sacred Responsibility: A Key Ingredient for the Conscious Leader

By John Renesch | August 1, 2019

August 2019 In the 1960s and 1970s when the human potential movement was building a head of steam, the idea of being responsible for your reality was a radical idea, one that was resisted by millions as they dipped their toes in the water of self-discovery and self-examination. Then it was fairly common to have […]

A Mature Approach to Commitment

By John Renesch | June 28, 2019

July 2019 There is a crisis negatively affecting leadership in all sectors. It is the lack of true commitment and I see this crisis as a global epidemic. Much of the positive developments in our history as human beings have been the result of true commitment. However, true commitment is one of the scarcest human […]

Public orator haranguing a crowd (18th century woodcut)

Can We Really Change Anyone? Some Thoughts for My Activist Friends

By John Renesch | June 1, 2019

June 2019 I was leading a group during a recent retreat and said something that aroused some wonder. I shared that the most frequent question I used to get when doing lots of keynotes around the world was, “I agree with all you are saying, John, but how can I get (fill in the blank) […]

The End of “Othering”

By John Renesch | May 1, 2019

May 2019 Science is showing us what philosophers and sages have been telling us for centuries – that we are not only connected, as in members of the same human family, but we are one. Oneness is not the same as interconnectivity, which still implies separateness. We are not separate although we live in a […]

Would You Hire a Three-Year-Old Life Coach?

By John Renesch | April 9, 2019

April 2019 [this editorial was adapted from a previously posted blog on www.TheGreatGrowingUp.com ] Most of the beliefs we have buried in our psyche were installed many years ago, mostly when we were as young as two to five years old. Early on, we decided we were separate from everyone and everything else. Soon after, […]

Where is the Kingdom of Heaven? 

By John Renesch | March 3, 2019

In early 2019, Franciscan mystic Richard Rohr featured a guest editorial by Episcopal priest Cynthia Bourgeault in his Daily Meditation*newsletter. Bourgeault focused on the familiar phrase known to Christians as “the kingdom of Heaven.” She writes: So, what is the Kingdom of Heaven? Biblical scholars have debated this question for almost as long as there […]

The Greatest Pretender

By John Renesch | February 3, 2019

February 2019 In 1956, the Platters (pictured below) recorded their biggest R&B hit – “The Great Pretender” (watch them on YouTube). Memories of that song – in particular its title – came to me when I was considering how clever the finite mind is in creating pretense. In that nondual place of infinite awareness – […]

Happiness: Our Natural State

By John Renesch | December 29, 2018

Jan 2019 Don’t all the world’s religions and spiritual traditions teach that the ultimate goal of life is happiness and lasting peace, and that these qualities reside within all of us, at all times and in all circumstances? Why then do we continue to suffer so deeply and frequently? “Happiness, like the patch of blue, […]

False Narratives: Causes of Needless Suffering

By John Renesch | December 2, 2018

December 2018 In this context, “narrative” is just a fancy word for the story we tell ourselves about something or someone. It may or may not be accurate or truthful but “our story about” is usually important to us. It is this emotional attachment to the story that causes suffering. Let me provide an example. […]

It’s Only a Cow!

By John Renesch | November 1, 2018

November 2018 In a conversation the other day one person shared how she had experienced an “ego flare” when a friend said something that she interpreted as a criticism of her self-image as a supportive, helpful person. She explained that her reaction was disproportionate to the comment – beyond her usual calm demeanor. This prompted […]

Nondualism: A Holistic Way of Seeing Reality

By John Renesch | October 2, 2018

October 2018 There is a huge challenge in distinguishing the separatist thinking of dualism from the nondualist viewpoint of interconnectedness and oneness. As with many challenges, there are less-than-obvious traps as one attempts to make distinctions. The biggest trap for me has been resorting to dualistic approaches in describing the elegant reality of nondualism. As […]

A Shaman’s Response

By John Renesch | September 2, 2018

September 2018 A number of us were gathered in the home of Bill and Lynne Twist to hear from a Peruvian shaman named Arkan Lushwala . The people seated in their living room were financial supporters of an organization co-founded by the Twists, The Pachamama Alliance. I met Lushwala several years before at another Pachamama […]

A 20 Year Retrospective

By John Renesch | August 4, 2018

August 2018 Back in 1998 when I started this newsletter, I recall seeing this quote from Tom Atlee, a fellow advocate of conscious evolution: I’ve come to believe that things are getting better and better and worse and worse, faster and faster, simultaneously. I invariably get a few nods and chuckles from people with whom […]

No Simple Solutions for Complex Problems

By John Renesch | June 29, 2018

July 2018 [This month’s editorial is a repeat of one I wrote twenty years ago in one of the earliest issues of this newsletter. It was published in August, 1998 without the pictures. Next month’s issue will mark the 20th anniversary of the newsletter.] Our modern problems are no longer the result of single agents […]

Other Writings: Beyond the Mini Keynote

By John Renesch | June 1, 2018

June 2018 I often get asked if I do more writing than what appears here in my monthly newsletter. The answer is most definitely! Besides writing books and four or five articles a year for third-party publications (like futurist journals, Christian Science Monitor and others), I regularly write blogs for FutureShapers – the company I […]

Truth Versus Reality: Questioning Our Perceptions and Beliefs

By John Renesch | April 28, 2018

May 2018 The more delving I do into the realm of non-duality/oneness/Advaita the more I am realizing that what we consider real is not necessarily true. Absolute truth is so difficult to define, particularly in a collective consciousness where most of the reality is a dualistic dream state or soap opera – a “Truman Show” […]

Relooking at How Awards Are Given

By John Renesch | March 29, 2018

April 2018 Often I experience the existing paradigm as having a context of separatism while the more desirable new paradigm would possess a context of connectedness. Certainly these are not the only facets of the potential difference but they are important ones. Looking at this one facet, can you see how a worldview of […]

Celebrating Fifty Years of Service: A Walk Down Memory Lane

By John Renesch | March 4, 2018

March 2018 I awakened the other day realizing that I had formed my consulting firm in 1968 and, while it changed form a few times during the next half century, Renesch Advisory Services would celebrate its 50th anniversary this year! If my readers will indulge me a bit, I thought it might be fun (for […]

Three Dimensions of Awareness

By John Renesch | February 12, 2018

February 2018 Since my main focus for many years has been conscious leadership, I am often asked to define consciousness. As ineffable as that is I still make vain attempts to define this indefinable term. Let me begin by mentioning two of my favorite quotes on this subject: “Consciousness is like the Trinity; if […]

At the Precipice We Change…or Do We?

By John Renesch | January 27, 2018

January 2018 [This article is a repeat of a blog post in The Great Growing Up website from March 2016. It seems particularly poignant as we begin the new year] My best friend in high school, Larry Conley, and I were big fans of science fiction movies. One of the most memorable was “The Day […]

Right Relations: Where the Shamans Took Me

By John Renesch | December 4, 2017

Dec 2017 In early November, I attended the annual shaman event sponsored by The Pachamama Alliance, the primary charity I support. The theme this year was “Coming Into Right Relations” and featured several “wisdom keepers” including Pat McCabe (aka “Woman Stands Shining”), a Native American shaman, Manari Ushigua, an Ecuadorian shaman of the Saparo tribe, […]

Apparency II: How Our Biases Bend Our Reality

By John Renesch | November 2, 2017

November 2017 After drafting the rather short piece on “apparency” for last month’s newsletter, I did some reflecting on how our individual perspectives of any event or development are so distorted not only by the place from where we stand – our physical position in relationship to whatever occurs – but our mental and emotional […]

Apparency: Confusing Reality with Perspective

By John Renesch | October 8, 2017

October 2017 While most of us know that each of us has a different perspective of anything we observe we often act as if we have exactly the same experience. If there are 500 people in a room watching a performance, there are 500 differing perspectives or experiences. No two people are sitting in the […]

We’re All in This Together!

By John Renesch | September 4, 2017

Sep 2017 [In late July I moderated a panel at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) that remembered the work and life of a man who was a tremendous influence in my life – Willis Harman. Below is an updated short piece I did on Willis for the Global Dialogue Center four years ago. […]

American Capitalism: Our Most Influential Export

By John Renesch | August 3, 2017

August 2017 A futurist colleague of mine in Iran recently reminded me that individualism and the American “brand” of capitalism are no longer exclusive products of my country; they have now become globally ubiquitous. Victor Vahidi Motti (pictured right), Director – Secretariat of the World Futures Studies Federation, serves on a team of volunteers who […]

Conscious Consumption: Being as Selective of the Data We Consume as We Are With Our Food

By John Renesch | July 3, 2017

July 2017 When we think of consuming, most of us think about things we purchase – electronics, groceries, clothing, etc. Many of us try to be conscious in our buying choices, often making selections based not only on the quality of the products but the social agenda of the supplier. But do we employ the […]

Responsible Leadership: What Does It Really Mean?

By John Renesch | June 7, 2017

June 2017 [This editorial is adapted from the June 2016 blog at my most recent book’s website – www.thegreatgrowingup.com] One of the most succinct definitions of conscious leadership that I’ve seen comes from the Conscious Leadership Group (CLG). It was made clearer to me in a recent email exchange with Jim Dethmer (pictured left), one […]

Witnessing Mastery in Action: The Magical Experience of Observing Exquisite Skill

By John Renesch | April 29, 2017

May 2017 I discovered something about myself a few years ago and wonder if others have had similar experiences. My discovery was that I could be spellbound by almost any activity if it was being performed with mastery. It is not just a particular sport, or a specific type of movie or play, or any […]

Indivisibility of Being

By John Renesch | April 2, 2017

April 2017 In late February I convened a small group of people with the intent of experiencing nondual consciousness. This took the form of a conference call with eight of us participating. Our facilitator was Sperry Andrews who has been creating these experiences for thirty years. While I’ve had flashes of nondual consciousness over the […]

The Joy of Dying

By John Renesch | March 3, 2017

March 2017 I just finished a book by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama – Advice on Dying: And Living a Better Life. I’m not planning to die anytime soon but I wanted to absorb any wisdom this very special Tibetan monk has to share about aging (which I am) and dying (which I’ll do […]

Frankensystems: How We Have Created Institutions That Now Enslave Us

By John Renesch | February 1, 2017

February 2017 Like Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who created a creature that he could not control, modern humans have created social systems that no longer serve as they were originally intended. Our governments, healthcare and legal/justice systems are but a few of the human-designed institutions that have become dysfunctional at best, outmoded and obsolete at worst. […]

The World at a Precipice

By John Renesch | December 27, 2016

January 2017 Given the political statements made at the polls this last year – Britain’s Brexit, Australia’s “up yours” election and the recent Trump upset here in the U.S. – I think it is safe to say the world is on the brink of a revolution. A large faction of us feel very disenfranchised […]

The Quest for Unity

By John Renesch | December 10, 2016

December 2016 After decades of reading about unity consciousness and the experience of oneness some people have accessed for themselves, I started having experiences in my life but I hadn’t realized they were of this kind until recently when I was developing the “Pyramid Model of Consciousness” for FutureShapers, with my business partner Tom Eddington. […]

Which is the Greater Sin?

By John Renesch | November 4, 2016

November 2016 A woman I know unexpectedly lost her husband and was left feeling incomplete and remorseful. A friend suggested that she consult a shaman who served as a channel or bridge between those who have made the transition and those still here on earth. The session went very well, leaving her feeling quite serene. […]

Wisdom From the 2016 Templeton Prize Winner

By John Renesch | July 4, 2016

July 2016 Described by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales as “a light unto this nation” and by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as “an intellectual giant”, Rabbi Lord Jonathon Sacks was recently named the winner of the 2016 Templeton Prize in recognition of his “exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.” Sacks, who served […]

By John Renesch | June 4, 2016

June 2016 Since I have no financial or banking credential, but an occasional dosage of common sense, I do listen to those who are better informed yet not so heavily invested in the system that they staunchly defend it despite the signs that it is collapsing. Belgian banker Bernard Lietaer is one man who […]

Champions of Transformation: The Importance of an Internal Advocate

By John Renesch | May 2, 2016

May 2016 Even though I’ve spent less than a year of my entire life working for a corporation, I have long held substantial empathy for corporate employees. This empathy has likely served as my motivation for working so many years on organizational transformation. Having been an executive coach for several decades now, I have heard […]

2015 Cohort of Exemplars for the Conscious Leadership Yearbook

By John Renesch | April 2, 2016

April 2016 This latest cohort adds to the original edition which was published in 2013 and the 2014 cohort which will be combined into the first edition of the Conscious Leadership Yearbook later this year. Exemplars include people from education, civil society, mass media, government, business, consciousness and spirituality, service providers, law and justice, entertainment […]

Unchange Yourself

By John Renesch | March 2, 2016

March 2016 People resist attempts to get them to change yet they spend lifetimes changing themselves. From a very early age we tend to make adjustments to who we are, trying to fit in, to be better liked, to be loved, to get along, etc. While we come into the world magnificently unique souls, unlike […]

Becoming an Iconoclast

By John Renesch | February 1, 2016

Feb 2016 Recently I have been researching exemplar candidates for inclusion in our Conscious Leadership Yearbook that we plan to publish soon for FutureShapers. One of the individuals I was researching was described by Wikipedia as an “iconoclast” and, curious, I decided to get to know that word a bit better. Here’s how Wikipedia […]

Being Hopeful in Today’s World

By John Renesch | January 2, 2016

January 2016 I belong to a spiritual group that meets monthly at different members’ homes and focuses on a different theme each time. Our host this month suggested the following: In this period of challenging contradictions abroad and at home, please come and share your thoughts about “what sustains your hope.” What spiritual truths […]

Living Life as a Kick Ass Commitment

By John Renesch | December 2, 2015

December 2015 Yesterday I was on a call with Diana Chapman (pictured below), a highly valued colleague in the field of conscious leadership to which I have been committed for several decades. Diana is a cofounder of the Conscious Leadership Group and a co-author of The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. I haven’t known Diana […]

Imperfection – the Way of Transformation

By John Renesch | October 30, 2015

November 2015 I recently attended my favorite 12 Step meeting where I was moved to tears by the speaker’s share, not necessarily a new experience at this particular meeting. What was new for me was an insight that accompanied my emotional state. While I felt very moved by the speaker, I knew it wasn’t her […]

Multiple Dimensions of Consciousness

By John Renesch | October 2, 2015

Oct 2015 Defining consciousness has been a perennial challenge for the human mind, enchanted as it is with explicit definitions and materialistic descriptions. Behavioural Brain Sciences says “…if it is explained so that you understand it, it hasn’t been explained correctly.” The International Dictionary of Psychology says, “The term is impossible to define except […]

Pope Francis’ Historic Encyclical

By John Renesch | September 5, 2015

Sep 2015 [This month I want to direct readers to my recent blog post at FutureShapers.com – a response to Pope Francis’ May 2015 Encyclical – ” ‘LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME” – calling for a grass roots revolution in the way we humans are treating Mother […]

The End of Othering

By John Renesch | July 29, 2015

August 2015 [The following editorial was initially published on my blog for The Great Growing Up at the beginning of the year.] Science is showing us what philosophers and sages have been telling us for centuries – that we are not only connected, as in members of the same human family, but we are one. […]

What is Mind and Why Should I Care?

By John Renesch | July 1, 2015

July 2015 I just finished reading The Future of the Mind, by Michio Kaku, a hugely successful New York Times bestselling author and futurist. While well written and most interesting in so many ways, I was very disappointed that the author remains rooted in the reductionist perspective that sees the brain and mind as synonymous. […]

The New Inner Sanctum

By John Renesch | June 3, 2015

June 215 Years ago, before television, there was a radio mystery show called “Inner Sanctum.” Yes, I am old enough to remember listening to the show which was quite scary for a youngster with a great imagination shivering under the sheets at night. The author* of a book I was just reading used the […]

When Fluff is Sold as Organizational Transformation: Beware of Knock Offs and Wannabes

By John Renesch | May 10, 2015

May 2015 I recently drafted a short thought piece titled “Are We Ready?” and circulated it amongst a handful of consultants and thought leaders I know who are what I consider the real deal when it comes to bringing about meaningful paradigm change or transformation in organizational cultures. The basis for the thought piece […]

Leading as Love: Conscious Leadership from the Heart

By John Renesch | April 1, 2015

April 2015 Sometime last year I was in an exchange with leadership strategist Lucira Jane Nebelung and realized that she was doing business as “Leading as Love,” which she defines as “a global movement for leaders in business, government, education and religion to stand for the dignity and well-being of everyone, establish common ground, and […]

Howard Thurman: America’s Unsung Hero

By John Renesch | February 27, 2015

March 2015 [February was Black History Month here in the U.S. and one of my favorite African-American heroes is not particularly well-known so I revived this posting from the Global Dialogue Center a few years back.] Not everyone will have heard of Howard Thurman but he has had much positive influence in the world, especially […]

The Primary Human Crisis….and Two Solutions

By John Renesch | February 1, 2015

February 2015 During a recent interview I was asked which of the various crises facing our species was the most critical or important. My answer surprised my questioner, who was expecting something along the lines of environmental threats, climate change, radicalism or terrorism. “It all boils down to a crisis in leadership,” I opined. There […]

The Separation Myth: How the Modern World is Living a Lie

By John Renesch | January 6, 2015

January 2015 Charles Eisenstein is one of the relatively new voices on the scene in my world. I like the way he writes. He’s smart and a provocative writer – a combination I enjoy. Recently I received an email from him about a “neat inversion” in which he inverts the logic of the hard left […]

Lean On Me, Superheroes

By John Renesch | December 1, 2014

December 2014 Recently I attended a joint birthday party for two special friends, a couple who have been together for 25 years and were celebrating turning 60 in the same year. Largely attended with an abundance of food and drink, the celebration featured a constant array of entertainment – all very first class, professional vocalists […]

Whatever Happened to Integrity?

By John Renesch | November 4, 2014

November 2014 When I first entered the newly-named “human potential movement” in the early 1970s there were a number of ideas that had real meaning associated with them. In writing my recent blog for The Great Growing Up about leading consciously when it matters, I was reminded of one of these – the idea of […]

A Letter to My Community

By John Renesch | September 30, 2014

October 2014 I saw the above quote by Jesuit philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin for the first time the other day and it struck me quite profoundly. This incredible visionary captured the sense of longing I have felt for decades and managed to express it in words I never would have used. As I have […]

Warren Bennis: The Godfather of Leadership Wisdom

By John Renesch | August 31, 2014

September 2014 Another icon passed away at the end of July. I cannot recall a year in which so many colleagues and friends have passed on, Warren Bennis being the most recent. Warren did for leadership what Peter Drucker did for management. Each were there before there was a “there.” Before Bennis there was no […]

We’re Not as Divided as I Thought. Then Why…?

By John Renesch | August 2, 2014

August 2014 I have been under the impression that my fellow Americans are growing apart, ever widening the Ideologies Gap that further separates our communities – families, classmates, co-workers, neighbors and friends – just as the collective craving is growing for a greater “sense of community.” I have written about this several times, including my […]

Fundamentalism and the Ego

By John Renesch | July 4, 2014

July 2014 [adapted from my latest book, The Great Growing Up] Any conversation about consciousness must include some exploration of the negative aspects of the ego, both individual and collective. It can be challenging to write anything about this subject that doesn’t get psycho-technical, perhaps off-putting to the lay person. This article is meant for […]

The New Great Dream

By John Renesch | June 3, 2014

June 2014 [The following article is from Chapter One of my latest book – The Great Growing Up] Most people have experienced at least one transcendent moment, perhaps even more than just one; a time when life was so precious, so filled with wonder and awe, the experience was indescribable. While ineffable, the […]

Michaelangelo’s fresco from New Stories website

Time For A New Story

By John Renesch | May 2, 2014

May 2014 I have been writing a lot recently about paradigm change and the need for a new collective worldview. I have also been working on a new video about this subject. As I define a paradigm in the video, one of the words I use is “story” – the story we tell ourselves that […]

Conscious Leadership: Coming of Age?

By John Renesch | April 1, 2014

April 2014 Late last year I published yet another article about conscious leadership, this time incorporating several exemplars at the suggestion of my long-time friend Herman Maynard. It has since occurred to me and my partner in FutureShapers, LLC – Tom Eddington – that we would publish a new batch of exemplars each year as […]

Fusion Energy: One Step Closer to Reality

By John Renesch | March 3, 2014

March 2014 Last month I put on my futurist hat and arranged for a tour of the National Ignition Facility (“NIF”) at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories about 50 miles east of my home in San Francisco. I had been hearing about the experimental facility since it was commissioned five years ago and became extremely curious about […]

Thwarted Intentions: When Unconscious Commitments Compete with What We Really Want

By John Renesch | February 3, 2014

February 2014 As part of our certification program for FutureShapers Roundtable Hosts, we have incorporated an exercise similar to one I first did with Ken Homer, a Bay Area organizational development consultant. Ken learned much of what he knows about the “immunity to change” process from Harvard’s Robert Kegan who wrote a book with the […]

The Greatest Gift

By John Renesch | January 1, 2014

Jan 2014 [Prologue: In May of 2001, I drafted a short article from a place of incredible gratitude. Looking back the feeling has stayed with me pretty much since then. In fact, it has grown in both depth and expanse for me. Due to some quirk of logistics, the article was never published. It was […]

Living Remotely: Who Do We Feel Closer To – People or Our Gadgets?

By John Renesch | November 28, 2013

Dec 2013 People keep complaining about “loss of community” and feeling isolated from one another. Having witnessed people complaining about the systems to which they belong while simultaneously adding legitimacy to them, I had to wonder how we might be complicit in cutting ourselves off from the quality of relationships we claim to want. Here’s […]

Dreaming Big, Dropping the Fantasies, Part Two

By John Renesch | November 5, 2013

Nov 2013 [This is a continuation of last month‘s Mini Keynote (see link here), in which I wrote about impossible dreams and how some people live their fantasies] Allow me to clarify what kind of martyr I am talking about here. I am not talking about people who have suffered or been persecuted because of […]

Dreaming Big, Dropping the Fantasies, Part One

By John Renesch | October 1, 2013

Oct 2013 Some people may think of fantasies as really fantastic dreams, perhaps dreams that are less likely to come true than the ordinary ones. We can dream about making the varsity football team, or getting asked to the prom by a really popular student, or receiving the promotion at work, or finding that “dream […]

Not Seen, Because Not Looked For

By John Renesch | September 2, 2013

September 2013 During a recent conversation with some friends, a T.S. Eliot quote was paraphrased by a woman who has memorized many poems. I liked it so much I decided to look up the exact words. Here is what Eliot wrote as part of a larger poem, “Little Gidding”: At the source of the longest […]

The Menu Versus the Meal: Confusing Talk About Consciousness with the Walk

By John Renesch | July 31, 2013

August 2013 I’m hearing a lot of excited talk these days about conscious leadership, improving our consciousness at work and conscious capitalism. I cannot help but wonder how much of this excitement is over the conversation about consciousness, the talk, versus becoming more conscious, the walk. I saw lots of this in the 1980s when […]

A Question to Ponder

By John Renesch | July 2, 2013

July 2013 Probably as a result of writing last month’s Mini Keynote editorial about my new stand – participating only in “we conversations” – I have been sitting with this question: What are my payoffs in having people and ideals that I can be opposed to? Essentially, as soon as I engage in a “they […]

Ending Conversations That Divide: The Rise of the “We Conversation”

By John Renesch | June 1, 2013

June 2013 The other day I received an announcement from one of the professional futurists associations to which I belong about a forthcoming event with a theme of “The Future of Europe.” I was struck immediately with the thought that titles such as this are outmoded. Einstein warned us that nationalism was an “infantile disease” […]

Killing Ourselves with Cynicism

By John Renesch | April 30, 2013

May 2013 Thomas Paine*, the father of modern democracy, told us “we have the power to start the world over again.” Indigenous shamans teach that “the world is as you dream it.” What thoughts do you have when you read these words? Do they evoke an exciting possibility or are they simply nice ideas, nice […]

Finding Wisdom Outside The Box

By John Renesch | April 1, 2013

April 2013 Most great revelations and paradigm shifters come from ideas, technologies and people from outside the set or system in which we operate. Since the system in which we work – the one in which we feel most familiar – generally consists of people who think like we do, large scale shifts in consciousness […]

Asking Forbidden Questions

By John Renesch | March 5, 2013

March 2013 When we humans come together and organize ourselves for some purpose, we tend to agree about the context or mental framework containing that purpose. While in the best cases this agreement is explicit and conscious, agreement is often implicit and less than fully conscious. In the latter cases, people may start protecting the […]

Sacred Economics: A Radical Idea Who’s Time Has Come

By John Renesch | February 4, 2013

February 2013 In July, I published a short piece in this newsletter about a book by Belgian banker Bernard Lietaer (see link here), someone I have known for several years who seems to see the insanity in this unsustainable system, based on flawed assumptions, we call the economy. I am now moved to […]

Self-Interest vs. the Commons

By John Renesch | January 3, 2013

January 2013 Late last year Fortune magazine published an article by Michael Porter and Jan Rivkin entitled “How companies can get America’s edge back while advancing their own interests.”While focused on restoring U.S. competitiveness, the authors addressed a notion that American business might be shooting itself in the foot by seeking special treatment. In a […]

The Consequence Era

By John Renesch | December 5, 2012

December 2012 Futurist and consultant Hardy Schloer wrote an article in the November 2012 issue of the Club of Amsterdam Journal that cited a time window he calls “The Consequence Era” to which I had a palpable response. Perhaps it was because our adolescent ways tend to ignore consequences, much like teenagers don’t think about […]

Our Biggest Sin: Pretending We Are Separate When We Are Connected

By John Renesch | November 2, 2012

November 2012 New Age rhetoric or truth? Fantasy or fact? What philosophers and mystics have been saying for years is now being confirmed by science. What indigenous people have known for millennia, modern researchers are now validating. We are all interconnected and “inner connected”. The ancient African philosophy unbuntu believes that my humanity, my beingness, […]

Beyond Self Actualization: The FutureShapers Roundtables

By John Renesch | October 1, 2012

October 2012 For centuries, leaders of all types have found value in confiding with their peers. Heads of State seeking advice from their predecessors, heads of large corporations having confidential conversations with friends in similar positions, having private conversations with peers – even in a competing enterprise – are all examples of intimate wisdom circles […]

Racing With Spirit: The Legend of Ayrton Senna

By John Renesch | September 1, 2012

September 2012 The other evening I watched a movie on TV that I had heard of when it was making the theatre circuit a year or so ago. This film merged two of my worlds which don’t usually go together – my deep interest in the spiritual realm and my longstanding interest in motorsports. As […]

Organizing Ourselves Outside the Box

By John Renesch | August 3, 2012

August 2012 Here are five unconventional models of human organization, each unique and quite effective as they defy contemporary cultural traditions. I find them provocative. See how you respond to them. The first is a women’s softball league I only learned of recently. The Rohnert Park Women’s Low-Key Softball League celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier […]

Forty Years Revisit of Club of Rome Book

By John Renesch | July 2, 2012

July 2012 In 1972 the Club of Rome published one of the earliest calls to action to preserve the environment, a book that became one of the primers for sustainable living. Authored by Donella Meadows (aka “Dana”) and Dennis Meadows, The Limits to Growth made headlines around the world. Dana was on the MIT team […]

Conscious Evolution: A Matter of Collective Resolve

By John Renesch | June 6, 2012

June 2012 “Do you think we will do it?” This is a question that I am frequently asked when I speak about conscious evolution – the potential we have to transform ourselves and our institutions in time to avoid irreversible deterioration in our quality of life. I know we have all the ingredients to do […]

Want to Ruin Your Message? Send in the Clowns

By John Renesch | May 6, 2012

May 2012 Have you ever watched a TV report on a public demonstration and you identified with the people demonstrating? Or participated in a demonstration yourself? If so, have you noticed the people who are drawn inevitably to large gatherings, and who take great delight in becoming the center of attention? I call them exhibitionists […]

Destructive Distraction: Avoiding Responsibility by Indulging in Adolescent Consolations

By John Renesch | April 6, 2012

April 2012 While having breakfast with a couple of friends the other day the subject of addictions came up. The conversation turned to how various addictive behaviors allow us to avoid some unwanted experience. Both of my friends are long time members of a 12 Step program. One is a member of several. Together […]

The Myth of Powerlessness

By John Renesch | March 3, 2012

March 2012 One of my heroes died late last year. Vaclav Havel was a source of much inspiration for me ever since he came into office as the first President of the newly-formed Czech Republic back in 1989. He was one of the first prominent political figures I knew of who publicly spoke of consciousness […]

Tyrants Come in Different Guises

By John Renesch | February 3, 2012

February 2012 When we use the word tyrant we are usually referring to a despot of some sort, perhaps a dictatorial boss at work or the iron-handed ruler of a country. These are personal tyrants. They can be overthrown, fired, easily identified and replaced, even if a revolution is required to do so. The Arab […]

The Human Species Grows Up: Transcending Our Adolescent Stuckness

By John Renesch | January 3, 2012

January 2012 Duane Elgin asks us how mature we are Since the publication of my new book – The Great Growing Up – in October I have been getting asked what I mean by, “as a species, we are still in the adolescent phase of our development.” I attempt to make a case for our […]

Bad People or Bad Systems? A Crisis of Social Conscience

By John Renesch | December 3, 2011

December 2011 A couple of years ago, just after receiving the Nobel Prize, Mohammad Yunus was speaking in Washington and I happened to catch in on C-Span TV. One thing he said has stuck with me ever since. He asserted that poverty was not a people problem; it was a systems problem. This seemed a […]

Thinkers Anonymous: Gaining Freedom from the Greatest Addiction of Our Time

By John Renesch | November 3, 2011

November 2011 There are many, many things forms of addiction – ranging from substances like alcohol, painkillers, heroin and other drugs to activities such as the Internet, gambling, television, sex and work, But little is said about the one of the biggest addictions for the Western world – compulsive thinking. My definition of an addiction […]

By John Renesch | October 3, 2011

October 2011 As more and more of us realize how dysfunctional our organizations have become and begin to see how obsolete they might be, we are left with a great chasm needing to be filled. How will we organize ourselves to deal with those social challenges like infrastructure, governance, the rule of law, and regulation? […]

Hail the Outsiders for They Could Be Bearing Gold

By John Renesch | August 3, 2011

August 2011 The person who discovered it was the Sun, not the Earth, that was the center of our solar system was a mathematician, physician, scholar, translator, artist, cleric, jurist, governor, military leader, diplomat and economist who held astronomy as little more than his avocation! The creator of the most effective treatment for alcoholism was […]

Will Corporations Ever Develop Consciences?

By John Renesch | July 3, 2011

July 2011 Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that corporations are even more like people than the law previously adjudicated, less-than-ethical business leaders can take even more advantage of the market, tilting the scales of fairness even further in their favor. Thus the gap between the richest one-percent and the rest of us […]

Getting to the Bottom of Myself: A Process of Going Deeper

By John Renesch | June 3, 2011

June 2011 The other evening at dinner, a friend was talking about her own process of self-discovery and used the phrase “getting to the bottom of myself.” I perked up and warmed to the phrase immediately, sensing some richness to be teased from it. So here goes! The process of self-discovery can be a lifetime […]

What Field Do You Live In?

By John Renesch | May 3, 2011

September 2011 The title of this article may seem strange since most of us in the West are not accustomed to living in fields. The picture that comes to mind is a field of crops or a sports field of play but not a place where people might live. I’m addressing a different kind of […]

Being a Stand

By John Renesch | May 3, 2011

May 2011 Excerpted from John’s forthcoming book, The Great Growing Up: Being Responsible for Humanity’s Future In my last book – Getting to the Better Future – I quote global thinker and philanthropist Lynne Twist on the subject of taking a stand. She says, “Taking a stand is a way of living and being that […]

The Bureaucracy of Self

By John Renesch | April 3, 2011

April 2011 Most of us are familiar with bureaucracy. We run into it everyday when we interact with an organization, particularly governmental ones. My definition of bureaucracy is quite simple: it’s when a system puts greater importance on its internal policies and priorities than on its customers or constituents. In systems thinking, we call this […]

No Need for Tolerance When We’re All the Same

By John Renesch | March 3, 2011

March 2011 Homogeneity of ideas, beliefs and traditions sure makes it easier to live together. It is easy to see why people who are somewhat alike tend to hang out together, be that a neighborhood, community, club or other social circle. But the world is not homogeneous. We differ from our global brothers and sisters […]

Memories of a Visionary Businessman

By John Renesch | February 3, 2011

February 2011 Last summer I learned of a book coauthored by a new acquaintance – Raj Sisodia. The book – Firms of Endearment (2007) – included a quote by Ryuzaburo Kaku, a Japanese visionary businessman I met in 1991 when he was at the helm of Canon, Inc. Kaku was a pioneer in the corporate […]

Calling on the Crowd for Wisdom

By John Renesch | January 3, 2011

January 2011 [The following article was submitted to Ode Magazine but never published to the author’s knowledge] New times require new leaders. Old models and techniques are outmoded in these times of accelerated learning, widespread information, rapid change and compressing time windows. Hierarchy is outmoded. Continuing to think about leadership in terms of the past […]

By John Renesch | December 3, 2010

December 2010 According to noted futurist Bob Johansen, who specializes in ten-year forecasts, the world is becoming more and more VUCA – his acronym for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. In his book Leaders Make the Future, Johansen makes the case that leaders need to learn how to effectively deal with these characteristics which will […]

By John Renesch | November 3, 2010

November 2010 Most of our exposure to the birth of capitalism, at least for those of us with European origins, emanates from Adam Smith’s philosophies and writings, most notably his “invisible hand” metaphor which is so widely manipulated by the market fundamentalists. Smith’s book The Wealth of Nations is considered by many to be “the […]

Giving Birth to New Notions

By John Renesch | October 3, 2010

October 2010 If you have ever lived through a time when some popular idea became outmoded and a new way of looking at things became accepted in its place, you have survived what academics call a “paradigm change” in worldview. Perhaps you are old enough to remember when driving home after having a few cocktails […]

By John Renesch | September 3, 2010

September 2010 The email below was sent by Dr. John Armstrong, a London-based engineer, in response to my July 2010 editorial, “The New Human: Stepping Into the Next Evolution of Our Species” which was adapted from my forthcoming book. Below John’s email is my response. – JR From John Armstrong: A great read, your latest […]

By John Renesch | August 3, 2010

August 2010 As long time subscribers of this newsletter know, one of my favorite soap box topics is systems dysfunction and the value of becoming a scholar of systems dynamics and systemic thinking (see newsletter Archives for some past editorials on this subject). By systems dysfunction I mean when systems created by humans fail to […]

The New Human: Stepping Into the Next Evolution of Our Species

By John Renesch | July 3, 2010

July 2010 Adapted from John’s forthcoming book, The New Human: Consciously Evolving to Civilization 3.0 2010 © John Renesch Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke used a phrase I love when it comes to changing our thinking about how things have to be. In a 2004 interview in Leaders magazine the experienced […]

By John Renesch | June 3, 2010

June 2010 “The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye. The more light you shine on it, the more it will contract.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Bigot: strong word you say? Indeed it is and it may be time to call it what it is and stop this incessant sanctimonious crossfire […]

Corporate Citizenship: A Matter of Global Consciousness

By John Renesch | May 3, 2010

May 2010 The following editorial is based upon an article submitted to The Journal of Corporate Citizenship in 2007, under a different title. In many ways, humanity is still in its adolescent phase. After all, we humans are a relatively recent addition in the overall scope of the world’s evolution. Like problematic teenagers, we resist […]

Collaboration 4.0: Working Together for the Common Good

By John Renesch | April 3, 2010

April 2010 Could it be that collaboration on a global scale may be finally catching on? Why would I say that when it would appear to have completely vanished from the halls of Congress, the U.N., and most every other established institution created by people to deal with issues affecting all of us? Why would […]

Looking for the Turning Point for Conscious Evolution

By John Renesch | March 3, 2010

March 2010 ‘The twentieth century will be chiefly remembered in future centuries not as an age of political conflict or technical inventions, but as an age in which human society dared to think of the welfare of the whole human race as a practical objective.’ – Arnold Toynbee* Toynbee might have been on the right […]

By John Renesch | February 3, 2010

February 2010 Have you been as puzzled by how Bernie Madoff pulled off possibly the biggest and longest running scam in U.S. history? How did really smart people fall for his $50-65 billion Ponzi Scheme* and remain gullible for decades? My curiosity about this seeming impossibility prompted me to dig a bit into the Madoff […]

Engaging in the Larger Conversation Beyond Meaningful to Transcendent

By John Renesch | January 3, 2010

January 2010 Have you ever wondered if the debates, discussions and general conversations that occupy our consciousness most of the time are all essentially “small talk” when it comes to what’s really important? I’m not saying that constructive discussion about the crises facing us today – the economy, climate change, population growth, terrorism, environmental sustainability, […]

The End of the Superhero: A Time for Collective Heroism

By John Renesch | December 3, 2009

December 2009 Throughout history human beings have been the beneficiaries of heroic actions, most frequently those of an outstanding individual taking a committed stand regardless of the conventional status quo, the accepted tradition or the cultural norm. Such stands have included boldness, courage, foresight, strength of character, passion, maturity, compassion and other traits we’ve seen […]

What’s Next? Outlawing Change?

By John Renesch | November 3, 2009

November 2009 Remember the 1998 movie “Pleasantville” where the mainstream townspeople passed a resolution making it illegal to teach anything other than the “non-changes view” of history in the schools? The black, grey and white world of this 1950s town – where everything was “pleasant” – was invaded by two teenagers from the 1990s, touching […]

The ‘Sinfulness’ of Cynicism

By John Renesch | October 3, 2009

October 2009 When Obama was elected President of the United States in 2008, the whole world seemed incredibly hopeful that the U.S. would take a responsible global leadership role. We hadn’t seen such enthusiastic hopefulness expressed in decades. It was global, genuine and palpable. For many younger people, it was a first – the first […]

By John Renesch | September 3, 2009

September 2009 For the past five years or so I have made a practice of reciting The Serenity Prayer several times a day, often while on my daily walkabout up and down the hill on which I live in San Francisco. I first learned this prayer in my early teens, having a close family member […]

What is this Status Quo Thing, And Why Is It So Damn Stubborn?

By John Renesch | August 3, 2009

August 2009 Those of us who have been writing and talking about organizational and social transformation for some time continue to encounter resistance to change everywhere we look. It shows up in families, companies, governments and societies. Often, even on those rare occasions when meaningful change does take place, it often doesn’t last as the […]

Flashback to an Adolescent’s Dream: A Personal Reflection

By John Renesch | July 3, 2009

July 2009 As the push car starts accelerating, the bucket seat into which I had just strapped myself starts bumping my tail bone. My heart is up in my throat as a hundred thoughts race through my mind. The wind starts swirling around my faceshield and into the crash helmet atop my head. I could […]

Shifting from Money and Machine To People and Planet

By John Renesch | June 3, 2009

“Everything has changed save our modes of thinking, and we thus drift towards unparalleled catastrophes.” – Albert Einstein Twenty years ago at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford, I recall Professor Michael Ray and I talking about the word “paradigm” and how we had to come up with a less-academic word for the kind […]

Women at Work: Employing the Powerful Feminine

By John Renesch | May 3, 2009

May 2009 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. Editorial: “Women at Work: Employing the Powerful Feminine” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Carl Jung 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks again to […]

The Dark Side of Individualism

By John Renesch | April 3, 2009

April 2009 In this issue: 1. 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. Editorial: “The Dark Side of Individualism” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5 5. Quote of the Month – Rabindranath Tagor 7 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks […]

The Butterfly Metaphor for Transformation

By John Renesch | March 3, 2009

March 2009 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. March Editorial: “The Butterfly Metaphor for Transformation” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Warren Bennis 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks to Dar Gillett […]

Getting Unreasonable: The Path To Ultimate Responsibility and Freedom

By John Renesch | February 3, 2009

February 2009 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. February Editorial: “Getting Unreasonable: The Path to Ultimate Responsibility and Freedom” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Ralph Waldo Emerson 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ […]

Champagne: Metaphor for Social Transformation

By John Renesch | January 3, 2009

January 2009 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. January Editorial: “Champagne: Metaphor for Social Transformation” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Van Jones 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks to Canadians Bruce […]

It Isn’t a Question of Intention But Who is Doing the Intending?

By John Renesch | September 2, 2008

September 2008 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. September Editorial: “It Isn’t a Question of Intention But Who is Doing the Intending?” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – William James 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month […]

By John Renesch | August 2, 2008

August 2008 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. August Editorial: “Please Remain Seated” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Swami Muktananda 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks to the kind tenth-anniversary notes […]

Thinking Responsibly

By John Renesch | July 2, 2008

July 2008: 10th Anniversary Issue In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. July Editorial: “Thinking Responsibly” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Lewis Hyde 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1.READERS’ COMMENTS A Note from Australia… June […]

Shoppers’ Mind: Self-Identity Through Consumption

By John Renesch | June 2, 2008

JUNE 2008 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. June Editorial: “Shoppers’ Mind” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Randy Pausch 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1.READERS’ COMMENTS Judy Phillip, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Trinidad-Tabago, re: “The Preoccupied American” […]

Living in a Tabloid Headspace Our Preoccupation With Trivia

By John Renesch | May 2, 2008

MAY 2008 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. May Editorial: “Living in a Tabloid Headspace” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – J. Krishnamurti 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1.READER COMMENTS From Justine Toms of New […]

The New Emancipation Proclamation

By John Renesch | April 2, 2008

APRIL 2008 In this issue: 1. Newsbits 2. April Editorial: “The New Emancipation Proclamation” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Arlin Adams 5. Hot Link of the Month 6. Want to Blog? 7. Click and Play of the Month 1.NEWSBITS Global Mind Change Video Global MindShift has a short video […]

Gratification on Demand: Fuel for the Consumptive Culture

By John Renesch | March 2, 2008

MARCH 2008 In this issue: 1. Newsbits 2. March Editorial: “Gratification on Demand: Fuel for the Consumptive Culture” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Aldous Huxley 5. Hot Link of the Month 6. Want to Blog? 7. Click and Play of the Month 1. NEWSBITS Join Me and Sign the […]

Becoming a Pragmatic Idealist

By John Renesch | February 2, 2008

FEBRUARY 2008 In this issue: 1. Newsbits 2. February Editorial: “Becoming a Pragmatic Idealist” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Gelett Burgess 5. Hot Link of the Month 6. Want to Blog? 7. Click and Play of the Month 1. NEWSBITS New Voice of Business Earlier this month I attended […]

When Doing the Right Thing Becomes the Smart Thing To Do

By John Renesch | January 2, 2008

JANUARY 2008 In this issue: 1. Newsbits 2. January Editorial: “When Doing the Right Thing Becomes the Smart Thing To Do” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Mahatma Gandhi 5. Hot Link of the Month 6. Want to Blog? 7. “Click and Play” of the Month 1. NEWSBITS Come Blog […]

And the Beat Goes On

By John Renesch | December 2, 2007

DECEMBER 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. December Editorial: “And the Beat Goes On” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Anita Roddick 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. “Click and Play” of the Month 1. READER COMMENTS Stewart Levine sent this […]

Fatal Reasonableness

By John Renesch | November 2, 2007

NOVEMBER, 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. November Editorial: “Fatal Reasonableness” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – 1955 Einstein-Russell Manifesto 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. “Click and Play” of the Month 1. READER COMMENTS Subscriber Survey Overview Thanks to all […]

Remembering Anita

By John Renesch | October 2, 2007

OCTOBER, 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. October Editorial: “Remembering Anita” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Albert Einstein 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. “Click and Play” of the Month 1. READER COMMENTS Thank You’s Thanks to all of you […]

Revisiting Blessed Unrest

By John Renesch | September 2, 2007

SEPTEMBER, 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. September Editorial: “Revisiting Blessed Unrest” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Bertrand Russell 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. “Click and Play” of the Month ******************************** 1. READER COMMENTS Thanks to the many subscribers […]

Debunking the Leadership Development Myth

By John Renesch | August 2, 2007

AUGUST, 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. August Editorial: “Ending the Leadership Development Myth” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Elizabeth Barrett Browning 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. “Click and Watch” of the Month NEW ****************************** 1. READER COMMENTS Thanks […]

One World, Indivisible

By John Renesch | July 2, 2007

JULY, 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. July Editorial: “One World, Indivisible” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Jerry Garcia 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? ****************** 1. READER COMMENTS Thanks to several subscribers who inquired about the systems thinking workshop I’m […]

By John Renesch | June 2, 2007

JUNE, 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Miscellaneous Newsbits 3. June Editorial: “The Four Freedoms” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Abraham Lincoln 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Come blog with me ************************** 1. READER COMMENTS Thanks to Frank Galea from San Francisco, Dorothea Kraemer from […]

What Price Stability? Trading Fulfillment for Familiarity

By John Renesch | May 2, 2007

MAY 2007 In this issue: 1. Reader Comments 2. Newsbits 3. May Editorial: “What Price Stability? Trading Fulfillment for Familiarity” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Socrates 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? ************************* 1. READER COMMENTS Thanks to Yvonne Porter in Canada for her comments […]

The Tyranny of My Ego

By John Renesch | April 2, 2007

APRIL 2007 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. April Editorial: “The Tyranny of My Ego” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – H.G. Wells 5. Hot Link of the Month 8. Want to blog? ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS My New Blog at Global Dialogue Center Last month I started a […]

Who’s Insane Anyway? Is It Just Me … or Is It Everybody Else?

By John Renesch | March 2, 2007

MARCH, 2007 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. March Editorial: “Who’s Insane Anyway? Is It Me … or Is It Everybody Else?” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Willigis Jaeger 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS “Makes You Think” Video Shorts Just a few minutes […]

Appreciating Context: The Secret To Lasting Change (Part II)

By John Renesch | February 2, 2007

FEBRUARY, 2007 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. February Editorial: “Appreciating Context: The Secret To Lasting Change (Part II)” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Robert Greenleaf 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS Interviewed on “Enlightened Business” Radio Show On January 25th I was a […]

Appreciating Context: The Secret To Lasting Change (Part I)

By John Renesch | February 2, 2007

JANUARY, 2007 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. January Editorial: “Appreciating Context: The Secret To Lasting Change (Part I)” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – George Bernard Shaw 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS Coming to Toronto February 1 I’m speaking at the HRPAO annual […]

A Tale of Two Paradigms

By John Renesch | December 2, 2006

DECEMBER, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. December Editorial: “A Tale of Two Paradigms” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Michelle Wie 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS International Spirit at Work Awards It was great fun to play host for the 2006 International […]

Humanity’s Promise Exploring Who We Are and What We Want

By John Renesch | November 2, 2006

NOVEMBER, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. November Editorial: “Humanity’s Promise” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – David Scott 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS Looking Back 100 Issues Who’da thunk? This little newsletter has had three names since Issue #1 in June 1998. […]

Fox or Hound? A Time to Stop Pretending

By John Renesch | October 2, 2006

OCTOBER, 2006 In this issue: 1. Reader Feedback 2. Miscellaneous Newsbits 3. October Editorial: “Fox or Hound? A Time to Stop Pretending” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Rabindranath Tagore 6. Hot Link of the Month ******************************* 1. READER FEEDBACK AND FOLLOW-UP Mike Van Horn: John, you asked for feedback. […]

The New Literacy Becoming Adept With New Ways of Thinking

By John Renesch | September 2, 2006

SEPTEMBER, 2006 In this issue: 1. Reader Feedback 2. Miscellaneous Newsbits 3. September Editorial: “The New Literacy” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – Charles DuBois 6. Hot Link of the Month ******************************* 1. READER FEEDBACK AND FOLLOW-UP How Am I Doing? Dear Subscribers: I hear from such a small percentage […]

Overcoming Fundamentalism in Business: Repossessing Enterprise from Perverse Absolutism

By John Renesch | August 2, 2006

AUGUST, 2006 In this issue: 1. Reader Feedback 2. Miscellaneous Newsbits 3. August Editorial: “Overcoming Fundamentalism in Business” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – William James 6. Hot Link of the Month ******************************* 1. READER FEEDBACK AND FOLLOW-UP Last month’s editorial, “The Ubuntu Way,” was inspired by a conversation I […]

By John Renesch | July 2, 2006

JULY, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. Reader Feedback 3. July Editorial: “The Ubuntu Way” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – anonymous 6. Hot Link of the Month ***************************************** 1. READER FEEDBACK ON LAST MONTH’S EDITORIAL Donna Willett from Australia writes, ‘Magnificent Failures, Marvelous Errors’ [last month’s editorial] […]

Magnificent Failures, Marvelous Errors

By John Renesch | June 2, 2006

JUNE, 2006 In this issue: 1. Newsbits 2. June Editorial: “Magnificent Failures, Marvelous Errors” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Albert Einstein 5. Hot Link of the Month *********** 1. NEWSBITS Off to Brazil This month I’ll be addressing the International Conference on Business and Social Responsibility in Sao Paulo, […]

Pushing the Envelope of Transformation

By John Renesch | May 2, 2006

MAY, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. May Editorial: “Pushing the Envelope of Transformation” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Janis Joplin 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS Free Article for Subscribers Recently I participated in a program hosted by The Presidio Dialogues, who’e […]

Playing Dead: The Downside of Pretending To Be Out of the Game

By John Renesch | April 2, 2006

APRIL, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. April Editorial: “Playing Dead: The Downside of Pretending To Be Out of the Game” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS Two More Interviews In addition to the audio file of my interview […]

By John Renesch | March 2, 2006

MARCH, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits From John 2. March Editorial: “Worthy Purpose: An Inspiring Mission From Pachamama Alliance” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month: Martin Buber 5. Hot Link of the Month ********************************** 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS FROM JOHN New MAOL Class Starts Next Month Beginning in early April, […]

By John Renesch | February 2, 2006

FEBRUARY, 2006 In this issue: 1. Miscellaneous Newsbits 2. February Editorial: “Reconciling Evolution and God” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month: Joseph Campbell 5. Hot Link of the Month ************************* 1. MISCELLANEOUS NEWSBITS Join Me Online: Three Opportunities 1. I’m the featured author for an online conversation at Susan Doherty’s Virtual […]

By John Renesch | January 2, 2006

JANUARY, 2006 In this issue: 1. Ponderable of the Month 2. Miscellaneous Newsbits 3. January Editorial: “Overspending and Debt: Opiates for the Consumer Society” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month: Eckhart Tolle 6. Hot Link of the Month ************************ PONDERABLE OF THE MONTH “What a noble purpose for one’s life – […]

By John Renesch | December 2, 2005

December, 2005 In this issue: 1. Ponderable of the Month 2. Miscellaneous Newsbits 3. December Editorial: “Professionalizing Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month: William Sloan Coffin 6. Hot Link of the Month *********************** PONDERABLE OF THE MONTH (pull-quotes from John’s writings): “We all may want pretty much […]

By John Renesch | November 2, 2005

November, 2005 In this issue: 1. NEW! “Ponderable” of the Month 2. Reader Feedback 3. November Editorial: “A Return to Wholeness” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month: Meg Wheatley 6. NEW! Hot Link of the Month *************************** NEW: “PONDERABLE” OF THE MONTH* (pull quotes from John’s writings): “The person who never […]

By John Renesch | October 2, 2005

October, 2005 In this issue: 1. Reader News 2. October Editorial: “Fundamentalism: Symptom of the Great Disconnect” 3. Next Month’s Editorial Title 4. Quote of the Month: Pierre Teilhard de Chardin *********** READER NEWS New Name?? I’m thinking of renaming this newsletter “Futureshapers,” making it more action-focused. I’m interested in what subscribers think of the […]

By John Renesch | September 2, 2005

September, 2005 In this issue: 1. Reader News 2. September Editorial: “Confessions of a Bullshit Artist” 3. Next Month’s Editorial Title 4. Quote of the Month: William James *********** READER NEWS Attention East Coast (U.S.) and European Subscribers Next Spring, I’ll be going to Amsterdam to speak at “The Summit for the Future 2006” conference. […]

By John Renesch | August 2, 2005

August, 2005 In this issue: 1. Reader News 2. August Editorial: “It’s Time To Get Uppity Again!” 3. Next Month’s Editorial Title 4. Quote of the Month: Tom Brokaw *********** READER NEWS New Feature at Renesch.com One of the least appreciated features of my website is the Links Page. I am constantly asked about other […]

By John Renesch | July 2, 2005

July, 2005 In this issue: 1. Reader News 2. July Editorial: The System Made Me Do It! 3. Next Month’s Editorial Title 4. Quote of the Month: Apollo Spacecraft’s Ed Lindaman *********** READER NEWS New Epilogue for 2005 Edition of Getting to the Better Future Starting this month, purchasers of my book Getting to the […]

By John Renesch | June 2, 2005

June, 2005 In this issue: 1. Reader News 2. June Editorial: Asking Forbidden Questions 3. Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month: R. Buckminster Fuller *********** READER NEWS: Would You Like to Offer an Endorsement? Thanks to Dana Wolcott at Kodak who recently sent me a nice note about the value she found in […]

By John Renesch | May 2, 2005

May, 2005 In this issue: 1. Reader Feedback 2. May Editorial: Humanizing Work: Taking a Stand for Our Humanity 3. Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month: George Bernard Shaw ************************** READER FEEDBACK: Last Month’s Editorial: I received more emails from last month’s editorial than any in recent memory. Short but encouraging, the readers […]

By John Renesch | April 2, 2005

April, 2005 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Feedback Wanted More on Masters of Arts in Organizational Leadership Degree Program 2. April Editorial: The Dream Revitalized & Expanded 3. Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month: Goethe ***************** NEWSBRIEFS: Feedback Wanted Every few days I post “Newsbriefs” to my website, then select two to four […]

By John Renesch | March 2, 2005

March, 2005 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: Bust Magazine Interview Published 2. March Editorial: Has America Stopped Becoming? 3. Quote of the Month: Alvin Toffler 4. Next Month’s Editorial ***************** NEWSBRIEF: Magazine Interview Published Bust magazine, the magazine “for women who have something to get off their chests,” interviewed me for an article on dialogue […]

By John Renesch | February 2, 2005

February, 2005 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Thought Leaders Gatherings Host 100th Meeting Planet Earth Radio Interview 2. February Editorial: Radical Words for Radical Action 3. Quote of the Month: Maurice Maeterlinck 4. Next Month’s Editorial ***************** NEWSBRIEFS: Thought Leaders Gatherings Host 100th Meeting Stanford B-School Professor Emeritus Michael Ray was the conversation starter for […]

By John Renesch | January 2, 2005

January, 2005 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: New Op-Ed Piece Published More About Brazil Trip Conscious Leadership Article 2. Further Thoughts About Last Month’s Editorial 3. January Editorial: Living and Working Between Paradigms 4. More Newsbriefs: Survey on Values, Stress and Materialism The Presidio Dialogues Has New Home 5. Quote of the Month: Thomas Jefferson […]

By John Renesch | December 2, 2004

December, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: New Class Available for Masters degree in Organizational Leadership Abstract for My New Book Available Upon Request 2. December Editorial: Habits That Kill 3. More Newsbriefs: Op-Ed Available Upon Request Inspired by My Audience 4. Quote of the Month: Peter Kingsley 5. Next Month’s Editorial ************************** NEWSBRIEFS: New […]

By John Renesch | November 2, 2004

November 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Hey, America! Before You Vote Tomorrow… Michael Ray Book is Fast Company’s Book of the Month 2. Feedback from Readers About Last Month’s Editorial 3. November Editorial: Allegiance versus Commitment: A Small Distinction that Makes a Big Difference 4. More Newsbriefs: Notes from Brazil Travels …and Wyoming […]

By John Renesch | October 2, 2004

October 6, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Just Returned from Brazil Looking for a Booking Agent Join Us in San Francisco 2. October Editorial: Shallow Thinking: Licking the Frosting Rather Than Tasting the Cake 3. More Newsbriefs: Masters Degree for Organizational Leadership Join Me in Wyoming Successor Wanted for The Presidio Dialogues 4. Quote […]

By John Renesch | September 2, 2004

September 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Big Gratitude for My Proofing Team Latest Op-Ed Available to Subscribers 2. September Editorial: Help Wanted: Vice President of Courage 3. More Newsbriefs: Speaking in Porto Alegre Smart Crowds – Collective Wisdom Making a Difference Conference in San Francisco 4. Quote of the Month: R. Buckminster (“Bucky”) […]

By John Renesch | August 2, 2004

August 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: September/October Trip to Brazil New Classes for Sustainable MBAs Start This Month 2. August Editorial: Getting to God: A Radical Idea for Business Leaders 3. More Newsbriefs: Zurich Hosts Spirit in Business Talking at LaVerne 4. Quote of the Month: Robin Williams ***************** NEWSBRIEFS: September/October Trip to […]

By John Renesch | July 2, 2004

July 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Worth Repeating: Desmond Tutu’s Foreword Apologies for Technical Glitches 2. July Editorial: Being Real, Being Human: First Step in Becoming a Conscious Leader 3. More Newsbriefs: Ask John Questions America as Empire Article 4. Quote of the Month by Warren Bennis ***************** NEWSBRIEFS: Worth Repeating: Desmond Tutu’s […]

By John Renesch | June 2, 2004

June 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: Is Someone Watching You? Mystery Solved! 2. June Editorial: The Question of the Millennium: Do We Have the Courage to Live Together? 3. More Newsbriefs: Good News for Academe Global Futures Forum Publishes Interview with John 4. Next Month: Being Real, Being Human 5. Quote of the […]

By John Renesch | May 2, 2004

May 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Readers Query: Harold Thurman Whitman: Modern Myth or Actual Person? 2. Newsbriefs: The Soul of Money Book Hits it On the Head! Coaching Pays Off 3. May Editorial: Deepening the Dialogue: Appreciating Collective Resonance 4. More Newsbriefs: Another Endorsement for John Wisdom Council Being Formed 5. Next Month: […]

By John Renesch | April 2, 2004

April 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Readers Query: Harold Thurman Whitman: Modern Myth or Actual Person? 2. Newsbriefs: Link to “Collective Resonance” Document New Degree Program – Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership 3. April Editorial: Working in America: Killing Ourselves at Work 4. More Newsbriefs: Really, Really Cool! Revisiting the Spiritual Roots of […]

By John Renesch | March 2, 2004

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 […]

By John Renesch | February 2, 2004

February 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbriefs: John Joins Faculty for Masters in Organizational Leadership Program British Magazine Publishes Renesch Article 2. Readers Respond 3. February Editorial: The New Pioneers: Blazing a Trail to a Better Future 4. More Newsbriefs: John Raves About “The Big Kahuna” Royal Astronomer Gives Dismal Forecast 5. Next Month: […]

By John Renesch | January 2, 2004

January 1, 2004 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: Post Your Comments at Amazon.com 2. Readers Respond 3. January Citation: Another Take On the Left vs Right Fracas 4. More Newsbriefs: Spartacus a Big Hit Willis Harman Article Available on Unemployment as a Spiritual Crisis 5. Next Month: The New Pioneers: Blazing a Trail to a […]

By John Renesch | December 2, 2003

December 1, 2003 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: Negotiated Coaching Fees Works! 2. Readers Respond 3. December Editorial: Working as a Jazz Combo: Developing Spiritual Virtuosity in Organizations 4. More Newsbriefs: “Best Investor” Concerned About U.S. Dollar Mind-blowing Website 5. Next Month: Another Take On the Left vs Right Fracas ***************** NEWSBRIEF: Negotiated Coaching Fees […]

By John Renesch | November 2, 2003

November 1, 2003 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: Want to be Coached by John? 2. November Editorial: Debunking the New Myth 3. More Newsbriefs: Free Article Available John Accepted as TI Fellow 4. Next Month: Working as a Jazz Combo **************** NEWSBRIEF: Want to be Coached by John? John has a couple of openings for […]

By John Renesch | October 2, 2003

October 1, 2003 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: John Addresses Leaders 2. Readers Respond 3. October Editorial: Ending Underground Conversations 4. More Newsbriefs: Trusteeship Institute Fellowship for John’s Projects John Addresses Another Class of MBA Students 5. Next Month: Debunking One of the New Myths **************** NEWSBRIEF: John Addresses Leaders John will address a group […]

By John Renesch | September 2, 2003

September 1, 2003 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: New Speech Topics Being Offered 2. Readers Respond to Last Month’s Editorial 3. August Editorial: Transcending Left Versus Right: Possibility of Pipedream? 4. Newsbriefs: New Book by Former Medtronic CEO John Talks to MBA Students 5. Next Month: Ending the Underground Conversations **************** NEWSBRIEF: New Speech Topics […]

By John Renesch | August 2, 2003

August 4, 2003 In this issue: Newsbrief: Article by John published in Executive Excellence August Editorial: Ending Fundamentalism: Beginning Direct Knowing Newsbrief: Internet Agenda Deactivated Next Month: Transcending Left Versus Right ***************** NEWSBRIEF: Article by John Published in Executive Excellence Executive Excellence magazine published John’s article on Conscious Leadership in its June 2003 issue; entitled […]

By John Renesch | July 2, 2003

July 1, 2003 FIFTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE In this issue: Newsbriefs: Celebrating Five Years of Monthly Newsletters Some Readers Comments July Editorial: Overcoming Rankism: Creating a Dignitarian Culture Newsbriefs: Five Companies Honored at San Francisco Conference Forwarding Newsletter is Encouraged Next Month: Ending Fundamentalism, Beginning Direct Knowing ******************* NEWSBRIEFS: Celebrating Five Years of Monthly Newsletters: Beginning […]

By John Renesch | June 2, 2003

June 1, 2003 In this issue: Newsbrief: Smart Bytes Offered by John Online June Editorial: The Anatomy of Immoral Organizations Newsbrief: John Learns from the “Socrates of Radio” Next Month: Overcoming Rankism: Creating a Dignitarian Culture ***************** NEWSBRIEF: Smart Bytes Offered by John Online Members of AnthenaOnline’s KnowledgeShare program can view and listen to various […]

By John Renesch | May 2, 2003

May 1, 2003 In this issue: Newsbrief: The Presidio Dialogues Launches New Website May Editorial: Okay, Now What? Newsbrief: John Joins Presidio World College Advisory Board Next Month: The Anatomy of Dysfunctional Organizations ***************** NEWSBRIEF: The Presidio Dialogues Launches New Website Visitors to The Presidio Dialogues – the organization John co-founded two and a half […]

By John Renesch | April 2, 2003

April 1, 2003 In this issue: Newsbrief: John Offers Corporate Keynote on “Conscious Leadership” April Editorial: Reconnected and Swimming in the Muck Newsbrief: Willis Harman Spirit at Work Awards Next Month: Where Do We Go From Here? ***************** NEWSBRIEF: John Offers Corporate Keynote on “Conscious Leadership” Based on his writings, John offers a new keynote […]

By John Renesch | March 2, 2003

March 1, 2003 In this issue: Important Notice: You May be About to Get Dropped Newsbriefs: A New Politics of Trust Spiritual Activism Workshop March Editorial: Waking up America: A Return to What Made Us Great ************************* NEWSBRIEFS: A New Politics of Trust “Conscious Leadership: New Thinking for New Leaders,” an article by John, was […]

By John Renesch | February 2, 2003

February 1, 2003 In this issue: Newsbriefs: Megatrends’ Aburdene at The Spirit of Power Workshop in S.F. Meg Wheatley, Bernard Lietaer & Lynne Twist Join John in February February Editorial: It’s a God-Awful Mess, but It Is the Way Things Work Newsbrief: Clinton Cites Mandela and Rabin as Most Admired Where’s John? ****************** NEWSBRIEFS: Megatrends’ […]

By John Renesch | January 2, 2003

January 1, 2003 In this issue: Newsbriefs: Subscribing Problem Solved Whistleblowers Named Time’s “Persons of the Year 2002” January Editorial: Slow Down and Think Newsbriefs: Corporations Denied “Personhood” in Pennsylvania Anita Roddick’s Outrageousness Strikes Again Next Month’s Editorial: It’s a God-Awful Mess, but Its the Way Things Work ****************** NEWSBRIEFS: Whistleblowers Named Time’s “Persons of […]

By John Renesch | December 2, 2002

December 16, 2002 In this issue: Newsbrief: Meg Wheatley, Lynne Twist, Bernard Lietaer Join John for Invitational Workshop December Editorial: A Return to Freedom: Changing the Regime of Our Own Thinking Newsbriefs: Patricia Aburdene and Martin Rutte Join John for “The Power of Spirit” John Returns From 17-Day Australia Trip Next Month’s Editorial: Slow Down […]

By John Renesch | November 2, 2002

November 1, 2002 In this issue: Newsbrief: Free Article Offer a Big Hit November Editorial: Who Stole My Soul? Newsbriefs: E-docs Selling at Amazon.com John in Brisbane Next Month’s Editorial: A Return to Freedom ****************** NEWSBRIEF: [More Newsbriefs can be seen in the “Press Room” at Renesch.com] Free Article Offer a Big Hit John’s offer […]

By John Renesch | October 2, 2002

October 1, 2002 In this issue: Newsbriefs: Global Futures Forum John’s Talk on Radio October Editorial: Are We There Yet? Enduring Humanity’s Adolescence While Waiting to Grow Up (Part Two) Newsbrief: Conscious Leadership Hits Australia Next Month’s Editorial: Who Stole My Soul? ****************** NEWSBRIEFS: Global Futures Forum On September 25th, The Global Futures Forum published […]

By John Renesch | September 2, 2002

September 1, 2002 In this issue: Newsbrief: Commonwealth Club Hosts John on 9-11 September Editorial: Are We There Yet? Enduring Humanity’s Adolescence While Waiting to Grow Up (Part One) Newsbriefs: The End of Globalization John in the Media Next Month’s Editorial: Part Two: Are We There Yet? Enduring Humanity’s Adolescence While Waiting to Grow Up […]

By John Renesch | August 2, 2002

August 1, 2002 In this issue: Newsbriefs: John to Address the Commonwealth Club + Opps! Sydney Conference Cancelled August Editorial: Taking a Stand: A Time for a New Profiles of Courage Newsbriefs: World Future Society Publishes John’s Op-Ed Piece + John Featured in Magazine Article About New Leadership Next Month’s Editorial: Are We There Yet? […]

By John Renesch | July 2, 2002

July 1, 2002 In this issue: Newsbrief: Association of Professional Futurists Interviews John Editorial: Finding the Treasures in the Shadows: How Conscious Organizations Can Reap Huge Rewards Newsbriefs: The Birth of Capitalism on Cyberjournal John to Address the Spirit of Business Conference in Sydney Next Month’s Editorial: Taking a Stand: A Time for a New […]

By John Renesch | June 2, 2002

June 1, 2002 In this issue: 1. Newsbrief: Executive Excellence magazine on the Conscious Organization 2. June Editorial: Who Are the Real Modern Day “Tyrants”? 3. Newsbriefs: Rave Review for Getting to the Better Future; John to Speak in Australia 4. Next Month’s Editorial: Finding the Treasures in the Shadows: How Consciousness Organizations Can Reap […]

By John Renesch | May 2, 2002

May 1, 2002 In this issue: Newsbrief: New Paul Ray Essay Available for Review Responses to April’s Editorial: Capitalism in Crisis: Readers Respond Newsbriefs: John Planning Australia Trip in Late 2002 Spirit in Business Event a Huge Hit: Seven Companies Honored Next Month’s Editorial: Who Are the Real Modern-Day “Tyrants”? ********************************************************************************** NEWSBRIEF: New Paul Ray […]

By John Renesch | April 2, 2002

April 8, 2002 In this issue: Editorial: Course Corrections: What’s Next After the Enron and 9-11 Tragedies? Newsbriefs: Dalai Lama Praises Spirit in Business Event in NYC Seven Companies to Be Honored for Spirit at Work Next Month’s Editorial: Who Are the Real Modern Day “Tyrants”? @@@@@@@@@@@ APRIL EDITORIAL Nature shows us that dissonance is […]

By John Renesch | March 2, 2002

March 1, 2002 In this issue: March Editorial: Lead or Leave: A Call to Action for Everyone Who Works Newsbriefs: “Now Just a Minute, Mr. President!”…plus John responds Next Month: Three Strikes: What Follows the Enron and 9-11 Tragedies ******************************************************* MARCH EDITORIAL The state of the world is such that there’s no time for screwing […]

By John Renesch | February 2, 2002

February 1, 2002 In this issue: SPECIAL: Response to Last Month’s Editorial Newsbrief: U.S.: An “Unfinished” Nation? February Editorial: Hijacking a Vision: How to Sabotage a Great Idea, by John Renesch Newsbriefs: Tom Peters’ “True Confessions” “Divine Right” of Capital Next Month: Lead or Leave: A Call to Action for Everyone Who Works ********************************************************* SPECIAL: […]

By John Renesch | January 2, 2002

January 1, 2002 In this issue: Editorial: “Frankenwork:” Confusing People and Machines, by John Renesch Newsbrief: Public Radio International Airs Series on Spirit at Work Newsbrief: Welch and Kelleher Swap Laughs on CNBC Next Month: Hijacking a Vision: How to Sabotage a Great Idea Question of the Month: Why aren’t there more open conversations with […]

By John Renesch | December 1, 2001

December 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: Walking in Their Moccasins Editorial: The Price We Pay for Stability, by John Renesch Newsbrief: Anita Roddick Website Newsbrief: NPR’s “Marketplace” to Air Show on Spirit and Business Next Month: “Frankenwork:” Confusing People and Machines ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEFS: Walking in Their Moccasins The November 2001 issue of Personal Excellence […]

By John Renesch | November 1, 2001

November 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: Visa Founder Makes Valuable Distinction Editorial: The Abominable Org-man: A New “Missing Link,” by John Renesch Newsbrief: Fast Company Salon in San Francisco Newsbrief: Shell Commits to Alternative Energy Research ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEFS: Visa Founder Makes Valuable Distinction Dee Hock, founder of Visa International and founder of the Chaordic […]

By John Renesch | October 1, 2001

October 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: The Agenda Gets Its Own Website Newsbrief: Feminine Perspectives on the Terrorism: A Real Opportunity Editorial: “Learning From Ants: Getting Evolved,” by John Renesch Newsbrief: October 8 Deadline for “Early Bird” Price for Writers’ Workshop Next Month: “The Abominable Org-man: A New ‘Missing Link’ ” * * * […]

By John Renesch | September 1, 2001

September 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: Advertisers Invited to Sponsor New Radio Show Newsbrief: University of San Francisco to Host Dialogues Editorial: “Who Me? Pinning the Blame on Everyone But Myself,” by John Renesch Newsbrief: Writers Workshop Offered for First-Time Authors Next Month: “Learning From Ants: Getting Evolved” ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEFS: Advertisers Invited to Sponsor […]

By John Renesch | August 1, 2001

August 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: A New Evolving Global Governance Editorial More Newsbriefs: The Presidio Dialogues Hosts New Web Site Next Month: Who Me? Pinning the Blame on Everyone But Me ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: A New Global Governance is Already Happening Mark Satin, Editor for the Radical Middle newsletter, sees “global governance” as already […]

By John Renesch | July 1, 2001

July 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: “God & Business” article in Fortune magazine Editorial: The Forgetting Organization, by John Renesch More Newsbriefs: The Salary Gap Continues to Explode Grab Hold of Your Soul and Don’t Let Go! Next Month: Do Talk With Strangers: Learning From Those Who Don’t Belong ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: “God and Business” […]

By John Renesch | June 1, 2001

June 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: Leadership Retreat Offers Renewal, Surrender and Revitalization Editorial: “The Founders’ Daughter,” by John Renesch More Newsbriefs: Corporate Sponsor Wanted for Presidio Dialogues + San Francisco Coaches Conference Next Month’s Editorial: The “Forgetting Organization” ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: Conscious Leadership Retreat Scheduled for October John is hosting a small leadership intensive […]

By John Renesch | May 1, 2001

May 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: “Cultural Creatives” Discoverer Presenting at The Presidio Dialogues Editorial: The Media’s Role in Depressing the World, by John Renesch More Newsbriefs: “The Great Entrepreneurs” TV Series Airing Now ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: “Cultural Creatives” Discoverer to Present at Presidio Dialogues Social researcher Paul Ray will be one of the guest […]

By John Renesch | April 1, 2001

April 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: “Corporate Responsibility: Now and Then” is Theme for April Dialogues Guest Editorial: Sound Bites, by Robert Rabbin More Newsbriefs: ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: “Corporate Responsibility: Now and Then” is the theme for the April meeting of The Presidio Dialogues in San Francisco on the 24th of this month. Host John […]

By John Renesch | March 1, 2001

March 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: Leadership Retreats Focus on the “Inner Leader” in Everyone Editorial: Conversations for Conscious Business, by John Renesch More Newsbriefs: Michael Lerner Writes for eCHOICE ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: RETREAT FOCUSES ON THE “INNER LEADER” John is hosting a series of five-day leadership retreats that focus on the inner dimension of […]

By John Renesch | February 1, 2001

February 1, 2001 In this issue: Newsbrief: Roddick Dazzles Golden Gate Students Editorial: The Church of the Fast, Cheap and Easy, by John Renesch More Newsbriefs: Smash Hit at Presidio Announcements ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: RODDICK DAZZLES GOLDEN GATE STUDENTS The Body Shop founder Anita Roddick gave a lecture and answered questions on January 20 at Golden […]

By John Renesch | December 1, 2000

December 1, 2000 In this issue: Newsbrief: Executive Roundtables Being Formed Editorial: The Coin-Operated CEO, by John Renesch Newsbrief: Ciba Executive Writes Guest Editorial for eCHOICE Newsbrief: Special Holiday Offer Announcements ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: Executive Roundtables Being Formed The Conscious Leadership Roundtable was announced on November 8 – the first membership group consisting of senior executives […]

By John Renesch | November 1, 2000

November 1, 2000 In this issue: Newsbrief: Journal for the New Culture: LOHAS Journal Being Busy But Not Responsible, by John Renesch More Newsbriefs; Industrial Chaplains?? Announcements ******************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: Journal for the New Culture: LOHAS Journal : John has been asked to write an article on the work he’s doing with his new Canterbury partnership […]

By John Renesch | October 1, 2000

October 1, 2000 In this issue: Whining While Complicit, by John Renesch More Newsbriefs New Name Selected for Aha! Announcements ************************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: According to Po Bronson, author of Nudist on the Late Shift, “People in Silicon Valley are not happy, and have no ambition to be happy. They want to live the ‘great lie’.” He […]

By John Renesch | September 1, 2000

September 1, 2000 In this issue: The First Law of Systems: Survive at All Costs, by John Renesch Newsbriefs Prize Offered for New Name Special Offers ************************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: “Conscious Leadership” is John’s editorial in the September issue of eCHOICE (see below for more information). This article is based upon a longer piece that John wrote […]

By John Renesch | August 2, 2000

August 1, 2000 In this issue: The “In-moded” Way of Thinking, by John Renesch Newsbriefs Previews of eCHOICE Special Offers ************************************************************* NEWSBRIEF: Riane Eisler, author of The Partnership Way and the visionary who foresees a future where neither the masculine nor the feminine dominates but they exist in partnership, is the only woman named among […]

By John Renesch | July 1, 2000

July 1, 2000 Newsbriefs: John Interviewed on Wisdom Radio John is scheduled to be interviewed by New Dimensions host Michael Toms for the Wisdom Network radio show “Spirit of the Times” on Monday, July 3 from 4 to 6 PM PDT. The interview is scheduled to be live and can be heard via the Internet, […]

By John Renesch | June 1, 2000

June 6, 2000 Newsbriefs: Profits Mix with Prophets on the Web The June 13 issue of Business 2.0 magazine features THREE articles on what many would call the “softer” issues of business – one on trust in the workplace, another Zen-like piece on using the Web to access meaning and happiness, and a third article […]

By John Renesch | May 1, 2000

May 3, 2000 Did you know that approximately 75% of executives in U.S. companies are functionally adolescents? According to Larry Liberty, author of a forthcoming book on executive maturity, this percentage might even be conservative. With over 25 years of consulting experience, Liberty estimates that there are very few true adults in the workplace and […]

By John Renesch | April 1, 2000

April 3, 2000 Response to Last Aha! Several subscribers wrote me that they look forward to the day when their firms can retain the services of a “Vice President of Consciousness” – the theme of Aha! #20. A British consultant informed me that he has been retained in a very similar role after completing a […]

By John Renesch | March 1, 2000

March 7, 2000 Setting a New Place at the Board Meeting Table While I was serving as Editor-in-Chief for The New Leaders business newsletter a few years back, Robert Rabbin wrote a column for us called “The Corporate Mystic.” Rabbin wrote Invisible Leadership in 1998 and has a new book coming out this month entitled […]

By John Renesch | February 1, 2000

February 5, 2000 FLASH: New Book…Getting to the Better Future: A Matter of Conscious Choosing is available directly from the author. See his new web site and preview the book at John Renesch and click on the front cover of the new book. Recently, I went on a trip that included stops at the University […]

By John Renesch | January 1, 2000

January 1, 2000 In this issue: Newsbrief: Wheatley, Lowe, Elgin and Others Join Co-signers for “The 21st Century Agenda for Business” on the Internet. Editorial: God Bless Those Truckers, by John Renesch Newsbrief: “Stalker” Attacks Roddick and Renesch at Amazon.com Peter Russell Writes Guest Editorial for eCHOICE Newsbrief: Berrett-Koehler to Publish Paperback of Working Together […]

By John Renesch | January 1, 2000

January 12, 2000 All of us are living and working within systems – systems that have enormous influence over us and our everyday decisions and actions. Few of us have any true appreciation for the forces these systems impose. Most of these forces – these powerful influences – are well below our normal consciousness. We […]

By John Renesch | December 1, 1999

December 22, 1999 While I wouldn’t ordinarily be writing a second issue of Aha! in December, I wanted to examine a major event in my life this past year, sharing some wonderment, and ask you the reader for some feedback. So, this is a “special issue” of Aha! , but it is also a request. […]

By John Renesch | November 1, 1999

November 8, 1999 In the hotel corridor I was introduced to this incredibly beautiful young Nigerian woman who was one of the participants in the fifth annual State of the World Forum, sponsored by the Gorbachev Foundation in San Francisco. Her name was Khafila Abiola and she was attending the Forum with her older sister […]

By John Renesch | October 1, 1999

October 12, 1999 I was told once that nothing meaningful ever happens until someone takes a stand. I know that my life changed very dramatically one day in 1985 when I took a stand on a personal issue, between myself and another person. It had to do with walking tall for my own self-respect after […]

By John Renesch | September 1, 1999

September 29, 1999 We’ve been hearing it for decades: People resist change, especially people in organizations. Managers, consultants and business academics have consistently added to this “reality” as they have personal experience after experience that supports their perceptions. Organization development consultants – those people who are charged with facilitating large scale change, corporate culture change […]

By John Renesch | September 1, 1999

September 6, 1999 The tag line for the Aha! newsletter is “the E-newsletter for the awakening workplace.” So, if the workplace has gone to sleep, what caused it to do so? How did people in the workplace get this unconscious? How did we go to sleep and allow the conditions to deteriorate to such a […]

By John Renesch | September 1, 1999

September 6, 1999 I recall talking with some colleagues at a World Business Academy (WBA) meeting in the late 1980s and the word “paradigm” (pronounced ‘pair-a-dime’) was being used a lot. The word’s roots are tied to the academic and scientific communities, and popularized by Thomas Kuhn in his book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. […]

By John Renesch | August 6, 1999

August 6, 1999 Newsbrief #1: The Berrett-Koehler Publishers newsletter At Work is featuring an article by John in its May/June 1999 issue, which has just come out. The title of the article is “Important Work or Self-Importance?” Newsbrief #2: Reception to the July 16 posting of “The 21st Century Agenda for Business” on the Internet […]

By John Renesch | July 1, 1999

July 16, 1999 Newsbrief #1: Starting in July, John can be heard on Wisdom Radio, a new network of television and radio broadcasting, available through satellite, Internet and a few radio stations in the U.S. He’ll be doing short commentaries for WholeNEWS, a subsidiary of the Wisdom Network. Newsbrief #2: “The 21st Century Agenda for […]

By John Renesch | May 1, 1999

May 14, 1999 Newsbrief #1: The late futurist Willis Harman is being honored by the World Future Society at their Ninth Annual General Assembly in Washington, DC on July 29. Charlene Harman (Willis’ wife for over 55 years) will be accepting the Society’s Distinguished Service Award on his behalf. Newsbrief #2: John will be co-hosting […]

By John Renesch | May 1, 1999

March 10, 1999 If you were paying attention to the recent literature of what might be called the “new paradigm movement” or the overlapping worlds of the New Age and business transformation movement, you’ve probably seen a now-famous quote by South African President Nelson Mandela. The passage is incredibly uplifting. It has been repeated by […]

By John Renesch | March 1, 1999

By John Renesch | January 1, 1999

January 13, 1999 I have now spent over a decade and a half of my life focused on the transformation of society and, in particular, nudging the business community toward taking a constructive leadership role to that end. This focus began in 1982 when I met Willis Harman, the late visionary and author who could […]

Hyper-Capitalism: What Ever Happened to Free Markets?

By John Renesch | December 2, 1998

December 2008 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. December Editorial: “Hyper-Capitalism: What Ever Happened to Free Markets?” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – James Thurber 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks to […]

A Conversation with the Future

By John Renesch | November 2, 1998

NOVEMBER 2008 In this issue: 1. Newsbits 2. November Editorial: “A Conversation with the Future” 3. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 4. Quote of the Month – Emmet Fox 5. Want to Blog? 1. NEWSBITS Meltdown Wisdom Belgium banker Bernard Lietaer is posting papers on his website that shed lots of light on what happened and […]

By John Renesch | October 3, 1998

October 1998

Position Heal Thyself: How Unhealthy Commitments Keep Us from What We Want

By John Renesch | October 2, 1998

October 2008 In this issue: 1. Readers’ Comments 2. Newsbits 3. October Editorial: “Position Heal Thyself” 4. Preview: Next Month’s Editorial 5. Quote of the Month – William H. Murray 6. Hot Link of the Month 7. Want to Blog? 8. Click and Play of the Month 1. READERS’ COMMENTS Thanks to Debby Edelstein in […]

By John Renesch | September 3, 1998

September, 1998 In a recent discussion with a colleague we were comparing the maturity of humankind with the human being’s life cycle here on Earth. For several years now it has seemed to me that our species is still in its adolescence, an opinion I’ve expressed frequently in articles and speeches over the past eight […]

By John Renesch | August 3, 1998

August, 1998 Our modern problems are no longer the result of single agents but numerous contributing factors. This is true for nearly all of our diseases, social aberrations and international conflicts. A single finger of blame cannot point to any one cause for today’s systemic abnormalities. To try to resolve these complex problems with outmoded […]

By John Renesch | December 1, 0199

December 1, 1999 As the countdown draws near for the year 2000 and grandiose associations are being tossed about relative to the new millennium, I was recently asked what I thought might be unique about life after December 31. In contrast to the avalanche of claims that this product, this idea, or this book is […]

By John Renesch | November 30, -0001

November 13, 1998 Prologue Ordinarily, my articles cover different topics but the last issue of Aha! provoked so much response – ranging from passionate criticism and disagreement to encouraging praise and appreciation – that I wanted to expand on what I wrote before. I’ve never had an article so widely-forwarded and re-published as Aha! #3. […]