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 By Stephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network
This edition of The Catalyst is dedicated to Enlightened Business as an introduction to The Enlightened Business Summit taking place October 20–24, 2014. (Register free: click here.)
Enlightened Business is a subject that is dear to my heart. In fact, Enlightened Business is central to my life mission.
When I received the inspiration during a meditation retreat to create The Shift Network, the vision was much bigger than anything I had imagined. It was inspiring ... and terrifying. I had no idea how it was going to happen. Yet, the vision became my North Star, guiding all my choices.
It took nearly ten years to gain enough experience to launch The Shift Network, including one time falling flat on my face and one attempt that sputtered. Yet, the vision would not leave me — it was my truly my lifework.
As The Shift Network has grown, the company has become a vehicle for community members (you), faculty, partners and staff to step forward in manifesting their/your visions. There is now a synergistic effect happening as we all learn from and inspire one another, accelerating a larger collective shift in consciousness informing our daily lives.
I know when The Shift Network is on track because there is a sense of joy that arises — I see this joy in our staff and hear it in our faculty, summit speakers, partner organizations and students. Joy and wisdom are the very essence of our soul and when we express/manifest from our higher self, joy is a natural result. I find incredible joy in being part of our growing community, standing together with you to say, “Yes, we will create a better world, one based on sacred principles!”
Making The Shift Network a viable and thriving social venture enterprise (for-profit business with a social mission) has meant integrating the best practices from business entrepreneurs, social change agents and spiritual teachers. It has meant embodying what we want to see in the world and realigning ourselves when we wobble.
You can tell I am passionate about Enlightened Business, for businesses simply must be part of the global shift — nothing else can scale fast enough to have the impact we need. We need not just one enlightened business, but millions.
You will love The Enlightened Business Summit. We have put it together with great care and love. To prepare you for the summit, this edition of The Catalyst has incredible articles from our friends George Kao, Sharla Jacobs, Philomena Blees, Nithya Shanti, and Flynn Bucy (Peace Ambassador graduate).
Our Featured Profile is of a person who I greatly admire: Bharat Mitra, the founder of Organic India.
Also, from my heart, I am sharing a blog I wrote about the Middle East. I am committed to The Shift Network being a community of inspiration and hope in a time of great global challenges.
In this edition, we also introduce “Shift Philanthropy.” As a social venture enterprise, we support many non-profit organizations doing exceptional work. In this edition, we are delighted to announce we are financial supporters of Search for Common Ground — one of the world’s leading conflict transformation organizations. We encourage you also to support this incredible organization (see Video and Shift Philanthropy).
And, if you need anymore inspiration, please watch the video of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. It will inspire you to be the best you can be and to bring forth your gifts in the world.
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 Can and Should Enlightened Global Businesses Solve Real Global Problems like War and Poverty?
By Philomena Blees
World headlines show the global community is faced with serious problems of conflict and instability: 10,000 or more deaths per year from the Mexican Drug War, Syrian Civil War, Iraqi Insurgency, and ethnic violence in South Sudan. 1,000–9,999 deaths per year in Gaza; from civil wars in Afghanistan, Somalia, Nigeria, Northwest Pakistan, Egypt, and Libya; and from the war in the Ukraine. Gang violence in Central America, terrorist activities by ISIS and Al-Qaida, and clashes between police and protesters in Hong Kong . . . [read more]
 A Simple Marketing Plan — For Service Providers Who Love Integrity & Collaboration
By George Kao
Imagine that you had all the clients you ever want — without any need to promote or advertise yourself or your business. And that you did this through the spirit of service.
Imagine that others, whom you serve, abundantly promote your business!
What follows is a very simple marketing plan that works. Study it carefully and more importantly, put it into practice! . . . [read more]
 How to Talk with Potential Clients so They Practically Talk Themselves into Working with You
By Sharla Jacobs
Many people whose work is all about service to the greater good have a hard time with selling. They don't want to be perceived as pushy, manipulative or obnoxious.
My husband, Jesse Koren, and I felt the same way when we first started our coaching and acupuncture practices. So we had to find a way to sell without losing our integrity . . . [read more]
 Four Elements of Conscious Leadership
By Nithya Shanti
Like many young students, when I was in business school I was left dizzy and confused by the many different theories, concepts, frameworks of leadership that we were taught and exposed to. Unlike many others, I had the privilege of an extended period of time to contemplate and refine these ideas — first as a forest monk, and later as a spiritual teacher and corporate trainer. Here I would like to share an overview of four elements of conscious leadership that I have discovered that represents my understanding of this subject. It is intended for those eager to lead from the inside out . . . [read more]
 Enlightened Business
By Flynn Bucy
The term "enlightened business" is getting a lot of attention these days. It is an important concept, but often misunderstood and misused. However, as the primary driver of economic activity, businesses need to act in more enlightened ways if for our civilization is going to evolve into a more sustainable, just and prosperous culture . . . [read more]
The Path to Healing in the Middle East
By Stephen Dinan
If you've ever been in a fight with a loved one, you know that in the heat of the moment we can say and sometimes do quite damaging things, even to those we love most.
Our bodies and brains are geared to respond to a fight with aggressive self-protection and we often try to one-up the other by hurting them first so we don't feel as vulnerable ourselves . . . [read more]
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 A Conversation with Bharat Mitra, Founder of Organic India and Uplift
By Chip Richards
The shire of Byron Bay, Australia has long been known as the 'land of first light dreaming.' A place of sanctuary, ceremony and sacred connection. As I walk along the citrus lined driveway, past a silent bank of solar panels and one of several flourishing edible gardens, I am struck by both a quiet sense of "being" in this place and an awesome air of productivity (later walks reveal chicken pens, bee hives, thriving orchard ... food and life growing everywhere). Bharat Mitra opens the door to his home on the hill and instantly I feel like I am being greeted by an old friend. He welcomes me in and our conversation begins to grow like seeds in the garden that will later feeds us . . . [read more]
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Film premiere of Awake: The Live of Yogananda is opening in Theaters in October 2014 — including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boulder, Santa Fe, Tulsa and many more places. To find a showing near you or to arrange for a screening, click here. (The filmmakers were interviewed in the Summer of Peace, the recording is available for free.)
Since entering the world stage, the Dalai Lama has become one of the most recognizable leaders and advocates for world peace. Among his many honors and awards, 25 years ago, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. With your generous help and support, the Dalai Lama Foundation is thrilled to begin development of the Living History of the Dalai Lama — a comprehensive online interactive experience highlighting the Dalai Lama's lifelong journey to advance the cause of world peace. To learn more and to support this project, click here.
John Gray has devoted the past 20 years to researching mental health and its effect on our relationships. His new book shares these findings and offers natural solutions: Staying Focused In A Hyper World: Natural Solutions For ADHD, Memory And Brain Performance – click here.
Film Premiere: In a society where materialism reigns, what is the real secret to happiness? In the new documentary film, Every Three Seconds, Award-winning filmmaker Daniel Karslake (For the Bible Tells Me So) tells the unforgettable stories of five regular folks — a boy, a college student, a thirty-something and two seniors — whose lives went from ordinary to extraordinary based on one simple decision — to engage. Each chose action over apathy, and in the process, each one has had a significant and lasting impact on two of the most challenging, yet solvable, issues of our time, hunger and extreme poverty. The film was released on October 16, 2014, World Food Day. To learn more, click here.
Upcoming Global Peace Events/Initiatives
Join The Peace Alliance in urging President Obama and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power to support passage of proposed United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the establishment of Infrastructures to Support the Culture of Peace – click here.
2014 Common Ground Awards featuring inspiring peacebuilders from around the world – November 13, 2014 in Washington, DC and live streamed globally. To learn more, click here.
Upcoming Conferences, Co-Sponsored by The Shift Network
Organizations You Can Support to Help Stop Ebola
Radio Moa — provides valuable information to people along the border of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone so they can prevent the spread of Ebola. Foday Sajuma is the station manager (see article above). Click here to help Foday Sajuma and Radio Moa Combat Ebola.
Four other organizations you can support to stop Ebola — Doctors without Borders, Catholic Relief Services, Africare and Samaritan’s Purse – click here to learn more.
Partners in Health announced plans to work alongside two organizations based in Liberia and Sierra Leone to bring the staff, supplies, and expertise to help stop Ebola. Help support this vision today – click here.
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2014
Catalyst: (#21, 10/19) (#20, 10/5) (#19, 9/21) (#18, 9/14) (#17, 9/01) (#16, 8/17) (#15, 8/3) (#14, 7/20) (#13, 7/4) (#12, 6/15) (#11, 6/1) (#10, 5/18) (#9, 5/4) (#8, 4/20) (#7, 4/6) (#6, 3/23) (#5, 3/9) (#4, 2/22) (#3, 2/8) (#2, 1/26) (#1, 1/12)
2013 Catalyst: (#22, 12/14) (#21, 11/30) (#20, 11/16) (#19, 11/3) (#18, 10/20) (#17, 10/6) (#16, 9/21) (#15, 9/8) (#14, 8/25) (#13, 8/4) (#12, 7/21), (#11, 7/7), (#10, 6/16) (#9, 6/2) (#8, 5/12) (#7, 4/28) (#6, 4/14) (#5, 3/24) (#4, 2/24) (#3, 2/9) (#2, 1/26) (#1, 1/13)
Birth 2012 Catalyst: (#15, 12/9) (#14, 12/1) (#13, 11/22) (#12, 11/10) (#11, 11/3) (#10, 10/20) (#9, 10/6) (#8, 9/16) (#7, 9/8) (#6, 8/25) (#5, 8/16) (#4, 8/4) (#3, 7/28) (#2, 7/21) (#1, 7/14)
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Help stop Ebola in West Africa — see Movement News for a list of organizations you can support.
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 The Power of Spiritual Peacemaking: 4 Keys to Transforming Conflict and Karma in Your Life with renowned global peacebuilder James O'Dea.
Come learn how the emerging field of spiritual peacemaking has important gifts for you that can help heal your own heart and the hearts of those around you. October 22 5:30pm Pacific
 The Divine Human: Living and Embodying the Next Stage of Your Evolution with Pioneering Contemporary Spiritual Teacher & Internationally Renowned Mystic -Scholar-Activist Andrew Harvey.
In this 7-week transformational intensive, Andrew will guide you through the fundamental spiritual skills and competencies that you'll need to successfully embody your Divine Human with tools that will make this sacred integration real to you and active in the depths of your life.
New Live Training Starts Tuesday, October 21, 2014
More Upcoming Events: (all subject to change)
October
• Enlightened Business Summit
• Anodea Judith 7-week course
November
• Your Optimal Diet summit
• Sally Kempton 7-week course
• James O'Dea 7-week course
• Rev. Jim Lee 7-week course
• Sandra Ingerman 7-week course
• Chief Phil Lane, Jr. 9-week course
• Joan Borysenko 10-week course
• Robert Moss 6-month intensive
• Mirabai Starr 7-month course
December
• Shift 2014 Planetary Birthday
• Gangaji 7-week course
• Andrew Harvey 12-week course
• Peace Ambassador Training 14-week course
• Patricia Albere 4-month course
January
• Winter of Wellness summit
• Scilla Elworthy 7-week course
• Thomas Huebl 9-week course
• Enlightened Business Academy 6-month intensive
• Barbara Marx Hubbard 6-month intensive
• Devaa Haley Mitchell & Elayne Doughty 7-month program |
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The Shift Network is delighted to be a financial and in-kind supporter of Search for Common Ground, one of the world’s leading conflict transformation organizations. We support “Search” because conflict affects every issue on the planet — business, government, education, healthcare, etc. As we learn to deal with conflict constructively, we can find creative solutions to the world’s pressing problems and to everyday life challenges. Search has programs in over 30 countries. Please join us in supporting Search for Common Ground, to learn more, click here.
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Organic India's vision is "to be a vehicle of consciousness in the global market by creating a holistic sustainable business modality, which inspires, promotes and supports True Wellness and respect for all Beings and For Mother Nature." To learn more, click here.
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Keith Kenniff
By Jeffrey Kihn
You may never have seen the name Keith Kenniff before, but you have most likely heard his work — for Facebook, Google, Apple, and in one of the most-watched ads of all time: Dove's "Real Beauty Sketches." Kenniff started out as a session musician and played with country bands. But after debuting in 2004 with a well-received album of electronic music as Helios, the Berklee graduate now has a multifaceted career — including modern-classical piano compositions as Goldmund, commercial music and film soundtracks under his own name, and two projects with his wife, Hollie: ambient soundscapes as A Pale Fire, and a dream-pop band called Mint Julep. But all of his work possesses a gentle, hopeful sensibility, causing the legendary Ryuichi Sakamoto to testify, "This music is so, so, so beautiful!"
Visit Keith's website here, and his online library here.
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Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai on The Daily Show
Search for Common Ground
