Action Learning Tribe

I was so blown away today bringing closure to a challenging year with the small team I’ve worked with closely throughout the year at the School of Social Entrepreneurs Sydney. 

The success of it was the plunge we took right from the beginning of the year – jumping right in and putting ourselves on the line by being vulnerable was trust building right from the start.  Individual voluntary commitment to be present with presence in every session, actively listening and participating was also consistent throughout the year.  That takes courage, commitment, honesty, integrity, love, thoughtful process – a fine example of what you give out you receive.  Also, difficult to do with strangers however we come from such diversity in age, race, culture, knowledge, experiences that I’ve grown with them and respect them and today was awesome!  Reflecting from a Mountain View position, we made it!  

I realised today how this small group has had a major impact in changing my life for the good and I was so pleased to share that with them, I will never forget it.    Today was so positive and a real celebration of how far we have come together, although not in denial of the buttons that were pushed it all seems totally irrelevant now because the learning and personal growth gained far outweighs the pain to get there.  

In fact, I welcome it now and even today the challenge that came shifted my thinking completely and it only took one question!  Keeping in mind that question posed was with wisdom and thoughtful process before it was delivered. 

 Finishing 2009 strong…

Pumping Blood

The power of breakthrough for a butterfly is in the blood.  Pumping blood to the wings gives it the strength to breakthrough that tight confining space of mans opinions, dishonor, labels, expectations, assumptions, judgements and vision for your life, for your projects, for your family and overall well-being.

I feel drained having worked so closely with a large group of my peers at The School of Social Entrepreneurs 1 day per week 2009.  There have been alot of people involved in that process – pushing, pulling and drawing from you and now I want to be left alone for a time.  I am grateful for my Action Learning Set.

Still wet, upside down and resting in a time of it’s greatest vulnerability to predators…….the Butterfly must allow time for it’s wings to dry out (the residue from that School space), for pumping blood throughout it’s Spirit, Soul and Body in particular it’s newfound Wings……the strength is in the blood, it’s capacity to fly is in the wings so this time is so important right now……my Action Learning Set decided to get-together a long time ago, no accident but an incredible natural pathway of the tribe of the Butterfly. 

This is a time to rest as much as the workhorse in me wants to get stuck into it, be challenged, overcome issues, work hard and then some – it is simply not the time!  Now is the time for resting while all the real work is going on inside, some who are sensitive may hear the blood pumping through you otherwise the strength and power of this time is intangible: like the wind – you can’t see it but you can feel it and you know it’s there……beautiful transformation, positive change for the good.

I have consolidated my learning this year and began new learning outside of SSE that I’m so passionate about regarding my people and our land.  Likewise, SSE has given me so much learning that I can take with me on my journey and it will help give wings to the vision of others I am sure.

My goal is to fulfill my birthrights, my life purpose and what I’m born to do and having said that – I don’t want to copy or imitate anyone else therefore with fierce intentionality discovering my skill-set and gift mix, overcoming issues with growing awareness, not living in denial about my weaknesses, celebrating my strengths what God has given me, I am moving forward one step at a time. 

This is a time where you could easily be swayed off track, picked off one by one by isolation or people wanting to help you…..because they can see you are a butterfly now and not just a worm, that you actually have wings and not just a very hungry caterpillar fattening yourself up – people will want to help dry you out, help with streeeetchiiinng your wings and my advice would be tell them to bugger off lol it may look good but ask yourself what is it you need right now, what time is it, where are you at in the process, where were they before when you were just an egg or a fat worm lol, what are they offering and why, how does this align with your personal vision, goals, morals, values and if it doesn’t line up don’t go ahead – the hard work is over, this is a vulnerable time where all the positions, promo’s, opportunities, honor etc you will be offered may look helpful but you must take that vulnerable time to sit, rest and allow the blood to pump through your spirit, soul and body by actually creating opportunities and a nurturing space for that to happen – with Christmas coming this is a perfect season for doing that.

I ask myself what nurturing space does my spirit need this season? does my soul need this season? does my body need this season?  and I also wonder what is it a butterfly is thinking and feeling while it’s hanging upside down waiting for it’s newfound wings to dry out.

This month is the time of strategy paying greater attention to your dreams writing them down and receiving insights as to how you can move forward.  This is download time so get in the position to receive strategy this month and hold on, not rushing into anything and not making any concrete decisions until next month, in the new year.

Selling my birthright.

Giving in to what organisations want instead of sticking to what you know is right….or being too flexible so stakeholders take you for a ride……you are selling your birthright for power, prestige and connections.

Would you lose all morals for that……and it doesn’t have to be big, it can be as small as agreeing to something that you internally know you don’t like.

Don’t do it!  Stick to your guns…will it mean shooting yourself in the foot? sometimes but if you do things from a place of truth that is more important and it sets standards for those around you as well.

In the beginning of SSE when I knew I got in I shared what was happening with an American Indian/ Maori Seer that is a good friend of mine and she had simply shared how people will be in it for more than what you think etc

Sitting in a more realistic position now at the end of the year and reflecting on the amount of time I have put into this school, the people involved including stakeholders connected to the School and what they’ve asked from me is quite a sobering reflection. 

I have set up a social enterprise before and I haven’t set up this organisation yet and all year I’ve been disseminating information gained and entertaining relationships with everyone who pulls at you and your project and now I just want to withdrawal from all of it feeling distracted and so I can concentrate.  I’m disappointed with how little resources have been given to support our projects such as a Social Enterprise Business Plan – a basic tool I would have thought.

I can see clearly how SSE comes under SVA and how they organise everything including the Business Angels.  They’ve been writing an article about my relationship with the Angels throughout the year to encourage more Angels to work with students which is fantastic.  However, all the information I gave has been ‘edited’ which means changed to suit and some of it no longer true…… I’ve been asked to look over it but they want it signed off by lunchtime today.  incredible…..so I’ve asked for my contribution to be withdrawn…..and SSE now wants to help me find common language to complete it, adding insult to injury as no apology or acknowledgement has come from SVA .  It shall be an interesting day.

To be quite frank I think social enterprises were done before SVA came along or SSE for that matter and if anyone wants you to think that you can’t do it without them and their input than they’re kidding themselves.

I also feel passionate about Social Entrepreneurs needing the space and isolation like a butterfly in a cocoon because all of the things they do on their own, all of the little breakthroughs stretch our muscle and pump our blood to our wings to make these projects fly – some of us need the struggle to make things happen and I know I don’t need someone helping me to break open the cocoon for me because that will do more damage than good, it can ruin the potential to fly.  i.e don’t let anyone else tell you what they think is best for you and your project because you will know deep within you what is right and you are the only one who knows all the details and no one else can see in your head.

I have heard a speaker with a very successful Social Enterprise that helps thousands of people annually – she talked about how she built this successful enterprise and then was introduced to some very savvy business women who became her board members and they guided her in a direction that was away from her purpose and the mission of her Social Enterprise……..so I want to point out that yes the corporate sector has alot to offer however they also need to respect our space, knowledge, expertise and inherent abilities to do our projects often with intuitive skillsets they know nothing about and could learn alot from us as well.

I have learnt a great deal this year and all of which I am very grateful for and I write these experiences knowing it could shoot myself in the foot regarding connections, networks, reputations but I’m not selling what I believe in to anybody for limited success, position, prestige, money or power and I want to speak the truth of my experience because if I’ve gone through it there will be others coming after me who will go through this too and they need to know wht they’re feeling is absolutely legitimate.

‘Start where you are at’

I would encourage you to start where you are at with what you’ve got and do what you can! Sparked Jan 2009 by trying to help someone else with their vision is when I found mine!

My Audacious Vision is ‘The ***** Foundation’(name to be announced later), an organisation committed to the value and importance of change and innovation….giving wings to the vision of women. 

Created to distribute funds, to the following:

Lead research in the root factors of reoffending for young women

Grants to support the creation of sustainable projects of women post release that benefit themselves and their communities & access to Scholarships for further education and training to achieve their goals.

Project *****, a series of pre & post release workshops that address the root factors of reoffending for young women to support them with a smooth transition into the wider community.

By meeting these objectives we position ourselves to assist and inspire community groups to create relevant and effective post release programs for young women with the aim to stop reoffending and recidivism rates.   

By attending the School of Social Entrepreneurs this year in Sydney I have been able to surround myself with Visionaries and ppl who believe in what I’m doing which is priceless when you are in the practise of dreaming big…..it has also been the incubator for my vision by watering it with inspirational speakers that I can ask loads of questions and ppl I can turn to and ask for help in any area…..If they don’t know then they will find someone and I always get good advice.

I want to encourage you today if you’re feeling like you want to live your life with purpose but don’t yet have a vision…..you can start where you’re at today by choosing to help someone who does have a dream or vision; help them with what you’ve got(what you know you can do…) to pursue their dreams and visions.

It will be the key that sets you on the path to discovering your own destiny and live your life with purpose and passion!

Pitching Project to Business Angels

I pitched my project  last wednesday night to the Angels and this opportunity came about through the School of Social Entrepreneurs and Social Ventures Australia.

Walking into a room with one wall entirely made of windows looking out on the city at night was magnificent however being on the 32nd floor was too high for me and I wasn’t going anywhere near those windows.

Mary Nguyen from Vibewire Inc. also a fellow student from SSE who is amazing by the way and does incredible work with youth in media , communications and the arts was also asked to pitch and that was fantastic to hear what her organisation is really all about and I hope to work with them in future in some type of capacity whatever that may look like.

This opportunity empowered me to gather all of my information, research and ideas on the recidivism rates (rates of women inmates in NSW reoffending) and how The Butterfly Project can assist and support women post release to rebuild, restore and renew their lives.

What an amazing feeling to share my story with friends – Women interested in the cause and wanting to support this project because of the need of our fellow women and the difficulties that come against them post release.  That was a privilege! 

If you’re scared about pitching don’t be……i got to share my passion with ppl who were interested and what did I get out of it well…They have paid my bursary to attend the School for Social Entrepreneurs aaaannd they want to continue meeting with me throughout the year to provide their advice, feedback and support.  I got much more out of it than that – I was able to put sinews, flesh, skin to the bones of my vision and get it on paper and speak it out and get support and feedback and they placed great value on this project with the above and words cannot express how I feel about that.

So I want to encourage you to put your vision on paper – flesh it out – write in as much detail as you can whats involved and how its going to meet needs in your community including any statistics to back up your claims on the need(your country should have a website for stats in Aussie its the Australian Bureau of Statistics and in New Zealand its the Statistics New Zealand website) and then practise pitching to someone a short version of 2 mins max (get them to time it too on a stop watch so you don’t go over) thats what they did to us at the school a few weeks ago but we got hit with it from out of the blue and had to stand up and pitch to our entire class, the school CEO, a tutor and Program Consultant while being filmed on camera but it was fantastic prep for the real deal and helped me alot.

I pitched to the class and then to the Business Angels a week later having spent a few months prior knowing my project, research etc and so it was just a matter of getting it on paper after that.  Hope this helps email me if you want to talk about it anymore.  Go for it!  Dream Big! and don’t listen to anyone who would tell you it can’t be done and don’t expect everyone to be enthusiastic about your idea and try and get friends who aren’t afraid of taking risks either and dreaming big.

Bizness Babes Talk

Sitting in a room with bizbabes is just like sitting in the middle of a Powerhouse – it can be very explosive!

I met personally Edwina a fellow KIWI with previous experience as an RN and in prisons so she was able to give me fantastic ideas towards my project idea woohoo – also Claire from Craft Schmaft who makes patterns and I look forward to catching up with her on a craft level which we both love!! Korinne was inspiring as one of 4 mums with children of autism who set up their own organisation for Autism Advisory & Support Service and is currently working in conjunction with Mission Australia on a relevant project not to mention her own personal business Forever Impressed for Photo Designer Handbags (where does she get time for it all) WOW there were 17 of those kinds of amazing women.

We talked about my journey through the BIB program, the product ideas I had, what happened to those and how that was really a precursor for where I’m at now going to the School of Social Entrepreneurs.  Also, being intuitive especially as women and how the doors closed on some of my ideas but that meant other doors opened creating much better opportunities than I could’ve imagined.

Just seeing what previous bizbabes are accomplishing right now in business and journeys of self development I can’t begin to imagine what they’re going to be doing a year from now let alone what they’re capable of achieving…Thanks Grp 5 BiznessBabes for your koha ( gift) it was gratefully received and all of us at home have enjoyed the hand creams including Kiri lol

So a great big mihi/ greetings to all of you!!!

School For Social Entrepreneurs in Sydney

I’m in!!!! I got my call back from Courtney today and she offered me a fully funded place in the School for Social Entrepreneurs in Sydney – I said I’m so excited i’m going to scream and I did!! I have never done that in my life…

This is a time in my life where I’m doing something for myself – I’m not trying to please anyone but I feel powerfully drawn to what I’m doing and I’ve got a vision!!

I see myself creating an organisation for women and I will do it! So watch this space because I will keep notes on what I’m up to with impacting our community for positive change and business.

What’s more amazing is that I’ve got the support from others right now in the form of two mentors both the best in their fields and I feel really thankful and grateful for them right now – 1 has been mentoring me for about 2 yrs now and I asked her formally today to mentor me and she said YES I’m so happy but it’s the right time and the 2nd is a leader in his field and in leadership and charges $200 p/hr for consultations – I am blown away by his work and got in touch with him, told him what I was doing and he has offered to help me pro bono ( i had even said in the email, don’t bother getting back to me if you’re just going to laugh in my face- umm do you think he thought I’m serious about this vision of mine lol)

i don’t want to show off because that’s not what this is about – I have waited a long time to be in the right place, with the right ppl, on the right kaupapa and at the right time – I’ve been irritated for at least 8 yrs since I got to Sydney on a journey trying to figure out where I’m at, my destiny, what I’m born to do, what’s the right kaupapa/ track for me to be on, lots of self-development and through all that time I had a glass ceiling over my head that I couldn’t break through.  That can be frustrating but sitting here years later down the track I am so glad I never gave up and kept working on my self and improving in areas where I could patiently plodding away – it gets depressing when you know you’re born to/ mean’t to be doing something and you can’t for what could be simple reasons.  What happens is that you won’t be happy until you do it!! 

I think if people knew my life story and what i’ve gone through just to get to this happy place of celebration then they would say yeah you deserve that cos I’ve gone through alot.

So if you managed to read this far – pls don’t give up if you know there’s something more for you that you’re meant to be doing and keep patiently plodding away because it is so worth it when that glass ceiling breaks off and you begin to find yourself in the right place, at the right time and with the right people.

Kia Kaha Be Strong

WOOHOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!