(In fact, modern science is now documenting why this is the case, in new studies that prove the power of consciousness to manipulate DNA...more about this in a post later this month)
We can be participants in bringing a new contextual frame for business into our society. 'Frames' can be very powerful. Frames like 'conscious entrepreneurship', 'conscious capitalism' and 'socially responsible business' can begin to impact our culture, simply by virtue of their use. In fact, authors and historians acknowledge the importance of framing and it's capacity for directing action and focus towards either the individual or a societal focus. Framing creates the 'ground' on which we all get to stand as we engage our friends, families and co-workers in discussions about the choices we make about our work and its significance in our lives.
Here's another example of the challenge so many writers and publications have in 'framing' this conversation about conscious business. In 'Its Not Easy Picking a Path to Enlightenment' the NY Times' Andy Newman writes about Kripalu, a retreat center (once ashram) which hosts 30,000 guests each year. While its wonderful to have this great facility promoted, I'm left with the missed opportunity of 'short changing' the view into the business operations. Here's how Andy misses the opportunity to frame this more powerfully (my bold):
“We’re constantly re-examining,” said Kripalu’s president, Ila Sarley. “What are the needs? What are the needs of the market, and what are the needs of society?” In the end, everything comes down to what will bring bodies in the door. “What we’re looking at,” Ms. Sarley said, “is what will someone pay to take a vacation to do.”You can see that this is NOT part of the quote. It is, in fact, the frame that the author brought to this. I would assert that for the Kripalu organization everything does NOT come down to bodies in the door. That is a completely reductionist view of the much more complex balancing of bodies in the door, meeting our mission, working with the psychologies of how to entice people at all levels of their personal paths, making sure the staff is enthusiastic about the offering, etc, etc. But, rather than point out this complexity of the 'edge' we must navigate as conscious business people, the Times chose the frame that is easy and obvious - it must all be about bodies in the door.!
It is NOT just about bodies in the door. This is one aspect of the challenge that a business faces. It is up to the owners and staff if that is all their business will be about, or if they will declare it to be more than than, and strive, in each and every conversation, choice, and decision to design a business that is conscious to its core.
