Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!

Wed Dec 16 07:48:13 PST 2009

Thanks for opening this dialogue, Harrison.

I'm wondering how *any *invitation can be regarded as failing if we enbrace
the 'whoever comes...' principle?

Best to All - Steve

On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

>  Good Stuff Michael and Denise -- And I wonder about "failed" invitations.
> If failure means that we didn't get precisely the folks we wanted to come --
> there could be a number of reasons for that, not all of them bad. For
> example it could be that the issue we were so excited about really didn't
> have all that much going for it. And all those folks who failed to respond
> positively were just brighter than we were. Our "failed" invitation simply
> saved a lot of time and energy which might better be applied to something
> else. And just suppose all those folks did come out of some sense of
> "should" or "ought" -- and the whole affair turned out to be just as flat as
> they thought it might. Now -- how happy are the folks? And what do you think
> would be the likely response the next time you offered an invite?
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> USA
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>
>
>
> *From:* OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.
>
> BOISESTATE.EDU <http://boisestate.edu/>] *On Behalf Of *Michael Herman
> *Sent:* Wednesday, December 16, 2009 12:09 AM
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Subject:* Re: Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!
>
>
>
> oh this is fun.
>
> for me, this business of inviting has long been the center of the ongoing
> practice of opening.  what i noticed some time ago is that "inviting" is
> something that we can *do* as a business practice, somethign we can try and
> repeat and refine.  but it's also something that we can, as individuals,
> *aspire* to *be*.  the practical inviting is essential for performance.  but
> the latter, the aspiring, is where spirit shows up.  if we are a space for
> that.
>
> as for the accepting or not.  being trained in economics and finance,
> straight through a rather serious mba program, i have always understood
> invitation in terms of markets and prices.  any invitation is just like a
> bid or offer in any market.  the text of an invitation is like a price.
> it's got to be stated, announced.  but it also might need to be adjusted.  i
> like what denise says about getting to "core" because core is from french
> coeur, heart.  when an invitation fails, it's usually because i've started
> from something other than heart.
>
> the way i think of markets, despite the financial training, i mostly think
> in terms of farmers markets.  the guy who brings tomatoes or blueberries or
> whatever has poured some chunk of his life energy into tending and
> harvesting that crop.  it's him. it's his care.  his responsibility in those
> baskets.  it's what he has to offer.  so invitation is the same.  it just
> has to be offered.  the danger is not that an invitation might be declined.
> the danger is in caring, in being full of somethign, and not sharing it,
> letting it go to waste.
>
> so the invitation to a meeting or simply into relationship in a passing
> smile on the street, is about being a space that doesn't know what will
> happen next, but shows up anyway.  alive.  ready.  enough.  and inquiring.
>
> anyway, these are some first thoughts that didn't want to rot.
>
> m
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.ronanparktrail.com
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
>
> 312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
>  On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 9:59 PM, Denise Tennen <denisetennen at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> For me, when an invitation I extend is refused, I take another look at the
> invitation (especially when I think the person and project would be a good
> fit).  In some ways it feels like my whole life is about learning to extend
> vibrant, inspiring invitations (this often helps me get to the core of what
> I'm trying to accomplish), as well as receiving the response with acceptance
> and love.
>
>
>
> I also notice that it is useful to reconnect with my own sense of
> inspiration about the project - that seems to make a difference in the whole
> interaction around the invitation - whether or not the invitation is
> accepted.  My being centered and inspired helps retain the relationship
> regardless of the response.  I am always thankful for a clear no...
>
>
>
> On Dec 15, 2009, at 3:32 PM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
>
>
>  Denise --
>
>
>
> So this is all great! And my question is how can you do the same thing
> every day with every project, organization start-up, whatever…
>
>
>
> I think you are hinting at the problem of making a REAL invitation… Not the
> sort that we all have received knowing full well that we will be shot at
> dawn if the invitation is not accepted. Or at the very least -- FIRED!
>
>
>
> So what would happen if all our invitations were real? Which means they
> could be refused. And then what?
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Harrison Owen
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
>
> Potomac, MD 20854
>
> USA
>
> Phone 301-365-2093
>
> www.openspaceworld.com
>
> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
>
>
>
> *From:* OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
> ] *On Behalf Of *Denise Tennen
> *Sent:* Tuesday, December 15, 2009 2:17 PM
> *To:* OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> *Subject:* Re: Opening space 24X7 --Wave Riders Unite!
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
> Thanks for these thought-provoking words.
>
>
>
> As far as invitiation - in my work as an artist supporting large groups to
> come together to create collaborative works of "permanently" installed art
> for their (the participants') communities - Invitation is the only thing
> that works.
>
>
>
> My underlying belief is that engagement in artistic endeavors is a useful
> piece in the puzzle of creating a peaceful world.  I've found that eople
> creating art together generally aren't engaged in fighting
>
>
>
> here are the ingredients of invitation, for me, that I believe contribute
> to good flow:
>
>
>
> 1) getting the word out is critical,
>
> 2) the "stickiness" (see Malcolm Gladwell and more particularly, the
> brothers Heath in their book Making It Stick) of the invitation and project
> description heavily affects the outcome in terms of participation and
> engaged-ness of participants.
>
> 3) having the setting ready before the participants arrive so I'm not
> distracted by DOING and can keep my attention on BEING PRESENT with the
> participants
>
> 4) having a structure in mind and at the same time being willing to let it
> go at any moment
>
> 5) keeping participation voluntary (a bit tricky when I am operating in a
> classroom setting where the children are basically in the position of being
> "sitting ducks")
>
>
>
> As far as the invitation, my on-the-ground work is lots of word-of mouth,
> who knows who.  Increasingly via internet - helps spread the word quickly,
> although in the end, nothing beats the realm of the personal, one by one
> invitation.
>
>
>
> Different age groups respond to different methods (snail mail/flyer vs
> internet etc)
>
>
>
> my beginning thoughts on this for now...
>
>
>
> Denise
>
> On Dec 15, 2009, at 7:26 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
>
>
> Several days ago I sent a note to what I thought was going to be a small
> group of friends, inviting thinking about opening space every day, what that
> might mean, and how to accomplish all that in specifics. In effect, I was
> taking off from my book "Wave Rider" which is my best shot on the subject to
> date -- with the expectation that there is much more "out there" in terms of
> ideas and actions. Along the way I did suggest that OST (as the meeting
> approach) might be getting in the way of the larger discussion. Even worse,
> I facetiously (jokingly) invited everybody to join "The Imperial Society of
> Wave Riders!" Well you can imagine the uproar this caused. Here I am
> suggesting that we eliminate OST and become imperialists! Not a good day --
> but I do think the proposed discussion has merit. In fact from where I sit
> it may just be the most important discussion we could have.
>
>
>
> Given the state of the world (no need for detailed analysis) superior human
> performance achieved in a peaceful fashion seems like a very good idea. Or
> put another way how do we find the intelligence and energy to deal with the
> massive issues we face without killing each other? I believe that the 25
> year Open Space experiment has clearly shown that superior performance in a
> peaceful manner can be achieved any time we open space. It may not be
> perfect, but it works better than just about anything else, and for sure it
> is a lot less work. The reason for all this is that we are not really doing
> anything. Rather, we are inviting the system (business, family,
> organization) to do what it can do all by itself. Self organize. We are just
> helping people to notice that -- and when they do magic seems to happen.
> Peace and high performance show up. If we are honest about it, I think we
> might realize that OST is in some real ways a fraud and a joke, at least it
> becomes all that if we take credit for the power and effect of the process,
> and the special way that we might "do" it. Rather like taking credit for the
> power and effect of gravity -- which will continue no matter what we do!
>
>
>
> Anyhow, I believe the community that gathers here online (and anybody else
> who cares to join us) is uniquely positioned to engage in this discussion
> not just at a theoretical level but at a very solid practical level. We have
> the shared experience of hundreds of thousands of Open Spaces. And we have
> something else -- the shared experience of life in our community. As the
> world might see it the "Open Space Community" is a pretty strange thing. It
> has no boundaries, no formal organization, leadership, or corporate status.
> Membership is pretty much whoever shows up -- and the party has been going
> on for 25 years. Odd but very effective. Indeed there are multiple formal
> organizations in the world who with might greater effort have accomplished
> substantially less. Think about it! Multiple Global and regional meetings. A
> world wide reach. More training programs than you can name. And absolutely
> nobody is in charge. There has never been a Business Plan, and if a budget
> exists it has never been found. Is it all just a gossamer dream, a fanciful
> delusion, or something much deeper and more important? I vote for the
> latter. I think this is a conversation that needs to happen, not to the
> exclusion of all others, but this is where my passion is.
>
>
>
> Anyhow I invite you to share and think about our common experience -- and
> let our experience be our guide. As a starting point we might just begin
> with invitation. What would happen if all our projects began with invitation
> as opposed to assignment?
>
>
>
>
>
> Harrison
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Steve Cochran

Sustainability Strategies LLC
National Center for Sustainability
US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development

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