Beginning in OS

[Harrison Owen]

David, I think it has been a good go. Thanks for the start. And there was
one other thing that ran through my mind which might be worth adding to the
discussion. Open Space is free. Which is not to say consultants aren't
worthy of compensation -- they are, and I am very thankful for that :-)

However, from the very beginning Open Space Technology has been free for the
taking. I never made any attempt to patent, trademark, or franchise OST. The
reasons were partially self-interest and partially altruism. On the self
interest side, it was clear to me that had I done any of the above I would
have spent all my time defending the patent/trademark/franchise. And
truthfully, I all I really wanted to do was open space -- in my life and in
the lives of those around me. On the altruism side, it always seemed to me
that Open Space was the birthright of every citizen of planet earth. Right
up there with Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness comes having
sufficient Open Space to do all three.

So Open Space has been free ever since. But there is a cost for freedom --
That we share freely what we have all learned. Such sharing is the nature of
this wonderful OSLIST, and it is the earmark of every OSONOS. The fact that
some people (myself included) run "training programs" in Open Space for a
fee, might seem a little out of whack. But then again I have rather weird
sense of humor. I have always felt (and said) that anybody with a good head
and a good heart can "do" Open Space, although it may well take you a life
time to do it well. However if you want to pay to learn how, I am quite
happy to take your money.


Harrison   

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of David
Vachell
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 7:49 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Begining in OS

Dear all

Many thanks for your responses to my post.
 
Especially to Harrison for his reassuring words (esp. it's mainstream now) -
I'd hate to be thought of too left of field :-). 

Also to Catherine for her tip (I find occasions for OS every day, simply by
reading the newspaper). I will start to build my plan around the excuse this
gives me to read the paper.

I understand the completion issues that Jack mentions, although I am
surprised (and pleased since it implies a healthy market) that this is felt
to be so intense for OS. I still try to follow the principal of abundance by
which we are enriched by working together rather than impoverished by
competing.

Thanks for the book reference Michael. I have read Capra and like his work,
I have ordered your suggestion from Amazon - I will have difficulty getting
to Tai Wan but I would be interested if there are any training courses in
the UK coming up.

And Shikha - thanks - you definitely didn't bore me.

I will take your thoughts and apply them. 

Best regards

David

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