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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I am the guilty party, having suggested
that Raffi post his letter on </span></font><font color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST</span></font><font color=red
face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>. As I said in my original
note back to him, there is a lot of experience out there in OS-Land, and he
might as well take advantage of it. I offered my two cents which I have copied
below.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>*********************</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Raffi – thanks for your confidence,
and while I certainly understand your hesitance in putting all this up on </span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>OSLIST</span></font><font
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>, perhaps you
might reconsider for two reasons. First, your experience is not unique,
although it is obviously unique for you. That being the case, a discussion
online could be helpful to many others. Secondly, there are multiple folks on
that LIST with a great deal of experience, and they might be very helpful to
you. But it is your choice.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>And now to the substance of your note.
Finding your way in the world is always exciting, never secure, and rarely, if
ever, follows whatever sort of plan you may have created. Speaking just for
myself, I can honestly say that I never had a clue where I was going and how I
might get there – at least not in specifics. 40 years ago when I more or
less finished my academics, there was nothing on my radar screen that predicted
the future course of my life. It is a fact that I never had a job that I
sought, and every job I did get came entirely out of the blue. It is also true
that every job I did, nobody had ever done before. I guess maybe that is the
secret strand – follow your nose into the unknown, always being ready to
be surprised. There may be another point here – when the surprise is over
and learning stops -- follow your nose one more time. In a word, I always
had an intention to be useful and contributory to the world in which I lived. I
never had a plan, or at least a plan that worked out the way I thought it
would. At this point in my life, I can say without reservation that I do not
regret a single thing that I have experienced or done. There are more than a
few instances that I would just as soon not repeat – but regret, Never. I
would guess that it is all about the journey and not the destinations.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>One thing I have learned is to be a fully
open and available to whatever is happening. This can get scary, but the
opportunities are everywhere, and they become obvious as long as you
don’t blind yourself with an artificial plan.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>And experience is certainly useful. In fact
it is what you are getting now. Being a manager in some company might be
helpful, but is by no means essential. My father was a consultant for 50 years.
Never once did he hold a management position, but he was well respected in his
field. Certainly he had technical expertise, but most importantly he had
genuine authenticity. Every day 24/7 he was Ray Owen, and you could count on
that. I guess he did have one management position – When he was 70, he
retired, and as he was making a final visit to his major clients, he stopped in
the office of a CEO with whom he had worked for years. The CEO said nice things
to the effect that my Dad had always done what he promised to do --
except once. Dad had promised the CEO to find a General Manager for one of
their plants, but that hadn’t happened. Dad didn’t miss a beat
– he said he had found the General Manager: Himself. At 70 years old,
never having a run a plant (but having worked in hundreds of them) Dad took on
the job of general manager with the understanding that he would stay a year,
find and train his replacement, and make the whole operation profitable (it had
been losing money for years). One year to the day later, his job was done, and
Dad went to </span></font><font color=red face=Arial><span style='font-family:
Arial;color:red'>Florida</span></font><font color=red face=Arial><span
style='font-family:Arial;color:red'>. </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>I never quite thought about it – but
Dad has been a major role model for me. Our areas of interest were vastly
different – but he taught me in many subtle ways to be myself. I have
tried.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>As for Open Space – it certainly can
be a tool – but for me it is ultimately a way of life. It is not so much
a matter of what you do, but how you do it that counts. I find that I am fully
myself, and most fully effective when I begin every undertaking with an
invitation. Invite the folks who care. Bring them into a circle (virtual or
real) where each person stands equal to all others. Make sure they come as
whole people with all their passions – even when those passions conflict.
And don’t forget responsibility – pure passion is great, but it is
just a flash in the pan without taking responsibility for the impact and
outcomes. The Four Principles seem keep you on-track, and never forget the Law
of Two feet. You and you alone are responsible for your experience – and
when it is time to move on -- Do It!</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Last but not least – always be
prepared to be surprised. Never get blindsided by your plans and all those
should-have-beens, could-have-beens and might-have-beens. Just have a ball. I
have.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Good Luck</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'>Harrison</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:red'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Harrison Owen</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>7808 River Falls Drive</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Potomac, Maryland 20845</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red'>Phone 301-365-2093</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'></X-SIGSEP><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red'><!--StartFragment --><X-SIGSEP>Open Space Training <a
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.com</a>
</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>Open
Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org" eudora=autourl>www.openspaceworld.org</a></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:red'>Personal
website <a href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm"
eudora=autourl>http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a></span></font><font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><br>
<a href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</a></span></font><font
color=red><span style='color:red'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><font
size=3 color=red face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:red'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
archives Visit: <a
href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" eudora=autourl>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> [mailto:</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Raffi Aftandelian<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, June 18, 2004 1:47
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> </span></font><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>OSLIST</span></font><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> getting started in
consulting</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>Dear listers,</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Arial CYR"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial CYR"'>[Below is a letter I sent to
two folks on the list privately, one of them convinced me to post it. After
giving it some thought I have posted it with some minor edits.] </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>I have been very troubled recently by some thoughts
and wanted to run them by you (by the way, I would post this to the listserv,
but right now I don't feel ready to, it seems too personal!)</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The story:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>I have been sending an appeal letter to various
friends and colleagues to raise the funds to go the OSonOS in Goa.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>One of the responses I got was from a mentor of mine,
a prominent North American political and social activist/trainer and occasional
consultant to (nonprofit) organizations. He was the person I had said in a
previous post felt that OS is oversold. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>His "beef" with OS from a consultant
perspective is:</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>If you go around consulting organizations and you only
have one tool in your toolkit, why would I want to use you? In other words, if
you go around life with a hammer, you're going to see every problem as a nail.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>I had a conversation with him a while back and was
consulting on my life direction with him, the plusses and minuses of getting
(deeply) into OS and the like. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Later, in response to my funding letter, he
wrote (paraphrasing): </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>To attempt to consult organizations using OS (or any
other OD tool) without the (significant) prior experience of managing one (thus
having been in the shoes of the director of an organization) reflects the
pretense of a twenty-something. That being in my mid-30's I should know better.
That no right-thinking organization should/would really want to hire me as a
consultant if I don't have a track record. A track record of managing
organizations. A consultant who hasn't had the nuts and bolts experience of
having dealt with the nitty-gritty of managing is apt to be in the clouds, not
likely to really understand what the organization is going through. [I
understand that initially he consciously chose putting his thoughts to me in a
"tough love" kind of way; later he broke it down for me]</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>One of the underlying messages on using OS that I
gleaned from Harrison's User's Guide - if I recall correctly- (being
somewhat reductive here) is the Nike slogan "Just DO it!"</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>I find it hard to argue with him on this question
about acquiring requisite managerial experience to offer a more
"grounded" OS.</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>As I understand, many listers in the OS
world, managed in different contexts, consulted (traditionally) in
different contexts before they started using OS consciously. </span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>My own managerial experience is limited at this point;
I don't necessarily want to get into managing organizations even over the short
term. But maybe this is something I nevertheless need to do?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Your thoughts?</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Warmly,</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Raffi</span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in'><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>p.s. And yet I know that part of my passion lies with
OS, I have no choice but to follow it, right or wrong...</span></font></p>
</div>
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