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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Raffi -- Using Open Space at the beginning of a new
venture, particularly a business venture may seem to be the height of
foolishness. After all you are supposed to keep everything a dark secret and
under control until you roll out the great new Mouse Trap. However, from where I
sit Opening Space on the opening day is nothing more than a blinding flash of
the obvious. After all it is all open space anyhow, so why not do it
intentionally and effectively. Open Space!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>But there is a risk, and you have put your finger right on
the painful spot. As the initiator you have a dream -- call it a vision. It has
some degree of power and purity for you or you wouldn't bother. But as long as
that dream/vision is yours alone it will never be the foundation of a new viable
venture. And here is the rub . As soon as that dream is shared it will change.
For the better or worse you don't know in advance -- but for sure it will
change. And you may even discover that it was a silly dream which can be
extremely painful and hard on the old ego. But better to cut your losses and run
before the expenditure of major resources. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I have always thought that a critical aspect of Leadership
was what I called Collective Story Telling. The point is we all have our
stories, but as long as they are exclusively MY story -- the story will go
nowhere. Only when the story becomes OUR story will the potential power be made
manifest. No guarantees, of course -- but one thing is certain -- without the
public telling, you will never know. If you care about this line of thinking you
might look at my book, "The Spirit of Leadership" (Barrett-Koehler) -- in the
section (guess what?) called "Collective Story Telling.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Anyhow -- to get to the point. I have always thought of
Open Space as an occasion for story telling, and best of all, Collective Story
Telling. So Go for it my friend. You will certainly have a lot of fun,
learn a great deal -- and who knows -- you might even create a
business.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Harrison</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>USA<BR>301-365-2093<BR>207-763-3261 (summer)<BR>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=raffi@bk.ru href="mailto:raffi@bk.ru">Raffi Aftandelian</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 29, 2005 1:48
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> conducting OST meeting for an
organization that is just forming</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Dear colleagues and friends,<BR><BR>In mid-July I intend to
invite some new/old OST colleagues to run a 2<BR>day OST meeting on the
question of the development of the consulting<BR>firm that I am creating/have
created, essenceworks consulting group<BR>(it was born in my heart May
20th).<BR><BR>The intent behind this is obvious: why should I develop a
business<BR>plan when the "system" has the answers. Let them help me find
the<BR>answers with me.<BR><BR>I know that the wider the invitation, the more
potential there is to<BR>bring the wisdom into the room. That said, it is
rather scary to share<BR>a dream so openly. The dreams are big. If this is
indeed a wide-open<BR>invitation, then I should invite all potential clients.
Am I ready for<BR>clients to see the inner workings of something so new and
not yet<BR>clearly formed? I tell myself, though, in response to this that to
a<BR>trained eye/mind/heart/spirit *everything* is visible. Nothing is truly
hidden in this<BR>world. And that there is nothing to fear.<BR><BR>The way I
have conceived of the OST meeting thus far is for this to be<BR>2 days of
divergence. No time for action planning set aside. Might it<BR>be
possible/sensible to set time aside for action planning?<BR><BR>The firm as I
conceive of it is really just made up of me, later I<BR>imagine I will have a
part-time bookkeeper, personal assistant. And<BR>maybe, maybe, another OST
facilitator as partner.<BR><BR>I would be curious to learn of the
experience/use of OST in other OST<BR>consulting firms or any other
organization that is just forming. What<BR>have been the considerations? What
might be stumbling blocks? What<BR>have you done to motivate people (including
potential clients)to
come?<BR><BR>Warmly,<BR>Raffi<BR>
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