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Enlightened  BusinessTM  Summit  2012:  Lynne  Twist  

 [0:00:00]    Stephen:     Good   morning   everyone.   Welcome   back   to   the   Enlightened   Business  

Summit.   This   is   Stephen   Dinan,   your   host   for   this   series.   I   am   just  delighted   to   be   bringing   to   you   one   of   my   greatest   inspirations   in   the  realm  of  money  and  philanthropy  and   just   generally   living  a   committed  passionate  life.    

    Her  name   is  Lynne  Twist  and  we’re  going   to  be   talking   today  about   the  

soul  of  money.  Lynne  is  a  global  visionary,  consultant,  speaker  and  award  winning  author  of  the  book  The  Soul  of  Money.    

    She’s  really  dedicated  her  life  to  global  initiatives  to  create  a  sustainable  

future   ranging   from   the   Pachamama   Alliance   where   she   works   with  indigenous  people  of  the  Amazon  and  using  those  insights  to  educate  and  inspire  individuals  to  bring  forth  a  thriving  just  and  sustainable  world.  

    She   also   does  work  with   the  Women  Nobel   Peace   Laureates.   She’s   the  

Founder  and  President  of  the  Soul  of  Money  Institute  and  over  her  career  of   philanthropy   she’s   raised   hundreds   of   millions   of   dollars   to   create  solution  for  humanity’s  most  pressing  issues  and  won  a  bunch  of  awards  including,   this   is  new.   I  didn’t  know,   the  “Woman  of  Distinction”  award  from   the   United   Nation,   so   quite   a   track   record   and   just   heartfelt  committed  action  for  the  good  of  the  world.    

    So  Lynne,  thank  you  so  much  for  joining  us.      Lynne:   Oh  my  goodness,  what  an  introduction.  Thank  you,  Stephen.  Wonderful.  

Thank  you  so  much.  It’s  a  delight  to  be  with  you.      Stephen:   It’s  great  to  be  with  you.  There’s  so  much  we  can  talk  about.  We’re  going  

to  focus  in  on  money  today  because  I  think  that’s  one  of  the  areas  where  you  have   a   lot   of   good  medicine   that  we  need   in   our   relationship  with  money.  

    So  maybe  we  can  start  with  where  you  see   the  predominant  culture   is.  

How   do   we   think   of   money   in   a   way   that   actually   is   inaccurate   or  unhelpful  right  now?      

 

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Lynne:   Well,   I   think   we   have   a   society   has   a   pretty   dysfunctional   relationship  with  money.   It   seems   like   it’s   so  personal   to  each  one  of  us.  Everybody  kind  of  feels   like  they’re  wrong  in  their  relationship  with  money.  I  mean  very,   very   rarely   do   you  meet   someone   who   feels   healthy   and   well   in  their  relationship  with  money.  

    Most  people  feel  embarrassed  or  wrong  or  guilty  or  behind  or  in  trouble.  

There’s   just  so  much  suffering  around  people’s  relationship  with  money  and  divorces,  child  custody  suits,  legal  cases.  

    We  have  a  real  I  think  just  a  huge  amount  of  upset,  suffering  and  anxiety  

in   our   relationship   with   money   in   this   massive,   massive   consumer  culture.   I   do  a   lot  of  work  with  people  on   that   topic   to   transform   their  relationship  with  money.    

    So   they  have  a   little  peace  and   freedom  with   it.  We  all   think   that   if  we  

just   had  more  money,   it   would   all   be   better   and   of   course   it   is   better  when   you   have   a   little   bit  more  money   than   you   had   before.   All   those  problems  don’t  go  away.    

    I’ve   learned   from   some   of   the   billionaires   I’ve   worked   with   in   the  

billionaire   families   that   the   massive   amounts   of   money   that   some   of  these   people   have   actually   doesn’t   resolve   everything.   There’s   a   lot   of  addiction,   a   lot  of   isolation,   a   lot  of   abandonment,  depression   issues   in  some  of  our  wealthiest  families.  

    So  you  can  see  from  that  and  just  knowing  yourself  that  it  doesn’t  resolve  

everything.  At  the  same  time  I  think  the  anguish,  the  anxiety,  the  upset,  the   suffering   we   have   about   money   is   really   rooted   in   society’s  misunderstanding  of  what  money  is.    

    If  you  go  all  the  way  back  to  the  invention  of  money  when  we  created  it  -­‐-­‐  

first   of   all,   we   kind   of   forger   that   we   created   it.   It’s   our   invention.   It  doesn’t  grow  on  trees  or  pennies  don’t  rain  from  heaven.  Money  was  an  invention  of  the  human  family.    

    We   invented   it.   Money   historian   say   somewhere   between   3,500   and  

4,500  years  ago.  There’s  a   little  discrepancy  there,  but  a  while  back.   It’s  actually  kind  of  fairly  recent  in  the  history  of  humanity.  We  invented  it  to  facilitate   the   sharing   of   goods   and   resources   with   one   another   so  everybody  would  have  a  fair  chance.    

 

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  That  was  our  original  intent  with  money,  to  facilitate  the  sharing  of  goods  and   resources   in  an  equitable  way   so  everybody  would  have  what   they  need.  That  original  intention  is  no  longer  very  operative.    

    Right  now,  money  often  marginalizes.  It  controls.  We  use  it  to  dominate,  

to  manipulate.  We  withhold  money   for  massive  numbers  of  people  and  pile  it  up  at  the  top  of  the  pyramid  because  of  all  these  instruments  now  starting   with   interest   in   banking   and   all   the   derivatives   of   that   whole  system,  our  actual  money  system  drives  all  of  us  including  our  nation,  our  world  into  debt.  

    The  actual  system  generates  debt  rather  than  wealth.  Money  comes  into  

existence   as   a   debt.   It   gets   loaned   into   existence.   There’s   always   less  money  in  circulation  than  there  is  owed.    

 [0:05:03]       People  don’t  know  that  the  Federal  Reserve   is  a  private  bank  and  not  a  

government  owned  bank.  So   it’s   loaned  into  existence  at  the  request  of  the  government  by  the  Federal  Reserve  in  our  country  in  a  way  that  has  interest  attached.    

    So  we  always  have   less  money   in  existence   than   is  owed  back  and   that  

creates  imperative  for  growth  or  the  whole  system  will  collapse.  So  these  are  some  of  the  things.  I  have  a  lot  more  to  say  about  it  I  promise.    

 Stephen:   Yeah,  there’s  a  lot  in  there.  So  there  is  a  truth  in  scarcity,  but  the  scarcity  

is  actually  human  construct.  We’ve  created  the  money  to  be  scarce  and  that  creates  a  certain  psychology  around  it  in  a  way.    

 Lynne:   Yes,  and  then  the  scarcity  mentality,  which  I  can  unpack  quite  a  bit  if  you  

want  me  to,  is  part  of  the  suffering.  I  would  say  to  kind  of  go  back  a  little  bit,  the  source  of  all  suffering  according  to  Buddha  is  a  lie.  The  source  of  all  suffering  is  a  lie.    

    I   say   that   the   source   of   our   suffering   around  money   is   the   lies  we   tell  

about   it.   First,   we   have   forgotten   that   we   invented   it.   We’ve   made   it  more   important   than   the  natural  world.  We  will   cut   down  a   rainforest,  pollute   a   river,   destroy   the   very   fabric   of   life   for   money,   the   very   life  support   systems   on   which   we   depend   which   says   that   we’ve   made  money  more  important  than  the  natural  world  which  everybody  knows  is  a  lie.    

 

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  We’ve   made   money   more   important   than   human   life.   We   will   kill   for  money.  We  will  marginalize  huge  numbers  of  people  and  have  them  not  have  a  chance  to  make  it  for  money.    

    We  will   even   if   a   simple  example   is   loaning  money   to  a   friend  knowing  

that  they’ll  never  pay  us  back  and  then  we  can’t  even  talk  to  that  person  anymore.  We   can’t   be   around   them   anymore   or   a   brother   or   sister   or  mother  or  father  over  money  issue.  We  can’t  even  talk  to  them  anymore.  

    So   we  make  money  more   important   than   human   life   and  we   all   know  

that  that’s  a  lie.  We  give  money  this  enormous  importance  when  it’s  our  own  creation,  our  own  invention.    

    We’ve  made  money  more   important   than  God   or   spirit.  We’ve   given   it  

more   significance.  We’ve   given   it  more   power   than   the  most   powerful  thing  we  know  which  is  love  or  spirit  or  relationship  with  one  another.  

    So  these  are  all   lies  we  tell  around  money  that  make  our  suffering  even  

greater   around  money  because  we’ve  made   it   so   important   that  we’ve  lost  any  kind  of  equilibrium  or  balance  with  this  stuff  called  money.  

 Stephen:   Well,   I   think   everybody   can   feel   into   the   truth   in   what   you’re   saying.  

Sometimes   it   can   cling   to   the   other   polarity   though   and   then   the  “spiritual”   people   sort   of   start   thinking   money   is   bad   or   wrong   or  anything   attached   to   money.   That   actually   creates   its   own   sort   of  distortions  and  problems,  right?    

 Lynne:   Yeah,  I  agree  with  that.  So  that  seems  like  it’s  a  good  thing,  but  actually  

money  still  has  you.  When  you’re  in  denial  about  it,  it’s  just  as  much  of  a  grip  as  if  it  has  you  by  the  throat.    

    So   we’re   swimming   in   a   consumer   culture   or   monetized   culture   that  

monetizes   and   modifies   absolutely   everything.   We   know   that   that   is  actually  a  lie.  The  biggest  lie  I  think  we  tell  about  money  is  what  I  call  the  lie  of  scarcity  which  now  when  I  say  scarcity  is  a  lie  of  scarcity  I  mean  an  unconscious,   unexamined   set   of   assumptions   that   we   have   around  money   and   also   around   time   that   have   us   behave   in   ways   that   are  inconsistent  with  our  humanity.    

    So   this   lie   of   scarcity   or   I’ll   call   it   the   condition   of   scarcity,   it’s   an  

unconscious,  unexamined  whole  network  of  assumptions  that  are  kind  of  before  thinking  not  after  thinking  and  deliberation,  but  before  thinking.    

 

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  So  we  kind  of  have  almost  like  a  helmet  on  our  head  looking  out  into  the  world.  The  way  we  look  out  into  the  world  before  we  even  think  about  it  is  there’s  not  enough.    

    There’s  not  enough  time.  There’s  not  enough  money.  There’s  not  enough  

vacation.   There’s  not  enough   love.   There’s  not  enough   sex.   There’s  not  enough  this.  There’s  not  enough  that.  There  are  not  enough  hours  in  the  day.  There  are  not  enough  hours  in  the  night.    

    This   there’s   not   enough   mentality   or   unconscious,   unexamined   set   of  

assumptions.   Now,   I’m   talking   about   affluent   cultures.   I’m   not   talking  about   placed   where   people   don’t   have   enough   water   or   don’t   have  enough  food.    

    I’ve  worked   on   hunger   and   poverty.   So   I’m   very,   very   keenly   aware   of  

places   where   truly   there   isn’t   enough.   I’m   not   talking   about   that.   I’m  talking   about   the   kind   of   people   who   are   probably   listening   to   this  program  who   think   they  need  more  of  everything  all   the   time  and   that  there’s   not   enough   money   or   there’s   not   enough   time   or   there’s   not  enough  this  or  there’s  not  enough  that  to  get  it  or  they  are  not  enough.  

    It’s  not  enough.  We’re  not  enough.  There’s  not  enough.   It’s  kind  of   the  

topic  of  every  conversation.  We  even  wake  up  in  the  morning  and  pretty  much   on   automatic   pilot   just   assume   we   didn’t   get   enough   sleep   no  matter  [0:10:07]  we’ve  had.    

    So  we  have  this  kind  of  there’s  not  enough  mentality  and  that  gets  ever  

more   intense  with   the   pace   and   the   speed   of  modern   life.  Money   is   a  huge  part  of  that  misunderstanding  about  our  lives.    

 [0:10:24]       I   usually   talk   about   it   in   three   different   distinctions.   I   call   them   toxic  

myths.   The   first   one   is   there’s   not   enough   to   go   around   and   someone  somewhere  is  always  going  to  be  left  out.  There’s  not  enough.    

    The   second   is   more   is   better.   It’s   an   unconscious,   unexamined   way   of  

looking  at  life  more  of  anything  is  better.  So  we  just  accumulate  like  crazy  way  more  than  we  need  pretty  much  everything.    

    Then  the  third  is  that’s  just  the  way  that  it  is  and  there’s  nothing  we  can  

do   about   it.   That   kind   of   holds   this   whole   mindset,   this   mindset   of  scarcity  in  place.    

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    When  you  break   free   from  that  mindset,  when  you  can  clear   that  away  

you  see  what  I  call  the  radical  surprising  truth.  First  of  all,   it’s   important  to  kind  of  notice  that  the  mindset  that  we  live  in  is  one  that’s  embedded  in  a  perception  of  the  world  that  there’s  just  not  enough.    

    You  have  to  accumulate  as  much  as  you  can  to  separate  yourself  from  the  

people  who  are  going  to  be  left  out  because  you  don’t  want  to  be  one  of  them  because  someone  somewhere  there’s  always  going  to  be   left  out.  Then  that’s  just  the  way  that  it  is  and  you  got  to  live  with  it.    

    Those  three,  I  call  them  toxic  myths  that  make  up  this  mindset  of  scarcity.  

It’s  really  heavy  around  money  and  heavy  around  time.      Stephen:    Let’s   shift   towards   the   emergent   paradigm.   Let’s   call   it   a   healthy  

relationship  with  money.   So  what   do   you   see   that   really   looks   like   and  how  do  we  begin  to  shift  towards  that?    

 Lynne:   Well,   if   I   can   use   a   metaphor   that   I   learned   from   a   very   enlightened  

human   being   that   I   met   in   Harlem,   a   woman   who   you   wouldn’t   call  someone   who   had   massive   resources.   She   would   be   considered   poor  even,   but   I   don’t   call   people   poor   any   longer   because   now   that   I’ve  worked  with  people  in  resource  poor  places  like  Ethiopia  after  the  1984,  1985  famine  or  Mozambique  after  that  war  or  Bangladesh  or  even  in  our  urban  ghettos.    

    When  you  really  work  with  people  who  live  in  harsh,  oppressive  resource  

poor   circumstances,   you   realize   that   there’s   nothing   poor   about   them.  They’re   courageous.   They’re   brave.   They’re   innovative.   They’re  intelligent.  They  need  to  exhibit  more  courage  to  live  through  a  day  than  most  of  us  are  going  to  need  in  a  lifetime.    

    So  to  label  them  by  their  circumstances  is  inappropriate.  Who  they  are  is  

whole  and  complete  people  living  in  the  crushing  reality  of  resource  poor  circumstances.    

    This   woman,   her   name   was   Gertrude.   She   was   living   in   resource-­‐poor  

circumstances  in  Harlem,  yet  she  was  whole  and  complete  and  knew  she  was   in   a   very   dignified   and   powerful  manner   in   those   resources  which  she  earned  from  being  a  person  who  did  people’s  wash  as  a  laundry  and  felt  very  sufficient  in  her  capacity  to  earn  resources  and  to  spend  them.  

 

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  To  encounter  someone  who  lives  on  that  kind  of  what  we  would  call  the  margin   of   life   and   see   how   whole   and   complete,   how   satisfied   and  fulfilled  and  content  she  was,  she  really   taught  me  a  great  deal.  One  of  the   things   she   said   that   gave  me   access   to   how   I  want   to   answer   your  question  about  a  healthy  relationship  with  money.    

    She   said   to  me   in   a   setting   in  New   York,   “You   know  money   is   just   like  

water.   It   flows   through   every   single   life.   For   some   people   it   comes  through  like  a  rushing  river  almost  like  a  flood.  For  other  people  it  comes  through  like  a   little  trickle.  That’s  how  it   is  with  me,  but   I  know  that   it’s  meant  to  move  on.    

    I  know  that  money  needs  to  keep  moving  just  like  water.  Just  like  water  

when  it’s  moving  it  can  nourish.  It  can  make  things  grow.  It  can  cleanse.  It  can  purify,  but  just  like  water  when  it’s  hoarded,  when  it’s  held,  when  it’s  stuck   it   can  become   toxic  or   stagnant   to   those  who  are  holding   it   from  greed.  When  it  flows  it  can  nourish  the  world.”    

    So  she  said  to  me,  it  was  in  a  fundraising  event,  “I’m  going  to  take  the  $50  

in   my   purse   that   I   earned   today   from   doing   someone’s   wash   and   I’m  going  to  pass  it  on  to  you  to  end  world  hunger  because  I  know  that  I  have  the  power  to  direct  my  money  anywhere  I  want  to  do  the  best  job,  to  do  the  most  good  for  the  most  people.”  

 [0:15:10]       So   I   would   say   this   is   a   woman   who   had   a   healthy   relationship   with  

money.   She   didn’t   have   a   lot   of   it,   but   she   knew   that   it  was  meant   to  move  on  and  that  she  had  the  power  to  direct   it  where   it  would  do  the  most   good   for   the  most   people   and   allow   that   to   nourish   her   life   and  nourish  herself.    

 Stephen:    It’s  a  great   story.   So  many  people   think,   “Oh,   I’ll  do   that  once   I  have  a  

certain,”   they’ve   got   their   number   in   their   head   and   they   can   start   to  relate   that   way.   It’s   really   about   relating   for   whatever   size   of   flow  we  have.    

 Lynne:   Yes.   Really   what   she   demonstrated   to   me   is   what   I   call   the   radical  

surprising  truth  which  is  that  we  actually  if  we  really  pay  attention  to  our  lives  we  have  enough.  We  have  a  sufficient  amount  of  resources.    

    Now,  I  know  we  all  think  we  need  more  everything,  but  that’s  the  mind-­‐

set  we  live  in.  If  you  can  clear  that  away  enough  and  start  to  appreciate  

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what’s   already   there,   start   to   use   it   well,   start   to   share   it   with   other  people,   start   to   make   whatever   resources   you   do   have   useful   in   a  contribution  to  yourself  not  only  yourself,  but  to  others.  

    You  realize  you  have  way,  way,  way  more  than  you  thought.  My  kind  of  

way   of   talking   about   true   prosperity   is   true   prosperity   comes   from  collaboration  and  sharing  not  from  accumulation.    

    I  think  we  want  to  be  ultimately  in  a  healthy  relationship  with  money.  We  

want  to  be  known  for  what  we  allocate  not  what  we  accumulate.  That  in  this   context   that   I’m   recommending   of   sufficiency,   sufficiency  meaning  enough  not  abundance,  but  enough  knowing  that  the  universe  meets  us  with  exactly  what  we  need  both   financially  and   in  other  ways  and  even  sometimes  gives  us  a  bankruptcy.    

    We  may  need  that.  We  may  need  to  learn  from  a  mistake  we  made.  We  

may   need   to   be   humbled   by   a   downturn   in   the   economy.   I’d   even   say  right  now  if  I  can  go  to  this,  Stephen,  the  financial  downturn,  the  financial  crisis,   the  financial  cataclysm  that  has  taken  place  since  2008.   I  have  an  explanation  for  that.    

    It   might   be   a   little   bit   different   than   most,   but   I’d   like   to   say   that   as  

someone  who  works  in  environmental  issues.  In  1987,  the  human  family  crossed  a  very,  very  important  threshold  and  line.  That  line  was  that  we  began  using  more   resources   from   the  earth   than   she  can   regenerate   in  her  age.    

    So  in  1987,  we  began  using  more  resources  than  she  can  regenerate.  So  

we   went   into   ecological   debt   as   of   1987.   Now,   that   was   a   very,   very  important   milestone,   unfortunate   one   in   the   human   journey   because  now  we’re  using  41%  more  resources  than  the  earth  can  regenerate.    

    So  we’re   living  off  an  ecological  credit  card  that  we  can  never  pay  back.  

Ecological  economist  said  in  1987  within  20  years  we  would  have  a  huge  economic  crisis  to  reflect  the  ecological  debt  that  we  are  starting  to  live  into.    

    In  2007,  2008,  sure  enough  we  have  had  a  huge  economic  crisis,  eco-­‐eco,  

they’re   related.   The   economy   is   a   subset   of   the   natural   ecology.   So   if  we’re  in  debt  in  our  natural  use  of  ecological  resources,  we  will  not  in  my  view  come  out  of   the  economic  crisis  until  we   live  within  our  ecological  means.  That’s  when  the  economic  crisis  will  be  over.    

 

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  We’ll   just   keep  borrowing   and   creating  more   and  more   and  more  debt  which  will  be  greater  and  greater  and  even  more  accurate  reflection  of  a  species  that’s  lost  its  way.  So  you  just  asked  me  about  that,  but  I  thought  I’d  throw  that  in  there  because  I  think  it’s  a  pretty  important  point.  

 Stephen:   Yeah,   I   think   it’s   fascinating.   So  what  do   you   think   the  macro  economy  

would   look   like?  We’ve   been   addicted   to   growth,   growth,   three   or   4%  more   every   year   in   developing   world   even   more   and   measuring   our  growth   by   our   kind   of   output   of   products.   So   what   are   some   of   the  assumptions   that   really   need   to   shift   in   order   to   align   more   with   the  ecological  requirements?    

 Lynne:   Well,  I  think  we  need  a  new  money  system.  Now,  that’s  a  tall  order,  but  

people   like   Bernard   Lietaer   and   Jackie   Dawn.   There’s   thousands   and  thousands   and   thousands   of   alternative   currency   systems   that   are   not  rooted  in  debt  that  are  rooted  in  productivity  and  exchange.      

 [0:20:11]       So  our  current  money  system  is  actually  rooted  in  debt  and  that  creates  

an   imperative   for   growth.   An   imperative   for   growth   doesn’t  work  with  finite   resources.   So   that   is   not   a   fit.   A   new  money   system   or   even   an  alternative  money  system  that  we  can  use  which   is  what  we’re  doing   in  the   Pachamama   lines   in   Ecuador,   alternative   money   system   where  money   comes   into   existence   through   productivity   rather   than   through  debt.    

    So  for  example,   if  you  are  a  bus  driver   -­‐-­‐  and  this   is   the  way   it  works   in  

Ecuador  now  in  ten  different  communities  -­‐-­‐  and  you  want  to  drive  me  to  work   and   I’m   a  waitress   and   I  want   to   serve   you   lunch.   Do  we   need   a  currency   to   do   that?   That   is   backed   by   banks   that   generate   interest   or  can  we  just  exchange  those  two  services?    

    Through  an  electronic  system  in  Ecuador  that’s  now  possible   for  people  

to   exchange   services   through   an   electronic   system   that   doesn’t   require  any   particular   currency   that   doesn’t   inflate,   that   doesn’t   carry   interest  and  that  allows  people  to  do  exchange  through  productivity.    

    So  there  are  many,  many  people  who  are  experts  on  this.  I’m  not  one  of  

them,   but   there   are   alternative  money   systems   all   over   the  world   now  that   are  popping  up   that  will   give  us   another  way  of   dealing  with   each  other  that  allows  us  to  live  in  a  kind  of  what’s  called  a  gift  or  a  split  barter  economy.    

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    Charles  Eisenstein  was  one  of   the  people  working  on   this   as  well.   Then  

another   way   of   looking   at   it   that’s   more   spiritual   is   to   start   paying  attention  to  the  distinction  of  sufficiency  or  enough.  That  distinction,  that  way   of   seeing,   it’s   hard   to   pay   attention   to   that   in   a   consumer   culture  that’s  driving  you  to  always  want  more.    

    When  we   realize   we   have   enough,   that   recognition,   that   experience   is  

where   gratitude   comes   from.   Gratitude,   gratefulness   and   appreciation  are   the   source   of   real   happiness   in   life   not   more   stuff.  We   all   kind   of  know   that,   but  when   you   think   about  when   you’re   in   an   experience   of  deep   appreciation,   profound   gratitude   or   gratefulness   that’s   when   you  feel  prosperous.  

      That’s   when   you   feel   happy,   that’s   when   you   feel   fulfilled.   It’s   not  

necessarily   associated   with   more   of   anything.   It’s   the   recognition   of  what’s  already  there.    

    So   this   is   a   transformational   lens   I’m   recommending,   almost   a   spiritual  

lens.   One   of   my   great   teachers   now   is   Brother   David   Steindl-­‐Rast.   I’m  going  to  give  you  a  metaphor  that  he  gave  me  that’s  just  so  helpful.  He’s  a  Benectine  monk  as  I  know  you  know.    

    He   lives   in   silence   a   lot   of   the   time.  When   he   speaks   he   has   beautiful,  

beautiful  wise  words  to  say.  One  of  his  silent  periods  was  two  years  long.  After  that  two  years  long  silence  I  had  a  meeting  with  him.  Brother  David  is  the  greatest  living  scholar  on  gratefulness  in  the  world.  

    So   he’s   known   far   and  wide   for   his   books   on   gratefulness,   his   website  

gratefulness.org,   his   talks   on   gratefulness,   his   great   teachings   on  gratefulness.   He’s   a   simple   monk   with   no   possessions   who   lives   in  absolute  joy.      

    In   this   meeting   I   had   with   him   I   said,   “Brother   David,   what’s   the  

difference   between   gratitude   and   gratefulness?”   He   put   his   arms   out  extended   on   either   side   and   he   said  with   his   right   hand,   “Well,   Lynne,  gratitude  has  two  great  branches.”  He  gestured  to  the  right  and  he  said,  “One   is   gratefulness,”   and   he   gestured   to   the   left   and   said,   “And   the  other  is  thanksgiving.”  

    He   said,   “Gratefulness   is   the  experience  when   the  bowl  of   life   is   so   full  

that   it’s  almost  overflowing,  but  not  quite.   It’s  the  experience  when  the  bowl  of  life  is  so  full  that  it’s  bowed  at  the  top,  but  not  yet  dribbling  over  

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the   edges.   That’s   the   experience   of   the   great   fullness   of   life   and  when  you’re  in  the  great  fullness  of  life,  you’re  one  with  God,  you’re  one  with  the  universe  and  there  is  no  other.    

    You’re  so  fulfilled  by  that  experience  that  you  move  into  the  other  branch  

of   gratitude,”   Then   he   gestured   to   his   left   side,   “And   you’re   in  thanksgiving   where   the   bowl   of   life   is   so   full   that   it’s   constantly  overflowing  like  a  fountain.  There,  in  that  branch  of  gratitude  you  are  so  grateful  that  there  is  another  because  all  you  want  to  do  is  share  and  give  and  contribute  and  serve.    

 [0:25:34]       That’s   so   fulfilling   that   it  puts  you  back   in   the  gratefulness  of   life   in   the  

other  branch  of  gratitude  called  gratefulness.”         So  now  to  answer  your  question,  one  can  live  their  life  as  he  does  in  the  

two   branches   of   gratitude,   in   gratefulness   and   in   thanksgiving.  Gratefulness  I  would  say  is  sufficiency.  The  profound  experience  of  being  met   by   the   universe   realizing   the   enoughness,   the   bounty,   the   great  fullness   of   our   lives,   the   people   we   love,   the   people   who   love   us,   the  friends  we  have.  

    The   warmth   and   safety   of   our   own   home,   our   health,   that’s   the   great  

fullness  of  life.  That’s  when  you’re  really,  really  in  touch  with  the  bounty,  the  beauty,  the  sufficiency  of  your  own  life.    

    When  you’re   in   that  appreciation,   in   that  gratefulness,   it  overflows   into  

thanksgiving.   Then   when   you’re   in   thanksgiving   the   other   branch   of  gratitude,  you  want  to  serve  and  give  and  contribute  and  share.  That  is  in  my  metaphor  true  abundance.    

    I  say  true  abundance  only  comes  through  the  doorway  of  enough  not  the  

doorway   of   more,   but   through   the   doorway   of   enough,   through   the  portal   of   appreciating   what   you   already   have.   I   often   say   what   you  appreciate  appreciates.    

    So   living   in   appreciation   for   what   you   already   have,   the   bounty   and  

blessing   of   the   sufficiency   of   what   you   already   have   is   a   healthy  relationship   with   money   and   life.   That   overflows   into   contribution,  service,   sharing   which   is   the   other   branch   of   gratitude   called  thanksgiving.    

 

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  You  can  live  your  whole  life  in  those  two  branches  as  Brother  David  does,  as  Gertrude  the  woman  in  Harlem  does.  You  don’t  have  to  be  someone  who’s   taken   a   vow   of   poverty   to   do   that.   People   with   tremendous  resources   can   live   in   the   two   branches   of   gratitude   in   a  way   that   they  have  a  healthy  relationship  with  money.    

    That  can  be  someone  who  has  great  wealth  as  well,  but  it’s  an  attitude.  

It’s  a  transformational  framework.  It’s  a  way  of  being  true  to  the  gift  and  the   blessing   of   life,   who   doesn’t   scramble   for   more   everything   all   the  time.    

    No  matter  where  you  are  in  the  economic  spectrum  you  can  immediately  

shift   from   being   in   scarcity   to   being   in   the   context   of   sufficiency,  gratitude,  gratefulness  and  thanksgiving.    

 Stephen:   That’s   such   an   inspired   perspective.   I   really   appreciate   sharing   Brother  

David’s   perspective   on   all   this.   Let’s   circle   it   back   around   to  entrepreneurships  and  businesses  and  how  does  this  begin  to  shift  how  we  do  business  and  create  businesses?    

    Like  we  went  from  the  macro  economy  and  some  of  that  level  and  a  lot  

of  the  folks  who  are  attracted  in  Enlightened  Business  Summit  are  going  to  be  people  who  have  small  businesses  that  are  trying  to  serve  the  world  in   some   substantial  way  of   really   trying   to   shift   things   out.  How  do  we  begin   to   shift   the   way   we   design   our   small   businesses   in   a   way   that  reflects  this  paradigm?  

 Lynne:   Well,   first   of   all   I   think   it’s   really   important   to   make   sure   that   you’re  

making  a  living  not  making  a  dying  or  a  killing.  So  what  I  mean  by  that  is  most   people   on   this   planet   are   unfortunately   making   a   dying,   that   is  doing  something  they  hate  or  doing  something  that  does  not  give  them  full  self-­‐expression  just  to  bring  home  the  bacon.    

    I   call   that   making   a   dying,   working   in   coal   mine   or   working   in   a   place  

where  you’re  doing  hard  labor  and  it’s  not  really  a  place  where  you  can  express   yourself   or   people  making   a   killing.  Making   a   killing,   the  way   I  define  that  is  that  you’re  doing  something  you  know  is  harmful.    

    You  know  you’re  putting  toxins  in  the  environment.  You  know  that  you’re  

marginalizing   someone   somewhere   or   that   you’re   doing   that   at  someone’s  expense,  at  the  expense  of  the  natural  world,  other  species  or  other  people.    

 

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  Most   of   the   businesses   that   are   on   this   planet   are   now   making   a   big  fortune  are  in  that  category.  Exxon  had  the  largest  profit  in  the  history  of  money  last  quarter.  That  is  just  unbelievable  and  they  pay  no  tax.    

 [0:30:07]       So   you   think   about   the   making   a   killing,   making   a   dying.   You   want   to  

make   sure   you’re   not   doing   that,   but  making   what   I’m   calling   a   living.  Making  a  living  is  being  in  a  business  that  actually  is  of  service  to  human  kind,  other  species  in  the  natural  world.    

    It   is   something   that   has   true   benefits   that   you’re   actually   producing  

something.  So  much  of  our  economy  now  and  pardon  me  if  you’re  in  the  financial   industry   though.   I   must   say   is   in   the   financial   industry   where  people   are   actually   making   money   off   of   money   and   not   producing  anything.    

    People   who   actually   are   producing   something   that   makes   a   difference  

that   makes   life   better   for   people   and   doesn’t   do   it   at   the   expense   of  anything  are  the  people  who  I  say  are  making  a  living.    

    If  you  think  about  the  guys  who  started  TOMS  Shoes    for  example.  I  know  

him  and  he  started  his  company,  this  is  a  company  that  you  buy  one  pair  of  shoes  and  another  pair  of  shoes  is  given  to  someone  in  the  developing  world  that  doesn’t  have  shoes.    

    So  you’re  always  buying  two  pairs  of  shoes   for   the  money  that  you  pay  

for  one.  From  the  very  beginning  of  his  company  it  wasn’t  that  he  had  a  big   company   and   then   he  made   this   decision.   He   started   his   company  with  that  ethic  that  the  people  who  can  afford  to  buy  26,  27,  30  pairs  of  shoes  and  have  them  in  their  closet  all  the  time.    

    If   you   think  about   it,  maybe  you  don’t  because  you’re  a  man,  but  most  

women   listening   have   probably   20,   30   pairs   of   shoes,   where   in  developing   countries   people   have   no   shoes.   So   if   we   can   buy   another  pair,   can  we  buy   another   pair   in   a  way   that   provides   a   second  pair   for  someone  else?    

    So  he  started  his  company  with  that  original  ethic.  That’s  an  example  of  

somebody   is  making  a   living   in  every  possible  way.  He’s  using  resources  that  are  sustainable,  that  are  recyclable,  that  are  designed  to  go  back  into  nourishing  the  earth.  It’s  a  business  that  is  productive.    

   

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  I  think  the  thing  that  we  all  need  to  look  at  is  where  are  we  doing  harm  and   in   what   way   can   we   stop   doing   harm?   Just   using   plastic   bags   is  harmful.  We  need  to  stop  doing  that.  We  can.    

    So  I’d  say  that  anybody  who’s  creating  a  business  now,  a  small  business  

which   you   want   to   be   big.   Obviously   you   want   it   to   grow   and   if   it  nourishes,   if   it   takes   what   we   already   have   from   appreciation   and  nourishes  it  and  passes  it  along.  That’s  a  business  that  is  making  a  living  and  generating  the  affirmation  of  life  rather  than  extracting  or  exploiting  in  a  way  that  is  detrimental  to  life  and  to  the  natural  world.  

        Also  obviously   I’m   sure  many  of   your   guest  have   talked  about   this   that  

you  provide  an  environment  for  people  to  express  themselves  and  be  in  communion  with   the   company’s   goals   and   visions   and   ethics.   That   the  bottom  line   is  not   just  financial,  but  people  planet  profit  and  now  there  are  many  other  bottom  lines  even  more  than  that.  

    So  we  need  to   find  new  ways  through  business   is   the   largest   institution  

on  earth  and  can  be  the  tide  turning  institution.  I  think  it  is  and  I  think  it  is  already  starting  to  do  that.    

 Stephen:   What  about  things  like  other  best  practices  you’ve  seen  in  terms  of  really  

creating  conscious  companies?  Things  like  transparency  or  even  like  ways  to   incentivise   people’s   salary,   bonuses   like   stock   options.   Do   you   have  thoughts  on  that?  I’m  kind  of  sounding  really  nitty-­‐gritty  level?  

 Lynne:   Well,   I  think  one  of  the  things  that  I’ve  learned  from  one  of  the  clients  I  

have.  His  name   is  Don  Arnold  [Phonetic].  He’d  be  a  wonderful  guest  on  your  show.  He’s  writing  a  book  on  exuberant  work.    

    He   said   some   things   to  me   that   really  made   sense   and   I   want   to   pass  

them  along.  He   said,   “If   you   really   think  about   it,   people   spend  80%  or  more   of   their   waking   hours   and   days   and   months   and   weeks   earning  money  doing  their  job.    

    So   how   can   we   have   80%   of   their   life   be   satisfying,   fulfilling,   growth-­‐

oriented   and   where   their   relationships   are   powerful   and   nourishing   to  them?   That   their   work   makes   a   difference   and   they   feel   good   about  themselves?    

 [0:35:10]    

15    

  To  me,  that’s  the  opportunity  of  being  a  great  employer  is  to  think  about  the  people  that  are  working  in  your  company,  working  with  you.  They’re  spending  80%  of  their  life  in  your  keep,  you  could  say,  or  in  what  you’ve  created.    

    So  what  is  the  physical  environment  look  like?  How  are  you  handling  that  

physical  environment?  Are  there  living  things  there?  Are  there  plants?  Is  it  healthy?  Are  there  relationships?    

    Are  there  places  and  ways  that   if   the  relationships  with  their  coworkers  

go   into   some   sort   of   breakdown,   rather   than   having   it   only   be   their  problem,   can   you   create   a   human   resource   facility   or   capacity   to   have  people’s  breakdowns  turn   into  breakthroughs   in  their  relationships  with  one  another?    

    So   to   have   an   actual   healthy   working   space   and   to   have   a   healthy  

relationship   space   for  workers   and   that   takes   skill   that   takes   time   that  takes  energy.  What  it  really  takes  is  love  and  that’s  an  unlimited  resource  in  a  company  if  you’re  doing  what  you  love.  That  is  an  unlimited  resource  and  to  not   let  things  as  Angelo’s  area  and  one  of  my  teachers  says,  “Go  for  more  than  three  days.”    

    If  there  there’s  a  breakdown  in  a  relationship,  a  mistake  or  an  insult  or  a  

hurt   that  you  resolve   it  within   three  days.  So   it  doesn’t  get  stuck   in   the  company’s   culture.  Oh,  we   never   talk   to   her.  Don’t   eat   lunch  with   her.  She’s   grumpy   today.   That   it   doesn’t   become   part   of   the   company’s  culture  to  watch  the  culture  and  keep  the  culture  clean,  clear  and  keep  people  in  communication.    

    Then   another   is   to   really   have   your   company   be   a   company   where  

acknowledgment   and   celebration   is   part   of   the   culture.   What   can   we  celebrate  at  the  beginning  of  each  week  that  took  place  last  week?  What  can  we  acknowledge  that  we  produce?  What  territory  did  we  take  before  we  make  our  commitment  for  this  week  or  this  month?    

    So  that  acknowledgment  celebration,  having  people  feel  and  be  affirmed  

and  feel  seen  and  heard  and  appreciated  becomes  a  cultural.  It’s  part  of  the   system,   part   of   the  Monday  morning  meeting,   part   of   the  monthly  report,   part   of   the   way   people   deal   with   each   other   that   you   actually  train  and  develop  the  muscles  of  acknowledgment  and  affirmation  which  is  different  than  compliment  or  flattery.    

 

16    

  It’s  actually  precisely  acknowledging  people  for  their  unique  gifts,  talents  and   results   in   a   way   that’s   public   and   they   feel   seen,   heard   and  appreciated.  Companies  that  thrive  do  that.    

    Then  to  really  make  sure  that  there  is  some  policies  for  women  that  allow  

women  who  are  in  the  work  force  now  big  time  to  also  have  families.  I’m  big  on  this.    

    In   the  Scandinavian  countries,  both  men  and  women  get  maternity  and  

paternity   leave   when   they   have   a   baby.   Their   job   is   guaranteed   when  they   come   back   and   they   get   pay.   We   could   go   a   long   way   towards  policies  that  are  more  friendly  to  particularly  women  or  single  men  who  are  raising  kids  in  our  country  and  in  our  businesses  and  to  build  that  at  the  very,  very  beginning.    

    Obviously,  health  care  is  a  huge  part  of  the  cost  of  earning  a  business  and  

to  do  that  in  a  way  that  no  matter  how  much  cost  you  build  it  into  your  business   cost   and   do   it   in   the   most   equitable   and   most   efficient   way.  Make  sure  that  you  don’t  not  have  that.    

    I  work  in  what  I  call  the  social  profit  sector,  but  it  is  also  called  the  non-­‐

profit  sector.  A  lot  of  non-­‐profits  don’t  have  retirement  plans.  They  don’t  have  health  care  for  people.  That’s  inappropriate.  We  need  to  find  a  way  to  do  that.    

    We  need  to  put  that  in  our  bottom  line  commitments  rather  than  when  

we  can  afford  it  we’ll  provide  that  for  our  people.  No,  I  think  that  needs  to  be  right  there  at  the  outset,  something  that  you  put  in  as  soon  as  you  possibly  can.  

 Stephen:   Great.  Well,  there’s  so  much  wisdom  in  this.  I  also  want  to  open  to  some  

questions  from  audience.  If  you’re  on  the  live  line  on  telephone  line  just  hit  *2  and  that  raises  your  hand  or  you  can  type  it  into  the  webcast.    

    Maybe  while  we’re  waiting   for   folks   to   type   in   questions   or   raise   their  

hands,   I   know   you’ve   got   a   really   exciting   opportunity   next   year   that  you’re  going   to  be  doing  with  Dave  Ellis.  Maybe   share  a   little  bit   about  that.    

 [0:40:20]    Lynne:   Oh,  I’d  love  to  do  that.  Well,  Dave  Ellis  first  of  all  is  one  of  my  dear  friends  

and   also   somebody   that   I   totally   admire.   Dave   is   a   best-­‐selling   author.  

17    

He’s   written   and   sold   the   largest   selling   textbook   in   history,   it’s   called  Becoming  a  Master  Student.    

    It  sold  millions  and  millions  and  millions  of  copies.  It’s  a  number  on  best-­‐

seller   in   the   academic   world.   He’s   the   head   of   a   coaching   school   and  training   company   that   coaches   people.   He’s   been   my   coach   for   many,  many  years,  my  personal  coach.    

    He’s   also   coached  Muhammad   Yunus  who  won   the   Nobel   Peace   Prize.  

He’s  an  extraordinary  guy.  He  and  I  have  always  wanted  to  do  something  together  and  he’s  a  very  clear  clairvoyant  space  on  money.  That’s  an  area  where  I  have  a  lot  of  things  to  contribute  to  as  well.    

    So   we’re   creating   a   pretty   killer   course   we   think   called   More   Money  

Guaranteed.  I’ve  got  the  website  here,  I’ll  tell  you  in  a  minute,  but  More  Money  Guaranteed.   Here’s  what   it   is.   It   starts   in   February   and   goes   to  October.  It’s  nine  months  long.  There’ll  be  webinars,  two  in  person  three  day  sessions,  coaching  and  small  group  work.    

    Our  promise   is   that  we  will   create   a   permanent   transformation   in   your  

relationship   with   money.   The   course   is   going   to   be   very   intense,   very  powerful.  Our  guarantee  is  that  you  will  end  up  with  $40,000  more  at  the  end  of  the  nine  months  than  you  started  with  in  earnings  or  savings  as  a  result  of  the  course.  That’s  a  guarantee.  

    If   you   don’t,   we’ll   give   you   your   money   back.   So   we’re   going   to   put  

everybody’s  tuition  in  escrow  and  promise  their  money  back  if  they  don’t  have   that   kind   of   increase   or   more.   It’s   not   just   about   more   money  although  that’s  the  name  of  it.    

    It’s  really  about  practices  in  how  to  invest,  how  to  earn,  how  to  spend  in  

ways,   how   to   save   in  ways,   how   to   have   your   relationship  with  money  transformed   in   a   way   that   you   realize   your   powerful   capacity   to   be   a  master  of  your  own  resources  and  the  resources  you  generate  and  have  that  be  a  permanent  breakthrough  in  your  relationship  with  money.    

    So   the   website   is   www.more-­‐money-­‐guaranteed.com.   Everything   is   on  

there   and   we’re   really   excited   about   this   program.   I’ve   never   done  anything  like  this  before  and  he  hasn’t  either,  but  we’re  going  to  knock  it  out  of  the  park.    

 

18    

  We  can  take  30  to  60  people,  no  more  than  that.  We’re  filling  it  right  now  and  you  have  to  kind  of  be  interviewed  so  we  can  really  tell  that  we  can  make  that  promise  to  you  and  give  you  that  guarantee.    

    So  you  kind  of  have   to  apply,  but  we   feel   like  we  can   really  produce   it.  

One   more   thing,   our   colleague,   Tammy   White   who’s   a   former   banker  who   knows   everything   about   banking   and   investments   and   budgeting  and  revenue  sharing  and  all  the  kind  of  technology  kind  of  financial  stuff  that  I’m  not  savvy  with,  but  she  is  and  Devaa  is  pretty  savvy  with  will  also  be  one  of  the  instructors.    

    So   the   three   of   us,   we   promise   an   absolute   breakthrough   in   your  

relationship  with  money.   So   thank   you   for   giving  me  a   little   air   time   to  talk  about  these  things.  I’m  so  excited  about  it.  2013  is  going  to  be  a  great  year  for  all  the  people  who  sign  up  for  this.    

 Stephen:   One   of   the   great   things   about  when   you   get   people   to   transform   their  

relationship,  you  churn  out  more  philanthropist  as  well.      Lynne:   That’s  always  what  happens,  yeah,  always  what  happens.    Stephen:    So   you’re   very   good   at   that.   So   you   want   to   see   more   conscious  

philanthropist,  enlightened  billionaires  and  millionaires  and  people  who  are  all  really  allocating  that  money  for  the  good  of  the  world.    

 Lynne:   We  do.  We  do.      Stephen:   [Participant]   from  L.A.   sends   in  a  question.   She  asks   for   suggestions   for  

highlighting   workers   without   engaging   competition,   so   sort   of   internal  highlighting  of  workers  without  engaging  competition.    

 Lynne:   Gosh,  that’s  a  great  question.  I  don’t  know.  It  depends  on  how  large  the  

company   is   probably,   but   one   practice   is   having   workers   acknowledge  each  other.  So  for  example  in  a  small  meeting,  you  can  start  a  meeting  by  asking  people  to  express  an  appreciation  for  three  of  the  people  around  the  circle.    

    The  next  person  expresses  their  appreciation  for  three  more  and  then  the  

next  person,  their  appreciation  for  three  more  so  that  you  start  to  build  a  culture  where  people  are  appreciating  each  other  not  just  the  boss  that’s  appreciating  everybody.    

 [0:45:33]  

19    

    I  know  the  Bainbridge  Graduate  Institute  which  is  a  business  school  now  

teaching  enlightened  business  for  responsible  companies,  really  teaching  people   about   sustainable   business.   They   have   a   whole   series   of  techniques  about  how  to  run  an  employee  meeting  so  that  you  start  with  acknowledging   results   from   the   last   week   going   through   the   kind   of  announcements   for   what’s   happening   this   week,   people   making  commitments  for  this  week  or  for  this  month.    

    Then   always   ending   the   meeting   with   appreciation   for   each   person   in  

either  dyads  or   triads  where  you  put   two  or   three  people   together  and  they  appreciate  each  other  or  it’s  an  open  appreciation.  So  that  makes  it  a  part  of   the  culture   rather   than  everybody’s  competing   for   the  kind  of  perks  from  the  boss  or  from  the  people  in  charge.    

 Stephen:   Nice.  Question  from  [Participant]  in  Roseville  says,  “What  are  some  ways  

to  stay  motivated   in  gaining  more  and  making  a  contribution  when  you  feel  like  you  have  enough.”  So  it’s  kind  of  an  implicit  question  and  that  is  like  once  we  feel  like  we  have  enough  are  we  still  adequately  motivated?    

 Lynne:   I  think  the  joy  of  being  able  to  share  is  at  least  for  me  and  I  think  for  most  

people  who  can  is  so  motivating.  I  work  with  many,  many  philanthropist  and   some   of   them   made   their   huge   fortune   and   then   became   their  philanthropy.   Some   of   them   began   their   philanthropy   right   at   the  beginning.    

    In  both  cases,  the   joy  of  being  able  to  make  things  happen  in  the  world  

that   you   truly   deeply   care   about  motivates   you   to  want   to   do  more   of  that.  There’s  no  exception   that   I   can   think  of  people  who  are   I’ve  done  enough.  I  don’t  need  to  make  any  more  money  because  I  have  enough  to  give  to  the  things  I  care  about.    

    Almost   every   case   that   I   can   think   of   even   if   they’re   in   the   billionaire  

category   and   I’m   not   kidding,   if   their   motivation   is   to   share   those  resources   with   the   world   in   which   they   live   they’re   interested   in  generating  more  not   for   themselves  or  not   at   the  expense  of   anything,  but  for  the  benefit  of  everything.  So  that  actually  is  the  great  motivator  in  everybody  that  I’ve  met  that’s  in  that  position.    

 Stephen:   Let’s  take  a  live  question  from  [Participant]  in  North  Tahoe.  Hello,  you’re  

live.      Participant:   Hello.    

20    

 Stephen:   It   doesn’t   sound   like   [Participant],   but   that’s   what   shows   up   on   your  

phone  line.    Participant:   Actually  it’s  [Participant]  from  Lake  Tahoe.  I  have  a  huge  heart  and  desire  

to  make  a  huge  contribution  to  the  world.  I  live  in  a  very  small  town  with  no  money.  Are  there  any  suggestions  on  that?    

 Lynne:   Well,  who   has   no  money,   your   town   or   you?   Is   this   [Participant]   that   I  

know?      Stephen:   It’s   [Participant]   you  know  and  we  don’t  have  any  money,  but  we  have  

huge  hearts  and  we  just  support  our  family  and  we  want  to  do  more.      Lynne:   Well,   I   think   you   do   have  money,   [Participant].   I   know   [Participant].   So  

this   is   a   little   bit   of   a   private   conversation   that   we’re   going   to   have  publicly   because   I   think   part   of  what   you  want   to   pay   a   little   bit  more  attention  to  is  the  fact  that  you  do  have  financial  resources.    

      You  show  up  all  over  the  world  all  the  time.  I  know  it  cost  money  to  get  

from  Tahoe   to   San  Francisco.   You  do   feed  your   family.   You  do   live   in   a  wonderful  home.  Your  appreciation  for  what  you  already  have  could  use  a  little  bit  more  attention.    

    If  you  put  the  attention  on  what’s  already  there,  the  beautiful  home  you  

have,   the  two  awesome  children  you  have,   the  support  of  husband  you  have,  the  support  of  family  that  he  has  for  you  and  the  fact  that  you  live  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places  on  earth  and  that  you’re  creative  and  intelligent  that  you  speak  many  languages.    

    I  know  you.  You  are  filled  with  incredible  resources  and  some  of  them  are  

financial.  We   put   so  much   attention   on  money   and  we   say,   “I   have   no  money,”  when  it’s  just  not  valid.  It’s  not  true.    

    There  is  a  huge  bounty  around  you  and  to  honor  that,  acknowledge  that,  

own  that,  author  that  will  give  you  access  to  be  able  to  contribute  more.  You  and  I  can  talk  more  about  how  to  do  that  offline,  but  thanks  for  that  question,  [Participant].  

 [0:50:23]    Participant:   Thank  you  so  much.      

21    

Stephen:   Another  live  question  from  [Participant].      Participant:   Yes,   hello.   You   mentioned   the   ecological   debt,   that   we   crossed   this  

threshold  in  1987.  How  do  we  sleep  at  night?  You  mentioned  the  41%,  I  don’t   understand.   Is   that   the   minerals   that   we’re   using   for   computer  making?  Where  is  it  going?    

 [0:50:51]    Lynne:   Yeah,  great  question.  That’s  what  I’ll  call  a  gross  number  from  something  

called  the  ecological  footprint  or  the  global  footprint  network.  You  can  go  online   and   learn   a   little   bit   more   about   that   from   the   global   footprint  network.    

    It’s  essentially  the  water  use,  the  food  use,  the  taking  of  animal  life,  the  

minerals  from  the  ground,  oil,  coal,  gas  and  our  use  of  air  and  water  and  all  the  resources  that  need  to  be  regenerated.    

    So  I’ll  give  you  a  little  example  that’s  pretty  shocking  for  people.  We  are  

actually  not  running  out  of  oil  and  gas  on  this  planet.  We  are  not  running  out  of  it.  We  have  enough  for  five  generations  of  oil  and  gas.  That’s  a  long  time  definitely  we  have  for  the  next  50  years  in  the  pipeline,  in  reserve  or  in  development.    

    What   we’re   running   out   of   is   atmosphere   to   use   that   oil   and   gas.   The  

atmosphere  to  use  that  oil  and  gas  makes  it  possible  for  us  to  burn  it.  If  we’re  running  out  of  that,  if  we  burned  it  all  in  the  short  term  we’ll  cook  the  planet.    

    What  we’re   running   out   of   is   atmosphere   to   burn   that   oil   and   gas   and  

that   comes   from   the   rainforest   and   the   oceans.   Now,   where   we’re  looking   for   more   oil   and   gas   which   we   actually   don’t   need   is   in   the  rainforest   and   in   the   oceans,   the   very   ecosystems   that   give   us   the  capacity  to  use  the  oil  and  gas  we  already  have.    

    So   that’s   an   example   of   kind   of   the   insanity   of   a   species   that’s   taking  

more   than   it   needs   and   taking   it   from   places   that   will   provide   the  atmosphere   or   the   oxygen   that   will   allow   us   to   breathe   while   we’re  burning  these  fossil  fuels.    

    We’re   on   a   totally   unsustainable   track  with   all   our   resources.  What  we  

need   to  now   is   change   the  way  we   live.  Here’s  what  will   be  helpful   for  

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you  to  sleep  at  night  because  I  don’t  want  to  keep  you  up  all  night  now  if  you  heard  all  these  stuff.    

    There’s   a   program   called   the   Awakening   the   Dreamer,   Changing   the  

Dream   Symposium   that’s   put   on   by   an   organization   called   the  Pachamama   Alliance.   I’m   involved   with   Pachamama   Alliance   as   well.   If  you  go  online  and  type  in  awakening  the  dreamer.org  and  find  a  program  called  the  Awakening  the  Dreamer  Symposium  and  sign  up  for  that,  it  will  give   you   some   clues   about   how   to   shift   your  way   of   thinking   and   your  way  of  living.    

    So  that  you  can  be  one  of  the  people  whose  taking  the  resources  that  you  

need,   but   not   more   resources   than   you   need   from   the   planet   and   to  begin  to  help  other  people  make  that  shift.    

    We’re  on  a  trajectory  now  that’s  unsustainable  and  there’s  a  lot  of  work  

being  done  to  shift  that  trajectory  by  the  Pachamama  Alliance,  by  350.org  which  is  another  fabulous  organization.  350.org,  you  can  type  that  in  and  you  can  learn  about  how  to  shift  our  resource  use.    

    You   can   stop   using   plastic   bottles.   It   sounds   like   a   small   thing,   but   600  

million  plastic  bottles   into   landfills  every  single  day.  Let’s  have   it  be   less  than  that.  Let’s  have  that  go  down  instead  of  up.    

    So   there’s   lots   of   ways   with   Pachamama,   with   350.org,   with   Green  

America.   That’s   another   good   website   to   find   ways   to   be   some   of   the  people  who  turn  the  tide  away  from  a  future  that  we  don’t  want  to  the  future  that  we  do  want  which  is  a  thriving,  just  and  sustainable  future  for  all  life.    

    I   really  appreciate  your  question  and  thank  you.  Don’t  worry   too  much.  

Just  get  involved  and  then  you’ll  stop  worrying.  You’ll  be  too  busy  taking  action.  

 Participant:   Thank  you  very  much.    Stephen:   That’s   great.  Well,   Lynne,   this   has   been   a   fantastic   hour.   I’m   getting   a  

question   about   just   repeating   the  website   again   for   folks  who  want   to  participate  in  More  Money  Guaranteed  program  next  year.    

 [0:55:17]    

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Lynne:   Okay.   It’s   www.more-­‐money-­‐guaranteed.com.   Thank   you   so   much,  Stephen.    

 Stephen:   Good.  It’s  been  such  a  joy  to  be  with  you  and  I’m  just  so  looking  forward  

to  more  collaboration  in  the  service  of  creating  a  world  that  works  for  all.  You’re   doing   such   key   pieces   for   the   larger   whole   and   healing   our  relationship  with  money  is  certainly  right  at  the  foundation.  

    Where  we’re   out   of   alignment   there,   we’re   going   to   have   problems   in  

every   other   direction,   so   thank   you   for  working   on   one   of   the   shadow  issues  of  our  culture  in  such  a  beautiful  way  with  so  much  heart  and  soul.    

 Lynne:   Thank  you,  Stephen.   I  should  say  that   I  did  write  a  book  about  all   these  

stuff.  So   for  people  who  would   like   to   learn  more   it’s  called  the  Soul  of  Money   and   there   is   a  website   for   that   too,   soulofmoney.org.   So   thank  you  so  much.    

 Stephen:   I   can   highly   recommend   that   because   like  when   I  went   through   a   stint  

where   I  was  doing   fundraisers  and   traveling  around  doing   fundraisers,   I  would   bring   that   with   me   and   just   always   refer   back   to   it   because   I  realized  how  much  I  needed  to  shift  my  relationship  with  money  to  really  open  to  that  full  flow  and  the  sufficiency  and  the  excitement  around  it.    

    I   know   you’re   so   great,   Lynne.   You   love   raising  money   and   I   think   that  

being   able   to   love   the   flow  of  money  without   being   attached   to   it   and  helping   it   to   allocate   in   the   direction   that   the   planet   needs   is   such   a  beautiful  thing.  So  it’s  really  been  a  great  teacher  for  me,  that  book.    

 Lynne:   Well,   thank   you.   I   look   forward   to   seeing   you   soon   and   thank   you  

everybody  for  being  on  this  call  and  love  to  you,  Stephen.  Thank  you  so  much.    

 Stephen:   All   right.  Much   love.  Well,   thank   you   everyone.   So   that’s   it   for   today.   I  

look   forward   to   your   comments   on   the   Enlightened   Business   Summit  page.  Next  week,  we’ll  be  back  with  Ray  Blanchard  and  the  Enlightened  Business   Summit   series   now.   So   hope   you   can   continue   to   apply   these  insights  to  your  business  and  help  to  create  businesses  that  really  change  the  world  since  we  need  it.  

    So  thanks  so  much  all  and  have  a  beautiful  day.        [0:57:25]   End  of  Audio    

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