“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy

Hmmm is this perhaps the new theme of my blog? Hmmm…

Thoughts friends?

Stand up. Stand out. Beyond Pink 2009.

I am giddy and anxious and just absolutely thrilled to say that Beyond Pink 2009 is almost here!

What is Beyond Pink? Well, as the website says:

Beyond Pink is a two-day conference that will host 350 energetic young women from November 13th-15th at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Vancouver, Canada. This unique, high-impact and eco-friendly conference will create a space for young women to engage in intimate workshops, partake in interactive roundtable discussions, engage with industry professionals, build lasting personal connections, and celebrate inspirational women in business. Beyond Pink inspires through action, enriches through connection and empowers through ideation.

I had the absolute pleasure of working with a group of 24 amazing women to launch Beyond Pink last year, and to say the least, it was magical. Within three months, we decided to organize the conference, found a hotel, recruited 20 speakers and 50 tradeshow exhibitors, we raised corporate sponsorship and somehow found 200 ambitious young women to join us at the Sheraton Wall Centre for the weekend.

Serendipity certainly played it’s part in making the event happen, but it was the ambition, talent and sheer awesomeness of the team, delegates, speakers, sponsors and mentors that made the weekend remarkable, and the feedback confirmed this:

“You guys did such a great job! Thank you for everything – this has had such an impact on my personal and professional life. I cannot stress that enough!

“It was one of the most beneficial conferences I have been to. I was able to take something away from every one of the speakers. The OC should be so proud of themselves. AMAZING!”

“There is always one event/activity in the year that stays with me for very long, and leaves behind great experiences. Beyond Pink is definitely that event for me this year! I loved the positivity of the event, the intellect & experiences that all delegates had to share and offer! Further, I loved the small things that the OC thought to integrate i.e. the ‘what I would like to help with’ board, the trade show with some amazing entrepreneurial women, and the keynote speakers (who were incredible!). Thank you!”

“A very unique, one-of-a-kind type of conference tailored towards ambitious young women. It was great meeting wonderful young women with minds alike!”

“I would like to start by saying Thank You! I have never met so many amazing women in the course of 48 hours. I found this experience incredibly eye-opening and learned so much about myself, my goals, my passions and so much more. I was incredibly moved by the speeches from the guest speakers, and I know that what I have learned over the weekend will stay with me forever. I have gained so many valuable tools that I need to do to be a success, not only with my career, but my life. “

Yes, there were a whole lot of exclamation marks (!!!!) and a lot of “amazings“. We heard about career changes, incredible personal insights, businesses being launched, new invaluable mentor/mentee relationships – all of which stemmed from a two-day conference. Yeah, I know. Wow. Which is why I’m so giddy and anxious and absolutely thrilled that Beyond Pink 2009 is just around the corner!

Lucky for us, Beyond Pink promises to be even bigger and better this year. The 350 delegates will get to soak up the speakers line-up which includes Patricia Graham (Editor-in-Chief of the Vancouver Sun), Judy Brooks (President & CEO of Blo Blow Dry Bar), Chris Flett (Founder of Ghost CEO), Allison Mack (Actress on Smallville), the Smart Cookies and many more. There will also be the Connect! Women in Business Tradeshow, a celebratory Gala and Silent Auction, an All-Male Panel Session and a Mentorship Lunch. An inspiring and fun-filled weekend indeed.

If you want to register now, you can get your tickets here. Or if you want to learn a bit more and connect with the YWiB gals, you can head to Facebook, Twitter (@msbeyondpink) or the amazing Beyond Pink Website (!!!).

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” – Helen Keller

We Are Busy Bees

This morning I was sipping on my homemade chai and looking out over my new rainy Vancouver view. I just moved into a tenth floor apartment with floor to ceiling windows looking North, East and South over the city. (And I’ve been in basement suites with no windows for five years now, so I’m allowing myself to be excited and brag a little!)

I just sat there watching the mass of cars driving back and forth over the Burrard and Granville bridges, the continuous flow of people crossing the streets, the constant movement of the city – things you don’t see from the basement… I was fascinated by the buzz.

And then I looked up and to the West, and became completely entranced by the contrast of the city and the mountains. Softened with the gray haze of the September rain, the backdrop just sat there. The mountains, the tankers in the bay, the highrises of downtown, the great trees of Stanley Park – they all just sat there.

It looked so peaceful, so relaxing – people weren’t rushing about trying to get to the next appointment – and I had this sudden urge to forget it all and just go sit on a rock in the forest and do nothing. I thought, how nice would it be to get away from this need to run about, go from project to project, make stuff happen, get more, make more, see more people, do more things, and rather, just sit there and watch the squirrels play and the leaves blow in the wind. (Ha, I know!)

Now, I’ve always been ridiculously impatience. I want a perfect world, I want to see change happen and I want it to happen now, and I’ve come across a lot of friction because of this impatience. Climbing the corporate ladder has never been my schtick and believe me, bureaucracy and I do not jive well!

But now, looking out from my new apartment, I finally get why and my urge to sit in the mountains quickly disappeared….

Over time, the tankers will move, the trees will grow, the tide will come in and out, the mountains will shift. And the same goes for these bureaucracies and ladder climbers – one day they might move – but my rate of movement is completely different than theirs.

If you want to move but feel like you need to put in your “time” so you can earn your ranks, if you’re impatient for change, or you feel like your potential is being ignored, please don’t slow down. Just as there is a stark contrast between the movement of the mountains and the city, there also exists contrast in the rate of movement amongst people and organizations. It’s all a matter of relativity.

We don’t have the lifespan of the mountains, so we don’t have the time to just sit there. We don’t have the time to waste waiting for other people to move or give us that next opportunity. If you are naturally a busy bee, then don’t let anyone slow you down. People say life is short, and how right they are. Realize your potential, dream big dreams, and make no compromises. Keep on moving and be your fabulous busy bee self.

Run for One Planet

I just received this remarkable Facebook message from one of my favourite super-duos: Matt Hill and Stephanie Tait. 

On May 4th, 2008, Steph and Matt began their 369-day journey running one marathon a day around North America (totaling 11,000 miles!) to inspire the rest of us to take action for our One Planet.

I really can’t say enough about Matt and Steph and their incredible journey. They made a commitment to changing the world and in the process, ignited a flame in myself and so many others to take action and change into our own hands. Their ripple is far larger than they could ever imagine and I will ever be thankful to them for their inspiration.

I encourage you to please read their story below. It’s worth at least 430 marathons…

***********************************************************

This was how it all came together for those who are reading this for the first time. And for our friends and supporters who’ve been along for the duration, a re-cap of all things running to inspire action for a beautiful Planet that wants to keep on sustaining us for the long haul.

The Non-Negotiables

I was watching a Q&A with Gary Veynerchuk at the Big Omaha conference, and a woman asked:

Since you are so passionate about family, how do you find a balance when you just want to grasp on to so many other things and make so much change happen?

It’s my favourite: the Work/Life Balance Question.

I’m fascinated when people ask this. The answer, in my mind, is simple: work is just a part of life. There exists no balance between work and life.

I decided early-on that there were certain things in life that were non-negotiable:

1. My family, first and foremost.
2. Being there for my friends for a good chat, a good time or just good company.
3. Feeling great. For me, this includes good-for-me food, a glass of wine, enough sleep, lots of water, a good hair cut, great clothes and generally doing things that I enjoy.
4. Growing constantly. Reading, learning, trying to new things, listening, watching, ideating, experiencing.
5. Doing good for my world through giving back, helping people when they need it, and so on and so on.

Nothing will ever come in the way of these priorities. I defend these priorities like I would my Grandfather’s grave. I know that, if anything gets between me and my priorities, I need to change something in my life.

Now, I know this may seem like a drastic stance, but I don’t believe that you should or can settle when it comes to your life. People start to feel unbalanced when their priorities fall by the wayside and almost immediately, my favourite Work/Life Balance Question comes up. I truly believe that you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of anyone or anything else, including work. There is no balance between work and life. This whole journey – work included – is your life.

Know what makes you happy, what makes you feel good, what allows you to live your values, and what moves you toward your life goals and dreams. Define these non-negotiables and defend them. I promise, you’ll be better at home, at work, at life, and especially, at changing the world.

Today is the day.

Today is the day to jump out on a limb. To let go of preconceptions and apprehension. To talk and walk with no hesitation. To launch a project and dream your dream. To fly, to soar, to do something that’s never been done before.

What better day than today to give the performance of your life.

Take it from Danyl. Think he had any hesitations? Think he regretted seizing the opportunity to give the performance of his life? Think he would’ve given that performance if he held back even an ounce?

We don’t need The X Factor and Simon Cowell to give the performance of our life. We only need what we have today to make the leap, to create the change.

Danyl took the leap.

So can you.

So can I.

(Big hugs to Corker for sharing this absolutely remarkable clip!)

Link Love for a Wednesday

Just some of my new favourites…

• Creative Community: 99% Percent
• Internship Opp: YWiB needs interns! 
• Job Opp: Work for Tuscany
• Criteria: “Decide whether or not the goal is worth the risks involved. If it is, stop worrying.” — Amelia Earhart
• Workout Music: We Post Music
• Business Advice: How to be a good advisory board member 
• Seth Godin riff:

“Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin now.”

This is one of my favourite quotes and it seems to be ringing very true in my life.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and creation). There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin now.” - W.H. Murray

My advice: Dream and more importantly, do. It’s worth it. I promise.

SWAT MALARIA . AUGUST 14

WHY MALARIA: Malaria kills more children in Africa than any other single disease—one child every 30 seconds—but it doesn’t have to be this way. Malaria is preventable and treatable.

WHY NOW: Thanks to a new generation of effective new medicines, plus on-the-ground successes, increased political will and significant new funding commitments, the world is better prepared to defeat this deadly disease today than any other time in history.

YOUR DONATION: supports the work of a global initiative that is helping to create equity and access to lifesaving drugs for the poorest people in the world. Your donation will support teams that are working hard to improve malaria treatment policy, drug procurement and distribution, and patient treatment practices that directly reduce malaria deaths in Africa. They make high-yield investments of time and capital to speed progress, unlock resources, mobilize new assets and spur the world toward reaching this goal. Thank you for your support.

Building a movement in an interconnected world

A conversation with Jacqueline Novogratz | July 8, 2009 @ the Paley Center, NYC

“We’ve never had such an opportunity to use the tools, skills, resources, to change the world of poverty. I believe, if we can, we must, but it will take all of us to make that happen.” – Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz and Pat Mitchell | Photo courtesy of Paley Center for Media.

Originally written for socialfinance.ca

I was so fortunate to be in New York on July 8th when Jacqueline Novogratz, President and Founder of the Acumen Fund, engaged in an intimate discussion with moderator Pat Mitchell at the Paley Center for Media. The Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty.

In the last few years, the Acumen Fund (and Jacqueline) has been exalted to somewhat celebrity status amongst the international development and social innovation community. Much of this fame comes from the success of their trailblazing investment approach, but also with many thanks to their extensive media efforts which include Jacqueline’s many TED talks, her autobiography The Blue Sweater, the organization’s many blogs and Twitter streams, as well as numerous articles in publications such as The Economist, Fast Company and the New York Times, to name a few.

This comes as no surprise considering Jacqueline is advised by two of the world’s foremost communications experts – marketing guru Seth Godin and TED Curator Chris Anderson. As such, the discussion at the Paley Centre focused on the Acumen Fund’s experience in utilizing media to enable and advance social change, and is a discussion that I believe must be illuminated as we develop Canada’s social finance marketplace. We have the opportunity to revolutionize the way the world interacts with money, and as Jacqueline said, “[in order to] grow in scale & scope, we need to utilize media to call on the voices in our community.“

The use of media to enact social change is not a new phenomenon. Our moderator, Pat Mitchell, played a number of clips that evening which clearly displayed the power of media, including a speech by Edward R. Murrow who said, “[media] can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box.” From the civil rights movements to Burma to the recent events in Iran, the use of media has enabled great social change.

However, as Jacqueline and many others saw firsthand through the Rwandan genocide, media can just as well be used in a profound way for evil.

“Acumen [or really any institution] needs to understand that we have the angels and monsters inside of us both, and what those instruments that bring out the best in us are and that will suppress the monsters… We need a humanitarian ethos that allows us to extend the benefits of an economy to every person. Could we build a moral leadership that wraps around these kinds of economic principles to build a new kind of society? I believe that we can and I certainly believe this is the moment to do it and that’s where the idea of using social media more effectively is so thrilling.”

Part of Acumen’s success in building a community of champions comes from repeatedly sharing their unforgettable stories and as could be anticipated, Jacqueline told us a number of her moving stories that evening. She told us of Jane from the Nairobi slum, of the prostitutes she worked with to start the Blue Bakery, of the courageous survivors of the Rwandan genocide, and of the outstanding success of A to Z Textile Mills.

Jacqueline was also quick to note that the Acumen Fund hasn’t always been able to share these stories of success. By investing with patient capital, where investment periods are five to seven years on average, it is difficult to capture the exact impact of their work in the short term; but it has been the willingness to share those stories of both success and failure that has allowed Acumen to create their community.

Acumen also has a relentless commitment to measuring their investments’ performance through a set of key metrics to ensure that they can have the greatest impact possible. The tenacity of their system has improved efficiency in their operations and effectiveness in their investments, so much that one of their investments, A-to-Z Textile Mills, has become the largest company in Tanzania. As such, they have captured the attention and respect of both local and international governments, even garnering a visit from President Bush last February.

There are many questions that remain unanswered for the Acumen Fund, but they have the tenacity and humility to try new approaches and learn as they go. I look forward to following the Acumen Fund’s continuous evolution as they blaze new trails and shamelessly change our world.

For those of us in Canada who want to build a strong and sustainable social finance community, we too need to be active and intentional in building our community. We have an incredible platform here at http://socialfinance.ca, but we must also look beyond this platform. We must share our stories of failure and success and reach out to our communities through new and old media to engage them in this movement. We have an opportunity to teach, to illuminate and, yes, to inspire others to change our world and, as Jacqueline eloquently said, “if we can, we must.”

You can learn more about the Acumen Fund on their website or their blog. You can also watch a short video clip from the talk at the Paley Centre here.

“There is no passion to be found playing small in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” – Nelson Mandela