M = magic as well as all this

written by Umair Haque, originally published on HarvardBusiness.org

Dear Old People Who Run the World,

My generation would like to break up with you.

Everyday, I see a widening gap in how you and we understand the world — and what we want from it. I think we have irreconcilable differences.

You wanted big, fat, lazy “business.” We want small, responsive, micro-scale commerce.

You turned politics into a dirty word. We want authentic, deep democracy — everywhere.

You wanted financial fundamentalism. We want an economics that makes sense for people — not just banks.

You wanted shareholder value — built by tough-guy CEOs. We want real value, built by people with character, dignity, and courage.

You wanted an invisible hand — it became a digital hand. Today’s markets are those where the majority of trades are done literally robotically. We want a visible handshake: to trust and to be trusted.

You wanted growth — faster. We want to slow down — so we can become better.

You didn’t care which communities were capsized, or which lives were sunk. We want a rising tide that lifts all boats.

You wanted to biggie size life: McMansions, Hummers, and McFood. We want to humanize life.

You wanted exurbs, sprawl, and gated anti-communities. We want a society built on authentic community.

You wanted more money, credit and leverage — to consume ravenously. We want to be great at doing stuff that matters.

You sacrificed the meaningful for the material: you sold out the very things that made us great for trivial gewgaws, trinkets, and gadgets. We’re not for sale: we’re learning to once again do what is meaningful.

There’s a tectonic shift rocking the social, political, and economic landscape. The last two points above are what express it most concisely. I hate labels, but I’m going to employ a flawed, imperfect one: Generation “M.”

What do the “M”s in Generation M stand for? The first is for a movement. It’s a little bit about age — but mostly about a growing number of people who are acting very differently. They are doing meaningful stuff that matters the most. Those are the second, third, and fourth “M”s.

Gen M is about passion, responsibility, authenticity, and challenging yesterday’s way of everything. Everywhere I look, I see an explosion of Gen M businesses, NGOs, open-source communities, local initiatives, government. Who’s Gen M? Obama, kind of. Larry and Sergey. The Threadless, Etsy, and Flickr guys. Ev, Biz and the Twitter crew. Tehran 2.0. The folks at Kiva, Talking Points Memo, and FindtheFarmer. Shigeru Miyamoto, Steve Jobs, Muhammad Yunus, and Jeff Sachs are like the grandpas of Gen M. There are tons where these innovators came from.

Gen M isn’t just kind of awesome — it’s vitally necessary. If you think the “M”s sound idealistic, think again.

The great crisis isn’t going away, changing, or “morphing.” It’s the same old crisis — and it’s growing.

You’ve failed to recognize it for what it really is. It is, as I’ve repeatedly pointed out, in our institutions: the rules by which our economy is organized.

But they’re your institutions, not ours. You made them — and they’re broken. Here’s what I mean:

“… For example, the auto industry has cut back production so far that inventories have begun to shrink — even in the face of historically weak demand for motor vehicles. As the economy stabilizes, just slowing the pace of this inventory shrinkage will boost gross domestic product, or GDP, which is the nation’s total output of goods and services.”

Clearing the backlog of SUVs built on 30-year-old technology is going to pump up GDP? So what? There couldn’t be a clearer example of why GDP is a totally flawed concept, an obsolete institution. We don’t need more land yachts clogging our roads: we need a 21st Century auto industry.

I was (kind of) kidding about seceding before. Here’s what it looks like to me: every generation has a challenge, and this, I think, is ours: to foot the bill for yesterday’s profligacy — and to create, instead, an authentically, sustainably shared prosperity.

Anyone — young or old — can answer it. Generation M is more about what you do and who you are than when you were born. So the question is this: do you still belong to the 20th century – or the 21st?

Love,

Umair and the Edge Economy Community

You deserve happiness, love, joy and ease.

Remember this and find ways and opportunities to smile, laugh and celebrate.

The most elegant and beautiful thing about humanity is the ability to take a really hard situation, to feel the heartache and pain and to keep going... it is stunningly beautiful.

May you fall apart and re-build yourself anew.

Be gentle.

why do some people...

...have so much trouble and/or bad luck? I just got word that my sister broke down on the way to visit my sick grandma? the good news she broke down in Spokane and not Safford Arizona., so someone can rescue her. Other bad news her not-yet-paid-off car needs a couple thousand dollars of work.

But what is it that attracts this? Why does it seem that bad things always happen to her? Especially as she seems like she is totally trying to be positive, move forward and make good choices?

And why does this other acquaintance I know always have stunningly good luck? With everything, without trying? Who manifests things and then throws them away...

why?

Is there some gene my sister is missing? Is it self confidence, or knowing the right people? Maybe she has monsters... hmm i think it must be monsters.

Any theories cause I'd love to hear them...

always searching

i have a couple of amazing friends and clients who are playing at the job search thing. as i was weeding in my garden yesterday i had all these conversations in my head... there is no way i can recreate the event in an intelligent conversation so i am just going to put my rambly thoughts here.

statement overheard: i don't fit in, i don't look like what anyone wants

first off my heart breaks, i am so sorry that this experience has triggered so much pain. i hear you and i ache to comfort that piece.

second i truly don't believe this is a handicap unless you make it one. why would you want to be a bland horrid job description. i understand you think this is what the company is seeking because that is what the company thinks it's seeking but really it's not. the company is asking for a boring list of blah in the attempts to weed people out and clarify aspects of the job it needs fulfilled. what a delight to know that you can also do a,b and c.

the stuck seems to be getting past your initial resistance. being willing to bend the rules. being willing to shine. being willing to claim what you do know, and can do, and how you can make their lives better by showing up to work every day.

so what if you are mediocre at this, what about how you did that and made life better for someone.

no you don't look like the job description.

because you are so much more.

yes, that makes you look different but how can you re-frame different in your mind to not be BAD because that is what it feels like. it feels like you believe different is bad. and i would argue adamantly that different is what will set you apart. and makes you a highly desirable and sought after prospective employee. (but you know this inside)

know that what you have to offer and your amazing life experiences are unique and insightful. claim them instead of looking at them as a hindrance. because if you can't claim those things in joy no one else will either.

bend the description to encompass you, see past the words to the essence of the job, and claim your unique life and skill set. stop using it as a crutch. own it and make it work for you.

those companies need you, you don't need them. find your inner superhero and let them fill out your resume.

statement: i'm not worth as much money

i hear the pain, the insecurity and the hurt but i need to call bull shit.

i want to acknowledge and cuddle that fear voice and allow it to sit in this most difficult place. i want to say i hear you, and i am sorry that the world is so scary and hard. that things will be ok, and that you are worth so much more.

money is not a reflection of what you have to offer this world.

and if you get over the belief that the skills you have to offer are worth nothing, well then hopefully you can attract a job where good money can be made.

don't fall victim to our societies warped sense of worth. you are worth way more than anyone could ever pay you. we barter our skills for money so that we may change the world. know this, figure out how much it takes to change the world in the ways you desire and allow the money to seek you out.

your job is only one of the ways in which you can engage with money. so don't worry if it's not paying you more than basic needs.

statement: i have nothing lined up... i have no idea what to pursue.

ahhh i so so dislike this place of scarcity and fear.

to sit here in this place is so terrifying. i see this and have felt this and know it's a place i loath. so i hear you, but my own discomfort with this place is so huge that i push you away so as not to trigger those feelings within myself.

so just for a moment i will sit here and inhabit this pain. and with tears running down my face i will share this uncertainty that taints everything... this hopelessness and fear, this self loathing.

and i will pray and ask to find grounding, and try to remember to breathe.

and from this dark place i will send you a little light in the hopes that it can begin to illuminate your way.

as i sit with and acknowledge my own pain may it be a catalyst to allow others to sit in theirs. for when we allow the hopelessness to encompass us, we find amazing strength, clarity and a stronger hope than we ever knew possible.

in most cases when we sit with our darkness it does not entirely consume us... although sometimes it does for a long while. there may be a lot to process. be gentle.

your talents, skills and what you have to offer this world are immense. i hold for each of you that you can begin to see this and that you can claim a little piece of the easy life while you continue your growth.

there is nothing about seeking a job that is about the job.

please remember you are valuable, unique in all this world and loved. the only reason you need a job is so that you can continue your growth. in all ways our jobs allow us to continue to work on ourselves and our ability to be in relationship.

please feel free to break all the rules. to shine. and to claim your heart, for although you might think it unnecessary it is required, if you can't give your heart to the job there is no point.

all of you are so amazing. may you see this, even if it is just through my eyes.

Love yourself some Earth

this place is one of the most magical places in the entire universe.

where ever you are find yourself a patch of dry, damp, dusty, lush earth and park yourself there for at least 10 seconds.

say thanks

take a breath of air you can breathe even if it's full of pollutants... and try to not add too many more of those pollutants.


no will save the earth alone. no group will save the earth. no political party. maybe not even aliens can save it.

but stopping to give thanks might just turn the tides.

gratitude can and will save anything.

and the earth will respond with love.

in my time on discovery bay i learned a magical truth. book on enlightenment often talk about stillness, and silence that comes with transcendence into a higher state of being.

over the course of this month i found this to be a huge mistake. there is no stillness ever in the universe. things are constantly moving in and out of states of being, tides never stop ebbing and flowing, air never stops moving in and out and around. there is sound everywhere, birds, air, sand, animals, traffic....

we were gifted with great big brains. may we use them.

we were gifted with great big beautiful hearts. may we love with them.

we were gifted with ears and eyes and 4 other magical senses, may we use the ones we know and develop the one we don't quiet trust.

thank you mother earth for holding us and for shaping magic each day. may you teach how to love as unconditionally as you do.

another reason to buy organic clothes

I just received this article from a friend in regards to a lawsuit filed against Victoria Secret for putting formaldehyde in their bras and women having sever reactions. I thought we could all use a bit of clothing and dye education/reminder to buy things that are gentle on the planet and gentle on ourselves.

Why Do They Put Formaldehyde in clothes?

Formaldehyde, most commonly known as embalming fluid, serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. It is actually frequently used in fabrics to give them a variety of "easy care properties" such as:

• Permanent press
• Anti-cling, anti-static, anti-wrinkle, and anti-shrink
• Waterproofing and stain resistance
• Perspiration proof
• Moth proof
• Mildew resistance
• Color-fastness

According to the American Contact Dermatitis Society, rayon, blended cotton, corduroy, wrinkle-resistant 100 percent cotton, and any synthetic blended polymer are likely to have been treated with formaldehyde resins.

But as some are finding out the hard way, easy care comes at a price.

Health Hazards of Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde, for all its benefits, is also listed as a "probable carcinogen." And, unfortunately, the United States is more lax about its regulation than most other countries. For example, "low level" of acceptable formaldehyde in Japan is 75 ppm, whereas the U.S. "low level" of acceptable formaldehyde is near 300 ppm.

There's evidence that some people can develop sensitivity to formaldehyde from repeated exposure, which can eventually become a serious health concern.

You can be exposed to the chemical both via off-gassing and direct contact with your skin.

Formaldehyde has also been shown to cause cancer in animals, and may cause cancer in humans. Other common adverse health effects include:

• fatigue
• skin rash (contact dermatitis)
• severe allergic reactions
• eye, nose, and throat irritation
• wheezing and coughing

Be aware that it takes several washings, with dryings and airings in between, to significantly reduce the amount of formaldehyde found in clothing and other household fabrics like window drapes.

So if you suffer from chemical sensitivities, it is important to pay careful attention to what you buy, especially if it's going next to your skin. Contact dermatitis from clothing can be recognized by a chronic and recurring rash that appears on parts of your body where clothing fits tight.

Because heat and humidity increase the emissions from formaldehyde resins, the American Contact Dermatitis Society warns that areas around waistbands, collars, underarms, the upper back, inner thighs, and back of knees are more prone to chemical-induced skin rashes.

Propsition 8 in CA

ahem *steps up on soap box*

Today I was sent a wonderful article by Melissa Etheridge (you should go read it)

It lifted my heart and stepped on it a little bit too and made me angry as well. I cannot believe, cannot believe! that we are still playing this game of I am better than you or my life is so much more moral, honorable, whatever than you.

I cannot believe that a state like California has taken away so many citizens rights. And excuse me but you don't have to approve of gay lifestyle to allow others to co-exist besides you. It's call Tolerance and Compromise and we all have to fucking do it. Everyday people!

Peoples rights to health care, children, visitation in hospitals and after death arrangements have just been stripped. Think about this people... some parents cannot legally visit the children they helped raise, or stay besides a loved ones bedside when they are ill. And don't pull the "those people shouldn't have children" card because who else is gonna take care of all those amazing babies that need adopting.

But then I remember that there is a lot of fear and ignorance in this world, I think of my uncle and aunt who voted to deny gay rights last Tuesday and their callous comments about not only gays but that all the people in Iraq deserve to die. It makes my heart sick. And yet I still love them, I just don't understand them.

How can anyone look at anyone else and not see a small piece of themselves and wish for only happiness for that other. Because that other is not "other" it is just a small reflection of you and by hating "them" you are doing nothing but hating yourself. And that is a very sad thing to hate yourself so much that you are afraid of someone else just because they found love somewhere different, or are a different color or nationality.

I can feel the tides turning. The question is will enlightenment find us before we have destroyed the earth, waged more wars or taken away more rights. In the end I know that love will conquer all, for love is the universe in action. I would just really like to see it happen in my own time so my niece's and nephew can feel free to grow up and be whom ever and whatever they desire.

And just so you know, I wholly support Melissa and Ellen and everyone else living in the state of California to not pay state taxes... if they aren't real citizens there why should they be taxed. And you know what else I bet those amazing powerful people would do miraculous things with that extra money. Including funding charities that help take care of the people who hate them. Love people... it's all about love.

*and now i will step off my soap box* go forth talk amongst yourselves

And today, just because, smile at a perfect stranger. It will make you feel amazing, I guarantee it!