Women 2.0 - an Attractive Proposition!

What do a government employee, 2 entrepreneurs, one hi-tech marketer and a recently down-sized strategy consultant have in common? Lots! In addition to all being members of the XX (no Y chromosone) clan, we share a passion for learning about, using, building and fostering technology that supports great work!

So far, we've had four gatherings and seen many women join us. Last night we covered tonnes of ground - from the upcoming Community 2.0 conference in Vegas (let's go - it'll be cool - and is really about those of us who care deeply about the evolution of social media connecting, learning, sharing and creating a future that rocks together)! To the challenges and opportunities that exist in larger organizations these days... like the culture and climate of the government of Canada. Then on to the value of having support while building and defining your career (did you know that Maureen can help you define, find and achieve the career you dream of and she also batted 1000 last year in supporting succesful submissions for Ottawa Top 40 under 40 - call her if you need a hand clarifying or doing the work to move into the Work you LOVE!http://www.mypromotion.ca/)

We also talksed about our February event - featuring Maggie Fox of Social Media Group on February 24th - to be generously hosted by Ramius.

And yes, with a former leader of Tomoye (Jen) and a current leaders of Ramius (Melany and Veronica, who is now exlporing her next frontier where she can apply her bright mind to help organizations looking to boldly apply social media for business advantage!) - we did of course have a conversation about a few reflections from the field - liek - why don't technology start-ups recognize the strategic value of government relations? Why does the Government of Canada willingly invest in technology research and development and then make it so bloody difficult for it's own employees to purchase the result of these innovation investments (perverse, isn't it) ?

We also explored what a kick-ass technology purse or kit really includes RIGHT NOW -- and are planning a session to cover this topic in the spring (we aer thinking that perhaps the topic will require three elements: hardware, software and peripherals. Thoughts? A big area of agreement on this one was that rather than focus (as can often be the case) on feature and function - let's tell the story of value and business benefit - make the case really for the use which will cognitively allow people to then deal with the learning curve required for adption and integration of new technology into their lives. Novel thought, isn't it?

We also explored and shared our deepest life aspirations and dreams - and supported each other in exploring ways to continue to move in the direction of our calling. Maureen and I work with folks to discover and move intentionally toward their REAL WORK! Maureen is growing a business that works with individuals - while I tend to work with leadership teams to align and tap into their deep purpose and ways to professionally create meaning in their work and lives!

We revisited an idea I bounced around with Alejandro Gonzales a few years ago - the notion of having a technology for best business value coach. Someone who would work with leaders to determine their technology needs and then implement an approach that will encourage them to use tools and technologies artfully! Doesn't this sound valuable?

And, of course, we talked about kids - present and future. Husbands, vaactions, dreams, and so much more! It was a restorative evening among growing friends - who share an interest and passion for using, building and shaping technology - and the many opportunities that come from these new companions! :D

Please, join us for an upcoming gathering! We'd love to hear your perspective!

Women 2.0 in Ottawa has been created by two visionary women: Melany Gallant and Monika Surma - a great team - bringing an interest, a passion and a commitment to create the time and space for women in Ottawa to connect around the fascinating area of technology.

Thanks to my dear friend Scott Lake (you may know him from www.startupottawa.com or www.jadedpixel.com or simply cause he is one of the nicest people in Ottawa) challenged me to make a post about our gathering last night... a great idea -- and an excellent way to highlight some neat things happening right here in our local neighbourhood! Go OTTAWA!

The Power of Collaboration to create Extraordinary Work!

Have you seen The Golden Compass? Or the latest Harry Potter for that matter? Rob and I went to see The Golden Compass on Monday night - and it was incredible!!! A very interesting and imaginative story (a well loved children's series, akin to Harry Potter), well acted, beautiful sets and design, interesting musical score, incredible animation working in concert with the human actors... it was truly a work of art! What really struck me as we watched the credits was the unbelieveable number of people involved in this movie. Hundreds if not thousands of people worked together to create this piece of entertainment. Hmmmmm... it really gave me food for thought! yes, of course, everyone is being paid for their contribution - hopefully fairly! :D However, the result was certainly more than basic performance -- it reflected a coming together to create something magnificent!

When was the last time you were part of creating something magnificent at work? at home? in your community?

My hunch is that for some of us - is hasn't been that long... likely about 25%
For others ... it has been a while (if ever)! When I first started supporting organizations, teams, communities over thirteen years ago - I was really struck by how often people talked about the need for "teamwork" - while many people have never really experienced the joy of being part of an incredible, high performing team! Weird, isn't it? not only that - our education system - or at least the system I have experienced for the most part encouraged individual performance and grades individual performance perdominantly. Hmmmmm...

Well - in the spirit of sharing a few examples of Work is Love (made Visible) - here are a few examples of GREAT WORK I have encountered over the past few weeks...

http://www.livinglightly.ca/ - provides an increasing volume of examples for walking lightly on this home of ours;
Equal Voice www.equalvoice.ca - men and women working together with a shared vision of more women in elected office in Canada in all parties and at all levels of government;
Mission Hill Winery is the creation of Anthony Von Mandl who wanted Canada to have GREAT wine ... and created Mike's Hard to support this vision!
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy www.appalachiantrail.org - the organization committed to stewardship and management of the Appalachain Trail; and, of course...
http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/ - this site is available in many, many languages - cool entrance to the site!

What examples of life-giving Great Work are you aware of? How do these examples help you see possibilities for your own work? Why aren't we sharing these stories more and more often with each other? These are a few of the questions that intrigue me right now!
Enjoy! More later...

Row, row, row your boat!

Good morning! I have been enjoying a row this morning listening to the wisdom of Dee Hock! Have you ever heard of him? He was deeply involved in the creation of Visa & former CEO. I am listening to the audio cassette (yup, a cassette!) of his key note address at the Systems Thinking in Action Conference in 1997 called The Rise of the Chaordic Organization - Purpose, Principles and People! I have listened to it a number of times (probably 4 times). He is funny, lovely, curious, interested and interesting! Call me or email me is you love Dee Hock - or if you are interested in exploring the principles he is sharing in this audio tape -- most fundamentally, he really elegantly outlines how our minds can trap us! He also outlines four essential principles for the chaordic organization: If anything in the world was possible - if there were no constraints at all - what would it take to bring about massive institutional change: 1) People will not move without real examples - need some real examples - like Visa, the internet, world weather watch, airline controller system - no one person is in charge it is very organic! Need examples across sectors. 2) Create models - people need to play with things. Four dimensional models are needed! The fourth dimension is ethical and moral - or spiritual dimension that we have totally lost connection to in our organizations. We have to collapse evolution and show how you didn;t build it but rather created the conditions for it to grow! Purpose and principles are the genetic code of organizations. 3) Academia and Science is really the religion of the 20th century. Thus we will need to create an impeccable intellectual agrument that will support this diverse knowledge as a case so it can be massively disseminated! 4) A global organization will need to emerge that will link all the people committed to and passionate about these new concepts - will act as a catalyst and in 20 or so years it will disappear!

Dee says very poignantly, "when you ask the right question - the answer is apparent!"

Have you ever had this experience... you love a book, a song, a video, anything so much that you re-read, re-experience it over and over again deepening your interest and understanding of it? Perhaps I am letting you know a little too much about my naturally compulsive nature :D

I wanted to get back to my "blog" after a conversation with Shannon McKarney (http://www.threeseven.ca/ and http://www.ecochick.ca/) who encouraged me to get started in the first place. As I spoke with Shannon on Friday, I realized part of the hestitation I was experiencing was that I feel lonely sitting at the keyboard writing my ideas down. Although I have been very committed to using the practice of Morning Pages by Julia Cameron using lovely, colourful gel pens to muse and explore my own voice... it still feels a little weird and intimidating to write with freedom, full expression and a powerful and provocative voice and place it out onto the world wide wide. (anyone else have this experience?) This is one place where having a coach or community to connect with can make a huge difference!

So - my pledge is to get online and contribute ideas, questions, thoughts, reflections, tools, connections, ahas, and all the great richness of life and learning more publicly at least three times a week! I hope my contributions are of value to someone other than my own growing soul! :D

Ponder Break: ten minutes that could rock your world!

I believe we are all artists - of some form or another! Perhaps our passion is people, children, community, technology, science, literature, art, plastic, education, or - as I like to tease my brother Ben, maybe it's dirt (or as engineers say, SOIL) :D

My first post is my commitment to share examples of really neat things out there that have the ability to challenge that way we relate to ourselves and the world. As "Did You Know" claims... shift happens - and I really believe, together we really are more powerful! I hope you will enjoy these two links... and would love to hear reflections on their impact on you and your thinking. I would also LOVE to hear stories or tales you have of both breakdown and breakthrough as you and others connect with your purpose and meaning!

Here is a lovely example of a person who has clearly connected deeply with their purpose on the planet... and well worth the five minutes for viewing. It was forwarded (as you can see ny my dear friend and colleague France Girard from the Bank of Canada who also happens to be deeply inspired by her other work as a yoga instructor to high school kids among many others). ENJOY!

Prenez 5 minutes pour visualiser les talents de cet artiste. C'est un génie. Wow!
http://potw.news.yahoo.com/s/potw/23115/strokes-of-genius

France
xo p.s. Merci d'avoir partager ça, JoAnn!

Did you Know from YouTube... worth a visit!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q

Yeah!!! I am Blogging:D
More after a re-invigorating time in beautiful Muskoka!
Cheers,
Jen