Stuff to Rock Your World.

Richness Lurks in the Discomfort Zone

Mel and I spent today at Project Homeless Connect, a now-regular program in San Francisco designed to help connect the homeless to health care, housing and many other social services. It is a wonder of planning and organization – an army of volunteers mobilized to move hundreds of homeless from station to station throughout the day, and to handle mountains of food for the hungry.

This was not my first PHC, as I am now a regular volunteer. My first time I worked slopping soup for the free lunches because I was not up to getting close to “those people.” I enjoyed watching from a safe distance, but somehow I knew that if I was going to grow personally I needed to challenge my fears and do more – to conquer my discomfort and get closer. So I sucked it up and decided to work the intake table – a job that I now would not trade for anything.

Intake is the first point of entry for the clients to access the event. Our job is to collect their personal data and then help them to understand and choose the services available to them.

The first time I worked intake, I was surprised to learn that it was easy for me to welcome these people warmly. All I had to do was smile and introduce myself, and any fear or discomfort that might have been there vanished. I discovered in myself the capacity to look in to the eyes of those less fortunate than me and see in them my very own humanity. And I found a deep desire to make them feel respected.

In return, I got smiles, friendliness and deep gratitude.

I talked with dozens and dozens of homeless clients today – all races and ethnicities, men and women, young and old. Each with a personal life story. Each with their own hopes and dreams. Each with their own life’s burdens. Each a human being.

As I looked in each person’s eyes, I wondered about their stories – the 21-year old boy living in a shelter; or the 53-year old woman looking to meet up with her parole officer; or the elderly African American in a wheelchair who just wanted every service – regardless of whether he needed it or not, as he talked and talked and talked; or the Italian man from Neapolitan descent – yes, I even found a guy with whom I could speak my second language.

These PHC days enrich my life. I feel humbled by touching the lives of the less fortunate. I feel blessed by the fortunes that I have had in my life. And I feel honored to be of service to others who deserve the dignity that we all desire.

I recommend to you, dear reader, to take a bold step into your discomfort zone. You will be amazed at the richness that is lurking within, waiting to be discovered. It will be a small step toward rocking your world.

--C.L.C.

This Brand is About Greatness

Those close to me know that I am passionate about exercise. This commitment is so deep that I've been getting up at 5 am for over 20 years to make sure that fitness is a part of my day. Recently, my fabulous trainer Michele Vaughan turned me on to lululemon athletica, a company that "creates components for people to live longer, healthier, more fun lives." Basically, they are an athletic apparel company, originally created for yoga.

Not only are the clothes amazing, the brand behind the clothes is equally fascinating.

lululemon's vision is to elevate the world from mediocrity to greatness. And lululemon's manifesto is clearly displayed on their environmentally sustainable packaging, inspiration for all to read. This manifesto was the first thing I noticed about this company having a "special something"...

What impresses me is their thinking behind "greatness." Too often we get mired in mediocrity. Chip Wilson muses about "The Secret" and the law of attraction: you attract aspects, qualities and people in your life that reflect the type of person who you are...

Chip and his team have built a corporate culture predicated on developing great people so that they can attract great people. "Greatness demands the best of everything and doing what is required to get it. Greatness is demanding friends who demand the best...Greatness is demanding the best out of one's self."

lululemon has a dedicated Department of Social Responsibility called "Community Legacies." They focus on eliminating waste from their factory processes, create long-lasting manufacturing relationships that share their core values and promote personal responsibility through training and success sharing on building legacies.

From their website:
"Yes, lululemon athletica is a business, but we don’t want to be known for relying solely on our corporate actions in our communities. We encourage our employees to be responsible for their individual actions so that during their time with lululemon and beyond, doing the right thing is an automatic reaction. This philosophy is part of our DNA and why our employees and even business partners passionately share in our vision that we can change the world by changing how the world does business."

Yes, it can be done - to do good and do well, and lululemon is certainly taking a stab at it.

--C.L.C.

Making A Difference with Pie

Who would've thought of being inspired by pie? Well, indeed there is such a place: Pie Ranch.

Pie Ranch is named like this for several reasons: 1) because the ranch is in the shape of a slice of pie; 2) pie, with all its ingredients and associations, is a great means for understanding how food comes from the land to our tables; and 3) because the promise of pie will encourage city youth and adults to come discover the beauty and importance of rapidly disappearing farms to the future of people in the Bay Area, our food security, health and our understanding and appreciation of life and nature.

Located off the San Mateo Coast, this non-profit ranch was not only created with a vision of sustainability, it is also inspired to teach inner city youth about food and farming. And it is through conversations with Mission High youth that Mission Pie was created. It is a result of the realization that there are many many people in San Francisco who don’t have the means to visit Pie Ranch to experience the personal connection with the farmland that sustains us. So this warm, inviting place was created to bring the flavors of local farms to the city.

Not only does Mission Pie have a mission of sustainability, it also provides jobs and training for youth from Mission High who also work at the farm. So here are these kids, learning life skills and being inspired to do good and do well.

Imagine that -- all inspired by pie!

--C.L.C.

Gratitude Drives this Brand

I heard Terce and Matt Engelhart speak at an SF Works Business Conversations discussion about socially responsible brands. They own Café Gratitude, a café that serves holistic food and a unique customer experience. It was interesting to watch this couple and listen to their story. They exude energy and positivity, the very essence of the brand experience they have worked to create.

Matt has been in the "abundance" business since 1984, and Terce found in him a soul-mate. Together they began a journey in self-exploration and discovery on how to teach others in the art of gratitude.

"Without gratitude there is no sustainability," says Matt. "Gratitude is the remedy." He sees our fixation with consumerism creating an ongoing cycle of consumption that is bad for the environment as well as our personal well-being.

The Engelberts approach their business as they do their life - with unconditional love. Terce speaks vividly about how she begins each shift with a "clearing," a 5-10 minute process where employees are encouraged to become present in their work and leave the rest behind. Their staff are ambassadors of the brand, and of the community they seek to create with customers. Terce gets a sparkle in her eyes as she describes employees who have come and gone, and taken with them a deeper sense of self and community, transforming their life for the better.

Their passion for sustainability and socially responsible business has led them to work with vendors to eliminate plastic food containers - a difficult practice especially in the food industry. Terce explains "it was hard work because we were small and didn't have the clout to make such demands, but our taking a stance has had a ripple effect on our vendors as well. We just held the line."

And hold the line they did. At a time when such sustainable practices were not common, the Engelberts also looked at products such as bleach. Bleach is pervasive in dishwashing detergents and in the restaurant business, also in linens.

"On principle we just couldn't accept bright white napkins that were bleached. So our customers get grey napkins." says Matt.

The Café Gratitude menu says it all. All entrées are life affirmations. When you order the special enchilada of the day, you tell the server "I am elated." If instead you prefer a marinara pizza, you just affirm that "I am passionate." The server will take it from there.

Matt Engelbert sums up his business philosophy by stating "make your life and your business about making a difference. Your third quarter profits back in 1986 won't matter when you are on your deathbed. It is what you have made with your life that matters. Your passion will propel your business. And if you love your life, people will want to be around you."

Great advice, Matt.

--C.L.C.