Learning

This week has been interesting. Following my confession on Tuesday that I'm not good at everything (shock horror!), and that I've been struggling to come to terms with this, I've been overwhelmed by the support I've received from all the wonderful people around me.Some really interested points were raised in response to a confession from David Hood, another person I admire and respect, that he too was stretched. David and I do similar kind of work  - centred on engagement, education and collaboration for good. Though his work is mainly focused in the broader social change space, and mine in specifically in the fashion sector, I see a lot of cross over. Hence much of the discussion really resonated with me. Here's are some extracts:

>>> On the risks of this kind of work:

"We know the benefits of operating in open, collaborative, networked and real-time ways - are these the negative impacts? A reminder to be mindful... and create space." - David Hood

and

"I came to realise was that my greatest strength...the ability to remain open and see so many connections and opportunities that others couldnt even recognise, was also my greatest nemesis." - Annalie Killian

and also

"When the majority of what you do is live event-based I think the risk of burnout is especially high." - Tom Dawkins

These comments particularly rang true for me with the kind of work that I do. Like Annalie, one of my greatest strengths is my ability to see connections and opportunities, and also like Annalie, I find it almost impossible to leave this alone and to turn it off. As someone who is interested in everything, I'm forever coming up with new projects/collaborations/endeavours. And I have trouble reconciling the idea that they don't all need to be realised, and certainly not all right now. As David says, when we are all connected and accessible all the time, it is so difficult to know when to stop. As Tom notes too, working in live events, to concrete deadlines (where the culmination of your work is often realised in person and measured by the level of social engagement) is extremely exhausting.

>>> On personal sustainability:

"What is really useful [is] to translate the principles of sustainability on the personal eco-system." - Anni Roolf

I've written before about balance. And while I stand by my statement that it isn't the be all and end all, this comment prompted some kind of small personal epiphany in me. The idea of personal sustainability has been raised frequently in the past couple of years. But this comment from Anni prompted me to think about it as I would triple bottom line reporting for an organisation. Similar to the recommendations I would make to any fashion business looking at "sustainability", I've been thinking about this in terms of people/profit/planet. To me, this translates as mental (social and intellectual stimulation), financial (business and bank balance), and health (physical and emotional). Ideally, these things should be mirrored in the community you're a part of too - ie, you should also work on the sustainability of those around you in tandem with yourself. Give and take between these three pillars for you as an individual and in your community is not only necessary, but vital for the best outcome. I guess I am really talking about balance here, but I prefer to allow plenty of room for ebb and flow, understanding that all pillars will rarely be in perfect alignment, and in fact that is the point!

As with in the sustainable fashion world, what has become increasingly evident, is the importance of  transparency - or in this sense, honesty. This seems to really go against the grain for many, as vulnerability is not popular where personal branding exists. It is risky, from a professional standpoint. But for me, it is because it is unpopular and because it is perceived as risky that it is powerful. The very clever Kirk Bennitten has been doing some thinking along these lines...

>>> On limitations:

"You're loved, you're supported and you're freakin' awesome; you're also a frail, weak and limited human being and you need to come to terms with the reality of your own constraints." - Cameron Burgess

I've spent a considerable amount of time with Cameron in the last little while in his capacity as my business mentor, and board member of Sustainable Fashion Australia. Additionally, he is a profoundly intuitive person, and I learned a great deal from him beyond business strategy! His comment here is so, so valid. We are all limited, we can't achieve everything all on our own. We can only work to our strengths, be supported by others and achieve what we can.

>>> On being ahead of the curve:

"I've come to accept that the life of a frontrunner is a hard one, that he will suffer more injuries than most men and that many of these injuries will not be accidental." - a quote from Pele via Jennifer Sertl

and also

"Your work is not to drag the world kicking and screaming into a new awareness. Your job is to simply do your work - sacredly, secretly and silently - and those with 'eyes to see and ears to hear' will respond." - Viv McWaters

I've been having many discussions about this in recent months. There is no doubt that it is easier to follow the established path through life, rather than walk the road less travelled. There are inherent risks involved in doing things differently, but for me, like any gambler knows, with greater risk comes greater potential rewards.

>>> And finally, a comment on creativity:

‎"Creativity and solitude are inextricably linked." a quote from Robert Hughes via Tony Hollingsworth

I've always loved Steven Johnson's philosophy "chance favours the connected mind" which he espouses in his "Where Good Ideas Come From" talk which you can see here on TED.com (which links back to Annalie's comments earlier), but perhaps I've forgotten the vital next step when it comes to actually creating something. As Robert Hughes alludes to here, the processes of creation requires sustained focus, concentration, and drive and solitude is a great friend to these principles. All too often I'm too busy having good ideas, collaborating and sharing, to actually sit with them and work to see them realised. Reflection, analysis and recalibration have been underrated in my life to this point, but this is about to change.

I don't have all the answers. I haven't learned all the secrets in the past week. But Anni Roolf did offer some fantastic suggestions to work on which I've paraphrased below:

> Create areas in your life that have nothing to do with your work :: doing nothing, doing beautiful things with no aims. > Develop a personal, healthy time structure / rhythm :: we personally and also the whole (connected & global) society needs new rituals, structures, rules, borders, habits, routines to stay sane. The old ones are no longer suitable, so it's our task to create new ones. > Challenge the dominant ideology of borderless networks. > Physical exercise and nutrition. > Let go of fast :: best to let things go -- huge psychological effect. > Review your own attitude to performance. Review your life and work goals :: Why I don't respect my own borders? Why I don't respect myself? Which is my real motive to perform? Is it a good one? > Be conscious of inputs of all kinds: music, people, media usage (virtual, TV, radio), books, leisure activities. (Less is more.) > Enjoy all kind of nature experiences as often as possible / walk for hours in the nature. (Slow types of movement.)

As Paul Szymkowiak noted, "self-help" frameworks are sometimes at risk of becoming yet another thing we must do (part of the reason why I've never managed to establish a meditation routine), which entirely defeats their purpose. For me, it is more important to be aware of these things, apply them when they serve you, but don't work yourself up about it if they're not in your best interests. So that's what I plan to do. Although I've added a couple of my own:

> Read more. > Write more. > Do nothing more.

When all's said and done, a few things have become extremely clear to me this week.

1 > My experiences are not at all uncommon. Many very smart, very special people in my sphere are experiencing similar challenges. People I admire very much are also owning up to the fact that life isn't as rosy as they might like it to be. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if you're not experiencing this on occasion, then you're not pushing yourself. But the key is to push yourself just the right amount so that you're reaching (rather than surpassing) your limits.

2 > I am extremely lucky. I am so fortunate to be in a position to pursue the things I love. I am supported by my nearest and dearest more than I could wish. I am given every opportunity to pursue my dreams. I have always known this, but this week has served as a handy reminder.

Thanks to my gorgeous friend Dani Sirotic for her support this week and for bringing my attention to the discussion started by David.

What should I be when I grow up?

I'm having a bit of a rough week this week.I won't go into all the reasons why, but safe to say they have made me feel like I'm failing on a few fronts.

On the whole, I love what I do. I'm passionate about the things I'm involved in. I love the people I collaborate with. BUT - I'm not good at the details. Like many of us who are self employed, I realise that most of the bad situations I find myself in are of my own creation. Seemingly small things like being lazy with invoicing, forgetting something, sending an email to the wrong person happen far to often to me. And as I'm on my own, these things seems much worse as there's no one there to trade stories with or to pick up the slack. There's no safety net.

Instead of getting caught up in the negative, one of my lovely friends, Dani, suggested I have a look at this strengths survey to reassess and remind myself of what I'm good at.

The things that were highlighted as key attributes are:

Love of learning You love learning new things, whether in a class or on your own. You have always loved school, reading, and museums-anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to learn.

Curiosity You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.
Creativity Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

Leadership You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included. You do a good job organizing activities and seeing that they happen.

Perspective Although you may not think of yourself as wise, your friends hold this view of you. They value your perspective on matters and turn to you for advice. You have a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to yourself.

The following are particularly NOT TRUE of me:

Prudence You are a careful person, and your choices are consistently prudent ones. You do not say or do things that you might later regret.

Perseverance You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

Self-Regulation You self-consciously regulate what you feel and what you do. You are a disciplined person. You are in control of your appetites and your emotions, not vice versa.

None of this is particularly new to me. In fact, anyone who knows me will agree that this is dead on accurate.

I'm a big picture person, I love new ideas, challenging the status-quo, getting inside something big and finding out how it all works, and bringing people along for the ride. But I thrive on floods of inspiration, I'm impulsive and sometimes I lack discipline.

But what can I do with this information? Should I be changing how I structure my work? Should I be changing what I do? Should I change who I work with?

What careers are these attributes suited to? What styles of work or work environments should I be looking at? What kind of people would complement me?

Over to you.

The Elusive Balance

I read a post by the very lovely Kimberley Smith (aka @Miss_Kimberlina) over on her blog Dream.Delight.Inspire yesterday.Kim discussed balance and how to work toward it in your life. She suggested writing a list of the key elements in your life and rating how you feel about where you're at with each. I really like this idea, but for me it has its shortfalls.

Now, don't get me wrong. I really love Kim. I love her blog, I respect her views a great deal and I find her approach to life extremely inspiring. Plus she is a lovely girl.

But I've been thinking more about this. I have previously gone through the process that Kim outlined in her post, rating where I feel I'm at with each important area of my life. And I like doing this because I really like goal setting. I find the process really cathartic. I like planning, I like order, I like aiming for things - even if they're entirely unrealistic and even if I rarely stick to them. I find it absolutely delightful to sit and plot where I'm going.

The thing I realised though, is that what I'm striving for the most is control. And though control is a nice feeling I think there is a place for powerlessness too. There is value in losing control and having to ride the wave in order to regain control.

Being out of control can be a horrible feeling, but the reality is, sometimes we can't manage every element of our lives. Sometimes unexpected things happen, things that are completely beyond our power to change. And sometimes you need to let this happen and be ok with it. Sometimes you just need to go with the flow.

For me, there is no such thing as perfect balance. The pursuit of balance is entirely the point. But it is so important to remember that there will be moments (hours, days or months) when things are out of control. And that's ok too. It is these moment when you're completely beyond your comfort zone that you can learn a great deal about yourself, about others and about what you and the world are truly capable of.

Perhaps this next thought is a stretch but to build on this... I think the constant pursuit of control is perhaps symptomatic of the way our lives are now. The idea that we can completely determine the path of our lives by our own actions far preferable than conceding that there are sometimes thing beyond our control. In my mind, this is particularly effective for selling products, as marketers tell us that by taking action (ie, making a purchase) we can create for ourselves exactly the lives we want.

I love to think that this is the case - that what we achieve in life is directly related to our actions and our effort. To believe that life is what we make it. But this only goes so far. Sometimes circumstances interfere with our grand plans and lead us to new ones...

2011>2012

2011 was an interesting one. Equal parts challenging (and sometimes frustrating) as inspiring and fulfilling. I had some amazing experiences, and loved seeing my friends and family go from strength to strength in their own ventures.At the end of the year and the beginning of the next one, I think it is important to reflect on what I’ve achieved in the past 12 months, however large or small, and acknowledge how far I’ve come.

So in 2011 I’m celebrating:

Becoming engaged to the love of my life! Selling my first apartment. Losing 10 kgs. Buying Curracloe Holdings - a small farm with my fiance. Selling my car and buying my bike - I wish I’d done it years ago! Holding my first discussion event on sustainability in fashion at LMFF. Curating a 3 day seminar series at Fashion Exposed with the help of the TFIA. Forming and amicably dissolving a business partnership and learning plenty. Completing CSL and RMIT SEEDs fellowships. My first successful Melbourne Tweed Ride event. Getting to the bottom of my food allergies.

Like many others, at this time of year I also set my sights on the things I’m striving for in 2012. I do have a tendency to aim high, but I find even goals that seem to be out of reach give me something to aspire to and help focus my attention. For me, the most important part of goal setting is just as likely to be the process as the end point.

That said, in 2012 my goals are to:

Get married. Lose another 10 kgs. Formally launch Sustainable Fashion Australia in earnest. Run a marathon.

I’m also planning to:

Take on my new role as host of The Clothing Exchange in Melbourne. Grow the Melbourne Tweed Ride community. Renew my focus on Wardrobe Wonderland. Dedicate more time to thinking and writing. Launch some other projects I’ve been incubating for a while - news to come. Work out how to balance my work and study. Learn to keep my own accounts! Take on the first of several employees. Stop eating wheat. Write Thank You cards. Take classes in sewing, permaculture, guitar, photography and spanish.

So there you have it! Some ambitious - and not so ambitious - goals for 2012. I know I’m not the only one who feels there is some serious change on the horizon. Here’s hoping its a good one!

What are you planning for 2012?

Melbourne's Most Influential, Inspiring and Creative 2011

Almost this time last year I wrote a post about the most inspiring people I'd met throughout 2010. This was prompted by my feeling that the version published by The Age missed the mark and was not at all representative of the true calibre of people in our fair city.I'm pleased to say that in 2011 I was asked by a journalist friend of mine, Greg Foyster, (a contributor to The Age (melbourne) magazine) to nominate those people I felt to be some of the most amazing in Melbourne. Happily, the published list was overflowing with some pretty incredible people. The likes of Ehon Chan, Kate Kendall, Chantal Baxter, Juliette Anich, Zoe Condliffe, Anisha Bhoyoro, Nerida Lennon and Emma Grace have all made my year brighter and made it onto their final 100 list.

I couldn't resist the need to add a few extras that I've come across this year, either personally or professionally. Granted, this list is quite skewed to my own interests and my own circles but I feel these people are all worthy additions to the list of who's who of Melbourne.

Kate Luckins

Sustainable fashion academic and founder of The Clothing Exchange, Kate has been a valued mentor and an inspiration as I continue my work in the sector. I'm also super excited to see how her next venture - Project Otherwise - will evolve, and delighted share an office with her and to spend time with her gorgeous baby boy Jensen and husband Soren.

Samantha Hardman

A former banker, Samantha took a huge risk just over 12 months ago and left the corporate world to pursue her dream to run Bento - a clothing line concerned with quality, timelessness and local production. She creating beautiful garments in a manner that is environmentally and socially sustainable and giving us an insight into the fashion industry from a refreshingly honest perspective on the labels blog. (Her husband Charles, also an ex-banker, took a similar risk establishing 100th Gallery - a space for up and coming artists.)

Genna Campton

Melbourne-based illustrator Genna creates beautiful things. Using her mixed skills in design and her talent as an illustrator she has been featured in many a print magazine and has had her work pop up all over the place - including the Melbourne Tweed Ride logo. She is also one of the sweetest people I've spent time with this year.

Jan Stewart

As the host of Hub Melbourne, Jan has brought a beautiful feeling to a dynamic space. Her beautiful serenity, care for others and genuine interest in the members has been a welcome addition to one of my favourite places to work. She has also encouraged me to bring some much needed mindfulness into my life which she blogs about. This also very welcome and something I'll be working on in 2012.

David Seignor

I was fortunate to enjoy the boundless energy of Dave every week in his role as the Facilitator of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership Fellowship I completed this year. Also a passionate educator, creator and helps people think outside the square through his consultancy Play Think. He's been a great sounding board and a friendly ear through a challenging 2011.

Sheeple Liberator

I stumbled across an amazing blog on the internets this year. The mystery lady behind some of the most on the money articles I've read this year is insightful, sometimes controversial and not afraid to swim against the current. I'm yet to meet the man behind the mask but I love the approach and the content covered - so much so that it prompted a fan rant email! I really encourage you to have a look! http://sheepleliberator.wordpress.com/

Pip Carroll

Melbourne Bike Fest Director Pip is a one woman powerhouse. Driving many of the city's bike related events and greatly contributing to the growing cycling community, Pip was happy to team up with me and other members of the Tweed Trust to deliver a record breaking Melbourne Tweed Ride in 2011. Inclusive, generous, positive and inexhaustible, she has all the qualities she needs for 2012 when baby Carroll is due to arrive!

Sarah Rose

I met Sarah somewhat fortuitously through the maze of twitter. A qualified social worker and survivor of an unexpected severe illness, we connected instantly and I found conversations with her insightful and inspiring. So much so that I needed weekly catch ups with her! Having prototyped her services as a lifecoach on me she is amazing for holistic physical/mental health and has a great understanding of the need for mindfulness, a good work/life balance, and the importance of quality relationships in life. Plus she writes a great blog on these subjects and more. Check out http://innerbeam.blogspot.com/

Sarah Dingwall

Mornington Peninsula local Sarah is a photographer, glass artist and lover of beautiful things. I've regularly been lost on her blog for hours, entranced by all the stunning things she makes and comes across. So much so that she (along with Genna Campton) was at the top of my list of people to engage when I became engaged last month. Can't wait to have her beautiful handiwork surrounding us on our special day! Who has been the most inspiring person you've met this year? Who have I missed? What makes someone an inspiration to you?

Review - The Economics of Happiness

On Tuesday night I attended a film screening at Rancho Notorious (its the space upstairs at Thousand Pound Bend, for those of you playing at home).The film was The Economics of Happiness - one I've been trying to see for a little while now. It is a really interesting discussion of globalisation and the issues it creates. It investigates an apparent contradiction -  the constant pursuit of economic growth in the developed world resulting in increasing levels of unhappiness and distress in the west, alongside an increasingly dire social situation in the developing world.

The film is steered by Helena Norberg-Hodge - a researcher who has dedicated her life to investigating the impact of economic development on agriculture and cultural evolution. She discusses these impacts in the context of the Ladakhi people from Tibet, an isolated community that until the 1970s was thriving on local economic and social engagement, living a relatively simple way of life with a surprisingly high standard of living - a life that she describes as "joyous and rich".

I've recently submitted a thesis on the role of corporations in the environmental movement, especially in our current neoliberal free-market economic landscape. Not surprisingly, many of the themes I explored in my essay were touched on in the film, though framed in a slightly different way.

Historically, economic growth has always been the aim of the game. In our modern era, with the developed world having already achieved high levels of employment, infrastructure and affluence, the economic growth sought by consumer culture becomes problematic. When this infiltrates the community of the Ladakhis, it creates unemployment, depression, and an internal perception of poverty, all in just 30 short years.

As was discussed with friends this week, one critical issue is that "ours isn't a free market". The level to which subsidies, commercial lobbying and inequality in free-trade agreements preference transnational corporations means that our global economy could not function without state support. I'm pretty sure this isn't what was intended. This balance ensures social, ecological and personal wellbeing (which is often completely at odds from the commercial agenda) will become further and further from our grasp as long as growth is pursued.

The film proposes localisation - the antithesis to globalisation - as a way to counteract our projected pathway, and to me, the rationale seems sound. An example given was the local bookshop: it returns (on average) $45 to the local economy, as opposed to a chain store which returns approximately $13. If these figures are translated to food, services, clothing, recreation, etc. the impacts are huge!

Not only that, the environmental impacts of buying locally are significant. This is particularly evident with fashion, where a garment produced by an international retailer could have already been to 4 or 5 different countries during the production process before it even lands in store, with much of its true environmental impact still to come.

True localisation isn't just visiting the farmers market once in a while. The film shows how much of an impact local economies can have. Returning to community based activities has big social benefits, not to mention the fact that it can help to correct economic and environmental imbalances.

I would love to discuss this in much more detail and hear your thoughts on the film, globalisation and economic growth, or why you like shopping local.

Systems Thinking

I'm deep in essay writing mode - its 7am and I've been at it for approximately 12 hours. I'm currently writing about the limits of environmental CSR initiatives in a neoliberal economy.Needless to say, it got me thinking about paradigm shifts. Conveniently, Donella Meadows is one of my key sources. Here are two extracts from Places to Intervene in Systems in Order of Increasing Effectiveness.

People who manage to intervene in systems at the level of paradigm hit a leverage  point that totally transforms systems.

You could say paradigms are harder to change than anything else about a system, and therefore this item should be lowest on the list, not the highest. But there's nothing  physical or expensive or even slow about paradigm change. In a single individual it can happen in a millisecond. All it takes is a click in the mind, a new way of seeing. Of course individuals and societies do resist challenges to their paradigm harder than they resist any other kind of change.

So how do you change paradigms? Thomas Kuhn, who wrote the seminal book about  the great paradigm shifts of science, has a lot to say about that. In a nutshell, you keep  pointing at the anomalies and failures in the old paradigm, you come yourself, loudly, with assurance, from the new one, you insert people with the new paradigm in places of public visibility and power. You don't waste time with reactionaries; rather you work with active change agents and with the vast middle ground of people who are open-minded.

Systems folks would say one way to change a paradigm is to model a system, which takes you outside the system and forces you to see it whole. We say that because our own paradigms have been changed that way.

...

The highest leverage of all is to keep oneself unattached in the arena of paradigms, to realize that NO paradigm is "true," that even the one that sweetly shapes one's comfortable worldview is a tremendously limited understanding of an immense and amazing universe.

It is to "get" at a gut level the paradigm that there are paradigms, and to see that that itself is a paradigm, and to regard that whole realization as devastatingly funny. It is to let go into Not Knowing.developer.

People who cling to paradigms (just about all of us) take one look at the spacious possibility that everything we think is guaranteed to be nonsense and pedal rapidly in the opposite direction. Surely there is no power, no control, not even a reason for being, much less acting, in the experience that there is no certainty in any worldview. But everyone who has managed to entertain that idea, for a moment or for a lifetime, has found it a basis for radical empowerment. If no paradigm is right, you can choose one that will help achieve your purpose. If you have no idea where to get a purpose, you can listen to the universe (or put in the name of your favorite deity here) and do his, her, its will, which is a lot better informed than your will.

It is in the space of mastery over paradigms that people throw off addictions, live in constant joy, bring down empires, get locked up or burned at the stake or crucified or shot, and have impacts that last for millennia.

Back from the sublime to the ridiculous, from enlightenment to caveats. There is so much that has to be said to qualify this list. It is tentative and its order is slithery. There are exceptions to every item on it. Having the list percolating in my subconscious for years has not transformed me into a Superwoman. I seem to spend my time running up and down the list, trying out leverage points wherever I can find them. The higher the leverage point, the more the system resists changing it—that's why societies rub out truly enlightened beings.

I don't think there are cheap tickets to system change. You have to work at it, whether that means rigorously analyzing a system or rigorously casting off paradigms. In the end, it seems that leverage has less to do with pushing levers than it does with disciplined thinking combined with strategically, profoundly, madly letting go."

"

The Ethics of Affluence/Existential Crisis

I live a good life.As much as I sometimes struggle to pay my mortgage, I sometimes work more than I'd like to and can't take as many holidays as some, I generally have everything I could want or need. I also am fortunate enough to have a great deal of choice as to how I live my life. I spend my working (and playing) life on pursuits I enjoy.

I also read a lot.

And as a rule I don't read a lot of fluffy, happy, easy stuff. Much of what I read makes me really, really sad and embarrassed to be someone who contributes to the great imbalance of global economic and social conditions. I know that the way I live my life contributes to the continuing deterioration of our natural environment, the social injustices carried out all over the world.

I spend a lot of time with people who are aware of and concerned about how the current state of global business and industry looks. I purposely surround myself with people who are motivated to make a positive social impact, to change the world for the better.

Those of you who know me, know that I am passionate about bringing awareness to the industry and the public about the real effects of a multi-billion dollar global trade like the fashion industry. I want people to be aware of what situations they are enabling when they buy fast fashion goods, and of what they can do to support a different kind of system.

I am frequently overwhelmed by it all though.

I know I'm not the only one who feels like the system is broken. But do we really have no choice but to continue to operate within the system we hate? What is the alternative? Falling off the grid and joining a commune?

I often wonder how I manage to go about my daily business while I'm aware of the fact that children are used to produce the chocolate I sometimes eat while I'm watching TV or the fact that the t-shirt I wear will likely end up adding to the massive problem of textile waste in this country? Is it just a matter of suspending this awareness for a period while I eat my chocolate? The further removed I am from the direct consequences of my choices the easier it is for me to ignore the reality.

Is there something wrong with me that I'm not satisfied with ignoring the reality? That I cannot see myself continuing to exist here in Australia in my ivory tower, drinking lattes, playing with my iphone and accumulating things I'll never use?

Where to from here?