Thanks for this reflection, Thomas. 🙏🏻
On Apr 15, 2023, at 12:23 PM, Thomas Herrmann via OSList <[email protected]> wrote: Hi Kári and thanks for your clarification (also Marc 😊) I agree with Birgitt that its often possible to find a “bigger” or deeper purpose. Anyhow I still quite often work with organizations to get going on a specific issue or opportunity. I started my own business 23 years ago from being in love with Open Space Technology and feeling a passion to let more people have a taste and maybe choose to continue using it. I had a quite big network and this beautiful process to offer the world. I thought it would be “a piece of cake” but it took about a year of working full time as a freelancer to start to have a stable income… Through the years I had some downs but mostly I have been able to make a good living from it. I was so extremely lucky that I got support from the organization I chose to leave, it was downsizing and those who chose to leave got some support to find new ways… I could keep my salary for 6 months and I also had money to attend different trainings – with Harrison and also to go through most of the Genuine Contact program! On top of that I had another 6 months with support from the Employment Agence – for new startups…! It was of course really helpful to be able to focus 100% to get going. Well that “luck” is not there for everyone and not having other income or having to spend part of your time doing other work makes a bit harder I guess. I am grateful for this opportunity I got and took! If I think of some of the success factors I can see these for me are: * I started “blank” – didn’t do other consulting work, so my focus was very clear from the beginning. I have met other consultants who have a lot of other methods and tools and keep getting assignments from their old business that they want to leave. Some of them seem to be stuck. * I found a holistic way of working all through all interactions with my clients, when I learnt the components of the Genuine Contact program, especially Whole Person Process Facilitation was for me a perfect match to OST. Since then I work from the same approach all through my assignments. I’ve facilitated in circle ever since and kept on learning until now and onwards. * The focus on solid pre-work and follow ups I find lead to good “results” and also costs more time/money. This has kept growing which in my view has many benefits to the client by being better prepared and attending to the follow up better. For me it has been about opening space for them to reflect on where they want to go respectively afterwards on what happened and how they want to move on. Several exposures to co-creative ways of working, sometimes inhouse trainings supporting them to continue on this path. * I started giving trainings already a couple of years after having “met” OST and GC. Some people warned me as they perceived that I train competitors. It is very clear to me that by spreading knowledge about OST more work came my way and keeps on coming. * I connected to the OST, GC, AoH (Art of Hosting) communities among others. Including attending/arranging learning exchanges and learning on the lists like this. * I have been trying to be generous in different ways. * I have done my best to get well paid for the high quality I deliver. Several of my collegues were “impressed” that I charged as much as I do. It is partly connected to the time I put into supporting my clients before and after an OST. Some of these collegues sadly went out of business not being able to have enough income. * I love my work, I love people, I love myself 😊 * I’ve kept on learning and growing personally through many different paths for my own development. I am my most important “tool”. * I run my own company, cooperate with others who have their own company – this has worked fine for me. * I have taken help with financials, book keeping etc that I don’t enjoy. * My focus is more on being of service and doing the work I love than getting rich * I attend to my own health and balance * I’ve shared stories on different forums such as social media * I know how to facilitate as well online as in-person * It is also helpful that my wife has a steady income from employment, Mia is a teacher, thank you <3 Some learnings * Sometimes I spent much time planning new ways to cooperate with others. I think it has sometimes not been so fruitful when it comes to business. If its about getting more business (doing the work I love) it may be better to find a project and do it. I think its much easier if it’s a person who has same values and good knowledge about the ways I want to work with clients. * It’s not so easy to offer open trainings, but it gives good exposure and spreads the word and comes back to me – and its fun and very rewarding in many ways, to give trainings. * I walk my talk. I don’t come into organizations and give lectures about how I work. I offer them an experience of a well facilitated circle. * I’ve consistently worked from the same approach – opening space for co-creation using different methods. I searched until I found what methods that suited me, then focused on that and still being curious of “new” ways. * Being part of the Genuine Contact Organization gives me many opportunities to practice and apply what I “teach”. I’ve taken many opportunities volunteering to facilitate different processes. Much of that I have taken out to my client work. What worked for you? I wish we can support each other to share our gifts in the world, they are greatly needed. I have a strong belief that every time we open space in a well facilitated circle (using whatever “method” – the world becomes a better place. With love Thomas Herrmann
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