Barry,
That was a wonderful thing you wrote!
Henri
On n'entend bien qu'avec le coeur
L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux
On Sep 1, 2008, at 1:43 PM, Barry Owen wrote:
Of course - No bias here . . .
Over the years, I have collected every book Dad (Harrison) has
written begining with Spirit (Which sat on the shelf for @ 5 years
before I actually read it to understand). I agree with anyone who
charges "Same thing - Different book" but every book is better than
all the ones before. The message was pure from the start - and has
just gotten simpler and more "practical" through the iterations.
After all, the difficulty for mose people is the concept that Open
Space is more descriptive than prescriptive . . . It's not something
that the "Practitioner" DOES to an organization . . . It's a simple
way to "remember" who we are and that we are all subject to the
fundamental "Law of self Organization".
I just finished reading "Wave Rider" (I got a "boot-leg"
version) . . . and WOW!
This book brings a level of understanding that is (I believe) as
complete as it could be - This is a summation of the "evolution of
the understanding of Open Space" and actually captures the true
essence of what many of us theorized (years ago) of the potential
for Open Space. We all knew of the power - and could see the
validity of "Living in Open Space" . . . We could imagine what it
would look like for an organization to operate IN Open Space all the
time . . . and we could dream of the "High Play - High Achievement"
environment this could create.
and we all are "out here" practicing Open Space in a variety of ways
and applications - and I speak for myself when I say that Open Space
changed my life in a VERY powerful way when I finally released my
need to be in control and began noticing the power of organic self-
organization.
I think I'm writing mare than necessary . . . Suffice it to say that
this book is nothing short of wonderful . . . and that I will be
buying a case of'm and distributing them to every "person of
influence" in my world including executives and educators . . .
along with a note that says: "MUST READ"
I know that each book that Dad Writes is his "Final Book" . . . I
hope he keeps on writing because the books are only getting
better . . . and I can see his truly final book . . . It's a very
simple paperback book - Perhaps entitled something along the lines
of "The True Essence of Open Space" . . . with @ 175 BLANK pages.
Dad, I am SO proud of you!
Love,
b
--
Coaching REALTORS to Success and Balance!
Barry Owen
Principal Broker & Productivity Coach
Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills
30 Burton Hills Blvd STE 175
Nashville, TN 37215
615.568.2123
Skype: barryo06
http://www.theowengroup.net
Visit my consumer BLOG @ www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com/
REALTOR Blog @ www.activerain.com/barryo
Keller Williams Realty is a learning-based training & Consulting
company supporting our REALTOR partners by offering business models,
systems, tools, & support to Build Careers WORTH having, Businesses
WORTH Owning, and Lives Worth Living!
-------------- Original message --------------
From: Harrison Owen <hho...@verizon.net>
On September 12, 2008, Berrett-Koehler will publish my new book,
Wave Rider: Leadership for High Performance in a Self Organizing
World. As I explained to my publisher, Steve Piersanti, this is the
book I have been waiting to write because it represents my final
report on my participation in a grand natural experiment.
The experiment, of course, is that ridiculously simple way to
elegant gatherings, Open Space Technology. As you may know, the
creation of OST was not a labor intensive activity. In fact it
appeared in my mind on the strength of two martinis in the time it
took to drink them. That was 23 years ago, and in the intervening
period millions of people from 134 countries have discovered that if
you will sit in a circle, create a bulletin board, open a market
place, and go to work -- some fairly incredible things are likely to
happen. Massively complex issues can be dealt with in amazingly
short periods of time. Intense conflict can find useful paths of
resolution. And it seems to happen all by itself. There are even
recorded cases where the sole facilitator took a nap!
I have no way of knowing what all these people thought about their
experience, but I found it profoundly mystifying. How could
something so simple do so much? Considered against the dominant
theory and practice of organization and meetings, such things not
only could not happen, they should not happen. But it did and it does.
Over time it occurred to me that the magic was not Open Space
Technology, but something infinitely more powerful and profound: the
elemental force of Self Organization. For whatever reason, I have
had a lifetime fascination with the great cosmic dance of chaos and
order. My 1965 thesis could have born the title, Chaos, Order, and
the Creative Process, for that was the central theme. As the
evolving science of chaos and complexity matured I found myself
mesmerized by the elegant insights of the physicists, chemists and
biologists who were pushing that frontier particularly when they
identified the phenomenon of self organization as a critical player.
It all seemed so counterintuitive -- and disturbingly compelling
when it occurred to me that something of the same sort could be
happening every time we sat in a circle and created a bulletin
board. But they were doing High Science, a! nd we j ust convening
meetings. And that is where that funny thing called OST became a
natural experiment for me.
The question was: If the primal force of self organization lay at
the heart of the Open Space experience could we learn to leverage it
for our benefit and align our endeavors with its massive power? I
think the answer is yes, not just as a theoretical possibility but
in very practical ways which might enhance our performance and
expand our possibilities in this turbulent, confusing and wonderful
world. In a word, we might learn to surf the waves of primal power
to become Wave Riders.
The book comes in two parts. The first states the case, and Part II
makes the application. If your predilection is theoretical start at
the beginning and read forward. On the other hand, if your
preference is practical, skip Part I and head straight for Part II:
The Wave Riders Guide. I make no pretence that this is the final
word -- indeed I hope it is but a beginning. But it will get you
started, and the rest is up to you.
For a preview, go to http://openspaceworld.com/waveriders.htm; you
will find the Introduction to the book giving you an outline of
direction and content.
If you want the book, Amazon.com is ready. Go to --
http://www.amazon.com/Wave-Rider-Leadership-Performance-Self-Organizing/dp/1576756173/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220216204&sr=1-3
If you really want to dive in, we will be doing a series of programs
around the world. The fun is just beginning! I have done my Final
Report but the really good part is up to you. Where do we go from
here? And only you can say. You will find an outline of the program
at http://openspaceworld.com/wave%20rider%20program.htm. This
program will be offered in Europe, Asia and the North American
Continent. Dates and places will be listed athttp://openspaceworld.com/dates%20and%20places.htm
Harrison
Harrison Owen
189 Beaucaire Ave
Camden, ME 04843
207-763-3261 (Summer)
301-365-2093 (Winter)
Website www.openspaceworld.com
Personal Website www.ho-image.com
OSLIST To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
* * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change
your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
* * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change
your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu:http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
*
*
==========================================================
osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
