I attended a Local First AZ workshop last week in Tucson that was partially an excuse to drive deep into the Sonoran Desert during wildflower season and partially a great opportunity to meet local business people.  Who knew that sitting in a furniture showroom for two hours with strangers could change my perspective on capitalism?  Let me explain...

The event was focused on Conscious Capitalism, which is a business philosophy that was articulated by John Mackey (the founder of Whole Foods Market) and Raj Sisodia in a book of the same name.  In my words, Conscious Capitalism is the idea that free trade is good for communities, individuals, and the planet when it exists to serve a higher purpose - such as helping people eat better foods or supporting local communities or making the world a more creative place - not just to make money for shareholders.  Conscious Capitalism proposes that business should seek a higher purpose and consider how business decisions impact all STAKEholders (customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders, mama earth), NOT just corporate SHAREholders.  The book is a quick and interesting read.

As an entrepreneur with a background in ecology and 10+ years teaching university students about sustainability, Conscious Capitalism seems like the kind of business philosophy that I would have taught if it had occurred to me to teach about business at the university (maybe I'll go back and do that in a few years :).  While I had not articulated a clear philosophy for my business, I find myself moving towards more conscious business decisions as I become more profitable.  I'm giving away my time through the Contagious Creativity Awards. I try to treat my best customers like dear friends.  I use the most environmentally- and human-friendly markers that I can find (refillable Neuland markers) and draw on recyclable surfaces whenever possible. 

I am planning to attend several Conscious Capitalism meetings in Arizona over the next month and I look forward to learning more!  If you are curious about this philosophy - and the people who are turning it into a movement - you can watch this TEDx talk by Adam Goodman and attend the international conference in Phoenix at the end of April.

I attended the science talks during the Grand Canyon Hiking GTS on February 15, 2019. My big takeaway from the seminar was that the guides and visitors love the Grand Canyon deeply and yet the wildlife, forests, and landscape face more challenges now than ever.  Climate is changing, water resources are increasingly scarce, helicopters and planes regularly disturb wildlife, and dedicated park scientists and managers work with limited staff and funding!  Another takeaway was that the guides and visitors love the Canyon and support it through contributions to the Grand Canyon Conservancy.

I captured as much information as I could during the short talks in these sketchnotes about the forests of the Kaibab Plateau (Dr. Peter Fulé), Grand Canyon soundscapes, karst hydrogeology (and caves), bison on the North Rim (GRCA Science and Resrouce Management Division), and Grand Canyon maps (Matthew Toro).  Enjoy!

What is the Hiking GTS?
The Grand Canyon Conservancy (formerly the Grand Canyon Association) hosts a Guide Training Seminar each year at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Hiking GTS is takes place in mid-February and is geared towards hiking guides, tour bus operators, and people who lead backpacking trips in the canyon.  It is distinct from the slightly better known River GTS, which is hosted by the Grand Canyon River Guides Association so it is geared towards river guides and takes place at the Hatch River Expeditions warehouse in mid-March. 

It seems like everyone I meet these days is talking about the NSA - National Speakers Association - so when past president Kristin Arnold invited me to attend the Arizona Chapter meeting this week, I went for it!

Kate Delaney, the Sports Princess, spoke about finding your WOW.  I would boil her message down into these essential elements:

• Use sassy titles that will catch your audience's attention.  Descriptive, boring, academic titles don't work anymore.  People are too busy to figure out what you have to offer, so you must tell them.
• Work on your pitch until it is clear, concise and catchy!  Keep your pitch to a couple of paragraphs and be sure that it says who you are, what you do, and what you have to offer.
• Catch the news cycle with earned, rented and owned content. Kate uses the metaphor of a stadium and says the goal is to get people inside of your stadium where your own media resides.
  • Earned media.  This is media that finds you because of the wonderful (or possibly scandalous) things that you have to offer.  You can catch more earned media by writing and speaking about topics that are timely and newsworthy (i.e. what are you posting for Valentine's Day this year?)
  • Rented media.  These are media bits that you post on other sides and possibly pay to promote, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.  This media catches a large audience, but because you don't own it, it could all vanish if the platform goes away or you lose access.   
  • Owned media.  This is your website, your blog, your podcast.  You want to get as many people in the door of your stadium because here you own the team and you can dazzle people with your talent!