Comments for A Journey of Renewal

Comment on What Could You Live Without? by Martie Pineda

Martie Pineda — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:02:39 +0000

I often think I would love to live much simpler! Recently I befriended and recruited someone that actually knits her own socks and cooks from scratch, and eventually wants to sew all her own clothes. And I believe, that when I finally see her home it is going to be refreshingly simple and uncluttered. I have a vision for my next home and it is going to be as simple as the one I have now is frou frou!! As much as we have donated, discarded and given away, we still have way to much. Quality problem I suppose. AND I am determined to pare down and simplify. I don’t think we own our stuff, it owns us.

Comment on Coachability by Raz

Raz — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:12:30 +0000

@Melissa, thanks.
@Deborah, great thoughts and stories, thanks for sharing…Really good stuff. Agree that the trust/respect is way helpful, though maybe there are a few levels of “coachability”, one is the level that can be obtained through people that you do trust and respect (but this is a far smaller pool of people) and the second is having enough confidence and wisdom to be able to be coachable from anybody–regardless of your trust or respect from them. The latter is SUCH a trickier issue, b/c some people don’t give the coaching w/ clean motives OR it might not even be accurate. You have given some more layers to think about.

Comment on Happy Birthday Buddy by Raz

Raz — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:08:37 +0000

Thanks Miriam.

Comment on Happy Birthday Buddy by Miriam

Miriam — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:42:13 +0000

Dear Rich,

As I read your post, I too am touched by your most personal as well as univeral sharing and wishes for your son. And what remains with me now is a deep sense that he, your son, is now, is present tense, is growing alongside your family, is with you all moment by moment. WHat separates us in this world from the other is just a veil, and while that veil may seem so thick at times, it is just a veil, and love makes it through no problem, any time any where.

Every blessing to you and your whole family, and thank your for sharing with the world your wonderful gift of a great Heart.

Miriam

Comment on Coachability by Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:31:07 +0000

Well said, Raz.

Comment on Coachability by Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:57:08 +0000

YES!!! Totally relate to this one, Raz. Having competed in athletics and been in leadership programs in the past, I had to get that the only one who was going to be able to see my blind spots was the coach. It was hard to hear some the the things that were being said, and sometimes I had to risk looking foolish to get the result I wanted [like getting out of the pool in the middle of practice and having to do somersaults by the side on a mat until I figured out how to do a flipturn! ouch!....it worked though]
One of the things I notice about our community in the North West…we are too damn polite!! We tell people what they want to hear, don’t want to ruffle feathers and want to respect everyone’s individuality. Well guess what???? The fact is people need direct, straightforward feedback [COACHING]. But first they need to be COACHABLE to receive it. The 2 ingredients necessary for this to happen are 1. Trust and 2. Respect.
Maybe it’s just me? Has anyone else noticed this?

Comment on What Could You Live Without? by Raz

Raz — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:14:15 +0000

Well, I just finished a blog posting on Coachability, so bring it on!

You’re right there are lots of things that we can (and many we are working towards) to be more considerate to the environment. I’ve published your comment and accept your suggestions as valid things that should be legitimately considered. Though, I don’t quite agree w/ your blanket generalization “Univera is not green”, and there are quite a number of other things that we either are doing or working towards becoming more green friendly–though I’ll not list them here since it’s not the right venue. I will provide one link, to the United Nations Global Compact, of which we are a member. Click here if you want to learn more. I think your ideas and considerations are good ones.

My other suggestion is that you pass some of these ideas directly onto the VP Sales U.S. Meredith Berkich. Thanks for writing.

Comment on What Could You Live Without? by Linda McGowan

Linda McGowan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:10:05 +0000

I think as a company, we should think about what we can live without. For one, Univera is not green. We encourage recycling but we waste so much in our packaging, which in turn increases the price of the products. I have had several complaints from customers and I am concerned too. Bottles are too big for their contents and flip-top caps are not necessary. L’initie’s package is grossly oversized. The 2oz cap that comes on Xtra and other liquid bottles is so wasteful. We only need one! Styrofoam is very harmful to our environment as is using paper, but we could use recycled paper. Isn’t there a way we can cut down on packaging and save our environment? Global warming is a serious problem and the U.S. is at the top of the list for abusing the environment. I really think we need to rethink our packaging.

Comment on Authenticity…From a Friend by Craig Chamberlain

Craig Chamberlain — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:42:55 +0000

Rich, it seems that I was meant to see this tonight. Tomorrow I will be talking to an old friend who is dying and is leaving behind two daughters that are each about six years older than Royce and Zoe to be raised by her husband. This was a good reminder that in the end, what we have to offer is our love and being real. We certainly don’t pretend to have all the answers or words to take away the pain, but being there can bring some comfort. This post has encouraged me to really focus in a difficult situation.
In the last year that I’ve come to know you, you and Erica have always shown alot of heart, and I know it has uplifted and inspired many. Without question, there is alot of love in this company directed back to the two of you, both from those you know and friends you have yet to meet. Thanks again for your leadership and vision. One more thing - hope you’re practicing with the skateboard. Look forward to a demo at convention! Take care.

Comment on What Could You Live Without? by big raz

big raz — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:57:43 +0000

Great turn of a phrase: “treadmill of accumulation”

Others have put it that we spend the first 80%, maybe it’s 99%, of our lives accumulating “stuff,” and the last desperate days and months trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

Another aspect is how interested people have become in a series of extremely insightful books by a noted architect (Ms. Susanka) “the not so big house,” and many derivative works–www.notsobighouse.com
That book, and discussions with a long time architect friend was a big part of our impulse to downsize our house, and ‘de-stuff’ ourselves.