I recently attended the EO University in Amsterdam (www.eonetwork.org). For an entrepreneur who sees a never-ending smorgasbord of opportunity in the world and who always questions higher purpose it was set to be a dream four days. It didn’t disappoint. The theme was Change the World and it was one of the most inspiring, fun filled, life changing times of my life. Speakers included Mohammed Unis, Peter Schwartz, Joshua Silver, Kofi Annan and Julian Assange.
There was a common theme of sustainability, simplicity, possibility, peace, prosperity, values, conviction and community. It was all about not being afraid to ask the big questions then challenging the norm and going beyond obvious realities to come up with very simple solutions and answers. The strength of the entrepreneurial spirit was at an all time high and the energy was palpable.
Throw in 550 entrepreneurs from all over the globe, the allure of Amsterdam and some of the most fun, creative and inspiring Dutch hosts (at times I was jilted back to reality from thinking it was a four day dance party masquerading as a conference) and you’ve got a recipe for one of the best ever events.
It was too great an experience to keep it all to myself. So a few things to share…
The first is a lift out from the conference book of personal change (thanks to Sjaak Vink and the other organisers) which set the scene and if you’re an entrepreneur it may send a shiver through you as it did me:
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward! Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels? We organised EO University Amsterdam for these kinds of people.
While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to change the world, are the ones who do”.
It was clearly set out at the beginning of the University that on the back of four days of entrepreneurial presence we would collaboratively develop a manifesto that we would take to the world. We did it and it and it reads:
“We, more than 500 entrepreneurs, members of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), gathered in Amsterdam to dream of a future of progress and improvement and the role that we will play in our changing world.
Henceforth, we declare that we will focus our passions on leading our world forward and searching for solutions to its most pressing challenges.
In reinforcing the existing core values of EO, we hereby pledge to the following values for ourselves, our companies and our communities:
Passion, Integrity, Respect, Balance, Authenticity, Leadership, Fun, Trust, Generosity, Courage, Honour, Transparency and Empathy.
From this day forward, we will adopt a new way of doing business.
We are a powerful influence in our world. Our values have great consequences – for ourselves, our children and our society. We will ensure that our values will be central to our entrepreneurial practice. Profit will not be an end in itself; sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship will be an obvious and natural extension of our company’s social relevance.
Entrepreneurs have the courage to make bold decisions that address challenges and deliver desperately needed innovations that will improve the lives of millions. As leaders, we are always searching for new paths, opportunities and possibilities. As intellectual and social pioneers, it is our duty to share our vision for a better world and reinforce our words with action.
We will act in accordance with the values of this manifesto. Collectively, we will embrace a new way of looking at and doing business. We will honour the great responsibility we bear as entrepreneurs, making
sustainable and innovative entrepreneurship integral to our lives, our companies and communities.
We urgently call on the more than 7,000 members of EO to join with us and endorse this manifesto with their actions. Furthermore, we appeal to every entrepreneur globally to adopt the spirit of our manifesto.
Signed, 17 September 2011, Amsterdam”
After an awe inspiring, life changing fun filled week I went into a very deep and philosohopical space. I know for me there is definitely a big groundswell and my team and I are in the process of re-visioning what is our greater purpose. How, why and what are we going to do to really make an impact and change the world. Its taken us to a whole new level of thinking and we’re grateful and excited.
I challenge you to do the same. If you could really do anything to truly make a difference, what would it be and how would you do it. I’d love to hear your feedback.
Keep loving what you do, questioning, searching, journeying and inspiring by example x L