GENEROSITY IN BUSINESS

In pre-Columbian times, generosity and gift giving were important aspects of social life. As written records were not kept in those early days, people remembered important events by holding ceremonies that celebrated the guests who bore witness to them. Called a potlatch, this kind of ritual was so important people devoted a year or more to getting ready for one ...as guests expected the host to give them most - if not all - of his material wealth.
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PERSUADING OTHERS

In the jungle, many species have mastered the art of persuasion. The Bluebird of Paradise, for example, goes through elaborate displays of beauty and charm to persuade females that he is their best candidate for fatherhood. His objective clearly in mind, atop the highest tree, hung upside down and with his spectacular iridescent tail-feathers spread to form a huge two-toned blue halo behind his black face, he goes through a spectacular "sales pitch".
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STRATEGIC TRUTHS ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS

In the jungle, species go to great lengths to form bonds of trust that distinguish "us" from "them". In a predator/prey environment, trust is an empowering tool because so much depends on it. Trust gives us the ability to rely on another person's integrity, strength, goodness, etc. - Ex: You can trust that she'll be there to do the right thing. Read More...

ON SORCERY AND SCIENCE

Recently, I had the pleasure of telling one of my springboard stories to a group attending a training seminar. Story telling is a great way to teach, and a good story can transfer wisdom to people who can then use it to springboard into new thinking. I told the group about the Sorcerer-scientists of neotropical America who civilized the jungle more than 3000 years ago.
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THINK ABOUT OCEAN STRATEGIES

Have you heard about the Blue Ocean Strategy? Defined by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne in their book of that name, the term refers to emerging markets. The very competitive market that most of us know is called the "Red Ocean", while the term "Blue Ocean" is used to describe market niches that don't exist and are thereby not yet bloodied by a cut-throat competition.  
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COMMUNICATING WITH POWER

Tribes of howler monkeys or packs of coyotes might seem ferocious at first glance (you don't want to interfere with their next meal) but most of the snaps, snarls, growls, bared teeth and bites are merely "posturing for position". Study them to learn how to deal with threats. They'll also show you how to behave in crowds and how to climb the social ladder. As they live in large groups, they have the social cues down pat.
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TWO THEORIES OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT

I was reading my dog-eared copy of "The Neotropical Companion", John Kricher's primer on America’s rainforests. I wanted to look up some plant lore before a team-building trip to Costa Rica. His last chapter envisioned the state of the primary jungle by year 2000 - and his assessment was dismal. So I went looking for recent facts to see how correct he'd been. Things are worse than he predicted back then. Earth's forests are under unrestrained assault.
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A PRIMER ON PERSISTENCE!

I watched a nature film about jaguars. It showed a male ardently pursuing a reluctant female. The animator explained how her reluctance was part of their mating dance. Males prove “worthiness” by being ardent – that is - enthusiastic, incessant and passionate. Non-stop, the mating dance went on for two days and nights.
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THE RULES ARE CHANGING...

I was in Madrid to address the “First International Conference on Self-Empowerment” and the entire transaction – from their search to find me, to emails and Skype conversations determining exact needs – all of it was carried out over the Internet. Suzy and I even booked and paid our airline tickets and made hotel reservations online, and our client deposited the retainer directly into our bank account the same way. Times sure have changed! Read More...

WHERE DO AUTHENTIC LEADERS COME FROM?

In the jungle, it's hard to find the attributes that we consider to be "authentic leadership qualities". Ideas like integrity and empathy don’t necessarily play out in a predator/prey environment. The way a lot of people interpret it, leaders have followers - but that's not how Nature manages the pecking order. Read More...

BIO-MIMICRY AND INNOVATION

Do you know about the Gecko? This tiny lizard is a familiar site in tropical climates, and is often seen clinging to walls or ceilings of homes. Geckoes do homeowners a great service by ridding the house of pests like flies, ants, mosquitoes and roaches. Soon we'll all owe it a debt of thanks - as studies of it produce new science.
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2009 - IMPROVING YOUR TEAM’S PERFORMANCE

I watched as a mother cheetah taught her young how to fend for themselves. She was aware of the dangers of their jungle world and was sharing her wisdom. She communicated to them with low growls and grunts, gave them or nips and firmer bites when displeased, and purred loudly when pleased. I realized she was giving them feedback on their performance. Read More...

THE NATURE OF TEAMWORK

Research into insect and animal activities shows the impressive degrees to which species are capable of exhibiting team work in order to carry out their required tasks. New studies in New in Nature explain how a group’s activities constitutes actual team work.
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INNOVATIVE THINKING IN NATURE

I use examples from the tropical forest when I’m explaining creativity and innovation to corporate groups. I’m always amazed so many company owners and managers have to be convinced that learning how to be innovative is in their best interest. From my presentation, they are usually convinced that our human destiny is to become creative.
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SELF-EMPOWERMENT REQUIRES COURAGE

The world is fraught with danger and people have different ways of dealing with it. Some will avoid the subject, others will react with fear, endure a stressed life or follow strong leaders who promise to protect them. While developing courage is the only viable option, many people don’t even know that it’s a possibility.
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ON THE NATURE OF LEARNING

The Rock & Roll tune that suggests we "...Teach the children well..." is 100% correct. In Nature, successful species do it all the time. The realization is that the teacher benefits in the exchange --- it's one of those "altruistic self-interest" management scenarios that Nature champions.
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ALTRUISTIC SELF-INTEREST IS NATURE'S WORK ETHIC

Late one summer, I watched beavers at work to learn directly from the source how and why they do what they do. They'll transform an entire ecosystem - from a forest into a wetland and then into a rich and fertile meadow - by working dawn to dusk. I learned that they prosper from Nature management rule - altruistic self-interest - by working for their own benefit and the good of the whole geography.
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NATURE MANAGES A CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT

There is deep wisdom in tropical jungles and people would profit from learning the strategic ideas found there. The changing work environment requires innovative tools and new techniques so that society continues to prosper. Nature’s self-management principles offer great advantages to the individuals and organizations looking for answers in a rapidly changing world.
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HOW TO SUCCEED IN DIFFICULT TIMES

In the last few months, I’ve heard real horror stories from people who are deeply affected by the recent upsets in the economy. Others are angered by politics or despairing as they see more and more ecological catastrophes or "natural" disasters. You’ll agree the challenges are great but did you know that Nature expects us to work through these times by becoming creative leaders?
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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

I can find « lessons from the jungle » just about anywhere. I recently saw a powerful message about effective communications on the Discovery Channel, when I watched a show about a rescue program that helps chimpanzees in Africa.
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INSPIRING YOUR TEAM

Our biologist-guide pointed to a rather unusual event. At his suggestion, the corporate group we were leading in a training week pointed their cameras high into the treetops of the Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. A very large number of Whiteface monkeys - contrary to habit - were huddled together in one tree. Read More...

CREATIVE SELF-MANAGEMENT IN NATURE

Nature’s principles of self-management have become popular themes for social sciences and for enterprise. By “Enterprise” I mean the whole range of human activity, commercial or not, like planning, managing, designing, innovating, building, forging alliances, et al.
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