April 2009: Creating Everything

Meritocracy and 100% Responsibility. Thanks to Michele Martin’s blog, the Bamboo Project, and her post on Matt Miller’s new book, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas, I’ve been thinking a lot about these two ideas.

Meritocracy: success based on talent, ability or merit. Jeff Jarvis (What Would Google Do) describes how the internet allows ‘good ideas’ to bubble to the top, and how companies should be meritocracies where customers benefit from your best ideas.

100% Responsibility: claiming the power we have over our own thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and assumptions to influence our experiences (me).

Michele Martin: “much of what passes for merit is really privilege–the privilege of a life that allows you to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to earn a good living.”

How do we discuss 100% Responsibility, a core concept in personal empowerment, and merit or being your best, while also addressing compelling issues of privilege and class?

I address these questions where I can – in my own life and work…

I’ve been using the phrase ‘white dude’ to describe the western European male influenced patriarchy that has created so many of the ideas and structures that have both liberated and oppressed. Ironic given that I’m married to and gave birth to two ‘white dudes’. I love white dudes!

And how can we take the best of the white dude culture, leave the rest, and weave in the best of what the rest of us have to offer?

Some examples:

• Jan (my husband) and I are exploring how he can be freed from the onerous white dude responsibility of holding down the 9-5 job, and being ‘the rock’ for everyone else.

By creating success in my business, I open opportunities for my husband to be his best.

• We met with a white dude to explore collaborating on career development projects. He had some cool tools, we had new approaches, but this guy ultimately wasn’t open to our kind-of new.

By choosing to work with white dudes who want to be stretched, we’re shifting the dominant culture to include the merits of all.

• We are passionate about coaching being accessible to people of all income levels.

By working to create affordable online learning and coaching, we’re breaking down the boundaries of privilege.

Taking 100% responsibility for creating everything happens on a continuum. We start where we can, we create what we can, we encourage others to be responsible, and we do everything to level the playing field so that everyone can be at their best. Before we know it, we’ll be consciously creating everything.

What do you think? To what extent is conscious creation really possible?

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