Arianna Huffington on Conscious Business Academy

Arianna, Fred, Thank You very much for a beautiful near and dear to my heart conversation...being mindful, aware and conscious YES!!!. I like the fact that this is becoming a 'normal' part of our corporate conversation . I used to be the closeted one, often called the goody two shoes, crunchy granola :) I loved the corporate world and wanted these values to be a part of that world. Glad it is coming along. I would say I rate myself 10-12....I love my life where I am the master of it by establishing parameters that work for me- not checking email after 8pm, phones go on DND at that time as well yet feel completely OK to awake at after a good night sleep to deal with life. Thank You once again!

Another excellent post and video Fred Kofman thank you. I think that the urge to be nice, overshadows the need to be open and honest, and therefore, many won't challenge unacceptable behavior.

Im at 30 and our norm is about 50. Im a bit bryter of because of the mindset i have got from studying those principles you have presented here and in the book. We are now trying to find ways to get this Into the collective mindset. We have realized we have a long journey ahead of us but I feel confident that by demonstration this way of being will give me the oppurtunity to demand it in a broader way further on. I keep listening Fred

First, thank you for the wonderful written and audible conversations about why we sometimes act like a victim and fail to take responsibility for behavior and our own personal growth and development. Some thoughts about two topics in the video: 1 Regarding forming better habits... I agree with the approach of starting with starting with a simple, vary brief behavior which does not generate resistance in us. Behaviors which do not demand too much from our powerful unconscious, hard-wired, neural pathways in our brain have a better chance of surviving and sticking. The result could be that an easy to repeat pattern is formed which later can be further developed to compete more mightily with the entrenched old habit, which may never disappear totally. As with developing a muscle, one way to get there is to practice or exercise for an extended time. Our unconscious brain was trained for years to repeat that habitual old thought, feeling, behavior pattern and it wants to do what is familiar – what worked to keep us safe in the past; even as far back as early childhood. 2. Similarly, when we want a colleague or direct report to promise to change one way of behaving for another, such as adhere to a core value not being followed, or to listen attentively when another is speaking, I have used a way to get there for individuals and even for executive teams who agree to play this "game" with one another. There is little to no chance someone will make a 180 degree about-face from a hard-wired habit in a short period of time. If, however, the subject understands the value of the change and agrees to go for it, then by requesting that they “simply work on it” is a request (even a demand) they can live with. And whenever they fail to perform as they intended, they agree to allow one or more colleagues to respectfully point out that they did not do what they agreed to work on. And then the one who made the error is only allowed to say, “Thank you.” No arguing, no excusing, no blaming; even if a perfect alibi is handy. At the very least the experience will be a reminder to be mindful of their promise to work on it. No punishment, no consequences, so stress.