r|thoughts: i stalked saw paul hawken speak ...

yesterday evening

05.29.2007

Berkeley California

First Congregational Church of Berkeley 2345 Channing Way

Book tour 7:30pm

[almost 13 years since i last saw him speak]

how happy was i?
way. way happy.
[and yes, i gave up my tues evening routine for this event.]

back story ... in 1994 (specifically nov 2nd), i attended a conference in san jose.

11/02

Environmental Management Forum

San Jose, CA

Keynote Address

Ecology and the Changing Nature of Business

paul hawken was the luncheon keynote (around when the ecology of commerce was out ... and i had checked-out from the library growing a business) ... i was working in a traditional corporate position doing environmental compliance work. a week before the conference, i turned in my resignation letter.* (no, the company i worked for did not send me to the conference. i was on my own - my money - my time off.)

*[my last day at work was on the anniversary of the clean air act amendments, and in 1994, that was a tuesday - in the middle of a pay period. there's a story (short one) behind that, also.]

i went specifically to the 1994 conference because i could and really wanted to go - especially to have opportunity to hear and maybe even meet paul hawken. so ... i made a point to stalk meet mr. hawken before his presentation - and i did, while he was walking around the exhibit hall area. i asked if i could walk around with him. so i did. (smile) and this experience definitely contributed to shaping my departure from the traditional corporate setting and the evolution of my business.

fast forward to yesterday (tues) evening ... i didn't stalk him, but i did re-meet him - i enjoyed the brief 'hello' while he signed my recent addition to my library, blessed unrest: how the largest movement in the world came into being and why no one saw it coming. (i'll take a pic and later post.) in addition to the stroll around cal berkeley before his talk, i enjoyed the evening quite a bit ... i enjoyed what he had to say.

and once again, i am hopeful that this experience will contribute to shape my current efforts to evolve my business. let's see where this takes me.