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Conscious Capitalism Chicago: Blog

We write about our adventures, tours, gatherings, discussions and more.

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  • May 25, 2015 8:40 AM | Deleted user

    Vulnerability is sexy

    Vulnerability is sexy. Yep. Stay with me here.

    Mostly we tend to want to hide our vulnerabilities for fear of ridicule and disconnection (at least that’s true for me). Or, fear of actually feeling feelings that make us uncomfortable like grief, disappointment, and worse, shame–the ultimate disconnector!

    Yet it’s our vulnerabilities, our openness to life as it unfolds, that provides us a sense of aliveness, joy and creativity.

    Check out the picture to your right. It’s from the Vulnerability is Sexy wall at the Conscious Capitalism Conference I attended earlier this spring here in Chicago, a business conference of all things.    

    At check-in participants received a bright teal postcard asking us to write down our vulnerabilities. Amazingly, people wrote them out!

    Throughout the conference Corey Blake and his Round Table artists were creating this wall from those bright teal postcards. At every break folks were checking out the artwork, the sentiments shared and talking about them.

    While conversations at the conference ranged from business to branding, values we all share stood out: to do good work in the world, to have clean water and air, to care for our children and parents, to not only belong to a community but to contribute in meaningful ways–and to live life fully.

    All these conversations had at the center the commitment to what I’d call an ethic of right action and love, especially the ones at the wall. By publicly sharing our vulnerabilities, now artistically captured on the wall, what was perceived as weakness or disdainful or a simply a secret to be hidden away, became a source of energy and connection.

    Our strength and frailty as human beings, our foibles and idiosyncrasies are our creative source for engaging with life as it unfolds each moment. Our willingness to stand right at the edge of what makes us most uncomfortable is the training we need to engage most deeply with those around us, to offer ourselves and our contributions to the larger world, whether in business, teaching, community service, health care, . . . . to stand in dignity in our place in the world.

    Our interconnection is not only obvious and necessary, it’s good business. It’s healing to the world and likely to the planet. It requires owning our vulnerabilities . . . . .admitting mistakes and failures, acknowledging not being an expert and maybe needing help, owning our difficulty with emotions at times and other people often . . . yes, our vulnerabilities connect us to ourselves and what it means to be human and compelling.

    And that’s pretty sexy.


  • May 12, 2015 8:44 AM | Deleted user

    What is a B Corp Company?

    By voluntarily meeting higher standards of transparency, accountability, and performance, Certified B Corps are distinguishing themselves in a cluttered marketplace by offering a positive vision of a better way to do business. Want to learn more?

    Bring a friend to this month’s B Corp Social and Outreach Event and hear more about the local Illinois B Corp community, network with a passionate group of people using business as a force for good, and learn what it takes to become part of this growing global movement. The event will be hosted by Avenue, a brand strategy firm in River North, from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are $10.

    Register here

    You can visit the B Corp Web site for even more information. 


  • May 10, 2015 8:50 AM | Deleted user

    Heard from Tony Schwartz, The Energy Project…

    At Conscious Capitalism 2015, which was held in Chicago April 7-9, Tony Schwartz from The Energy Project took the stage. He didn’t just slowly step onto the platform. He didn’t shake someone’s hand and then turn to the audience. He walked purposefully into the room from the back doors. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams was playing loudly on the overhead speakers. As he walked up the long aisle, his arms were raised above his head, clapping to the beat. Within seconds, the audience of 400 was on its feet. Full of energy.

    A fitting start to a presentation from the man who founded The Energy Project. Here are some of the fantastic ideas Tony shared.

    “About Capacity”

    We take capacity for granted. If you don’t have sufficient capacity, you have a problem.

    We need to find a rhythmic relationship between stress and recovery. Not too much stress or too much rest, but the ability to make intermittent waves between them.

    Most of us see stress as the enemy, but we need it to help us grow and expand our capacity.

    It isn’t just the number of hours, but the energy we are capable of bringing in those hours.

    If we are running on empty, we breakdown, burn out and get sick.

    “About Leadership Virtues”

    No virtue is one by itself.

    When we are tired, burned out, threatened, our strengths are in overdrive. We are unable to ask what else might be true.

    Good leaders hold flexible movement between thinking and feeling. They see more and exclude less.

    Good leaders need to go deeper, wider and longer.
    If you want to read more about Tony, check out his blog.


  • April 22, 2015 9:15 AM | Deleted user

    Heard from Simon Mainwaring, We First Branding…

    • When forming an idea, think about the world, the industry, the region, the community, the market, the company, the employee. And then, consider, “if this is the world we live in, what role does our brand play?”
    • Define a story worth telling to be a brand worth sharing. How well you tell your story determines how well consumers share your story.
    • A company’s brands need alignment; they should ladder up to one shared purpose.
    • When you are presenting an idea, present it as a solution. Tell the story around what you’re helping to solve, and then back into their need. Offer co-authorship and co-creation.
    • A brand must be the chief celebrant, not the celebrity, of its consumer community.
    • Build a mission with a company, not a company with a mission.

    Want to read more from Simon? Get his book – We First – or visit his Web page. Or attend his upcoming conference the Brand Leadership Summit in October.

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    Want to be part of more discussions like this? Come to the next Conscious Capitalism Chicago event!


  • April 18, 2015 9:18 AM | Deleted user

    The Start of Something Good

    Conscious Capitalism Four Pillars

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    Conscious Capitalism Four Pillars

    Conscious Capitalism Chicago is made up of people who can’t wait to see the world when the majority agree that people matter most in business.

    Conscious Capitalism builds on the foundations of capitalism – voluntary exchange, entrepreneurship, competition, freedom to trade and the rule of law. These are essential to a healthy functioning economy, as are other elements of Conscious Capitalism including trust, compassion, collaboration and value creation.

    This blog will be a place for us to share resources, stories and content that we hope help in this mission.

    Want to join us? Check out our upcoming events to meet like-minded people and leave inspired. What we hear most from our events? “I didn’t know there were so many successful people who believe in the same things I do.” It’s true. Come and meet them. http://consciouscapitalismchicago.org/events


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