6 Impactful Ideas from the book "Conscious Business"

I recently finished reading "Conscious Business" written by Fred Kofman.

My grade of the book: B- (using the American grading system) - recommended!

I think the book is worth reading for a few gems you can find there. Especially the part about integrity was breathtaking, I recommend to read that chapter even if you don't read the book. There were a lot of skippable moments where I didn't feel engaged or that described ideas I am familiar with yet that didn't destroy my overall impression.

Lessons that I took out:

Big idea #1: 7 pillars of 'conscious business', integrity being the one I see most dismissed

What's the opposite of integrity? Essential Selfishness. I liked this a lot:

Essential selfishness is the exclusive focus on ego gratification, without concern for the well-being of others. It is the drive toward immediate satisfaction, without considering the long-term consequences of your actions on others - or even on yourself. The selfish individual is single-mindedly focused on her desires. She seeks pleasure, assuming that getting what she wants is both necessary and sufficient for a good life. Winning is everything for her; all her attention is on "taking care of number one", coming out on top, being first at any cost. She is ready to do anything to achieve her goals: bend some rules, break others, use people if convenient, disregard them if not, sack them if necessary. The selfish individual respects no moral or legal boundaries in her pursuit of ego gratification. She may obey the law, but only out of fear of punishment - not because of any sense of morality. She is ruthless and relentless in her pursuit of pleasure. She sees other people as a means whose only role is to serve her purposes. She is guided by greed, envy, and jealousy, consumed by possessiveness. Her desire is never satisfied. The blindness of the selfish individual is that her attachment to success is the ultimate source of her suffering. Her endless cravings lead her to a hellish realm of anxiety, fear, frustration, and depression. In the buddhist tradition these individuals are called "hungry ghosts" and are depicted as having huge mouths and long thin necks, which make them unable to swallow what they bite off. Their bodies are emaciated since they cannot get any nourishment. Spiritual traditions of East and West tech that attachment to egoic desire always leads to suffering. The selfish individual disregards this wisdom, trusting that the satisfaction of her endless appetite is the key to happiness.

Big idea #2: Be kind to others, find inspiration in spirituality

In Sanskrit "Namaste" means "I bow to yon" — not to the small "you" but to die vast expression of Consciousness that "You" are. Another way to put it might be, "I honor the Divine Light that shines as you." The more I used this greeting, the more I appreciated it. I noticed that it softened my heart. I found it difficult to be harsh with someone after bowing to them and reminding myself that this person may in fact be the Messiah. When I returned home, I adopted "Namaste" as my greeting. I didn't have to use the Sanskrit word. I could say "hi" to anyone and think to myself, "I honor the Divine Light that shines as you." I took to secretly "Namaste-ing" everybody: my family, my friends, my colleagues, my clients — even my dog. So, as we finish this journey and prepare to go into the market with helping hands, I bow to you. I see the Divine Light that shines as you.

Big idea #3: Learners will inherit the earth

In times of change, the learners will inherit the Earth while those attached to their old certainties will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. - Eric Hoffer

Big idea #4: It's possible to have desires (goals) while detaching from their outcomes

Seek refuge in the attitude of detachment and you will amass the wealth of a spiritual awareness. Those who are motivated only by desire for the fruits of actions are miserable, for they are constantly anxious about the results of what they do. They who have renounced their selfish attachment to the fruits of their action live in wisdom. Neither agitated by grief nor hankering after pleasure, they live free from lust and fear and anger. Those who are deluded become attached to the fruits of their action. Performing all actions for my sake [the Essential Truth] and without expectations, act free from the fever of the ego. - The Bhagavad Gita

Big idea #5: Make change starting from leadership and culture

I believe the highest leverage can be gained by focusing on culture. I also believe that the strongest determinant of an effective, healthy culture is conscious leadership. Developing consciousness in top managers is the most efficient way for an organization to improve.

Big idea #6: Checklist for good leadership

The researchers found that exceptional managers created a workplace in which employees emphatically answered "yes" when asked the following questions:

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work?
2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right?
3. At work, do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day?
4. In the last seven days have I received recognition or praise for doing good work?
5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person?
6. Is there someone at work who encourages my development?
7. At work, do my opinions seems to count?
8. Does the mission/purpose of my company make me feel my job is important?
9. Are my co-workers committed to doing quality work?
10. Do I have a best friend at work?
11. In the last six months, has someone at work talked to me about my progress?
12. The last year, have I had opportunities at work to learn and grow?

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