Could you hold a funeral for you business when it ends?

A few weeks ago I shared a wish; I want to share my stories with space, love and juiciness. ( thanks Charles Davies for doing your magic <3)

I had no idea what that might look like. I only new that wanted to get better at sharing what i know,?sharing what love and sharing my creativity.

My good friend Nick Stevens and I have a history of getting into long philosophical conversations on all kinds of topics. With his start up tech business brain and my systemic, ritual facilitating roots we cook up awesome things.

This is one of those things ??

As Nick is exploring Chat gpt 4 and I have this wish of sharing knowledge about rituals, we decided to do what we do best. Talk. And as I have been diving into grief rituals, we started out with the question: Could you run a funeral for your business and what would be the benefit of that?

We sat down, recorded our conversation, mixing start up/?business with ritual. We put the transcript through Chat gpt and played with different questions.?

Working with chat gpt has been weird, and also magical, and also unsettling, and also fun.?

It came up with words, sentences that I would never use, yet where still part of what was raised in our conversation. It felt a bit like someone took my words and ideas and fed it to a encyclopaedia and rearranged it all.?

Are you curious??

Here is some of what it came up with. ??

P.s: If you do want a funeral for you business, get in touch, we can create one for you.?

Prompt: Please can you give me a three paragraph summary of this discussion?

In this conversation, two people discuss the importance of funerals for failed businesses and the potential benefits of holding such rituals. They emphasize that these events can provide closure for the founders, employees, and stakeholders, allowing them to process their emotions and learn from their experiences. They also note that the grieving process can be transformative and create fertile ground for personal and professional growth.

The participants explore the idea that intentional endings can lead to intentional beginnings, and that consciously processing the lessons from a failed business can influence the story and outcomes of future endeavors. They believe that founders have an obligation to provide closure for their team members and facilitate a healthy environment for reflection and growth.

The conversation also touches on the differences in rituals between various countries and cultures, and how these events need to be adapted to the specific context. They discuss the potential for founders to use their experience to make better decisions in future ventures, and how the process of letting go can be beneficial for both the founder and the team. The conversation concludes with the idea that founders should lead these rituals as a final gift to their team members, allowing them to move on and grow from the experience.

Prompt: Imagine you are the founder of a business that will stop trading. Would you hold a funeral for this moment?

As the founder of a business that will cease trading, I would consider holding a funeral or a symbolic ritual to mark the end of this chapter. This event could provide closure for myself, the employees, and any stakeholders involved. It would serve as an opportunity to process emotions, reflect on the experiences and lessons learned, and celebrate the achievements we had together.

A funeral or similar event can facilitate the transition to new beginnings, allowing everyone involved to grieve and heal from the experience. Additionally, this process can promote personal and professional growth, offering valuable insights for future ventures. By acknowledging the end of the business and providing closure, I would be demonstrating responsibility and care for the team that has been part of the journey.

Ultimately, whether to hold a funeral or a different type of ritual would depend on the context and culture surrounding the business. The event should be tailored to fit the needs and preferences of the team, ensuring it is a meaningful and supportive experience for all.

Prompt: okay great, what would such a funeral look like for you?

A business funeral or closure ritual for me would involve several key elements to create a meaningful and supportive experience for everyone involved. Here's an outline of what it might look like:

1. Location: Choose a suitable venue that holds significance for the company or provides a comfortable and reflective atmosphere. This could be the office space, a peaceful park, or a rented event space.
2. Invitations: Invite all current and former employees, stakeholders, and anyone else who played a role in the company's journey. Encourage them to share their experiences and memories during the event.
3. Opening: Begin the ceremony with a welcome speech, acknowledging the end of the business and expressing gratitude for the team's efforts and contributions over the years.
4. Storytelling: Provide an opportunity for attendees to share their stories, memories, and emotions tied to the business. This could be done through individual speeches, a group discussion, or a dedicated open-mic session.
5. Reflection and Learning: Allocate time for participants to reflect on the lessons learned from the business, discussing successes, failures, and personal growth.
6. Commemoration: Create a symbolic gesture to represent the end of the business, such as burying a time capsule, lighting candles, or planting a tree. This act will provide closure and serve as a tangible reminder of the company's journey.
7. Celebration: End the event with a celebration of the company's achievements, such as a toast, a shared meal, or a party, allowing attendees to connect and commemorate their shared experiences positively.
8. Closure: Conclude the ceremony with a final speech or message, encouraging attendees to take the lessons and memories with them as they move forward in their personal and professional lives.

The specifics of the event would depend on the unique needs and preferences of the individuals involved, ensuring that the funeral or ritual is a genuinely meaningful experience for all.

Prompt: Thanks! Could you now write a more philosophical post, based on the conversation above, about why creating a new tradition of business funerals could be beneficial to the world? Feel free to consider what the world might look like when one million business funerals have happened…

Title: The Power of Business Funerals: Embracing a New Tradition for a More Resilient World

Introduction

In a world where entrepreneurship is highly celebrated, the closure of a business often goes unacknowledged, leaving founders and their teams with unresolved emotions and little opportunity to learn from the experience. By embracing a new tradition of business funerals, we can create a more resilient, supportive, and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. This post delves into the philosophical reasons behind adopting business funerals and envisions a world transformed by one million such ceremonies.

Emotional Healing and Growth

Business funerals offer a space for founders and their teams to grieve the loss of their venture, acknowledge the emotions associated with the experience, and ultimately find closure. By openly confronting and processing these emotions, individuals can heal from the loss, fostering personal growth and the capacity for resilience. In a world where one million business funerals have taken place, entrepreneurs would feel more supported and better equipped to face future challenges, knowing that their emotions and experiences are valid and respected.

Transforming Our Relationship with Failure

In a society that often stigmatizes failure, business funerals can help redefine our relationship with it. By treating the end of a venture as a meaningful event deserving of recognition, we can shift our perspective on failure from something to be avoided at all costs to an opportunity for learning and growth. When one million business funerals have been conducted, the entrepreneurial community will have embraced a healthier attitude towards failure, allowing for more innovation, experimentation, and creativity.

Cultivating Empathy and Collaboration

Business funerals also serve as a platform for fostering empathy and collaboration among entrepreneurs. By sharing their experiences and learning from one another, founders can build strong networks and connections that will benefit them in their future ventures. In a world where one million business funerals have occurred, these deepened connections would create a more collaborative, inclusive, and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem, making it easier for new ideas and ventures to flourish.

Conclusion

The adoption of business funerals as a new tradition has the potential to revolutionize the entrepreneurial landscape by promoting emotional healing, reframing our relationship with failure, and fostering empathy and collaboration. As we envision a world transformed by one million business funerals, we can see a future where entrepreneurs are better equipped to navigate the inevitable challenges they will face, and where innovation and creativity are truly celebrated. By embracing this new tradition, we can work together to create a more resilient and supportive world for entrepreneurs and their endeavors.