Velocity, profit and virtue: life, money and business, not black and white but a million shades of grey

There is a false perception that radical extremes are the ultimate correction mechanism. The prevalence of this overreach appears rampant, globally.

Opinions on the US presidential result yesterday filled this platform.

It got me reflecting on how usual it is to want to put things in compartmentalised boxes rather than acknowledging the meld of overlap and the complexity that is life, living, working, loving and doing business.

That 'everything IS connected' gets leap frogged by more seemingly ‘urgent’ matters that invariably get misrepresented.

I’ve talked a lot in these newsletter editions, about where I see the focus being needed. I’ve been enormously inspired this year by a 42 day Mandala programme I participated in, in India.

What follows was part of the programme. I’m highlighting this because of perception bias. Many might imagine it was all about personal indulgence and introspection, a ‘retreat’ typically conjures up rest, replenishment, recalibration, it was all of that too but SO MUCH MORE. ? I get that not many people are in a position to take 42 days out. The gold though, was not in any ‘indulgence’ per se but having the luxury of time to cultivate capacity to become more aligned. Aligned with what? Aligned within oneself, meaning ease and flow. Vitally too, aligned with existential, unvarnished truth.?

NB STABILITY, AN ENGAGED LIMBIC SYSTEM AND EMOTIONAL AGENCY IS THE GATEWAY TO ALIGNMENT

These are extracts from my notes, relative to where we are and in no small way, also relative to yesterday’s result. I’m sharing because it will give you a vastly different perspective on what it means to be on ‘retreat’ and also, to know that by focusing on yourself helps you and I be of service to the world.

?The global system of trade and economic dependency

We discussed the evolution of trade, detailing a shift from an exchange based on surplus (where communities exchanged excess resources) to a needs-based economy where consumer dependency is manufactured. This has led to systems that exploit basic human needs for profit. In modern trade, where we are now, needs are often artificially created, perpetuating scarcity and dependency. We discussed this dependency model as leading to ‘power games’ where entities control resources and people through their needs. There was collective advocation for a return to greater self-sufficiency, reducing reliance on proxies for fulfilment (eg fast food as a proxy for nutrition or social media as a proxy for connection), and shifting towards authentic community and connection that is not rooted in scarcity or manipulation.

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Environmental and societal transformation

We were united in advocacy for ecological preservation as essential for societal wellbeing. Collective advocation for the "30 by 30" commitment, which involves conserving 30% of the Earth's surface by 2030 an initiative led by the ?Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This effort is viewed as critical in countering environmental damage caused by industrial practices, such as unsustainable agricultural runoff impacting oceans and the carbon footprint of food production. Environmental health is not merely a necessity for nature but ?an intertwined aspect of human health and peace. By conserving ecosystems and embracing ancient wisdoms such as Shamanism Ayurvedic, or Traditional Chinese Medicine. We passionately discussed (around thirty of us) how humanity can regain a more balanced, sustainable relationship with the Earth, which ultimately supports societal stability and peace.

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?Military and technological threats

We explored the shifting landscape of global threats, noting that pharmacology and genetic engineering may soon rival traditional military concerns. There were many expressions of concern and notes of caution (from those who knew more) relative to advancements in technologies such as CRISPR – Clustered ?Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (gene editing) and quantum computing, highlighting the ethical risks these innovations pose if used irresponsibly. The conversations pointed to conscious, ethical oversight; these technologies have the power to reshape life and identity. And there’s a broader concern that, if left unchecked, these technologies could deepen inequalities, erode privacy (further), or lead to exploitation. By redirecting focus from militaristic advancements to responsible scientific stewardship means focus on global cooperation to harness technology for societal good rather than domination. And we discussed a call for a ‘100 year, no war pact’ signalling a long-term commitment to peace and mutual aid over conflict and exclusion.

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?Migration and refugee policies

It may not get more controversial than this discussion point: ?a vision for a world where free movement of people, particularly from the global South to the North, is respected and supported. This vision advocates for reframing migration not as a threat but as a beneficial process that can enrich societies. We discussed all perspectives but there’s no escaping that restrictive migration policies and closed borders create a form of fragmentation and isolation, which is the antithesis to a balanced, interconnected world. This perspective aligns with a broader narrative I talk about that is dissolving barriers, within and without.

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Business ecosystems, people and motivations

?In modern business ecosystems, real, sustained success stems from nurturing full human capacity that leads to people flowering to be their best selves. When organisations support the deep development of individuals, caring for their physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, employees naturally thrive and businesses are more financially successful. ?This approach moves beyond transactional motivation. It fosters intrinsic purpose and commitment that fuel both personal and collective success. As awareness rises within teams, a natural flow of unity emerges, making collaboration seamless and grounded in shared intent. This elevated consciousness reduces the friction of forced productivity, replacing it with effortless alignment where motivation becomes innate. When business culture encourages and actively supports you and I towards full potential, the result is hand in glove with reputation, profit, loyalty and passion.

?If I could whisk everyone off for 42 days, I would! Until that time comes, The Mandala42 -Living Retreat is the best second I can offer, with a supportive business ecosystem and efficacy analysis that guides people and business decision makers, to solutions rooted in self interest that are actually for the good of all.

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Finally

The call that resonates, is for a radically interconnected, value orientated global order where systems of dependency, power imbalances, and isolation are replaced with mutual support, sustainability, and an ethical approach to technological and environmental stewardship. Each of the points above are contextualised within a larger framework that emphasises the necessity of personal alignment, unity and consciousness across geopolitical, economic and societal domains.

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