CONNECTION + COMMUNICATION Page 13 of 27

10 things I learnt leading a co-working tribe in Bali

Posted on 2015-05-19 at 8:55 am.

This is a guest post by Ben Keene. You can find out more about Ben here.

My nose is running. My sun-tan is already fading. I’m even shivering a little. Its not mid-winter but spring in England and British Summer Time has just kicked-in. So why the doldrums? Well, I’ve just got back from three months of fun and fulfilment in Bali piloting a new Tribewanted project focusing on co-working. I’ve learnt post-tribe fatigue is inevitable. I’ll be back in the game shortly.

So, in this moment between tribes (I’m back at The Escape School next week) — what did I learn?

1. Check-ins are the superglue

At least 4 times a week we would meet at Hubud and ask 2 questions to everyone:

What are you getting done today?

How can we help?

The simplicity and regularity of these sessions helped us take small steps forward daily and accelerate towards our goals.

2. Location. Location. Location.

I knew from my research that Bali, and Ubud especially, would be a good destination for coworking and startup inspiration but my expectations were smashed.

Bali’s spiritual, creative, natural culture is powerfully seductive — you can’t help but be wrapped up in its glow. This layered onto a canvas of volcanos, ocean, reefs and the bright green quilt of paddy fields and its popularity is unsurprising.

My daily commute cycling through Ubud monkey forest in the early heat, hopping round cafes for meetups, into galleries for inspiration, hiking through paddy fields, disappearing into bamboo paradises and the endless swimming opportunities meant that you couldn’t not feel energised. The challenge is fitting everything in — life was full in Ubud (I didn’t even make it to ‘ecstatic dance’).

3. Sunshine (and thunderstorms) are caffeine for the soul

The island climate at this time of year is dramatic — one minute intense heat, the next a monsoon. At night cracks of thunder that would crack into the core of your being. I found the drama of the weather an energizer. Bugs aside, there’s nothing like a tropical rainstorm to awaken your senses and reflect on what you’re doing. You can’t detach your work from the natural environment in somewhere like Bali and that’s a very good thing.

4. Give and you shall grow (pay it forward without expectation)

We did a lot of skill sharing. I can’t think of an occassion when this didn’t build stronger relationships and increase impact. We planned to split our time 50% (our projects) 25% (each others projects), 25% exploring Bali. With this mindset I saw a lot of people supporting each other with no questions asked about ‘how much time’ or ‘will I get it back.’

5. Tools rule

Whatsapp is our watercooler (we’ll get to ‘Slack’ at some-point), we gather round it to share our meetup plans, pictures, jokes and rapid feedback.

Strikingly is our ideas accelerator — the difference between people talking about their ideas before they visualised them was always obvious.

I watched Loretta, a consumate international development professional unleash her inner entrepreneurial creativity once she got a handle on a couple of tools and the permission to go wild with them — now, she’s an ideas machine.

6. My weakness is your strength. Baby.

Tommy: Young travel blogger taught himself how to build a following and engagement on instagram and then shared his lessons with us. In under a week he had become the ‘instagram’ expert.

Philippa: Teacher and novelist shared her creative writing tips and in return was motivated by the tribe to churn out her novel.

Bob: Corporate HR guy turned ethical recruitment missionpreneur shared his hiring tips and gained feedback on how to keep it lean.

7. Random acts of storytelling are exactly what you were looking for

Every Thursday we invite a guest to share their story with us. These included:

Vlatko: How (and why) I spent 6 years filming the Croatian coastline.

Kadek: Why I started Yoga Barn and the Bali Spirit Festival

Eiji: What I learnt making ‘The Happy Movie’

These might seem like irrelevant interruptions in our busy schedules, but often we found these fresh perspectives and inspiring stories would reinforce or shift our thinking around what we were doing.

8. Feedback in the tribe is rapid (and crucial)

Lisa: ‘So I’ve spent all night thinking about changing the name and brand to ‘your news assistant’. What do you think?’

Tribe: ‘But we love ‘Newspresso — your shot of daily news.’

Lisa: ‘Really?’

Tribe: ‘Yes!’

Lisa: ‘Ok, Newspresso it is!’

9. Not everyday is perfect. Even in Bali.

I’ve been to enough islands to know that paradise is a state of mind and not a perfect place. Bali is a handmade society, still struggling with corruption, traffic, pollution, rampant tourism, poverty, climate change and more. It looks perfect on the surface — this is what makes it a great holiday destination.

But when you’ve come to explore your future career or kickstart your business idea, there are days when the wifi is too slow, the bugs bite too much and, yes, when its just ‘too hot.’

This is when your tribe matter the most — they pick you up, remind you why this decision was a good one and that you’re not on your own (even if most people ‘back home’ think your in paradise).

Our Chief Experience Officer, Gusti Badra

10. Mindsets shift through community

This is something that Rob from The Escape School (my next tribe) said to me. It resonates perfectly. For all of us in the ‘behaviour change’ game we know that the key to making a positive and sustainable impact on someone is by connecting them meaningfully with others who share their outlook, intention and values.

If we can build a community — a tribe — around things that matter to people, then minds and behaviour will shift. Its a huge lesson and one that is becoming clearer by the day.

Thank you to my tribe buddies from Bali for leaping into the unknown and sharpening this conviction for me. Loretta says it best: [Tweet “A Tribe is a powerful thing.”] Being part of this one is an experience I’ll never forget!

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Tribewanted Startups Bali in numbers (so far):

In numbers… 45 tribe members. 60 ‘check-in’s. 62 new ideas (in one night). 3 volcanoes climbed (in one day). 30+ strikingly pages. 4000+ juices. 1000+downward facing dogs. An unlimited amount of hugs…

Meanwhile, just beyond the monkey forest, the adventure continues.

How can you improve the world today?

Posted on 2015-05-15 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

We can all contribute to making this world a safer, happier and more joyful place by being more mindful of our thoughts and actions and living our lives to the best of our ability. When we recognise the positive impact that we have on others’ lives, and that they have on ours, the world becomes a brighter place.

It really is the little things we do on a daily basis that can have the greatest impact. So start today and be the change you wish to see in the world. Need inspiration? Here are 10 ways you can make the world a better place today…

1. Be happy! If every single person was happy, or truly cared about making themselves happy, the world would be a much happier place!

2. Find a cause or mission you are passionate about and get involved.

3. Teach your children about eating healthily and exercising to prevent chronic disease.

4. Plant a tree, a flower, a plant… the earth needs more greenery and we all benefit from it.

5. Walk or ride a bicycle to work – keep fit and do your bit for the environment.

6. Donate and help others – your time, money, clothes, books, food, organs – whatever you can. You could even give the gift of life by signing up to become an organ donor.

7. Surprise a loved one – it doesn’t matter whether it’s your child, partner, parent or even your dog – make someone feel special.

8. Buy products that reflect your values, like Free Range, organic, Fairtrade, etc.

9. Call or visit someone who is lonely or sick.

10. Carry out a random act of kindness: send someone a kind message; give a small gift; make something for someone; or tell someone how much they mean to you. There are so many ways to brighten someone’s day.

Remember that our thoughts become our actions and the sum of our actions becomes the lives that we lead. What will you do to improve the world today?

Boost your creative power with The Little Beach Hut of Dreams

Posted on 2015-05-13 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

UPDATE: The Little Beach Hut of Dreams has been sold as we no longer live in Brighton and only residents are permitted to own beach huts there. This post has been archived for reference but we are no longer accepting applications for Dreamer-in-Residence. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Dreamers-in-Residence for being part of our adventure, and to Towergate Insurance for awarding The Little Beach Hut of Dreams runner up position in Beach Hut of the Year 2015. She was very proud!

Whatever you do for a living, or in your free time, creativity is an important part of life. As human beings we all need to find a way to express ourselves in order to feel fulfilled. But as Erwin Raphael McManus wisely said: “True creativity does not come easy; creativity is born of risk and refined from failure.” Whether you’re making music or art, writing books or poetry, taking photographs or designing the next big thing, creative blocks happen to even the best of us. So how can we break through them and return to that sweet spot where our ideas flow easily?

“Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective” ~ Mark Batterson

Sometimes we just need to slow down or switch off altogether, and often a change of scene can help too. Just by getting out and exploring the sights, smells and sounds we experience on our travels, we feel alive and invigorated. As Nick Skillicorn, CEO of Improvides, explains his TEDx Talk: “When the mind gets into a habit, it is actually very efficient at working on autopilot based on memory. If you provide new sensory input and make new decisions, such as going somewhere new for lunch, studies have shown you will have a short term boost to your creativity.”

Visiting new places and inspirational spaces can re-ignite our creativity and get us thinking in different ways. And this is one of the many reasons why Do What You Love has created The Little Beach Hut of Dreams; a tiny bolthole on the southern English coastline, with an uninterrupted view of the sea, where lovely people can escape to relax, dream, ponder, plan, create, wonder, and just be. And you’re invited to borrow it for a day – for free!

7 reasons why you should apply to become a Dreamer-In-Residence today:

1. There’s no electricity or wifi so it’s the perfect opportunity to switch off and enjoy a daylong digital detox.

2. You deserve time out to nurture your mind body and soul.

3. Being beside the seaside is good for your health. As well as helping you to feel relaxed and rejuvenated, the fresh sea air has purifying properties, which can help to eliminate negative emotions and promote natural healing.

4. It will remind you that life is magical and full of possibilities. Nothing beats gazing into the horizon to make you realize the amazing potential that lies within you, and that anything is possible.

5. You can reconnect with nature and be more mindful. Often we are so busy going about our daily lives that we forget to appreciate the amazing little things that make the world beautiful, like the clouds floating past in the sky, the waves crashing on the beach, or the sun setting on the horizon. But research shows that experiencing gratitude, and other positive emotions, boosts our creativity enabling us to do things like remember fine details vividly, think outside the box and link seemingly random ideas.

6. You can watch the world go by – strangers strolling gently past in no hurry to get anywhere, families eating ice-cream on the beach, couples wandering hand-in-hand along the Pier – and who knows, you might even make some new friends!

7. You’ll be inspired! The Little Beach Hut of Dreams is full of little surprises – like gorgeous books and fun little activities that will spark your creative thinking.

Everyone needs time and space to dream. We have built the space. You just need to find the time…

Apply to become a dreamer-In-Residence TODAY!

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, May 19. Find out more and apply here or click the image below.

The end is just the beginning

Posted on 2015-05-12 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This is a guest post by Lara Tabatznik who talks more about building 42 Acres – a dream retreat in Somerset, UK. You can find out more about Lara here, read our interview with her here and read her last blog post here.

On some level I didn’t believe this dream would come true, and on some level I knew deep down it would. It feels like this is just the beginning. My dream has been evolving for the last two years and I believe it will continue to, as I do. After all dreams are manifestations of who we, are as well as who we are becoming. So yes, it feels incredible to have planted the seeds for my dream retreat venue, and I feel like I’m only just getting started!

I think one of the most exciting things has been watching the house transform into a beautiful healing center right before my eyes. Besides the way it looks and feels, the energy of the space is completely different. There’s a sense of calm and peace and you feel it instantly, as soon as you walk through the door.

I have also loved the creative process of dreaming up ideas and visualising what 42 Acres could be. There is so much freedom in starting with a blank canvas, and the land is exactly that. The 42 Acres is just fields and fields of open land – with incredible potential, and endless possibilities. I think this will continue to be one of the best parts this venture; exploring new ideas and allowing the next stages in 42 Acres’ development to unfold easily and naturally.

Endless potential for 42 Acres to expand and grow

I see the first few months as an opportunity to pilot, to trial, to learn and to begin to figure it out. We have already opened our doors and we ran our first retreat a few weeks ago. It was a natural movement weekend, which explored the idea of humans as animals and how we evolved from primates – climbing, squatting, and hanging – to survive and thrive over millions of years.

Over the next few months we are running a whole range of events, including Raw Food workshops, Yoga, Sound Healing, a Philosophers Camp, an Indigenous Dreaming Retreat, and Social Change Workshops. It’s a varied and interesting program, and it truly excites me.

I see 42 Acres as a place that will grow organically. I see it as a center whose reputation will spread through word of mouth as a result of people’s own personal stories and experiences. I believe it will attract the people it is supposed to attract – the ones who feel drawn to come to us whether they know why or not. I see it as a place that will change lives and I hope that in years to come it will be known as a global home for transformation.

What has led me to this point? My gut. Over the years I’ve learnt that whenever I follow it I realise my dreams. My advice to anyone who has a dream is to trust your instincts, even if you don’t know where they are taking you. Go for it, reach high and you will figure all the details out along the way. The hardest part is to just start.

For more information about 42 Acres visit www.42acres.com or e-mail [email protected]

Shabnah’s day at the Little Beach Hut of Dreams

Posted on 2015-05-11 at 3:16 pm.

Written by vbnz

Last summer, Shabnah became a Little Beach Hut of Dreams resident for a day. She had intended to use her time to plan her next big trip abroad, but when she arrived the tranquillity won over, and she ended up planning very little – which turned out to be exactly what she needed! Here’s how Shabnah spent her day by the sea.

“I stumbled upon the The Little Beach Hut of Dreams during a google-search of things to cheer me up. The name was so enticing, the pictures pretty and Beth’s description enough to make me read everything on the website twice. I dismissed applying to be a dreamer-in-residence as it required what felt like the kind of bravery I was no longer familiar with. Also the deadline was a few hours after an interview for a job I didn’t even know if I wanted (hence the google-search distraction).

Still, I’d been preoccupied with the idea of pressing ‘pause’ on life for a while, and the idea of doing it in such soothingly stunning surroundings kept whispering to me. So an hour before the deadline, armed with a strong cup of tea and throbbing post-interview headache I completed the application, cringingly forced myself to record a youtube clip (since deleted), found a picture taken a summer ago on a day when all the stress and wrinkles had fallen out and pressed submit promising myself I wouldn’t think about it anymore.

The excitement I felt when Beth wrote to say I was successful was quickly overshadowed by suspicion and self-doubt: Why me? Would she regret it? I was also terrified – would I be able to deliver what I’d said I would do with the time, or would I ‘waste’ it stressing about the ‘right’ thing to do? All these emotions within the space of a few minutes on a Sunday evening! Despite briefly considering being a wimp and declining her offer because I was scared I’d fail at it, whatever ‘it’ was, I accepted, because obviously that was what I really wanted. And then I allowed myself to get excited.

I had been hoping only for dry weather but was fortunate enough to have unrelenting sunshine. Initially waiting by the wrong beach hut I finally arrived at the right place a little late, flustered and warm from rushing. I’d all but committed the pictures on the website to memory, the hut was even more beautiful in the flesh; perfectly kitted out with incredible attention to detail. By the time I’d said hello, sat down and taken off my coat, several layers of everyday-living-stress had fallen off. If this wasn’t enough kindness to a random stranger, Beth left me with a prettily-wrapped present which I decided to save till I got home; then opened twenty minutes later.

I’d come prepared with a case of books, notebooks, ‘to do’ lists and various other paraphernalia, determined to get the most out of my time here and not let anyone down by wasting it. Sadly this is how I’ve been living my life over the last few years – desperately cramming things in to prove to myself I am capable and moving forwards without stopping to think about what things would actually take me where I might want to go. Even on the walk down I’d mentally ticked off the order in which I would do things – update my to do list, a guided meditation because God knows I need to chill out, a few stretches, plan my upcoming trip overseas, a few creative writing exercises etc. etc. And I was going to list it as I went along so that when I got home and wondered what I’d done with the day I could show myself.

Luckily when I sat down with that uninterrupted view of the sea and the sound of the waves, all that unproductive nervous energy and everything I’d manically planned just evaporated in one big exhale. Instead of stretching I drank in every detail and sat there with a silly smile on my face. I read for a tiny bit, lay down to watch and listen to the waves, felt the sun and did absolutely nothing. For several weeks, maybe months, I’d been trying to get back to ‘being’ instead of ‘doing.’ In trying so desperately to achieve it I’d missed the point completely. There at the beach hut it returned to being the most natural thing in the world. My breathing got slower and slower and when I thought about all the things I ‘had’ to do they seemed very far away and really not that important.

A few people stopped to say hello, admire the hut and express envy. A random guy stopped to take my photo and a lady who had thought about applying herself sat down for a longer chat about work and the importance of making space for our creative sides, whatever form that may take.

For the first time in ages I found time to do a little writing, imposing no expectations on the quality of what I produced. I did read a tiny bit of my guidebook but planned little. The majority of the day was spent doing exactly what I had been craving when I first found out about the beach-hut – pressing pause and just being.

When Beth returned I was feeling pleasantly floaty, but wandering home was almost forcing myself to make that feeling last. Luckily since then I have put a few reminders of the hut around my home. Every time I catch sight of one I am taken to that silence within my previously overactive, second-guessing mind. When I applied I had been feeling lost and struggling with all decisions – I might make the wrong one, so best to make none. Being able to take a deep breath and return to how I felt that day makes it easier to listen to myself and make a decision that feels right in the moment, however small. Thank you Little Beach Hut built for dreaming for letting me clear enough of the chatter from my head for dreaming space.”

Since her residency, Shabnah has travelled to Peru and Ecuador, before spending January in Colombia, which she tells us was 100% unplanned and 100% perfect. 2 months ago Shabnah started the job she wasn’t sure she wanted – and so far so good.

If you could do with a day by the sea, to plan, play or just to be, apply for a residency at the Little Beach Hut of Dreams this summer. It’s amazing what a difference a day for yourself can make.

On foot through India

Posted on 2015-05-05 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

This is a guest post by adventurer, author and motivational speaker Alastair Humphreys. Find out more about Alastair here.

“I could walk to anywhere on Earth from here, if only I choose to make the time. The road is free and open and waiting.”

If you love the Beatles, at some point in your life you will have to visit Liverpool. Elvis fans have Graceland. Baseball has the Yankee Stadium. And, if you love travel and are curious about the world, then you need to experience India before you die.

I call myself an “Adventurer” and a “Travel Writer”. I had visited almost half the countries on Earth. But I had never been to India.

That needed to change.

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Introducing Rose Radtke…

Posted on 2015-04-29 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

Our small (and perfectly formed!) team is growing by the day… I’m delighted to introduce you to the newest member of the Do What You Love family, Rose Radtke. Rose joins us in the role of Marketing Officer/Community Manager where she’ll take on the happy challenge of growing and nurturing our buzzing community. Rose is an avid believer in choosing a lifestyle that enables you to do more of what you love. She left the office behind to explore her own passions and she’s now excited about helping you to find yours. We’re thrilled that she has chosen to join us and we can’t wait to see her blossom in her new role. ~ MR K

Two years ago Rose went on a quest to find a new hobby. After flailing her way through several Zumba, Nia, yoga and aerial circus skills classes, she decided to dust off an old sewing machine. After a few YouTube tutorials she was hooked, and now loves making her own clothes and home accessories. She is passionate about the look, feel and smell of beautiful fabrics, and has become an advocate for ethical fashion. This year she has decided to reject fast fashion altogether; you can read more about her journey on her blog.

Rose describes herself as optimistic, curious and colourful and when she’s not sewing, she can be found snooping around flea markets, scrawling in notebooks and relaxing with her family and friends in the country, or by the sea.

She says: “For me, being curious and creative and having space to be me are the key ingredients to happiness. When I was growing up, my parents always encouraged me to be myself and do whatever made me happy. I’ve carried that with me; each day I’m true to myself and others, and I’m always exploring new opportunities. Brighton is my home and always has been. I love to travel and experience different cultures, but I’m always delighted to come home to my family, my friends and my quirky little city sandwiched between the sea and the countryside.”

Do What You Love HQ Update – April 2015

Posted on 2015-04-28 at 8:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

April has been a momentous month for us here at DWYL HQ. Our team is finally complete. We have laid what we believe to be strong foundations and we are now in a position to implement our grand plans and embrace all the wonderful new opportunities that lie ahead.

The month was littered with highlights, however there is really only one place I can start. I have the great pleasure to introduce our newest team member, Rose. Rose is our new Marketing Officer & Community Manager and you can read all about her in tomorrow’s blog post. Beth and I couldn’t be happier with the team we have in place and we look forward to seeing everyone flourish and grow as the company continues to go from strength to strength.

After months and months of planning and hard work, The Business Soul Sessions is back!

The Business Soul Sessions is a thought-provoking, perspective-shifting, mind-opening approach to business growth for entrepreneurs who want greater impact, explosive growth and serious profits they can be proud of. Registration is OPEN! Interested?

A few kind words from past students…

“This course was pivotal for me. It helped me gain a professional confidence and business identity that I didn’t know I was even missing.” ~ Noelle Rollins

“My business has grown at least 300% and my network and knowledge have expanded exponentially because of this course.” ~ Sandra Dumais

“The Business Soul Sessions changed my entire approach to everything I did. It changed how I thought about business and living the life of a business person. I taught myself to value my talents, my time and my efforts. I would tell anyone who is in a business that relies on creativity, imagination and ingenuity that they really need to do this course. It will pay for itself and you’ll look back in time and be so grateful that you invested in your soul work”. ~ Kass Hall

This month Beth was invited to The Royal Institution to participate in a debate organised by Barclays. Their LifeSkills programme is certainly generating positive change and the topic for discussion was whether ‘Doing What You Love’ is good career advice or not. I certainly don’t have to tell you what side of the fence we were all on. It was great to be able to take our team to the event and see first hand such important issues like this being discussed. I know I left feeling even more empowered and motivated by our work. You can find out more about the debate on Twitter #BarclaysDebate.

And there’s lots more exciting news to report…

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The lost art of real conversation

Posted on 2015-04-27 at 10:55 am.

Written by Beth Kempton

A friend once told me about their time at Harvard Business School, saying that the most valuable part of their experience was their walk home from lectures. Every day they would walk back with a different student from their class, or a different professor, and quiz them about their life and philosophy. Over the course of a year they probably had over 200 fascinating conversations.

How many of the conversations in your day are about tiny, trivial things, and how many are about life’s big questions? How often do you talk to others about meaning, purpose, wonder? How often do you ponder the major challenges of our time, and think what role you can play in altering the future, whether that is through your own daily actions, the people you vote for or the advice you give your children?

I love having big conversations, often with relative strangers, because they remind me how much more there is to know and learn about the world, and how we really do have the opportunity to change things we aren’t happy with.

That is why I was so delighted and honoured to host Alchemy, a series of video interviews where I have big conversations with thought leaders in the worlds of education, business, exploration, science and art. I learnt a huge amount, and came away with many new questions to ponder.

If you have already signed up for the Alchemy series I hope you will find the time to tune in to the daily videos. If not, the whole series will be available for latecomer registration shortly, but in the meantime you can join me and the Alchemists for daily Twitter chats, where you can ask them big questions yourself. Ask them anything you like, and get ready for some challenging and inspiring responses! To join in search #dwylalchemy on Twitter and catch the chats at the times published here.

This week we’d like to challenge you to tune in for our Twitter chats with the Alchemists and JOIN THE CONVERSATION! Ask them real questions and get real answers, then take it a step further and continue that conversation with someone in your life.

On a separate note, we are gearing up for the start of our new business course The Business Soul Sessions, which begins on May 11. If you are thinking of starting a new business, or if you already have a business but feel it has stagnated, or that you have only just scratched the surface of what your business could be, but don’t know how to grow it, this is the course for you.

I know deep in my bones that this course is going to bring about real change for so many entrepreneurs – we have seen it already, having tested the course on 300+ business owners, and used the revolutionary principles to see massive year-on-year growth in our own company. If you are considering making one investment in your business this year, I would encourage you to make THIS that investment. You won’t regret it! Find out more and book your place here.

Beth and team

(@dowhatyoulovexx on Twitter)

Why did you start your business? Can you remember? Having a strong business mission statement will help you in everything you do. This free business builder resource will help you think back to what is important for you and why you started your business in the first place. It will help you shape your business, give it a purpose and make it matter to others too.

Do What You Love interview – Max Lenderman

Posted on 2015-04-23 at 5:40 pm.

Written by Beth Kempton

As part of our ‘Love business’ month, we’re excited to bring you this interview with Max Lenderman, one of the world’s leading experts on experiential marketing.

As well as being a lecturer at University of Colorado’s Boulder Digital Works and a founding board member of the International Experiential Marketing Association (IXMA), Max is an author, a sought-after public speaker, and a media commentator and mentor on the subjects of strategic branding, experiential marketing and emerging global business trends. He is also founder and CEO at School, a purposeful advertising agency that helps make the world a better place.

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