Seeds

This is a short excerpt of the longer interview with Richard Black that I thought was really helpful when thinking about the role we can help with helping children make sense of the world.

"That there are times when they will make mistakes, but who they are as a person is not faulty".

Resources for helping Children: https://mindhealth.org/mind-health-for-kids/

Mind Health website: https://mindhealth.org/about-us/

For the full interview visit https://seeds.libsyn.com/richard-black-on-mind-health

For more episodes visit www.theseeds.nz

How often do we talk about our physical health but ignore mental health in our lives? Richard founded Mind Health to change that focus by working to empower people to transform their lives. He has recently released "Centred: Knowing who you are in an off-balanced world" and the children's book "There's a Happy Moon in my side". In this interview we find out about Richard's background and what led him to focus on this as a counsellor and what he is involved in today. There are also a bunch of free resources at the link below. If you enjoy this interview then remember there are more than 215 others in the back catalogue you might appreciate as well at www.theseeds.nz

Mind Health website: https://mindhealth.org/about-us/

Five principles of Mind Health:

centred Centred people are stable, confident people because they know their deep needs are met. They do not rely on other people or things to feel ok about themselves.

mental resilience Mentally resilient people maintain a helpful perspective, even in difficult situations. This enables them to be optimistic, flexible, and solution-focused.

emotionally intelligence Emotionally intelligent people take ownership of their emotional response and regulate their emotional state. They are aware of what they are feeling, neither indulging nor denying their feelings.

proactive Proactive people look for constructive solutions to difficulties or obstacles they are facing. They deal with issues quickly, and continually search for ways to make their preferred future a reality.

people smart People-smart people function well within the relationship. They have healthy boundaries, speaking up for what they need, and balancing their needs with those of others.

James founded Blue Cradle which is a social enterprise founded to make ocean science and research accessible for all. James shares with us about his life and growing up in Europe, what led him to get into diving and how he combines his love of the ocean with telling stories. James is in New Zealand as an EHF Fellow so we also learn about his transition to living in Christchurch. I enjoyed this conversation and the insights from James and am sure you will as well - if you do there are more than 215 other episodes at www.theseeds.nz or in all podcast apps.

Blue Cradle: https://bluecradle.org/

Contact email: [email protected]

Edmund Hillary Fellowship: https://www.ehf.org/

Stuff article: https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/121557136/christchurch-ocean-educators-blue-cradle-plan-to-make-documentaries-from-a-boat

Audio of session on the "Sprinting for Good" report which captures the co-design process used to develop the National Action Plan for Community Governance and provides insights into the potential application of co-design in the community sector. This launch was held on 25 September 2020. In this session Dr Jo Cribb describes the findings from the report - the benefits of co-design, how to use the process effectively and what was learned (and would do differently). She also outlines what resources are available in the report for those interested in using the process in their organisations and communities. We also hear from Matua Kevin Haunui who provides his perspective as well. This event was hosted by Steven Moe (lawyer and host of seeds podcast) as part of the regular community, NFP, NGO, volunteer cross sector meetings that have been going since first lockdown.

Video of the session and other resources associated with the Report: https://www.centreforsocialimpact.org.nz/te-puaha-o-te-ako/2020/september/sprinting-for-good-co-designing-for-impact-toolkit-launched

The report is here: https://www.centreforsocialimpact.org.nz/media/1661/200923-sprinting-for-good-using-co-design-csi-final.pdf

Thank you to the five foundation funders: Auckland Council, Foundation North, Rata Foundation, Ministerial Discretionary Fund administered by the Department of Internal Affairs and Grant Thornton.

More content at www.theseeds.nz

Tim Jones sits down with me for a discussion on house prices based on this article I recently wrote for Spinoff: https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/14-09-2020/heres-why-more-aucklanders-should-move-to-Christchurch/

Check out Tim's site and links are there to his Podcast: https://www.growgood.co/

In Pursuit of Purpose podcast: https://www.growgood.co/podcast

For more content visit www.theseeds.nz

What is the Not So Redundant Club? In this interview Jessie explains more about what it is and why she started it as well as providing background on her life and journey so far. One of the key themes that came through in this was community in various guises and I really enjoyed this conversation. I've known Jessie several years so it was really nice to reflect on the Impact Unconference in April as well and her own background in the Law. I am sure you will enjoy this interview and if you do - is there someone else who might be facing redundancy who would benefit from listening to this? There are more than 210 other interviews in the back catalogue at www.theseeds.nz as well.

For those interested in joining or learning more about the Not So Redundant Club: Website for those who want to join the Club: https://members.notsoredundantclub.nz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thenotsoredundantclub LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-not-so-redundant-club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/not.so.redundant.club/

The SDG Art Exhibition is being put on by the Global Shapers Ōtautahi Hub, The Conscious Club and Bead & Proceed. It starts with a launch night event on Friday 25th September 2020 and runs until Thursday 1st October at Milton St Substation in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. Website: https://www.sdgexhibition.com/ Tickets for launch night on Friday 25th September: https://events.humanitix.com/sdg-art-exhibition-launch-night

Global Shapers Ōtautahi/Christchurch Hub Recruitment Information evening is coming up on Wednesday 30th September 2020 and is open to all those interested in learning more about Global Shapers. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/641921236723556 You can follow the Global Shapers Ōtautahi Hub on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/globalshaperschristchurch

Chris shares his life journey in this interview. We learn all about his childhood, what it was like losing his Father at age 16, how he rediscovered again his Māori culture as a young adult, studying technology and founding IT startups and then joining Vodafone in Christchurch and what he does today working in a future focused team. Some highlights include his memories of his Father and what he learned from him that inspires him today and his desire to give back to Māori and Pasifika youth to encourage them to explore careers in technology. I really enjoyed my conversation with Chris and if you do as well then who might you know who would appreciate being told about it?

Also check out some of the 210+ other interviews for seeds at www.theseeds.nz.

Vodafone NZ: https://www.vodafone.co.nz

Michelle Sharp interview referenced: https://seeds.libsyn.com/michelle-sharp-on-kilmarnock-and-social-enterprises

Dear Disillusioned Junior Lawyer. I do understand, but don't quit yet.

I keep meeting you. Everywhere I go I hear some of your story and it echoes the other stories of people just like you. It's part of my own journey too as I've been there. Let me tell you how this story goes. The Law attracted you because it felt like it would be a way to help people, to bring about change and contribute to our world. Your first year at law school was hard but intellectually challenging. You got into second year and enjoyed the diversity of subjects. You did well in your studies and came out with a degree and even got a job offer to work in a law firm. That's when things changed. What you saw did not match your dreams because you realised there was a strong focus on billing, a very hierarchical system, a focus on profits, an unhealthy obsession with success while relationships and family were sacrificed on the altar of career. You also started measuring your life in 6 minute units. You were offered gold but you began to realise that the gold was in the shape of handcuffs. It's now been a few years and you are about to leave the Law. You are either about to decide to try something else, or you have already left - maybe a month ago, maybe 10 years ago, maybe longer. For all of you I want to give you three points to ponder: 1. Don't walk away yet: Just because it hasn't worked out yet doesn't mean it cannot work out. We need more purpose driven lawyers who want to help bring about the change we want to see in the world. I spent years helping rich people get richer and it was not fulfilling. But I changed to another area where I help purpose driven people achieve their goals - so my experience is that the Law can provide a means to be a catalyst to work with people who have great ideas but don't understand the legal side of what their options are. We need more lawyers like you with the right motivations to help such people. 2. Where are you: It is possible that you were placed in an area of law which does not resonate with your true call. Law firms are businesses and it may be that you ended up in a an area that does not match who you are or what you actually want to do, which you probably did not know when you graduated. When you came out of law school you were happy to have a job as a lawyer - but there are a wide variety of specialist areas and none of us really know what it is like to practise law as opposed to studying it. The point is that I have no idea what area is right for you but just that you might not have found it yet. You might be doing tax law but would really be great at doing family law. Or vice versa. Fight for finding the area that can really resonate with who you truly are. 3. Integration, not balance: We have given in to the lie that work/life balance should be our main aim. Balance implies that one of these is good and the other is bad - I work so that I can have fun and feel fulfilled in my spare time when I am actually doing "life". This is a misconception that sells short the true possibility of what you can contribute. What you do in your spare time is important but what you do in your work time is also important. Search for integration of your life on all levels so that you do not resent your work for taking you away from life - rather, embrace the mission that work can call you too, so that this old saying is true: "Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life". And maybe that is the foundation I am trying to call you back to: Being a lawyer can be a calling. Not about ego, money or feeling like you are moving paper from one side of the desk to another. Robert Kennedy said this: "Courage is the most important attribute of a lawyer - it should pervade the heart, the halls of justice, and the the chambers of the mind." So I do know what you are feeling. I've been there myself and almost walked away. But it is possible to fight for a career in the law which is both fulfilling and meaningful and where you do give back in ways that are really important and even vital for our society. We need more lawyers like you who care deeply enough to feel that the system and practising law does not match why you wanted to be a lawyer - we need you because it is that attitude which can help transform and change the system and what you don't like. So here is the seed to leave you with: Maybe the law could be what you dreamed and you just haven't found the right place within it yet. Fight for finding where the part of the puzzle is fit by you and your unique make up, vision and skills. And if you have walked away, why not consider coming back? I will link to a 6 minute talk explaining some of my journey (here: https://www.pechakucha.com/presentations/global-citizenship--generational-legacy-and-kaitiakitanga) and feel free to contact me if you'd like to have a conversation. Some of us are also in the process of setting up a group for Impact Driven Lawyers: Join us. There is a link in the show notes here https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13903582/ Until next time.

Esther Whitehead shares in this interview about Neurodiversity. We also find out about her life story and find out about her childhood and decision to move to New Zealand, how she got involved in Neurodiversity and what it is that we mean when talking about that term. In particular, what changes might be needed to expand our conversation? I really enjoyed my conversation with Esther and am sure you will as well. It is one of 200+ so be sure to check out some of the others at www.theseeds.nz

Dyslexia Foundation of NZ: https://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz/about.html

Earlier episode about Dyslexia as superpower https://seeds.libsyn.com/dyslexia-as-superpower-with-geoff-bone

Bio: Esther comes from a teaching background having taught primary, secondary, and adult students with learning differences in a variety of schools and workplace settings in several countries. Her passion is equity and diversity in learning, and Esther acts as a change-agent - leading professional development in these domains, particularly in workplace settings. She has worked as an independent educator and director of Education Centres in NZ, providing literacy and numeracy tutoring for students in consultation with parents, schools and Special Education Services. Esther manages the DFNZ and works closely with MoE and NZQA on select committees to address necessary changes in the system. Email [email protected]

In this episode I want to share what I've learned as a lawyer helping people set up impact driven organisations in Aotearoa. I have these conversations all the time so thought I'd share this content here so you all can benefit from it as well.

Here is the text of the episode:

Kia ora everyone. It's Steven Moe here. I am a podcaster and many of you know me for the interviews I do on seeds with inspiring people about their lives and what motivates them. I want to take the chance to tell you something that I think you all will find helpful: what I know about setting up an impact driven organisation in Aotearoa - whether that ends up with a charitable structure or a for profit structure or some form of hybrid. The reason that I know about this is that my day job is as a Partner at Parry Field Lawyers where I have a unique practise of law focussing on helping purpose driven people achieve their mission. Also, with more than 200 interviews I have spoken with some of the best entrepreneurs in New Zealand and gained their perspectives.

So to download all this information to you I am going to share here about three things I think are key to know. I would be curious if you agree with me, and it might be that you know others who would appreciate the challenges because I am going to give it to you straight. I commonly go through these points – probably 2 or 3 times a week – with people who are wondering about setting something new up so this is also going to be a lot more efficient as I can get people to listen to it before speaking about the specifics of their situation.

• First, I will discuss the three key questions to ask before considering the detail of what structure is best.
• Second, we will look at three of the most commonly used legal structures for impact driven people.
• Third, some reflections on the way to enshrine impact within those structures and the key things needed.

So let's turn to the high level questions you need to get right from the beginning. Don't skip over this part…

Part 1: The Three High Level Questions to ask first

What is your purpose?

The first thing to remember is that the purpose and mission needs to come first. What is it that you really want to do? The detail of what legal vehicle to choose then becomes a secondary consideration that is about how you best fulfil your purpose. I encourage you to clearly articulate your mission and your purpose because that will drive all other decisions. This is the "power of why" and will be what you come back to when things get blurry and you wonder why you started on this journey. Also I want to know what that is in just 30 seconds – not the 5 page version, just the three short bullet point version. If you can reduce it down to that then you will be able to convey it clearly to others as well.

So why is getting the purpose important?

The purpose is the first key consideration. Why? Well I like to think of it like this – if you go buy a car there are many options. You might want to get an off road 4x4, or a convertible, or a 7 seater – there are a range of vehicles that depend on what your purpose is. In the same way when choosing a legal vehicle we need to understand the purpose of what you want to do. Think of a limited liability company as one type of special purpose vehicle, the same with cooperatives, incorporated societies or charitable trusts. So we need to know the direction you want to head in order to decide on the right vehicle.

What fuel is driving the vehicle?

The second key consideration comes from Jerry Maguire and the phrase "Show me the Money!". Money is like the fuel that is needed for the vehicle to run – whatever type is chosen. There are two parts to this which affect the decision. Where is the money coming from – sales of product or services, private investment by issuing shares, loans, donations or grant funding? And also, where is the money going to – will there be private profits for individuals or will the funds be reinvested back to promote the mission? All of these factors are critical to work out what structure is best.

Replication?

The third question is a bit different. But before we get into the legal structure options I think it is important to ask this: Is there someone out there already doing what you plan to do? We see in New Zealand a lot of replication where people want to do good and assume that to do so a new initiative is needed. I don't think that is always the case. If the mission and purpose is most important then strip away any ego associated with founding something new and ask the hard question: for the good of the cause am I better to come in as a strong supporter and work with others already doing the mahi? This may sound like a strange thing to be proposing since my job is to act for people setting something up so I am doing myself a disservice by advocating this thinking – instead I could fan the flames of starting something new. But there is a bigger picture here and if I can encourage one person to not start something new and instead come in as a big advocate and supporter of a struggling initiative that just needs some volunteers then that will be better overall. So please do look around and have conversations about collaboration before going off and setting up something new.

Part 2: The three best types of legal structures to consider

There are many possible structures but I am going focus in on the ones I think are the simplest and easiest ones. There are basically three options. They are:

Set up a Company: This is a commonly understood vehicle for running a new initiative. As a positive you can privately benefit through dividend return to shareholders, you can more easily access investors by issuing them shares, people understand the structure over other options. The key ingredients are a director, a name and a shareholder. The downside is that you will be less likely to get grant funding or donations, people make assumptions that what you do is driven by profit rather than purpose, so there can be a lot of explaining needed, and if taken over the company might lose the essence of why it was originally founded. I am setting up many impact driven companies so am happy to discuss all this in more detail if anyone would like to know more.

Set up a Charity: Setting up a charity provides a nice vehicle because you are forced to write down you purposes – I think that is a good thing. You need to fulfil one of four charitable purposes: Advancing education, reducing poverty, advancing religion or purposes beneficial to the community. So just because what you want to do is "good" doesn't necessarily mean that it will be charitable. Becoming a charity results in significant tax benefits because you are helping society – for example, you can issue tax deductible receipts to donors. However you will not be able to privately benefit (apart from market rate salaries), will not be able to issue shares that return dividends to shareholders (unless to another charity) and will have difficulty raising capital funding. One common misconception is that a charity must be a Trust – in fact, companies can be charitable as well it is just that they must clearly articulate that there is no private benefit and state what the purposes are. I am setting up several charities each month across the full range – recent examples include an ocean focussed charity, one setting up Buddhist temples, one working with children on design thinking – a very large range.

Hybrid option: Remember the "show me the money" point earlier? Well this is where it kicks in – if funding is coming from private investors, this option is preferred over a charity. Whereas if funding is likely from grants or donations, then the charity option may be preferred. There is no one template that will apply for all. While it involves some duplication of having two entities, sometimes what I see people end up considering is a hybrid option. This involves having a company while also setting up a Foundation which is a charity. How closely aligned they are will depend on the circumstances. If setting up a charity then part of the thing to consider is having independence in that charity so there is no chance of a conflict of interest. Ultimately this is all about finding the best way to have maximum impact. Increasingly I am seeing pull from either end – private companies wanting to give back through creating a charity, while charities are looking to commercialise some aspect of what they do in order to generate another income stream. I think the lines will continue to blur as we increasingly move towards discussions of impact being the most important thing. Like I said at the start it then is down to the detail as to the type of legal structure used as the overarching point is that mission and purpose and impact are being implemented.

Part three: Enshrining impact

I want to finish off with a few thoughts about how we started – a focus on impact. Thinking about each of the structures discussed I would just comment that for a charity you are required to set out the purpose you want to achieve, which I think is a really good thing.

For a company, it is not legally required to set out what your mission is – which I think is an oversight that one day will be corrected – but it is possible to enshrine your impact by setting out your mission in a constitution. That is a public facing document and if I get involved I try to have clients articulate their mission and purpose right at the start so that they are open and clear with the world about what they are there for.

I would encourage you that whatever entity type you end up choosing that you really come back to the mission and purpose and clearly set out what it is. I can guarantee that will be the most valuable point to get straight. Once that is done then it will help you to decide on the detail of which type of entity to choose. You may notice that this summary focusses more on the high level questions than the detail – that is on purpose.

My final thought is to consider how you report on impact – wouldn't it be great if we all started measuring and talking about impact in ways that get beyond financial metrics. It is really hard to do but research it and get amongst it to lead the way in how you measure and talk about the impact you are having. If you can do that then I am confident your venture will be more assured of success.

I've enjoyed reflecting on this topic and would be happy to discuss further with you – and if I directed you hear to listen before we have a phone call then I look forward to chatting sometime soon.

Until next time.

[Note: This is a short overview of issues - inevitably situations will be different for each context and you need to consider a variety of issues such as Financial Markets Authority rules, Tax considerations, employment, shareholder dynamics, among many other things. But the point of this is to provide some high level thoughts to get you started.]