Social Purpose Culture Podcast

In this episode Bill and Sherrie share the different ways we use our roles to keep from forming compassionate connections with others. We also talk about the ways we can overcome negative role stereotypes, raise our self-image, and self-esteem.

The different roles we create for ourselves can help and hinder the social purpose culture movement. They may create barriers that lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings. Positions of authority are a common way roles can interfere with building a new culture.

Here are a few examples:

Police

It is sometimes easy to see police as being against us.  They are not supposed to be. But years of real corruption, misdeeds and secrecy have led to a general sense of mistrust in many communities across the country and the world.

Parents

Parents share their world vision with their children, but often miss opportunities for children to learn important lessons for themselves.

Teachers/School Administrators

Teaches and admins are tasked with getting our children ready to meet the worlds challenges in different ways, but fall short. We have literally set them up to fail.

Government Officials

We have a system that WE built that makes it very difficult to get things done which leads to bad policy and an invitation to corruption.

Politicians

We elect our officials to represent us, but the system is set up to favor special interests. 90 % of the time, they are raising money for the next campaign instead of focusing on governing.

Business Executives

Greed and profit at all costs. Poor company culture. Workplace bullying. Operating for their own self-interests.

Critics

Critics are first to offer opinions last to lift a hand to actually solve a problem. We point to a victim mentality.

If the universal view on leadership is exerting power and control over others we lose the opportunity for  engaging dialogue and working together to solve problems. In fact, we hinder it.

Resource

The article about the hug between a police officer and the demonstrator can be found at The Oregonian.

In this episode of the Move Minds Podcast we talk about podcasting and creating a social purpose culture. Listen in as we talk about what we learned from producing our own podcast.

Our first podcast aired on June 3, 2014 and boy have we learned a lot. Our intention was to teach about creating a social purpose culture. We made a lot of discoveries along the way that grew our knowledge and our excitement about building a better future.

Also, learn about what we have in store for 2015!

Be sure to check out our archive page to catch up or download the past year on iTunes.

 

In this episode of the Move Minds Podcast Bill and Sherrie discuss the “Band-Aid” approach to solving social issues and why they don’t work.

What is the definition of the Band-Aid Approach?

It is trying to solve social issues without solving the underlying issues that create them. Basically it’s about treating a large wound with a small band aid. There is no systemic solution applied for the long-term eradication of the issue.

What are some examples of the Band-Aid approach?

* Starting a nonprofit or foundation to solve one person’s issue, when it could be broadened, or partnered with others to compound the effect.

* Having a fundraiser to solve a single issue.

* Writing a check. Any time we cover something over without addressing the root problem, we are buying time.

Cultural Issues Underlying Many Social Issues In Western Countries

* Violence

* Misogyny

* Obesity

* Overspending

* Health

* Education

* Body Image Issues

* Bullying

Special Interests

Money, profit, and politics are the basis of many cultural issues not being solved. Too many people have an interest in keeping certain issues unsolved in order to profit from them.

Moving Beyond the Band-Aid Approach

* Get more people involved and more people aware.

* Develop a social purpose culture. (It’s not just for good causes.)

* Collaborate and innovate to create bigger ideas and better solutions.

* Raise the stake . . . as in stakeholders. Create a system of accountability and trust. In order to solve any problem with a long-term solution, every stakeholder in that “problem circle” needs to be involved and accounted for in providing a solution.

* Share your success stories. If more people are aware of how you solved a problem and created a successful solution, then it could be duplicated so that others could share in that success.

In order to have sustained positive change, we need to work on ourselves. Only when we are collectively whole and mentally fit can we add to the positive side of social good.There are no bystanders in a social purpose culture. We need an “all hands on deck” approach in creating and maintaining the kind of culture and society we want. We have to make a choice not to be victims. We have to be a part of the solutions.

How does giving benefit the people we give to and ourselves? In this Move Minds Podcast Bill and Sherrie talk about giving and it’s emotional, mental, and physical benefits.

We thought this would be a great week to podcast about giving because of the U.S. holiday season between Thanksgiving and the New Year. This is a time filled with giving. Whether it’s giving gifts to our friends and family or giving to charities, we tend to give more during the holiday season.

Giving is usually viewed as altruistic behavior. At least that seems to be the ideal. But we don’t think it is the best way to view giving. That’s why in this podcast we decided to talk about the article Five Ways Giving is Good for You from the Greater Good website. We wanted to know: How does giving benefit us individually when we give to others.

Here’s the answer we found . . . Yes! That warm, fuzzy feeling you get from giving benefits you in multiple ways.

Here are the five ways:

* Giving Makes Us Feel Happy

* Giving is Good For Our Health

* Giving Promotes Cooperation and Social Connection

* Giving Evokes Gratitude

* Giving is Contagious

The upside is giving benefits the giver and the receiver. Be sure to pay attention to how it feels when you give your time and money.

 

 

 

 

 

How do we teach our children empathy? In this episode of The Move Minds Podcast Bill and Sherrie talk about the best ways to foster children’s natural ability to be empathetic. Empathy and compassion are an important part of creating a social purpose culture.

In this podcast we discuss an article from the Daily Good  Unleashing Empathy In Schools Through Emotional Learning

We learned the importance of  kids . . .

* Learning to manage emotions.

* Developing the skills required to establish relationships.

* Learning how to resolve conflicts.

* Effectively collaborating with others.

According to a recent Harvard study, cultivating empathy among students is linked to a variety of great outcomes, including health peer relationships, better communication skills, and fewer conflicts.

References:

Article: Reading, Writing, Empathy: The Rise of Social Emotional Learning

Learn more from the following websites: 

Roots of Empathy

Turnaround for Children

RULER

 

 

Why is empathy and compassion so important when building a social purpose culture? In this episode of the Move Minds Podcast learn how vital empathy and compassion are when creating social and cultural change.

What is Empathy and Compassion?

* Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

* Compassion is the genuine concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

Facts We Discussed

* Helping others brings the same pleasure we get from the gratification of personal desires.

* It’s important to deeply understand other people’s issues.

* We can teach compassion and empathy by leading by example.

* Empathy fuels connection with others.

* Vulnerability is a strength not a weakness.

The videos mentioned in the podcast:

The Six Habits of Highly Empathetic People

Here are the cliff notes from the video.

* Cultivate curiosity about strangers

* Challenge prejudices and find what binds us.

* Try to place yourself in someone elses life.

* Practice the art of conversation.

* Inspire mass action and influence.

* Expand your scope of empathy.

Roman Krznaric’s book: Empathy: Why it Matters, And How to Get It

The Power of Empathy

 

Why do we feel the need to belong to communities and form meaningful connections? In this episode Bill and Sherrie talk about communities, what they are, and why belonging to them is more important than ever.

What is a community?

A community is a group of people who have several things in common. They could be formed around:

* Families and friends

* Neighborhoods

* Groups and Associations

* Cities and Towns

* Workplaces/Businesses

* Online/Social Media

Why forming communities is so critical to our well-being:

* We find meaning through connections.

* There is safety in numbers.

* We create momentum by sharing resources and skills.

* We can work together to achieve goals.

* We have accountability partners.

* There are more opportunities to create growth and change.

Move Minds is all about encouraging community involvement.  Especially community involvement that leads to people working together to create solutions to our biggest social challenges.

How can you get involved in an existing community?

Do you feel the need to start your own?

 

How does being more personally responsible help the world at large? In this episode, Bill and Sherrie discuss personal responsibility and how it affects our lives.

Also learn about:

* Social Purpose Citizens and their civic responsibilities.

* How we have personal responsibilities towards ourselves, our families, our work, and our communities.

Here are a few reasons to take more personal responsibility:

* Become a great example.

* Be consistent in all areas of your life.

* Make decisions based on good.

* Be true to yourself and your values

* Raise your self-worth.

* Take care of our health and well-being

* Handle stress

The power behind taking responsibility for our actions lies in putting an end to negative thought patterns.

No longer dwell on what went wrong or focus on whom you are going to blame. Don’t waste time building roadblocks to your success. Instead, set yourself free and focus on succeeding. Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.

 

How can you make a difference in the world as a Social Purpose Visionary? In this podcast we discuss the different ways you can get involved through a business or on a personal level.

To learn about social purpose visionaries listen to our last episode about this unique group of people.

Here are a few ideas on how to become a Social Purpose Visionary:

 Business

* Start a B-Corporation

* Start a Non-Profit

* Become a social purpose entrepreneur.

* Become a social purpose intrapreneur.

* Collaborate with other businesses to solve community issues. 

Personal

* Vote with your money

* Donate time or money to your favorite cause.

* Start a community program that benefits your cause.

* Become an activist.

* Become a civic leader

* Actively look for work at social good businesses or nonprofits.

* Become a writer or speaker about your cause.

Call to Action

* Honor your vision and get started.

* Find ways to collaborate with like-minded people to get your ideas and vision off the ground.

Links to resources mentioned in the podcast:

B-Corporations

Support a B-Corporation

How to Make a Positive Impact Without Leaving Home

 

Who are social purpose visionaries and are you one?  In this episode Bill and Sherrie talk about these special people and give you several clues to see if you are one of them.

What is a Social Purpose Visionary?

 Social Purpose Visionaries are people who are filled with original ideas about what the future could look like for a society.They are the ones who feel called to fulfill a certain mission or make a change in the world. SPV’s are compassionate, empathetic people who envision the world as a better place.

Clues you are a Social Purpose Visionary:

* You have a strong sense of wanting to make a difference.

* Helping people or the environment is important to you.

* Your self-interests aren’t the first priority when making a difference.

* Your personal story is a strong part of why you want to create change.

* You have an emotional connection to your cause.

When it comes to social issues and injustice, what you feel passionate about is where you need to start in becoming a social purpose visionary.

Possible areas Social Purpose Visionaries can help:

* Community Issues

* Social Issues

* Workplace Issues

* Environmental Issues

Be sure to stay tuned for our next episode about how you can get started as a social purpose visionary.

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