.Cocoon November newsletter: How are you?
Updated: Jan 27, 2022
What is your state of being?
Yesterday I was moved by the movie "Shall we dance". One of the favourite quotes from it -
"We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go unwitnessed because I will be your witness'".
As co-founders and co-workers, we also witness each other's lives. With a lesser intensity as in marriage, but still, it's 2nd intensity level. Which resonates more?
A. Love people, use things.
B. Love things, use people.
I would be a hypocrite if I said I always operate according to A. But when I regain my awareness, at least I try to be in the A zone. It includes caring for others' state of being, without the need to go into rescue mode. (Notes: State of being - how the person feels and if the person feels ok sharing - why. Rescue mode - taking the Rescuer role in the Victim triangle with the goal to change the others' state of being and thus control the situation and feel important themselves). Why am I talking about it here in a newsletter for business leaders? I believe that it's worthwhile to reach good goals with good methods. I've heard of some people who are so focused on building the family house that there's no family left once it's built. Same in business. Take care that the methods and approaches you use during the journey are aligned with your goal. Simple takeaway: At .Cocoon, we often start meetings with the question that everyone answers - "How are you, what's your state of being?"
Let's make it practical. Could you now hit “Reply” and write to me - how are you, what's your state of being? I promise to read and write back to you. P.S. (Planning) raising a VC round? We have a free online workshop upcoming to support your success with the VC round! Of course, there's a hook - you will need to change yourself :) More information here. P.P.S. I care for my friend and former co-founder, Juris Bluzmanis. His mother needs health support, and there is a public fundraiser taking place online. Thank you to all friends and society who have already pooled 1/3 of the necessary funds. Ansis, CEO of .Cocoon
Resources
Mark Ashton: Can you be constructively selfish? It could save your life…
Mark's beloved sister Jo took her own life. She was a beautiful soul - kind, compassionate and wonderfully talented; admired and loved. .Cocoon mentor Mark wrote an article about how being constructively selfish could have saved her life.
Ansis Līpenītis - How To Attract The Best Talent By Knowing Your Purpose │ sTARTUp Day 2021
When scaling, founders compete for the best talent and investors. One thing impossible to compete against is your sense of purpose. Read Ansis's keynote at the sTARTUp Day business festival.
Ping me or my partner Hristo Neiland to discuss how to resolve your challenges and grow your company. Ansis Lipenitis CEO of .Cocoon Program www.cocoonprogram.com
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.Cocoon supports founders' self-discovery for personal and business growth through mentoring and investing.
When there is a challenge at the business level – we support our clients
1. To find the link between the business challenge and their personalities and personal challenges;
2. And to bring forth personal changes that, as a result, create changes in the business.
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