preBeta… that’s the mode we’re in here at VisionForce.com. Nearly 4 years ago we held our first-ever event, a boot camp. It was the first public introduction of the VisionForce methodologies, after 6 years of research and development. Since then, we’ve been testing all sorts of ways to deliver these concepts and methods, from face to face boot camps (intensive small group trainings), to weekend workshops (less formal), to on-line automated interactive programs, to tele-workshops, to 2-month tele-programs (delivered via conference call and on-line), to internet membership areas, to on-line ebooks, etc. And we’ve also been “finding our niche,” and how to best communicate what we offer.

Bottom line is, we’re still in the inquiry. We’re still testing new approaches and models (as you’ve noticed if you’ve been following us long). Well, rather than try to present a polished image that gives people the illusion that we are a more established company or institution, let’s say exactly what phase of the business we’re in and tell people what they can expect.

We’re still in start-up mode, and you can expect changes–lots of them. A great way of identifying a web site or project that is still in early testing stages is to call it a beta version. But what about a web site or project that is not even ready for wide public testing, and is still in the early development stage? “pre-Beta” is the term we’ll be using.

Yes, many of the programs and events we offer produce incredible results (and as you’ve probably noticed get incredible reviews), so the “technology” that we offer is quite well developed. What is as yet quite undeveloped is our organizational model, including our on-line structures.
So, if we simply say we’re in the preBeta phase, then you will know to expect rapid evolution (change) here at VisionForce.com.

What we want to do is build the kind of structure that will allow people who are ready (you) to join with us in creating the kind of change the world needs now. There are a lot of things in the works, so stay tuned. In the mean time, expect change–lots of it–here at VisionForce.com. And please sound in with your feedback and comments to the blog (below).

Watch this… Oprah’s doing what something incredible… something VisionForce will be doing at some point, no matter how long it takes.  To all my Africa friends… we’re coming back!  And we’re going to BUILD!  Who wants in?  Leave your comments and ideas below.

Watch this presentation by William McDonough, a man who refers to human beings as “designers,” and looks at everything we see in our world as our intentional creation, so as to take full responsibility for creating the kind of world we really want.  If you’re in the Power To Stand course (register free), this man is exemplifying the distinction between Positionary and Visionary.  He speaks of the positionaries on each side, Capitalists and Environmentalists, and unites people in a stand for shared values and a vision that inspires all sides to step forward from behind the walls of their position.  It’s the new revolutionaries who will change the world.  They are visionaries, not positionaries (the distinction is here).  The next revolution is our evolution from a positionary consciousness to a visionary consciousness.

Please comment on the video here.

His name’s Jim.  He’s been on our email list for nearly 4 years (since the beginning!).  Watch what he has to say (and take note of what he says about taking action).

Really, we don’t know our own power to change the world. It’s cliche, but the power is really within us. I plan to tour the US and select countries beginning in 2007 with several Vision Force Boot Camp graduates.

by the way, we’ve recently chosen *not* to have another boot camp in 2006 in order to create space for the evolution of VisionForce into a vehicle that can drive real change in the world, on a much grander scale. If you were planning to attend our usual fall boot camp, I apologize. We will announce the spring boot camp dates soon, so stay tuned.

We spend so much time thinking about, talking about and being involved in political campaigns and controversies… as if political force is our best shot at change. It’s not! By far, it’s not. Most of the positive change we’ve seen in the world in the last 30 years has been from vision force–our natural ability as individuals to see a vision worth pursuing and then taking a stand and making it happen. Entrepreneurs, inventors, social entrepreneurs, community leaders, parents, teachers–you, we, are the ones who’ve brought the most possible change to the world–not politicians. Hey, I’m not saying don’t be politically active, I’m just saying what if we invested much more of the time, energy and money we invest in political force and invest it instead in our own minds and spirits–our vision force?!
What if?

JOIN US! Let’s campaign for vision!
If you’d like to talk about joining forces with VisionForce in a campaign to bring vision to the world, then reply to this post. You could be a local contact in your city or take on any of a myriad of other roles. Many more details to come. This is just an initial feeler. Just planting a seed.

If you’re used to just reading the VisionForce emails or blog entries, I challenge you to make your voice heard. This game of life is more exciting on the field. Come play with us. Say whatever is on your mind. Share your ideas for how we can bring vision to the world.

I remember graduating highschool in 1989 and heading out into the world in the 90′s…  It was the era of the Seattle Bands, and while there was a lot of brilliant music that came from those bands, often the lyrics echoed the Seattle weather… mostly cloudy with a good chance of rain, rain and more rain.

The summer of 94 I spent with my brother Dave building my father’s ranch in Arizona.  It was he and I every day working 12 hour days in the Arizona sun–to the music of bands like Soundgarden… “black hole sun, wontcha come…”  Wow, brings back so many memories.

But there didn’t seem to be much revolutionary rock music.  Most if it seemed to take on a whiney attitude, as if the world is screwed up and there’s nothing we can do about it.  Lyrics like Beck’s “I am a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me,” and Nirvana’s “I’m half the man I used to be,” made me practically sick to my stomach.  What I didn’t like was that the artists themselves had such amazing talent and great airplay, and in my opinion they were wasting their power to influence positive change.

So, I tended to listen to many of the older bands, classic rock from the 60′s and 70′s like Led Zeppelin and The Doors, and hard rock and heavy metal bands from the 80′s like Metallica.

Of course then there was the band that gave me the theme music for my life during the 90s… Rage Against The Machine.  It was the music of a positive rebellion.  “Don’t stand on a silent platform, fight the war, f— the norm!”  In my head I made up my own lyrics to many of their songs, but the underlying theme was that we can do something in the world we live in–we can “take the power back.”

(Where has Zack de la Rocha disappeared to, anybody know?)

Of course, my musical taste ranged far beyond classic rock, hard rock and heavy metal–the common theme being music that gave me power to be the change, to stand up, speak up and make a difference.  In fact, I must have worn out almost as many Rocky soundtrack CDs and Chariots of Fire soudtrack CDs as I did RATM.
Anyway, I just came across a news article on CNN about how heavy metal is growing up and starting to bring forward more messages for change.  The same thing can be witnessed in the world of Hip Hop.  It’s a trend that is just beginning to emerge.

Sure, each genre has always had it’s visionaries and revolutionaries, but it’s the change in the percentage of artists using their medium for positive change that excites me.
And what really excites me is that great movements of social change tend to be preceded by artists by a few years (can someone quote me a study or reference?).

So, tis the dawning of a new day!

And I know the power of heavy metal to reach a large percentage of today’s youth–especially the young rebels who refuse to abdicate ownership of their minds to authority and the majority.  Heavy metal artists, welcome to the Vision Revolution–make yourselves heard!

And, soon the day shall come when the messages of change in the music are presented not from well-intentioned positionary artists, but visionary artists (the distinction is here).

Musicians – Be heard!  Post comments below.

VisionForce serves the ever expanding constellation of visionaries in the world. We know how tough it can be too keep extending yourself, to keep risking your time, your life, your money, your reputation for what you see is possible for humanity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a social entrepreneur, an activist, an artist, a teacher, a parent, an author, a visionary politician, a church group leader, etc–or you aspire to be in some kind of creative leadership role to make a difference–matters not. What matters is that you need the power to stand and keep standing. Not a small task in today’s world that still mostly honors those who fit in, follow, obey and conform.

You are the hope of our children. You are the hope of tomorrow. In addition to providing powerful tools for visionaries like you, VisionForce aims to fill your spirit so that you can keep going forward, doing what you do, being who you are.

And our new Visionary Interview series is meant for you. We’ll be posting an audio interview with an everyday visionary, for your benefit. You can listen right here on the website, download to your computer and burn to your CD, or subscribe to this as a podcast and listen from you iPod.

We’re not necessarily going to interview those who’ve made it to the top. Au contraire! We’re going to interview the people in the trenches, people just like you! You are NOT alone. There are countless millions living the visionary lifestyle–living by their vision and risking everything that the “normal” world offers to do so.

The world of the past offers us the rewards of comfort, convenience, approval, respect, safety and financial security. All we need to do is stay mostly within the boundaries of the existing systems (that are sooo NOT working!). You are one of the few who chooses not to go down with the ship! And you’re willing to risk your life and your reputation to swim to shore to save all the others on board, and raise humanity to the next level.

I honor you.

This week we’ll be taling to a young entrepreneur in the renewable energy industry. Learn the challenges she comes up against and see who she is in the face of those challenges. Note: You’ll see yourself in her. She is you. Later on in the week, we’ll be interviewing a young visionary musician, risking it all to change the world through his music.

I will make no promise as to the frequency of these interviews, but expect them!

If you have comments, thoughts or suggestions, please post them below. (Oh, and if you know of someone we should interview.. hint, hint… YOU? Then direct them to visionforce and have them comment below. Thanks!)