The Presidio Dialogues

Our Dialogue in April lead to a wonderful evening of heartfelt sharing from
everyone that attended.

Our topic for the evening was, "When a Companies highest values lead,
Profits Follow".

Gil Friend, the CEO of Natural Logic was our first Dialogue starter.

The first thing he did was to re-read the topic of the evening and then he
said "Of coarse this is not true!"

He went on to clarify that it is not a "given" that companies following
their highest values will always have their efforts lead to generating
profits but that it is "a hypothesis that I choose to believe".

Thus began our evening of deeply exploring this topic.

Other comments that were shared in our circle were:

"There are many companies that are good examples of the business case for a
sincere commitment to Social Responsibility"

"Our purpose is to further life!"

"Odwalla's commitment to sustain the earth came back to sustain Odwalla"

"Where attention goes, energy flows'

"What makes God get up in the morning! Surprise!"

2 Questions: "What do you want"..."What do you really want"

In reflecting back on the evening's Dialogue, what stood out for me was this
sense that when high values and ideals start to genuinely inform and guide a
company a tremendous amount of positive energy becomes available to that
company.

People become "thrilled" with their work. Ideals give birth to innovation
and problems or regulations become business opportunities that CAN lead to
real and enduring profitability.

Siri Vedya Singh
Executive Director
The Presidio Dialogues

(These notes, taken real-time during the event, are not a full transcript of the evening’s conversation, but simply bits caught here and there. They are provided here with the intention to give a glimpse to those who could not attend, a reminder/touchstone for those who were present and to be useful to further inquiry. We apologize in advance for any errors in listening or interpretation. Feel free to use them as you will: add, subtract, divide and especially, multiply – or even go exponential! – Best, Y.M. Burgess)

Program Description: Please see the Dialogue Archives.

Notes on Opening Comments from the Conversation Starters

Margot Fraser, founder and former owner of Birkenstock Footprint Sandals, Inc., the original importer of Birkenstock footwear in the United States

• Coming to the dialogue to listen and learn, and find out the truth of what we do not know.
• "Did you ever think [your business] would grow this big?" Of course I did!
• I didn't think about it being a business, I was just doing what needed to be done.
• When people ask "What are you?" I'd say, I'm in business - and it seemed like 'only' in business, but it's really creative. Yes there are numbers, but mostly it's being with people.
• Through my business, I helped others start businesses.
• There's some sort of spirit in the brand that cannot be qualified. Will the next generation carry that spirit on? They are corporate-types, but there is a spirit in the brand.

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(These notes, taken real-time during the event, are not a full transcript of the evening’s conversation, but simply bits caught here and there. They are provided here with the intention to give a glimpse to those who could not attend, a reminder/touchstone for those who were present and to be useful to further inquiry. We apologize in advance for any errors in listening or interpretation. Feel free to use them as you will: add, subtract, divide and especially, multiply – or even go exponential! – Best, Y.M. Burgess)

Program Description: Please see the Dialogue Archives

Notes on Opening Comments from the Conversation Starters
John Renesch , host, The Presidio Dialogues

• The American dream has gone through a metamorphosis, from freedom now of greed and plenty, now a goal of corporate structure, inst paying attention, clash between industrial and indigenous

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