distinctionsT h e Q u a r T e r l y N e w s l e T T e r f o r C l i e N T s a N d f r i e N d s o f

Autumn 2013

The Kind Of Person We Are by James Flaherty

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

—Matthew 16:26

We get caught up, swept up, carried away. The project at work, what’s happening in Washington, holidays, holy days,

vacations, keeping up with popular culture, sports teams, tasks, finances, planning and random mental wanderings take us far away from what we say and what we feel is centrally important. We lose track of our essential concerns.

This can go on for days, weeks, months, years, decades.

And then we get the text that says, “Christy is not going to make it.” Or the equivalent in your life. What do we have then? Who are we in that moment? Who can we be for others in the middle of the most difficult and painful circumstances (which are on their way to each of our lives)?

Unless we live in a way that …

• strengthens our presence, • builds our capacity to feel and hold whatever happens, • lets us reach out to others without abandoning our self,

… then we are lost. We collapse or space out or fall into mechanical behavior and clichéd speech.

But it doesn’t have to go like that.

Every single second of our life we are generating the kind of person we are. Every thought, word, action shapes us. The human soul is never fixed: she is extraordinarily sensitive and responsive. Plus our complex nervous system, always alive and changing, is altered by how we live.

Practice of the Quarter........................3Poems of the Quarter...........................3Book of the Quarter............................ 6

News and Updates....................................7Grad News.................................................9Course Calendar.....................................11

INDEX

N E W V E N T U R E S W E S T

The World Has Need of You

everything here seems to need us…—Rilke

I can hardly imagine itas I walk to the lighthouse, feeling the ancientprayer of my arms swingingin counterpoint to my feet.Here I am, suspendedbetween the sidewalk and twilight,the sky dimming so fast it seems alive.What if you felt the invisibletug between you and everything?A boy on a bicycle rides by,his white shirt open, flaringbehind him like wings.It’s a hard time to be human. We know too muchand too little. Does the breeze need us?The cliffs? The gulls?If you’ve managed to do one good thing, the ocean doesn’t care.But when Newton’s apple fell toward the earth,the earth, ever so slightly, felltoward the apple as well.

—Ellen Bass

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Once altered it has us perceive the world in a way that shifts our actions, opens or closes what we feel is possible, pulls us into habitual patterns.

After a short while we feel in our gut and bones—and know in our emotions and thinking—that we are these patterns. They are in our body and we know them as our self. We get upset when they are disrupted. We break relationships that too painfully challenge the patterns.

For example, when we cannot read the news, or have to look up from our work to speak to someone, or have our exercise program/meditation program/self-development program interrupted, or financial markets tumble, or we don’t have sufficient time to shop, drink wine, or (fill in here what you have experienced yourself), then we do our defensive routines so we can keep acting out our pattern.

Who have we become? Yes, I well know each of us has an image of ourselves, but does that imagined person come forward reliably every day? During crisis? Under pressure or stress? Or does it remain an idea of ourself—an idea we protect by being hurt and outraged when someone denies its reality?

Besides losing track of how we’re living and, consequently, how we are making ourselves, we get caught up in the illusion that we have plenty of time. We will be caught up in making a living or having fun or being a football fan, “just for now.” But what will happen next?

Just this week an extraordinary human being and Zen teacher was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He had been living his whole life for that conversation with his doctor. You can hear his response—inspiring, humble and unforgettable.

How much time do we have? How long will we wait?

Here is what the 14th-century philosopher and Zen master Dogen found out:

to what shall I liken this life?moonlight reflected in a dewdropshaken from a crane’s bill

None of what I’m saying here is about scolding or wagging a finger or being a nag (but if those help you I’m happy to be that way). Rather let’s not leave the kind of person we are becoming to chance or to the vagaries of our upbringing. Let’s take this on as a big and defining project for us each day, each moment.

We can also all remember that the methods, lineage and power of Integral Coaching are all about revealing to us the kind of person we really are and showing us a path toward being the person we intend—and that life is calling us—to be.

Please take up this project.

More on the topic in the poems that follow, in the practice for the quarter and in the book review.

Take care of yourself.

Love,

© New Ventures West® 2013

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© New Ventures West® 2013

P R A C T I C E O F T H E Q U A R T E R

Focus: Who am I Becoming? Please do this activity for 30 to 45 days. Please stop 3 times per day and answer the following questions. Please take notes to reveal patterns.

During this period of time:

• How did what I thought, said and did express my life—intentions, values and calling?

• What effect did they have on my presence, confidence and focus/clarity?

• Any corrections I want to make going forward from here?

P O E M S O F T H E Q U A R T E R

Rumi

What is the Path?

A self sacrificing way,but also a warrior’s way, and notfor brittle, easily broken, glass-bottle people.

The soul is tested here by sheer terror,as a sieve sifts and separatesgenuine from fake

And this road is full of footprints!Companions have come before.They are your ladder.Use them!

Without them you won’t have the spirit quicknessyou need. Even a dumb donkey crossing a desert becomes nimblefootedwith others of its kind.

Stay with a caravan. By yourself, you’ll get a hundred times more tired,and fall behind.

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Kabir

How Humble is God?

How humble is God?

God is the tree in the forest thatallows itself to die and will not defend itself in

front of those with the ax, not wanting to cause them

shame.

And God is the earth that will allow itself tobe deformed by man’s tools, but He cries; yes,

God cries,but only in front of His closest ones.

And a beautiful animal is being beaten to death,but nothing can make God break His silence

to the massesand say,

“Stop, please stop, why are you doing thisto Me?”

How humble is God?Kabir wept

when I knew.

A Great Pilgrimage

I felt in need of a great pilgrimageso I sat still for three

days.

and God came to me.

P O E M S O F T H E Q U A R T E R

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St. Francis of AssisiIn His Sanity

If all the tenderness in this world could reflectfrom my eyes, would you accept

that love?

If all the forgiveness

the heavens have know could be offeredfrom one

face,

would you accept that divine pardon?

In His sublime sanity—every moment God offers

that to us:

anything that might comfort.

Like RootsOur hands imbibe like roots,

so I place them on what is beautiful in this world.

And I fold them in prayer, and they draw from the heavens

light.

Anyone Who SufferedI

would notleave this earth until God

promisedme

that my hands could always touch the face ofanyone who

suffered.

God Would Kneel Down

I think God might be a little prejudiced.For once He asked me to join Him on a walk

through this world,

and we gazed into every heart on this earth,and I noticed He lingered a bit longer

before any face that wasweeping,

and before any eyes that were laughing.

And sometimes when we passedA soul in worship

God too would kneel down.

I have come to learn: Godadores Hiscreation.

P O E M S O F T H E Q U A R T E R

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B O O K O F T H E Q U A R T E R

Monoculture: How One Story is Changing EverythingBy F.S. Michaels Red Clover, 2011 Paperback, 202 pages

A short, powerful, rigorously grounded book that can pry the reader’s mind, body and emotions out of the grip of our dominant cultural narrative. Probably all of us know that we are deeply involved in an economic way of looking at the world. We readily judge universities by the salaries of graduates, we evaluate our personal worth by our financial assets, we are chagrined if our children are not able to earn more than we did. But the dominant narrative is much more penetrating and subversive than that.

The author begins with a brief, cogent history of economic thought, its central tenets and most prominent proponents. Then, methodically, footnoting each step with credible academic evidence, she shows how this way of thinking has pervaded all aspects of our contemporary life. A few examples: we work so much that we don’t have time for relationships; we have no children or fewer children than we wanted because of economic pressure (yes, these first two items are connected); both China and Japan have unique words for people who work themselves to death.

The framing quote for her exposition—for why we are in the midst of this without knowing it—is from Hegel: “Generally, the familiar, precisely because it is familiar, is not known.” If you read this book the familiar will no longer be unknown. You will learn vocabulary and a precise way of observing that will afford you more freedom in your own actions and greater clarity in coaching.

A guided tour by an articulate observer of the underground forces shaping all that we think, do, and feel—quite extraordinary.

—James Flaherty

Summary

Scale 1–5

Usefulness

Accessibility

Rigor

Potential toChange Reader

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NEWS AND UPDATES

On September 5, our community lost a precious and central member, Christy Svanemyr. Christy

was sunbathing in a San Francisco park with her baby daughter Isa and dog Ponyo when she was struck and killed by a Recreation and Parks vehicle that had swerved onto the grass. Neither Isa nor Ponyo were injured. She is survived by her husband Vegar, mother Holly, father George, sister Suzanne, brother-in-law Chad, the Flaherty family, and countless other loved ones.

Christy was the Director of Undergraduate Development at New Ventures West for eight years. She worked tirelessly guiding hundreds of would-be coaches in realizing their vocation. She was also on the faculty here here as a leader in training for the PCC. In these capacities and in so many other ways, Christy transformed inumberable lives.

A gathering of rememberence was held at the home of James and Stacy Flaherty a few days following the accident. Then, on October 12, Isa’s first birthday, a celebration of her life was held in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Attended by about 200 people, the gathering was a beautiful tribute to Christy. It included video and audio footage of her, a community art project in tribute, and moving words about her life from her immediate family and closest friends. Invited by James, everyone present reflected on the quality of Christy that most moved them and how they would bring that forward into the world. That

evening the party moved to a local restaurant where the group channeled Christy’s unflagging energy by dancing the night away to some of her favorite songs. It was a sweet, solemn, nourishing and cathartic day.

We move forward guided by Christy’s spirit but pained by her absence. You can read more about Christy’s life and death on our website, where there are also ways to remember her and support her family.

Our deepest gratitude to everyone who has expressed such heartfelt love and offerings of support to Christy’s family and the New Ventures West staff and faculty during this difficult time. Your love and support are deeply felt and appreciated.

Remembering Christy

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NEWS AND UPDATES

We welcome people of all nationalities, classes, genders, sexual orientations, ages, physical abilities, and newcomers to Buddhist practice. We invite you to visit our website (www.everydayzen.org) for more information about future events.

The Everyday Zen Foundation is dedicated to sharing the Zen attitude, spirit and practice with the world — to listening to the world, to changing it, and being changed by it. It is guided by the teachings of Zoketsu Norman Fischer.

CHRIS FORTIN is a Zen priest, psychotherapist and spiritual counselor (www.dharmaheartzen.com). She is a teacher in the Everyday Zen community, and leads the Women’s Lotus Sangha in Sebastopol as well as meditation retreats throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

JOY AND FREEDOM

Cost: $40 plus a traditional donation (dana) to the teachers at the end of the day. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please bring a bag lunch.

To register: http://everydayzendialog11-24.eventbrite.com or contact Allison Warren at everydayzendialogs@everydayzen.org or (925) 322-3140

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2013 • 10 AM–4:30 PM • LAUREN COACHING CENTER, 3502 GEARY, SAN FRANCISCO

A WORKSHOP WITH CHRIS FORTIN AND JAMES FLAHERTY

Amidst Difficulty

WHEN FIERY SUFFERING erupts from difficulties and challenges in our lives, we may fall into learned patterns of tolerating or coping until we get through. But there is so much more possibility open to us. IN COMING TOGETHER we will explore our capacity to cultivate joy and freedom in the fire of confusion, sadness, even despair. Beyond positive thinking, this capacity is more real and grounded than new age clichés. With mutual support we can find this place and power within ourselves. THIS DAY-LONG SESSION will be led by experienced teachers in the Zen tradition, skilled in helping individuals explore inmost concerns and long term development. During our day together we will engage in meditation, with music, poetry, and open discussion.

JAMES FLAHERTY MCC, is the founder of New Ventures West, a company that has been training and developing coaches for over 20 years. He is a voracious reader. He practices yoga and qigong, and is a longtime student of Norman Fischer of Everyday Zen.

Photo: Chinese blacksmith throwing molten metal against a wall to celebrate the Lantern Festival

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Dear friends,

It has been a tender a time for our community and I appreciate the ways you are holding space for mourning and the love you continue to send. I look forward to getting to know each of you and supporting our community in continuing to bring freedom, love and joy into each other’s lives and the world we inhabit.

In this spirit, we are in the process of establishing a nonprofit to bring the work of New Ventures West to communities where there is a financial barrier. If you are interested in learning more about this or have non-profit expertise that you would like to lend us, please email me at adam@newventureswest.com.

Additionally, thank you for your wonderful and candid feedback to the graduate survey. Please stay tuned for more information on ways to stay connected to each other and the broader graduate community.

With Love,

Adam Klein Global Graduate Director

Grad Happenings

Angie O’Donnell (2005), co-founder of 3D Leadership Group, has been awarded the coveted New England Executive Coach of the Year Award by the International Coach Federation of New England (ICFNE). Angie embodies a passion and dedication that has advanced not only her coaching business, but the entire profession. She continues to see a bright future for the coaching field and a need for us all to bring our contribution forward. Congratulations, Angie!

Gary Lam (2013) is the new program director for ICF Bay Area. Go Gary!

Amiel Handelsman (2009) has a new book out called Paranoia to Possibility. Tana Heminsley (2007) wrote a book titled Awaken Your Authentic Leadership. Check them out on Amazon!

On the adventure front, Lizzie Prior (2010), one of our PCC Leaders in Training from across the pond, recently completed cycling from Lands End, England to John O’Groats, Scotland: a journey of 837 miles. She has a wonderful post about it on her blog. Among the many wise insights she writes, “The invitation to us all here is to experiment with stepping into something that you really want to do. Surround yourself with people who are more skilled at it than you. Let your body learn from them. Run with them often. Absorb them and see how much you improve and learn. It happens naturally when we are part of something. We take it on, we take it up.” Thanks Lizzie - we’re utterly inspired.

Adam with his wife Robyn and their daughter Genesis

GRADUATE NEWS

Lizzie Prior (center) at the start of a loooong ride!

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Update on Recertification Continue the good work in keeping your certification current! We’re making one small change to the recertification policy: writeups for non-NVW trainings are now due within 60 days of the training. So please send them in promptly to keep yourself updated.

ICF NewsEffective April 1, 2014 ICF is instituting changes to the ACC and PCC credentialing process. All applicants, whether taking the portfolio or ACTP path, will be required to pass an online assessment in order to receive their credential. If you have been putting off applying for your ACC or PCC I suggest you do so soon! Unless, of course, you like online tests.

Readers of NovelsWe’re always looking for great authors to invite to our Book Study Group. If you read a novel by a living author that impacted you in such a way as to cause a shift or to approach your coaching differently, please let Adam know.

We love to hear from our graduates! If you have news you’d like to share with us please send it to grads@newventureswest.com and include a photo if relevant.

GRADUATE NEWS

Congratulations and welcome to our newest graduates!

Michel Allard, Verdun, QC, CanadaCarlos Atehortua, Weston, FLClaire Aubert, Dunham, QC, CanadaRandy Austill, Arlington, MA Tremeur Balbous, Montreal, QC, Canada Mary Beaulieu, Wakefield, MA Lyne Beausoleil, Montreal, QC, CanadaPierre Berge, Montreal, QC, CanadaJocelyne Bucci, Boucherville, QC, CanadaJean-Sébastien Charron, Montreal QC Geraldine Dropsy, West Palm Beach, FL Deary Duffie, San Francisco, CAGilles Duchèsne, Quebec, QC, CanadaDeb Feder, Leawood, KS Tamyra Freeman, Indianapolis, INAnne Gorsuch, Vancouver, BC, CanadaMarie-Hélène Guay, Roxboro, QC, CanadaCathy Hagen, Long Valley, NJ Beth Hicks, Chicago, ILDebra Hiers, Decatur, GAKimberly Hilton, Greensboro, NC Aude Catherine Joly, Chelsea, QC, CanadaKathleen Kirkish, Oakland, CA Reynald Labelle, Gatineau, QC, Canada Diane Lacelle, Gatineau, QC, CanadaDaniel Leclair, Laval, QC, CanadaMarie-Christine Legault, Blainville, QC, CanadaHélène Letarte, St. Lambert, QC, CanadaAnne Létourneau, Bale D’Urfé, QC, Canada

Valerie Lewis, Marina del Rey, CA Paula Lubreski, Herndon, VA Frédérick Lussier, Québéc, QC, CanadaMimi Maduro, Mosier, OR Julie Mandeville, Gatineau, QC, CanadaAnn Manikas, Chicago, IL Kai Mantsch, San Francisco, CA Sheila McAnanly, Chicago, ILSylvie Mercier, Montreal, QC, CanadaAmy Moynihan, Westford, MA Mary Murphy, Colleyville, TX Jane Owen, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Chris Paizis, San Francisco, CAReva Patwardhan, Oakland, CA Jo Ann Prompongsatorn, San Francisco, CA Nicole Pulito, New Berlin, WI Orlando Reyes, Roseville, CA Maggie Ritchie, Big Rock, IL Paula Santos, Evanston, IL Tovi Scruggs, Oakland CA Theresa Soltzberg, Felton, CAEileen Spillane, San Francisco, CA Sully Taylor, Portland, OR Debra Underwood, Berkeley, CABruce Van Cleave, Mequon, WI Maureen Williams, Chicago. IL Jane Wood, Moncton, NB, CanadaMary Lynn Young, Vancouver, BC, Canada

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INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMS

COACHING ROUNDTABLEOne-day introduction to Integral Coaching and an opportunity for graduates to reconnect and discuss a new coaching topic.

San Francisco November 23 March 1

FREE COACHING AS A GUEST CLIENTSpend a half or full day being coached by a highly trained student. Experience Integral Coaching® firsthand and come away with fresh insights and practices. An important step for all aspiring coaches, and open to all.

San Francisco Full day January 25 Half days Feb. 21, 22Washington DC Half days Mar. 14, 15

SPECIAL COACHING EVENTSenior faculty members lead explorations around compelling topics through the lens of Integral Coaching. Open to all.

Washington DC November 23 hosted by Sarita ChawlaChicago February 8hosted by James Flaherty

Cost: $35

COACH BUILDING BLOCKS

COACHING TO EXCELLENCETwo interactive days on the foundations of Integral Coaching.

Boston November 12-13Washington DC January 14-15San Francisco January 15-16Chicago January 28-29Singapore* January 28-29

Cost: $695 in the U.S.*

COACH AS ENTREPRENEURBuild your business as a coach by finding your unique gifts and developing your skills and way of being as an entrepreneur.

San Francisco November 15-17

Cost: $1,495

THWARTING THE INNER CRITIC Designed and led by senior faculty member Sarita Chawla, this popular class is open to the general public.

Chicago November 13-14 Singapore* January 20-21 San Francisco May 1-2

Cost: $675 in the U.S.*

COACH CERTIFICATION

THE PROFESSIONAL COACHING COURSECertification program for independent and corporate coaches. The next yearlong programs begin:

London* November 2013San Francisco December 2013 March 2014Montreal* (in French) December 2013 Cape Town February 2014 Washington DC April 2014

Cost: $9,500 in the U.S.*

(Note: for U.S. courses beginning in 2014 an extra day will be added to Session 2 and tuition will increase to $10,000.)

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

BOOK STUDY GROUP Monthly conference calls with James and guest authors applying current texts to Integral Coaching.

Quarters begin January, April, July, October

Cost: $375/quarter

MASTER CLASS WITH SARITA CHAWLA Sarita Chawla leads grads in a deep investigation of the topic “Life’s Other Half.”

Washington DC November 21-22San Francisco December 12-13

Cost: $475

YEAR LAUNCH WITH JAMES FLAHERTYFormerly the Coaching Reunion Weekend. 2014 Topic:“Finding Your Roar - Expressing Your Light - Making Your Contribution”

San Francisco January 17-19Washington DC January 24-26Teleclass (Tuesday evenings) February - July

Cost: $750 workshop only $450 teleclass only $1,100 workshop + teleclass

* Visit our website for international pricing and a full list of courses taking place around the world

CASE SUPERVISION WITH JAMES FLAHERTY

Work closely with James to bring greater depth, rigor and life to your work with clients. 12 monthly calls. 18 CCEUs.

Programs begin: November 13 (Europe/Africa) November 14 (US) November 15 (Asia/Australia)

Cost: $1,800 for the year

C O U R S E S C H E D U L E

11PO BOX 591525 • SAN FRANCISCO • CA • 94159 • 800.332.4618 • WWW.NEWVENTURESWEST.COM