Forum
I must have referenced Forum in past essays, but I don’t recall ever fully explaining it. The concept of Forum was introduced to me by Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO). I joined the Columbus chapter of EO in the Fall of 2004, and have participated in Forum on a monthly basis ever since.
Forum is a confidential monthly gathering in which 6-10 EO members, led by a trained peer Moderator, share their experiences with each other. It's essentially like having your own personal board of directors, comprised of remarkable leaders who are there to support you through the toughest business challenges and celebrating your victories.
Its structure and format include the following:
Monthly meetings employing special protocols to support a trusting environment.
Groups typically consist of 6-10 entrepreneurs from non-competitive industries.
Led by moderator-trained EO members, not paid facilitators.
Provides a highly structured and safe environment for members to discuss deeply personal and professional challenges.
Forum is a fundamentally different way of interacting. Sharing experiences rather than giving advice, practicing humility and a beginner's mind, and listening with head and heart. The key principle is that members don't give advice; they speak from first-hand experience, letting you draw your own conclusions on the best manner to proceed.
The Forum practice is central to EO's mission of supporting entrepreneurs not just in business, but as whole individuals, recognizing that entrepreneurship affects every aspect of one's life. It follows a prescribed agenda, which includes everyone sharing a monthly update of their “Top or Bottom 5%” events, and closely examining some combination of the most important and most urgent items in their lives. Life’s most notable events are saved for examination in Forum. We typically can share the other 90% pretty easily with just about anyone.
This monthly practice of reviewing our lives, sharing them with Forum, and being present for my Forum mates to share their experiences has absolutely made me a better person. I have a deeper understanding of myself, I’m a better listener and a better communicator.
I don’t see any reason why this approach to learning and growing can’t work for just about anyone. We all experience the ups and downs of life. Tapping into the experience base of a trusted inner circle greatly magnifies our perspective, allowing us to navigate things more effectively. The willingness of all participants to be open, honest and vulnerable creates trust, which enables depth. I’m happy to share more about the mechanics of Forum if you’d like to explore this concept yourself.
Sunday Dinner
This Swiss Chard, Leek and Goat Cheese Tart looks amazing. It feels a little early for this, but Turkey Chili is starting to sound good to me. This Corn Salad is another great way to bask in the glory of summer sweet corn. And this Blueberry Crumble would make for a wonderful dessert.
Sunday Music
Here is Deep Sea Diver in a recent performance at KEXP. Adam Miller with some Sunday grooves at Studio 606. And here is Gillian Welch & David Rawlings at the NPR Tiny Desk. Enjoy!
If you know anyone who might like this essay, please share it with them.
Have a great week ahead! You can do anything you set your mind to. Let me know how I can help.
Peace & Love,