The Vertigo of New Vision Business as an Agent of World Benefit

An Interview with David Cooperrider The VerTigo of New VisioN — BusiNess as aN ageNT of world BeNefiT

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Introduction d d w begun through a new crowd-sourcing challenge, Axiom News caught up with David to discuss the seed of his dream, the thinking that shapes it and

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Q. How did you come to be so passionate about the idea of business as an agent of world benefit? A. i i w

h f i a i I was taking the next big step, exploring the possibility of a worldwide T

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lesson: much needed would be a vital call to a h

My meeting Willis Harman in his office in 1987 was like opening the doors in the mind.

B w h w encounter with people who can only be described as guiding lights — and

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h i two of the scenarios were dark and dangerous — one a slow meltdown

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T i that asserted that business might well emerge in the 21st century as f h a B “is a task of historic importance” — and that the 21st century can become

Q. But many argue the opposite. A magazine cover page splashed the headline: “Will Big Business Save or Destroy the Planet?” A.

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a colleagues and I the business and society urgency T

Moments like this are times for magnified meaning-making, and for imagining great steps forward.

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might play a world-changing role in the precarious a a i a w B r i l meaning-making, and for imagining great steps s B

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working successfully that, if further developed and applied, could vitally

i a “green” factories that give back more clean energy to the world than they e

that leave behind no waste — only “food” that becomes energy for future a

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Leadership Excellence

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Firms of Endearment shows the

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Q. In one of your talks you outlined three things: (1) Management is a matter of world affairs, (2) that every single global issue of our day is a business opportunity for the creative innovator like those you see in Silicon Valley, and (3) it’s time to aim higher as a field. Can you explain? A. i T

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o i f i i a Dutch company called oaT and their “shoes that oaT N

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were all smiles when they opened their presents last year at Christmas N T s

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For the future to be bright, it must be green.

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i T responsibility department, an appendage to real business, not long-term a i eo T

Q. David, can you share another—maybe a story most have not heard, but should? A. s w T

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i h w i T my chapter in the book Appreciative Intelligence) I was moved to tears of i g a i s

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partnerships, I was so inspired, even by the T s “narings liv” and translated literally, it means the T

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The word for business in Swedish is “narings liv” and translated literally, it means the “nourishment of life.” T

i w a i “impossible becoming possible” creates a dislodgement of treasured s w

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Axiom’s special note: David Cooperrider and the Fowler Center for Sustainable Value at Case Western Reserve University would like to invite you to an exciting project. It is a project in collaboration with the acclaimed IDEO—one of the top design firms in the world. The invitation is found at OpenIDEO www.openideo.com.

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* News graphic courtesy of: Canada in Afghanistan / Canada en Afghanistan (flickr): Kids Studying Together (Sept 2012). NASA Goddard Photo and Video/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (flickr): NASA Watching Atlantic Tropics: Katia, Tropical Storm Lee and System 94L (Sept 2012). WWarby/William Warby (flickr): Docklands Skyscraper (Sept 2012).

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