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davewakeman · 4 years

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20 Takeaways From the 2020 INTIX Conference In NYC

I’m back from INTIX 2020 and everything is bigger and better in NYC!

I’m not sure of the final numbers, but I think over 1,400 people attended this year’s conference in midtown Manhattan and I met hundreds of folks on the trade show floor, in sessions, and wandering around.

In fact, I’m still a little dazed from all the connecting and networking.

But I wanted to share with y’all a few takeaways from this year’s conference. In fact, being 2020…why not 20?

1. There was a large international presence:

I know that making sure all the world’s ticket folks have a home has been the goal of INTIX’s board and CEO, Maureen Andersen, for the last few years and this year’s conference really delivered a much greater international flavor.

I met folks from Iceland, Denmark, England, Central Europe, Canada, and 6 Australians!

2. Leading panels of all international guests helped stimulate new conversations:

I never mentioned this during my trip to INTIX, but I managed to create two panels that had almost all voices that brought an international flavor and it really brought a great dynamic to our conversations.

I never mentioned it to the panelists that the prerequisite was having an international background but Simon, Angela, Martin, Gabe, Guislaine, and Frederic…surprise, you were part of my desire to bring a more diverse and international perspective to my conversations!

3. Danny Frank can throw a party!

Many people came up to me to talk about the Wednesday night celebration. One person exclaimed, “Danny Frank can throw a party!”

Maybe the Anaheim committee can top Wednesday’s performance?

4. Venue tours were a big hit:

The tour of Radio City Musical Hall was especially popular with folks.

Having been in Radio City and around Radio City a lot of times over the years, hearing how special the experience was for folks reminded me that this is a good lesson for all of us to remain conscious that something that is old hat to us could be a once in a lifetime or first time thing for someone else.

5. Strategy passed many people’s lips:

Strategy and the impact of having the right strategy and communicating it up and down the organization came up at more points than I’d ever heard before.

I was happy because I think making sure that you have a strong strategy that is communicated up and down the organization is likely a real key to success.

6. The keynotes were both big hits:

I’m not sure if it was the first time someone sang to open INTIX, but if it was…it shouldn’t be the last time.

And, after Jimmy Roberts, several people mentioned to me that, “I’m not even a golfer and I can use…”

Which I think is the highlight of a good speaker.

7. The backdrop of NYC added a sense of excitement that people really enjoyed:

Opening night on Broadway was great!

Having the chance to hang out on Broadway with the lights and action of Broadway below everyone was a really great way to open the show and for many people another once in a lifetime experience.

8. Presenting in Manhattan gave folks a thrill:

On more than one occasion, I saw folks tweet or post to social media about their “opening” or “playing” Broadway for the first time.

9. The conversations between the primary and the secondary market are continuing to become more productive:

Nothing happens in a straight line, but I saw a lot more productive conversations taking place between and about the primary market and their relationship with the secondary market than I have before.

That can only benefit the customer because I think both sides of the market can learn from each other.

10. People really have listened and learned from “The Business of Fun”:

Allow me to plug myself, but I am always amazed and grateful at the response that people give me about listening to my podcast and learning from it.

Over the last several days, I had people reference my conversation with Stephen Glicken from Project Admission, Tony Knopp from Ticketmanager, and many others. And, the fact that people listen and learn from all these great people is

I also had one person have a friend of mine asked if he could get her on the podcast! The answer was, “yes!” Duh!

11. Never forget people:

I was chatting with my friend, Michael L from the New Amsterdam and we got to talking about old school ticket selling.

(Spoiler: he’s one of the folks that taught me about Broadway and Broadway box offices many years ago.)

Our conversation reminded me how important people are and to try and quote Michael, “we are just around to make a little magic.”

12. There were a lot of new faces and voices:

I know that my friend Jacob from FC Copenhagen made his debut. Samuel Biscoe from the UK was there and speaking for the first time, I think. And, I had Frederic Auoad from Stay 22 on my panel.

And, scrolling through the agenda, I think newer voices were a theme.

Which is great.

The more voices, the more diverse the industry and the ideas that have a chance to take hold.

13. So many great tools and technologies are available:

To piggyback and the conversation with Michael L, the technology is a tool to help us do more of the human stuff, but the technology has shot forward and gives us greater freedom than ever before.

I can’t highlight everyone or everything, but Sean Kelly and his team at Vatic have produced some really strong results using dynamic pricing in the arts.

I love the work that Einar and Martin are doing with Activity Stream and talking about the “total marketing” concept.

The things that Rob Walters was sharing with me about Patron Base struck me as cool and exciting, especially as he works to penetrate new markets that they’ve never entered before.

14. Catching up with old friends and learning about their new projects was always great:

I never get to see the full Audience View team at once, but as they were rolling out their rebrand it was fun to catch all of them at once.

The rebrand looks good and finding out that those are light beams and not rock fingers was slightly disappointing, but I still enjoyed learning more about what they are working on now.

It was also great catching up with the team at Today Tix. They were awesome to me when I was going to Australia for the Ticketing Professionals Conference in Sydney in November. And, learning more about how they are expanding their services was great because I see how impactful their work with Harry Potter has been in Australia.

15. If you go, participate:

This is less an observation about this year’s INTIX than it is a general suggestion about the industry. But take the opportunity to be a part of a committee or take action.

I can say without a doubt that my participation has been rewarding both personally and professionally.

I’ve been a part of the technology committee at INTIX.

My good friend, Cat Spencer, is on the board.

I asked Derek Palmer about this while we were in Sydney together…

Everyone agreed, giving back is amazing and makes the value of membership and connection more powerful.

16. There was plenty of bacon at this year’s annual breakfast:

This joke only hits if you were at the 2019 conference in Texas, but there was no bacon in Dallas.

So having the right amount of bacon was one of the NYC committee’s top priorities.

17. INTIX is focused on being a year-round organization:

From my conversation with members of the board, I know that a priority is to continue to work to be wherever tickets are being talked about.

One big thing that I would encourage all of you to look at is to check out your local chapters and find ways to connect with and get involved in your community.

18. If you are at a conference and you get a chance to see Tessitura’s Erin Koppel present, do it:

In back to back years, she’s put together workshops that keep me engaged. And, she does a fantastic job titling her presentations…which is tough!

So if you see her speaking at a conference, check her out. Helping folks take action and be proactive is a key skill that she has. So check her out.

19. Overall, the content at INTIX continues to add value and reflect the changes that are taking place in the industry:

I noticed a much broader content profile this year from career development, onto helping ensure that all guests are accommodated, to time management, customer service, and much more.

It is great to see the content continue to evolve and adapt to the changing demands of people at all stages of their careers.

20. INTIX is a love letter to the industry:

The biggest thing I took away from this year’s INTIX was that it is a love letter to the industry and the positive thing is that the conference continues to evolve and reflect that no matter where you are coming from in the industry, there is a place for you and that the power of people creating powerful experiences for other people carries a lot of weight in a world where we are continually pulled apart and in many different directions.

P.S. I have one beef with the swag bag! Where’s my Mets’ t-shirt?!

Also, I’d love it if you’d sign up for my weekly newsletter on all things tickets, live experiences, and live events: Talking Tickets. It’s free!

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20 Takeaways From the 2020 INTIX Conference In NYC was originally published on Wakeman Consulting Group

#INTIX #marketing #nyc #sales #tickets

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stresser · 7 years

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i’m bored so i did this

1: when you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk? cereal then milk. 2: do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day? i’m indifferent to the feeling. 3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books? toilet paper or tissues lmao, and sometimes i dog-ear the pages. 4: how do you take your coffee/tea? coffee with french vanilla creamer, tea with sugar. 5: are you self-conscious of your smile? eh. 6: do you keep plants? i have fake plants. 7: do you name your plants? no. 8: what artistic medium do you use to express your feelings? hmm, writing. 9: do you like singing/humming to yourself? yep. 10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach? side. 11: what's an inner joke you have with your friends? friends? 12: what's your favorite planet? eris, which is a dwarf planet. 13: what's something that made you smile today? playing the sims 3 pets. 14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like? hardwood or concrete floors, eggshell-white walls decorated with minimalist-abstract art, open-concept living space, plants everywhere, white cabinets with wooden countertops in the kitchen, wooden beams on the ceiling, tall windows that look out onto the city. 15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is! Neutron stars can spin at a rate of 600 rotations per second 16: what's your favorite pasta dish? fettuccine alfredo. 17: what color do you really want to dye your hair? right now it’s medium brown. i used to have it pink, and i’d like to switch back if it weren’t so much money and upkeep. 18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up. umm... 19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it? i don’t keep a journal. 20: what's your favorite eye color? brown or hazel. 21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that's been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces. like a purse? i bought a michael kors purse (beige, over-the-shoulder, $150) almost three years ago that i still have and carry everywhere. it’s my only purse. 22: are you a morning person? ahha... no. 23: what's your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations? sleep, play video games, bake, and write. 24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets? yes. 25: what's the weirdest place you've ever broken into? my own home. 26: what are the shoes you've had for forever and wear with every single outfit? my mom’s old flipflops (used to be white, cheap, squeaky, always slip off my feet while i walk), which have somehow become mine. they’re super easy to put on when i’m in a hurry to go somewhere that doesn’t require a lot of walking. 27: what's your favorite bubblegum flavor? isn’t bubblegum a flavor? my favorite gum flavor is spearmint. 28: sunrise or sunset? sunset. 29: what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing? it’s really cute how my friends don’t exist. 30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared? yes 31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks. i always lose and mismatch socks, so i typically only wear cheap white ones from wal mart. i steal my boyfriend’s socks a lot because i keep losing my own. i don’t know where they go. i also don’t have the money to just buy socks all the time, so if i bought some really cute patterned ones, i could see myself getting upset if i lost them (especially if they were expensive, like Nike, which like... how can people just have and afford Nike socks??) anyway, i can’t sleep with socks on. if i end up falling asleep without taking them off, they somehow come off in my sleep. 32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends. it seems you’re under the impression that i have an extraordinarily active social life. 33: what's your fave pastry? baguettes 34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it? i had a teddy bear named beary that my dog tore up when i was nine. 35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often? i’m obsessed with stationary. i don’t use them i just like to look at them and organize them. 36: which band's sound would fit your mood right now? whichever one sounds like an eternal groan. 37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean? i like a clean room, but sometimes i’m too lazy to clean it. 38: tell us about your pet peeves! people who are unnecessarily loud (especially in the mornings), slow walkers, people who get to skip the entire line because their friends are at the front, people who talk shit about somebody but the next day are practically arm-and-arm with the person they’d just talked shit about, people who listen to their music on speakers rather than on earbuds/headphones (see above: “unnecessarily loud”), when you’re trying to spend time with someone and they’re looking at their phone the entire time, people who dislike something just because it’s “mainstream” and they want to be an asshole, children screaming and acting like demons in public. 39: what color do you wear the most? gray or black. 40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what's it's story? does it have any meaning to you? i barely have any jewelry and what little jewelry i do have is from h&m and costs like six bucks. 41: what's the last book you remember really, really loving? i don’t read a lot but i remember reading jellicoe road for summer reading in tenth grade, and i was really surprised because it was actually quite good. 42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it! the best coffee shop i’ve ever been to is intellegiencia in downtown chicago. 43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with? my boyfriend, probably? i don’t remember. 44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything? umm??? 45: do you trust your instincts a lot? yes. 46: tell us the worst pun you can think of. not a pun: i used to like puns but people are overusing them to an extreme so now i can’t fucking stand them lol. 47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe? sprouts. they’re like the pubes of nature. 48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today? the dark, and although i’m still perpetually afraid of the dark, i have a bigger fear of heights. 49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought? no, not really. the last cd i bought was probably when i was nine. 50: what's an odd thing you collect? stress. 51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them? can’t think of anything. 52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far? “sometimes things that are expensive..... are worse.” 53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them? i’ve watched heathers and beetlejuice in their entirety. i like them both but i have to be in a certain type of mood for them because they’re also a little weird. i’ve only seen the first part of pulp fiction because for some reason i keep falling asleep in that movie, lol. 54: who's the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face? uhh?? 55: what's the most dramatic thing you've ever done to prove a point? i can’t think of anything right now but i don’t doubt that i’ve done something dramatic to prove a point. 56: what are some things you find endearing in people? i like when people are comfortable to be themselves and talk about themselves. i like being around people who don’t judge others. 57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics? i’m sorry but i’m not listening to that song rn lol. 58: who's the wine mom and who's the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why? i’m both 59: what's your favorite myth? the only one i can think of is from greek mythology where this man was transformed into a woman and then back into a man and then zeus and hera asked him/her which gender enjoyed sex more and the man/woman/man said the woman enjoyed it more so hera cursed him. lmfao it’s so obvious that a man wrote this myth, isn’t it? 60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves? poetry is meh. 61: what's the stupidest gift you've ever given? the stupidest one you've ever received? i just gave my boyfriend a chess set except the chess pieces are shot glasses for his twenty-first birthday. the stupidest gift i’ve ever received... uhh, idk. 62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind? no. 63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be? leave them be. 64: what color is the sky where you are right now? dark. it’s... holy shit it’s 5am. 65: is there anyone you haven't seen in a long time who you'd love to hang out with? my grandma. 66: what would your ideal flower crown look like? nonexistent. 67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel? depends where i am. inside: i’m okay. outside, walking to class: gloomy, irritable, and tired. 68: what's winter like where you live? like summer. 69: what are your favorite board games? life, probably, because it doesn’t take too long. 70: have you ever used a ouija board? no. 71: what's your favorite kind of tea? sweet. 72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you'll forget it? for the most part, yeah. 73: what are some of your worst habits? biting my nails, eating too many carbs, not texting people back and isolating myself. 74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns. how ‘bout this: no. 75: tell us about your pets! i have a palomino bunny who is a little over one year old and his name is bean. he’s very sociable but he sheds so much. i bought him from a rescue center three hours away last year. i also have a gray and white kitten who is three or four months old and her name is matilda. she’s very floppy and hyper. my mom found her in her backyard in the middle of the night and i decided to just keep her. 76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren't? sleeping! 77: pink or yellow lemonade? pink. 78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub? hateclub! 79: what's one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you? i once pointed to this really expensive perfume in sephora and said it was my favorite scent but i’ve never owned it before. my boyfriend went back and bought it and gifted it to me for our anniversary. 80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why? beige, and no, i didn’t choose them; my landlord did, i guess. 81: describe one of your friend's eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of. my boyfriend’s eyes: they’re like two hot cups of tea, swimming with honey and sugar, set beneath the window of a bright yet chilly morning. 82: are/were you good in school? i used to be good in high school but i’m hopeless in college. 83: what's some of your favorite album art? ??? 84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones? i used to think that i wanted tattoos but then i realized how much it cost to get one. 85: do you read comics? what are your faves? no 86: do you like concept albums? which ones? no? i think? 87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives? star wars (episodes iv-vi), titanic, the princess bride, batman: the dark knight. 88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy? not really. 89: are you close to your parents? not really. 90: talk about your one of you favorite cities. i haven’t been to very many places but i loved fort myers, florida. there seemed to be so much to do around that area, and it was warm even in december. 91: where do you plan on traveling this year? playa del carmen, mexico. 92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch? drowns pasta in cheese. 93: what's the hairstyle you wear the most? “oops i forgot to brush my hair this morning after i got out of the shower and it’s still wet” 94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday? my bf 95: what are your plans for this weekend? go grocery shopping 96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot? procrastinate 97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house? istp, gemini, slytherin 98: when's the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it? about three months ago my family and i tried to hike up a mountain in june, but the trail was over three miles long so many of us quit halfway and headed back to the cars. 99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them. n/a 100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why? the past, because i want to enjoy being a kid again

#personal #me #september 10 2017

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healthandmightimesprekese1 · 7 years

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Herbal Energetics or Not?

5/4/2016

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by Melissa Laurita Kohl

I learned herbalism through the American folk tradition, sitting at the feet of those herbalists, like Rosemary Gladstar, who raised herbalism back from the dead. They had few books, no internet, and a strong calling and passion for something that most Americans thought was crazy. Intuition, or the art of herbalism, was strong. This American tradition is beautiful. Pulled from tidbits of the European tradition that survived in the United States, broken and battered by the Inquisition, the scientific revolution, and the American Medical Association. Pulled from Native American culture, broken and battered by Europeans. Pulled from the magic and mysticism that comes from working closely with plants.

Shen Nong, the 'Divine Farmer' who taught herbalism & agriculture to the people of ancient ChinaTraditionally and historically, herbalism is used in the context of a whole system. A poetry, or way, of understanding nature, its patterns, and our place within it. Observation is focused on ways you can observe the body and the whole person with all of your senses (as opposed to peering within via scalpels or microscopes). The concept of herbal energetics comes from these traditional systems and is often based on polarities (hot/cold, damp/dry) and allopathy (treating with opposites). For me, herbal energetics and the idea of a condition being hot or cold was somehow frightening and hard to grasp. Herbally, I grew up learning that valerian was a nervine and a sedative. And it worked and worked astonishingly well using herbs according to their actions with no consideration for energetics.

Today it is very popular to believe that this folksy way of using herbalism, without that energetic context, is a lesser way. Herbalists who practice this way are lesser. I have seen many herbalists say that it is dangerous to use herbs according to their actions, in a “this for that” manner.

But I think that this is a dangerous notion. Plants work. They do. They work if you simmer leaves or if you infuse them for 8 hours with a lid on. They work if you use organic herbs or if you have to resort to Celestial Seasonings Chamomile tea. They work if you write their name down on a piece of paper and keep it in your pocket, if you carry them on you, if you rub them on your body, if you ingest them, if you call on the plant spirit and think of them, if you tincture them. Plants work because we evolved with them. Every aspect of our being is interwoven with them. Their phytochemicals need to wash our cells regularly for our bodies to function properly. We have to see them for our immune systems to function properly. We have to smell them for our cardiovascular systems to function optimally. We must be in close connection with them for our spirits to feel comfortable on this earth.

And because ingesting and using and living among plants is so intrinsic to our nature and our existence on this planet, they are generally very safe. Statistically safer than eating, driving, or taking pharmaceuticals. This does not mean that you can use them without understanding the basics of herb safety, but it does mean that if you are a folk herbalist and you know what you are doing, you will not be hurting anyone in any significant way, if at all. Maybe someone will feel like the herb you recommended is making them too dry or maybe the first herb you give them won't be their ally, but the next one will. If you are an intuitive folk herbalist, you may in fact be recommending the same herbs one would choose if examining herbal energetics in addition to herbal actions.

Rosemary Gladstar primarily teaches this folk tradition of American herbalism. There is a reason she is wildly popular and is the fairy godmother of American herbalism (or as my dear friend and fellow herb teacher Cat Pante said, “Rosemary Gladstar is the mama mack daddy of herbs.”). If she were peddling a system that did not work, I can assure you that we would not be here today having this conversation, as herbalism would likely still be stuffed in the broom closet. I think this is important to remember as politics push us closer to standardization, to alienating our brothers and sisters who don't use herbs quite the same way we do.

All that being said, I do incorporate herbal energetics into my beginner herb classes because I think it is an important and useful tool and it is easier to integrate into your practice if you learn it right from the beginning. It is also a more legal way of practicing herbalism. Technically, it is illegal for me to treat your indigestion or high blood pressure. But if I am not treating those western diseases, but instead am treating the underlying imbalance in the body, based on herbal energetics, then I am speaking and using a very non-medical model and am no longer practicing medicine without a license (hopefully). Folk herbalism works incredibly well much of the time. Unfortunately, it is in a grey area here in the United States. Using a traditional form of herbalism (like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Unani-Tibb, Galenic, Tibetan, or a traditional Native American or African system) can add beauty, nuance, and efficacy to your practice. But it should never bring judgment or condescension for your herbal brothers and sisters who do not.

Melissa Laurita Kohl is the lead instructor and founder of the Fungi & Flora Folkschool in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. She credits her love of herbs with growing up in NYC (where every plant was a precious gift); her mama's unbelievable Italian cooking (which infused her home with the intoxicating aroma of herbs); and her colic (which brought her chamomile). Melissa has studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and western herbalism with a variety of teachers. Herb walks and herbal apprenticeships take place on her farm, where sheep, alpaca, ducks, guineas, chickens, angora rabbits, and a stray cat from Brooklyn welcome visitors.

COMMENTS:

jim mcdonald

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5/10/2016 12:51:56 pm

to address this quote: "I have seen many herbalists say that it is dangerous to use herbs according to their actions, in a “this for that” manner." I think that if you're using herbs according to their "actions", you ~are~ using energetics, whether you're aware of it or not. A great example here is that I feel one of the people Iearned the most about energetics from is David Hoffmann. But David Hoffmann once told me he didn't get energetics at all. If we understand when it's appropriate to use an astringent, an aromatic, a demulcent, then (to me) that's energetic, whether the person thinks in terms of hot/cold/dry/damp or not at all. Some years ago I did a talk for the Michigan Midwives Association, and we got to talking about how they used herbs, learned from a very long folk tradition,\: "when you see this, these are the herbs you should consider". Their usage of herbs ended up being very energetic. Most of the people I know (including myself) who criticize a "this for that" use of herbs aren't thinking about when people say "take this herb for a congested head cold" or "use yarrow to help stop bleeding", but much more nebulous suggestions like "st john's wort is good for depression" or "chaga is good for cancer". I do think that working to understand energetics on a more conscious level can help avoid some pitfalls. For example, herbs commonly suggested for head colds are usually best for stuffy or leaky head colds, and many of them will aggravate someone whose head is all dry and inflamed with tight tissues. Knowing to consider this can help you avoid suggesting, perhaps, eating raw garlic, which will certainly help the infection but might aggravate the ecosystem of the upper respiratory tissues. Probably the biggest issue is that "energetics" isn't commonly taught as beginner (or, as I prefer to say, foundational) herbalism.

Melissa Laurita Kohl

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5/16/2016 07:58:09 pm

Hi Jim, Thank you for your comment! I have to say that I only know your teaching through your online presence, but I think you are both brilliant and hysterical and secretly you are the teacher I am most interested in studying with next (well you and Michael Tierra). I absolutely agree with what you are saying and never thought of actions in that light because I have learned them so separately from herbal energetics (through TCM and now Ayurveda). It is true that a lot of the concern comes from these more nebulous suggestions or actions like antidepressant and anxiolytic and to some extent I think it's a valid concern, but I also don't. When I studied with Rosemary Gladstar, I did learn that St. Johnswort was for depression and anxiety. I think that is entirely appropriate, especially when coming from an herbalist versus a newspaper article or as part of a list of antidepressants or nervines in a book. Folkloric herbalists know that not all herbs work for all people or all types of depression, but it could work for you. So when I learned about St. Johnswort, I learned that some people recommend it for anxiety and some people think it is contraindicated with anxiety. I learned that it probably works best blended with other nervines, exercise, good sleep, and good diet (which could all fit right into energetics). And as long as you know what you are doing (and do not recommend herbs that are contraindicated for a particular person), then worse case scenario, you might have to introduce a few different herbs or formulas before you hit the right one. But if you really know your herbs and really know the person, there is a good chance you will unconsciously sense whether or not an herb would be a good match - much like when you meet someone and think a friend would love (or hate) them. In some ways, folkloric herbalism is about creating connections between people and their plant friends - the ones who complete and heal them. Practicing within an energetic framework does not necessarily prevent this kind of error (if you want to call it that). When I studied TCM, I learned that if someone does not respond well to a formula, it gives you another clue as to what is really going on and helps you fine tune your recommendation. I do think that a system of energetics is more nuanced and more structured and is more likely to give you good results more regularly - it is inherently more teachable. I think it's like feng shui. There are two forms, one highly organized and regimented and one totally intuitive. Ayurveda, TCM, etc. are on the highly organized systemic side of things. Folkloric herbalism is on the intuitive artsy side of things. This is obviously a gross generalization, but my point is that both forms are valid and at times get to the exact same outcome. I think the reason some herbs work in some situations is partially based on energetics, but sometimes I think it is biochemistry and it might not be observable unless someone tries an herb. I have a dear friend who is very similar to me constitutionally. Valerian is my bestie, but she gets agitated and overstimulated. I don't think I could have figured that out through energetics (well, I know I couldn't but maybe someone could). I also think that certain types of individuals are more sensitive and are therefor more sensitive to herbs that are not energetically appropriate. I always eat raw garlic, even when I have a dry head cold, and I love it even though I know energetically that is not a good match. I almost always have very dry respiratory issues or sore throats if I am going to get sick. My personal choices are always pungent and dry to varying degrees - elderberry, ginger, cinnamon decoction or sage, calendula, chamomile tea or really hot spicy cayenne soup or a hot dry sauna. I am usually always ingesting water as I primarily use herbs in teas and food, but I am still not thinking about it in an energetic way. These herbs are so effective so quickly with no perceptible adverse reactions that it is hard to get myself to change my ways though rationally I believe 100% that an energetic approach is a better approach. That being said, I know a few people who are Vata (dry, cold, sensitive) who are in the Vata phase of their life (elders) and if you don't take energetics into account they will have an adverse effect. Of course, they have adverse effects from lots of herbs, foods, etc. That all being said, I do agree that learning energetics should be foundational. It makes sense and it is not complicated if you are used to it. For me, I am still wrapping my brain around some of it because I did not learn it from the get go. I took a whole year to just read and think about the doshas. This essay appeared on my computer screen because a. Herbstalk was interested in topical issues like this and b. I have run into a lot of hostility in cyber land toward this folkloric approach (of course, the internet kind of breeds hostility but that's another topic). It

Melissa Laurita Kohl

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5/16/2016 08:02:09 pm

[oops my comment was too long so here it is continued...] This essay appeared on my computer screen because a. Herbstalk was interested in topical issues like this and b. I have run into a lot of hostility in cyber land toward this folkloric approach (of course, the internet kind of breeds hostility but that's another topic). It had nothing to do with teachers like you, Rosalee, and Michael Tierra who teach energetic approaches to herbalism. I have nothing but respect for this way of teaching. I have also met dear respected herbalists who believe Rosemary Gladstar's program is not a good program because it does not go into herbal energetics. It feels like as we move toward either a more scientific model of herbalism or a more energetic version of herbalism we are turning our back on the herbwives and mothers and grandmothers who very much practiced in a this for that manner to keep their families safe and healthy. I primarily studied through Sage Mountain and I would not trade that for all the world. It connected me to the heart, spirituality and legacy of folkloric herbalism and gave me so many useful tools I literally became obsessed with herbalism (just yesterday I successfully treated a severe and unfortunate genital burn with absolute confidence because of that connection and faith in the power of herbs). Finally, I think pharmaceuticals are dangerous in most situations, maybe especially for those nebulous situations like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Maybe an energetic approach would be better for these situations, but damn if St. Johnswort does not magically cure my anxiety. Ashwagandha renders my frenetic disorganized ADHD mind into something focused and powerful. No energetics needed. No harm done. All us herbies are in it together. We each use the tools and modalities that make sense to us and we need to keep sharing that wisdom. Obviously, this is another essay, but I have just spent a week outside with 50 ducklings (in fact my fingers are stiff from sitting outside on this cold spring day while I supervise a little duckling outdoor time) and it's nice to think about these big picture issues with herbalism. Again, I am very grateful for your thoughtful and insightful comment and hope to meet you in person one day! I also look forward to listening to your foundational herbcraft program on herbmentor.com once life settles down a bit. Cheers, Melissa

ReplyKathryn8/12/2016 06:36:46 am

Folk herbalism was my first approach and I do believe it is a valid one for self treatment, family treatment, and to some extent helping those we encounter along our path. However, this past year I decided it was time for myself to dive in and expand my folk knowledge. Intuition is great if you've taken the time to really learn to use it, but if, as I hope to do some day, I work as an herbalist in what is considered a more clinical manner, having the information that backs up our intuition is helpful especially since we may need to expand beyond our favorite go to herbs because they are for some reason not right for someone else. I haven't tried every herb personally and I likely will never be able to claim the I have. As a folk herbalist, I stick with what I know. As an herbalist armed with more info such as energetics, I feel more confident taking the words of other professionals mixed with the herbs information when using it for the first time. Sometimes the reasoning that something has been done a long time isn't the best reason to continue doing it and with all the info (some good some not so good) available these days, it is nice to back up our intuition with some solid information. I have loads of respect for folk herbalists as they were my first teachers, but as an herbalist, I want to arm myself with as much knowledge as I'm able and I never want to cease learning.

ReplyMarie Miguel4/6/2017 03:17:31 am

Hello, I was looking at the below page on your website that mentioned a mental health topic, and I'm curious if you'd be open to me writing some unique content for your audience on the subject. It was this page of your site that I was looking at: (Url from spreadsheet here) When you have time, please let me know what you think. I've been writing about various topics for some time now, and would love the opportunity to contribute unique content to your site. I can write an article or two. Let me know what you think. Thank you! Marie

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personalcoachingcenter · 3 years

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Research Paper: 6 Things to Help Understand Change in Coaching

New Post has been published on https://personalcoachingcenter.com/research-paper-6-things-to-help-understand-change-in-coaching/

Research Paper: 6 Things to Help Understand Change in Coaching

Research Paper By Nicholas Kittis (Inspirational Thought Leadership and Transformational Life Coach, CYPRUS)

Change

The only constant is change. Greek philosopher Heraclitus

We experience change daily – whether it’s weather change or unexpected meeting with important clients. And we all approach these changes differently depending on our personalities, life experiences, and expectations. The idea of Change is fascinating to me therefore I have decided to write my research paperwork about CHANGE, which I would like to explore on different levels – what is it change and its definition and change that happened within me since I became an ICA student and soon certified Coach to be.

Exploring what is change

Cambridge Dictionary defines CHANGE as the act of becoming different, or the result of something becoming different.

Change has been broadly discussed by many philosophers, scientists, economists, leaders, etc. But one of the greatest Greek philosophers Heraclitus had discovered the most accurate definition of the word Change yet in 500 BCE. The only constant changes.

Heraclitus claimed that the world is not to be identified with any particular substance, but rather with an ongoing process governed by the law of change. Heraclitus was the first Western philosopher to go beyond physical theory in search of metaphysical foundations and moral applications. According to Heraclitus, opposites are necessary for life, but they are unified in a system of balanced exchanges. https://iep.utm.edu/heraclit/

Heraclitus was known as the dark’’ philosopher, so-called because his writings were so difficult to understand to others and he compared most people’s understanding of those asleep. To Heraclitus, only the philosopher, the one who pursued Truth, was fully awake and fully alive, and he seemed to consider himself the only philosopher of his times. His main claim is summed up in the phrase Panta Rhei (‘’life is flux’’) recognizing the essential, underlying essence of life as a change. Heraclitus yet then understood that in life nothing is permanent, nor it can be because the very nature of existence is change. CHANGE is not just a part of life in Heraclitus’s view but it is life itself. He also claimed that all things are brought into and pass out of existence through a clash of opposites that continually create and destroy.https://www.ancient.eu/Heraclitus_of_Ephesos/

My personal change

My personal experience working for more than 20 years with international teams in hotels and companies allowed me to learn a great understanding of human behavior and psychology. Through gained experienced I have noticed what it takes to be a great leader, how to motivate people, lead the team, and be successful in what you do. Moreover, I was given numerous opportunities for changing my employee’s perception from black to white and vice versa.

Assorted gurus suggest that coaching is an essential leadership behavior”. (The coaching habit Say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever, Michael Bungay Stanier, page 3). , Daniel Goleman, the psychologist and journalist who popularized the concept of emotional intelligence, put a stake in the ground more than 15 years ago in his Harvard Business Review article “Leadership that gets results”. He suggested that there are six essential leadership styles and coaching was one of them and it was shown to have a, markedly positive” impact on performance, climate (culture) and the bottom line. At the same time, it was the least-used leadership style. Why? Goleman wrote, “Many leaders told us that they don’t have time in this high-pressure economy for the slow and tedious work of teaching people and helping them grow. “ (The coaching habit Say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever, Michael Bungay Stanier, page 3).

I have decided to enroll to become a coach because the underlying philosophy behind coaching really felt very close to my beliefs – which we are resourceful and creative with energy, wisdom, ability, and genius waiting to be set in motion. Like Rumi said that everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself.” The idea of changing peoples’ lives and assisting them in their journey was so thriving.

This global pandemic has changed everything from the bottom to the top but regardless of all the negatives it also created many opportunities. Because I was out of my job for an uncertain amount of time I have decided to go through this journey called becoming a coach. Looking back to myself at the beginning of the year and now I have truly say that I have changed myself as well.

Oftentimes, change is experienced in an extremely uncomfortable way. Like for so many other people, the change that happened in 2020 was frightening to me as well, but I can firmly say that being an ICA student not only helped me to become a coach but also made a significant change within me.

Becoming a coach was one of the best things that changed my life for the better. The things that I learned in the ICA programs not only allowed me to become a coach but to become a better person as well. After I have experienced change I am looking forward to being able to assist others to go through this journey as well. I am certain now that anyone can move from place A to the desired place with the assistance of a coach.

Becoming a coach was a very grounding experience for me. As an executive I was always in a position to direct, consult, dedicate works therefore learning skills to become a coach was all new to me. Probably the most challenging part of all these studies was to unlearn old patterns and learn new ones.

The most significant lessons learned and skills in ICA studies:

1. The POWER OF CONFIDENCE – people have more trust when their outer behavior and appearance conveys confidence and authenticity and is in sync with intent. It is all about being comfortable and confident with who you are and allowing your real self to show up.

2. The POWER OF AWARENESS – Awareness is a state of being conscious of something. More specifically, is the ability to directly know and perceive, to feel, or to be cognizant of events’’ (Wikipedia). Awareness is knowing the patterns in our everyday life, understanding our beliefs, our mind, our spirit, our body. Self-awareness is a powerful tool to help us to live the life we always wanted rather than settling for whatever comes in the way.

3. The POWER OF ACTIVE LISTENING – The most significant coaching skill is your ability to listen and it is one of the most vital service coaches can provide., The quieter you become, the more you hear.’’ Ram Dass. , The art of listening is generally misunderstood as behavior and underrated as a skill (we should teach it in school). Good listener obtain a better understanding of people and situations, meaning they can respond to situations more effectively than someone who hasn’t.’’ (The Coaching Manual, Julie Starr, 4th Edition, page 71), Listening to someone is a way to increase your ability to influence and yet strangely we often forget that’’(The Coaching Manual, Julie Starr, 4th Edition, page 73) learning a skill of active listening allows the coach to acknowledge what is being said, restate messages and fully understand what is being said. Deep and active listening goes beyond what is logically possible to achieve by listening to someone.

4. The POWER OF RELEASING JUDGEMENT – all human beings have one common goal – to be acknowledged. The opposite of acknowledgment is judgment. A strange thing happens when a person feels that he or she is being judged. The first response is to feel guilty. The power of releasing judgment during coaching is one of the most significant tools of helping a person to move on. Those who judge others usually justify it to themselves on the basis that the judgment has some basis in “truth” or “expertise”. When we are being judged, we go into defensive mode; we cease feeling comfortable, we stop listening, and worst of all, we begin to see the person judging us as someone capable of hurting us instead of someone we can trust. The only way we can truly assist anyone in a challenging process is by releasing all personal judgment and seeing him or her for the empowered being as they truly are.

5. POWERFUL QUESTIONS – The essence of coaching lies in helping others and unlocking their potential”(The coaching habit Say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever, Michael Bungay Stanier, page 7). What moves clients the most from one place to another is the powerful questions alongside silence, metaphor, and analogy. Since the coach talking consists of about 20% during the session, the power lies in the direction that powerful questions take the client. , masterful coaches ask open, thought-provoking questions to understand the person. The questions force the client to think rather than provide the information they already know” (The HeArt of Laser-focused Coaching, Marion Franklin Ms, Mcc, page 67). Powerful questions can stop the inner conversation from thinking in its usual way. Interestingly, the question-and-answer methodology for discerning the truth is nothing new. It is commonly referred to as the Socratic method” and derives its name from the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates. He would continuously pose questions to his listeners to trigger thinking. The questioning continued until the listeners provided the most logical answer to a particular problem and discovery followed. (ICA papers)

6. The POWER OF VISUALISATION – The term visualization today is very widely used. John Assafar, one of the leading mindset and behavior experts in the world said that, Visualize an outcome you want over and over again to build, cells of recognition’’ in your memory bank. When you continuously focus on an image in your mind, every cell in your body is involved in that image and you vibrate and resonate with everything that is in harmony with that frequency both on a physical and non-physical level.

Conclusions

Whether we look into history or even into todays’ events, we can understand that the world is constantly changing and everything within it. We cannot escape the change and we shouldn’t because most of the time change creates space for growth.

Becoming a coach has thought me so many new skills, that some people naturally have and some people need to learn (e.g.learning how to listen actively). These new skills helped me to profoundly change my character and built new, better habits.

During the coaching sessions with my peer coaches, I have witnessed so many remarkable changes where the biggest change first happens in ones’ mind. I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to become a coach and I can change people’s lives whether it’s a small decision of buying a new bag or making a lifetime decision to change career or break up with another half. Being able to touch peoples’ hearts and assist them in the direction that only their hearts know is beyond any title that one can obtain.

References

https://iep.utm.edu/heraclit/ (accessed 12.2020)

https://www.ancient.eu/Heraclitus_of_Ephesos/(accessed 12.2020)

Wikipedia

The Coaching Manual, Julie Starr

The Coaching Habit Say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever, Michael Bungay Stanier

The HeArt of Laser-focused Coaching, Marion Franklin, Ms, MCC

Original source: https://coachcampus.com/coach-portfolios/research-papers/nicholas-kittis-change-in-coaching/

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