You need to fall over a few times before you can learn to walk but it's the 'lived experience' that matters. I feel I have been falling over for at least the last 26 years but in many ways that's the only way to learn properly

This is my third Value Exchange on The Hive. I did one 10 months ago but that remains on CLickup for the time being. I will link below to the last one on the hive for now...

Last Value Exchange - on The Hive

Link to last Value Exchange on the Hive to 03 April 2023

Section 1

Looking back.

The idea here is between your last Value Exchange and now (in my case almost 3 months - which is the maximum recommended) how have you identified any social value have you delivered that you recognise? This can be literally anything. Writing a blog that people enjoy due to its honesty? What's yours?

First comment is that 10 months between VEs doesn't work! Three months max is what we say. I have forgotten more than I remember - so a more frequent periodic of reflection is essential.

The biggest observation I would make is that this past 10 months has been the most intensive learning I have had in my 58 years. Not theoretical learning but practical and that makes all the difference in terms of real knowing as opposed to learning that is gleaned from explicit knowledge or handed down. I can't prove this but it feels that way. Experiential knowledge (or perhaps this is wisdom?) feels like the most valuable where it is gleaned by (mostly positive) lived experiences and then reflections. Even if those experience are a the limits of comfort or perhaps especially when those experiences are at the limits of comfort. Perhaps that is why explorers like to climb high mountains! This is a very high mountain for me. I'm not sure humanity does this enough. This period has also been very intense and at times I have suffered physically and mentally. I am very blessed with Annabelle's tolerance and understanding of my frailties! The ability to recover from extremes is key to sustainment, I feel.

So the meat of the experience? (U)HNW - building trust and relationships with individuals whose context (and perhaps soci0-economic context) is different is slow and challenging. I don't know of any shortcuts to this but it is perhaps a key to a more just world where more social mobility is possible. This is a topic that perhaps warrants more reflection over time. We have probably spent more time here than on any other square. Some progress with Roche/Hoffman, Goldsmith, Ron Diamond but this is still wide open.

We took on a couple of lovely South Korean gov employees this year as Interns from Birmingham University. It proved that VE works across very different cultures. This was a lovely experience - though perhaps they got more than we did. Language was a huge issue. We took on a whole load of interns over the summer holiday (Including Will, Vikram and Teo). Most were useless to Ethos, some gave us more than we gave them. I think we could do more but it felt like Ethos was a bit too small and we would need more to give them than we could at the time. Still a good experiment.

We tried to focus on fundraising for projects without success. SVRU has stepped back a bit - need to catch up with Jimmy. The core proposition was refined many times and we have explored many avenues in terms of short term funding. We stopped the podcast and now that Ethos cash is ridiculously tight we seem to be focused much more on the pipeline of short-term opportunities which will deliver sustainment of the core activities.

As TeamPolice nears full exit the reflection is joyous. It would seem in both directions. As Wilder sensing moves into money spend mode with it's new equity funding the result is please though our "take" is poor for the environment we gave them.

NC500 with Sarah and Pippa and Family Ski holiday in Les Sybelles (La Toussuire) were holiday highlights this year. Lots of indoor DIY this year like the spare attic room, Lounge and Bathroom (in progress as we speak). Struggling with the decision on whether to sell the house and downsize in the short-term or not. The family is thriving an Jonny is getting married and will is going to be 21 and Sam looks set to get his Phd at some point.

The Value Recognition event - it is planned for 16:00 UK Time Thursday 5 Feb. I may record and upload. May not!

Only a few of us need to attend! - of course this can happen asynchronously via comments but having a real-life event make this PHUN (Ethos spelling). Have food, alcohol, whatever. Run it virtually. But try and speak to each other. First the Value Exchanger talks about what it's been like and then others ask question and then add their own comments. No negative stuff but it's full of caring people who can offer kind advice and support - only when invited to of course! Below is a tiny flavour of the actual conversation that happened over Google Meet earlier this week:

Here is the invite. It is a Google Meet. Rob VR Event
Wednesday, 5 February · 16:00 – 17:00
Time zone: Europe/London
Google Meet joining info

Or dial: ‪(GB) +44 20 3956 3199‬ PIN: ‪744 668 495‬#
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wib-ffur-eeu More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/wib-ffur-eeu?pin=3180846844838

Time invested during the VE period (days)
Roughly 40 hours per week on Ethos.

Section 2

Comments from my VE Collaborators

Gather comments below from the few people you collaborate most closely with. It could be synchronous or asynchronous.

I think this is still a little complex. Most collaborators are not on the Hive and not on Clickup. Therefore I will make an editable Google doc to gather comments and send an email (old school). We do have an online community hosted on Hylo so I can give some thought to calling out people to comment there as well. Dunno. My hit list is:

Annabelle Lambert
Bill Skelly
Jenny Lawrence
The Interns we had over last summer (Mostly Uni people)
Deborah A who is a TCF Volunteer.
The project leads from our TCF projects.
Our senior advisors.

What is your Mission?

What’s your story? Your “Why?” What change would you like to see in the World (value to society)? Why this change? Why now? What will you give in order to achieve this? How will you personally change to achieve this? Note: this does NOT have to change each time you do VE but you include it to make sure you have an opportunity to rethink for the next phase!

How can we learn to love all beings like they were our most cherished? How will future generations prioritise loving and caring for all humans and the planet with the same intensity as their own or organisational interests? How will we look after our own wellbeing better? How will each voice be heard and valued equally? These questions guide my journey without the expectation of arrival!

My mission is to challenge, question and excite consciousness linked to the above (Chief Poker!). How we can create social and environmental value as the core for all work. Everything we do. Paid or otherwise. Trust, Collaborate. Moderate. Align. The best way to do this (strategy) now seems to be to "Rebuild the Commons".

My strengths seem to be in innovation and starting things and in providing energy for others to follow. I love the "in-between spaces" between boundaries such as organisations, psychology, anthropology, sociology, technology, social value, individual interests and economics. I am a do-er who loves what we call action-research. I love working out loud, open data, open knowledge, networks, blockchain, Tech (open source, Linux, Docker, Github) and what it means to lead oneself in a networked society.

Anger as a result of disagreement is not my best self. Misalignment and disagreement however can lead to knowledge and so how to be peaceful and kind in pursuit of knowledge is an essential skill to master. I take on responsibility naturally. However, Too much responsibility can lead to too much stress. I strive to moderate my innative drive to work too hard and not have enough balance.

The meaning I derive from my family together with the social value I exchange with those I meet and working with provide the most value for me. I recognise that my health and my time at Ethos (over the past 26 years has been a gift that I cannot take for granted. I will make wellbeing activities a part of my routine.

I recognise that the world may not improve much in the round during my lifetime. That’s OK. Spiritually, I am at peace with that. “It is what it is”. I an nevertheless restless in my quest for promoting system change in an energetic and excited way. Maybe some small thing I do will have a positive effect on a future generation? I’m not looking for instant gratification.

We live in uncertain times. I believe I have a contribution to make and will strive to do so.

Section 3

Looking forward

The outcomes and deliverables in the table below don't have to mean a whole lot to everyone - although they could that's OK. This period they are really my shorthand on my commitments. I will come back to in a month and write about in my social value recognition in these areas. So you can link my narrative if you like to my first VE linked at the top.

		Social Value Outcomes
What problem can you help solve (Outcomes)	Deliverables	Organisations	Opportunities	Progress
1. Sustainment funding for Annabelle then me	A pipeline with ££ on proposals	Businesses - too many to list.	TCF measurement framework, more projects and funders
	Finish the TP Exit and royalties			Q1 2025 finish
2. Build a CoP for TCF	Cop for projects / VE traction / recruitment.	MoD and central gov suppliers to TCV > £5m	Have an actionable ESG innovation strategy. Score Higher on SV. Deliver better SV. Integrate SV across all activities.
	Webinar for seniors	Led by our 3*s
	Support existing projects	Develop online activities	Hylo or other tools
3.Secure funding for projects	develop relationship with HNWs and funders
	Daily blogs across social media platforms
4.MVP for VE Platform on blockchain	Pilot participants
	Tech platform
	Funding options
5.Powerful personal network	Intimacy with a group of 15-20 seniors who have power
	Find a group of SMEs (LGA association) to work with	LGA, SMEs		Completed - success
	Meet with Surrey and Guildford again for next steps.			Completed - success
6. Completed next VE within 3 months

I'm going to be working full time on the above outcomes other than family and stuff.
I'm only going to be paid when there is project or grant revenue directly associated to these things.
January is going to be a 'zero' month so I am have capacity to roll my sleeves up on so many things - although I don't want to divert from my core mission especially Value Exchange.
There are no conflicts of interest to manage.

Section 4

Time and Money

Most things require resources. Money is one of those. Whether fiat or crypto. How can you afford to do what you want to do? What are your options.

The infra we have developed for TCF has been funded by the EthosVO balance sheet and some royalties that we have been lucky enough to draw from TP. Funding the core sustainability is a serious priority. This is why we are now developing a more traditional pipeline. I can certainly afford to continue until the next VE but I am doing so by using my savings. I have a house and lifestyle which I wish to continue. So sustainability is a major challenge for TCF and one which I am determined to crack at some point very soon. No answers but it feels like more hard work and a bit more luck are required.

Section 5

People / Your network

"no person is an island" You need lots of people to help you work! Supporters, coaches and mentors. They work with you along the way to achieve shared goals. One of the keys to this section is to encourage you to engage with others and enlist others to support your mission.

I think we have suffered due to the small size of the TCF core team. There is an idea number somewhere less than 100 but more than perhaps 6 that could focus as a project yet retain the agility to adapt and drive to innovate. I think something like 30-50 would be a sweet number for the core of a movement which has global reach like TCF.

Other than the core of a team (or a host where we could grow numbers) the key here is outcome 5. above. Who can we work with who shares our end goals and like the approach we have as a "means" to deliver systemic change?