I had a lot of fun, and did a ton of great business at Expo West this year. It was my 26th year or so going. Expo West is the single largest natural products trade show in the USA. There were over 80,000 attendees and about 3500 exhibitors. I can always create reasons to not go (too busy, too far away, you know the drill…) but when I get there I’m always happy I made it. I get to see people I’ve grown up with…my brand and me! It’s serious business but it’s also like a big family reunion.

I’m happy because my people are here — the community of entrepreneurs who have chosen business as a platform “for good;” to introduce new ideas and create cultural shifts. Everything you can buy that’s natural, organic or gluten free, cleanly sourced and eco-friendly has made a splash here.

In 1992 I set up a booth and filled it with my “tiny” idea, let’s “clean up the planet one bag at a time” with reusable bags, my enthusiasm and my parents. I had an idea about a cultural shift I wanted to see. There wasn’t a category for me then. Now, there are aisles of brands for zero and waste-less living.

One thing is sure — this is a community of people who get things done. When you decide to “show up” you will find yourself being woven into communities. With a “tiny” business you get to choose the ones you want to be part of.

I went on a 7 day silent meditation retreat. I “renounced” my cell phone along with 100 other retreatants.

When I arrived home, last night, I thought it would be interesting to see how many times I was “hit” with “communications”.

Here’s the tally.

I was away for 7 days, in silence for 84 hours (5040 minutes).

Total # of messages: 570 | 81.42 hits per day |6.78 hits per hour

75 Facebook notifications

3 Facebok messenger notices

30 pieces of mail
9 Texts

3 voice mails
450 emails

3.5% or 20 communications were important to read. ZERO needed an immediate response. The rest was mostly junk.

HMMMM.

I set my alarm to go off early so I can write before I got into my office. I know me. I set two alarms, fifteen minutes apart. 60% of the time I’m up at the first alarm, 40% for the second alarm. 80% of the time I meditate once I’m up. Then, I write for an hour every morning on the weekdays, 100%. Weekend writing is optional.

My book has 12 chapters and introduction, a preface and an end paper. When I write I pick a section and write. Until two days ago, I didn’t check my progress. When I checked I was surprised by my progress. Little by little, the morning writing sessions are adding up. I’m 98% done with the first 5% which means I’m on my way to completing 90%. My math isn’t off. I’m leaving % for what if and what else.

My job is to write and write and write and write and then rewrite multiple times before and after reviews with my publisher. Well, I’m on my way.

Curious and want to follow my journey?

When I got a call to be interviewed, by Tony Loyd of Social Entrepreneur Podcast -The Culture Shift, I was thrilled beyond. How did he even hear about me? Did he know I was about to land a book deal for #The Magic of Tiny Business? Well, it turns out a customer (and friend) of mine Miriam Haas of Down To Earth Markets, referred Tony. Miriam’s been ordering ECOBAGS® for over 20+ years for the Farmer’s Markets she runs with her husband, John. Miriam refreshed and regenerated the concept of farmer’s markets in urban and suburban areas about the same time we introduced the concept of reusable bags. We were all pioneers back then. Now, we both want to share what we learned and inspire the next generation of pioneers and business activists.

Can you help spread the word?

You don’t have to go big or bust to build a successful business, #The magic of Tiny Business, podcast with Tony Loyd

#Social entreprenuer Sharon Rowe talks to Tony Loyd of Social Entrepreneur Podcast about the #Magic of Tiny Business. http://bit.ly/2p3aGTD

Facebook: www.facebook.com/magicoftinybusiness/

The Social Entrepreneur — Culture Shift podcast, focuses on talking to leaders in sustainable business and development. It has been downloaded over 100,000 times in more than 170 countries.

Find the podcast on The Magic of Tiny Business website http://bit.ly/2pibdOb

Eco-Bags Products, founded in 1989, is a certified BCorporation.

Back to leaving a legacy vs. getting caught up in busy work…the quest. To leave the legacy is to create a body of work, a sum of all you bring to your family, your community, the world. It boils down to how do you want to be in the world and what is the change you want to see (if any). Commit to that, on a daily basis with your work and you will build what you want to build. Some of it will be big, other pieces not so much. Don’t knock yourself if some days don’t add up. Practice not perfection is my guiding principle.

This quest question — how will you use your power as a force for good and empower others got me all tangled up. I needed to think about my power and power as a force for good and “good” all by itself. Combine that with “empowering” others and, well, I left my attempt to answer this without any clarity until…I went to a memorial service for someone my husband knew. I didn’t know the man who died but by the end of the service I felt I had. Someone spoke about believing in “Timshel,” the hebrew word or concept for free will. The answer to the quest question fell into place. We have free will. I have free will. I can choose what I do, why and when. That is my power. Combine that with believing in what Robert Kennedy calls “the commons;” that which belongs to all of us is (clean air, clean water, right to choose) is where and how I will use my own personal power. The next four years are going to be challenging, so I’ll keep myself focused and fit as an athlete because in order to be powerful I will need stamina.

#quest2017, #BringYouForward 2017 will be the year to bring out my writing, speaking and articulating ideas on Tiny Business™ as well as other creative projects. I painted my front door red and speaking invites are coming in (just got one from Yale) Who knows, maybe my young adult series, “The Multiplier Effect” can get some legs. My play seems to want to sit in a dark room brooding still, so I’ll let it. There’s more inner work to be done for that play to come forward. Openings need to happen and I think they will come through more physical work, specifically dance. Thanks to Lori Darley at SVN for being so willing to play on the dance floor. It may be time, Susan Illowsky to go to those Alvin Ailey classes together! It’s also the year to add more energy to expanding my brand, ECOBAGS®, to new starch based compostable polymers. This has the potential to move beyond consumers in the USA if I can find a way to expand in India with my partners. It will be a global effort.

Here’s the latest prompt: Do you love yourself enough to stop working on yourself yet? Who would you be in that case?” #loveyourself.

My response is “yes” but what do I mean by that, what does it mean to me? It’s easy to say “yes” and walk away. Job done. Question answered. I’m a conscious person. Next. But, is it true? Am I saying what is true or what I want to believe is true? Of course I want to say “yes.” Why would I open the door to “no” or waiver in the balance. By saying “yes” what am I saying? Do I love the beach? That’s easier. Do I love my family? Easier, still. If working on myself “still” means working on things I cannot accept then yes, I am who I am and in any case I am me. It’s new ideas I work on. It’s curiosity that challenges that adds to my “self.” The more I add or take off my plate, the more I become: “Be” what I am, plus “come” a command. Aren’t I clever …insert shared laugh.