György -- I am so very proud of you and inspired by your energy, passion and commitment.
I know you are already the *best* person for Open Space. Just remember, as others have said, that it is really perfect for you to read a book and try it. Just jump in. You will never fall. Besides, we will be present all around you, sending you good thoughts and helping you with everything you ask for. And my mother is from wonderful Magyar stock, so I tell you we should cook together one day. ;o) > I am Hungarian, living in Hungary and having been participated in the first > ever OSonOs last November. What a wonderful thing. I read Michael P's notes each day with much appreciation and excitement. > I could never ask money for helping someone, because it is not MY energy > (and I am not professional enough, and it is very difficult, if I really > helped.) I feel so much the same as you. But I have changed (temporarily) as I must be able to pay for my own living expenses and I was giving so much away for free. I feel very strongly that information is not to be owned, it is to be shared. And that as everybody is connected, my role in life is to act upon that feeling of connection and to share and grow and help strengthen others and to believe in them and ... well, I could go on. The thing is, I want to have people who can afford it pay for the people who cannot, because bringing the training or the facilitation to people costs me money. I live and work in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the cost of living is insane -- it is unreal. That is, until the bills come in... ;o) There is also this very weird thing in the Bay Area that Harrison also mentioned: very rich people with big jobs somehow want to pay money so they feel they bought something. They don't live in a world of sharing. So I see that as an excellent opportunity to support those with less income. With a training in a professional space, with a good lunch, and with the ability to buy books, should they wish, even if they do not have the money. I also made a promise to myself that my work would reflect my personal feelings about life -- that there would be far less separation between what I feel I should do as a contribution and what I do as work. > The question: how do you quote prices to the clients. Is it a daily based > fee, or something else? For clients -- by which I mean organizations that want to hire me as a consultant or facilitator, I do very much what the two fabulous Michaels do. I especially like that way they have about educating people what goes on before and after an Open Space, should they choose to hire us. For trainings -- As far as including participants in my training: here is an example of one of the messages I sent today to one woman who works at an NGO. In her response she said "I shall see if we may one day have the budget to do this". I send my response to these messages in private, because I feel it is each person's responsibility to ask the questions and indicate to me their interest, needs and abilities. And remember, I am here in California, which may be oh so very culturally different than your region. But we both work with NGOs and low income individuals, you and I. And we both hate to ask for money. - - - - - "Please emphasize with them that no one is ever turned away for lack of funds. If they have the budget, or even if they do not -- just ask them to pay as much as they comfortably can. It is more important to share information, tools and talents in our community and our world, no? And if they like their experience they can tell others who will be able to pay us more money, or they will help spread the word about our workshops on their mailing lists or at their collaboration meetings, or they will tell organizations that will want to hire me, or they will invite me to be an observer for one of the open spaces that they will one day hold, or in the very least, they will tell me stories of how they come to use and share this method. All of the above will make me very rich indeed." and then I thought further and sent this message soon after: "PS: I recommend not thinking of discounts or levels of payment as a group. Let each person contact me individually to discuss what they are comfortable paying. Open Space is, as we say it, passion bounded by personal responsibility. You'll find out when you come play with me..." - - - - - Okay, some other capitalists think I am crazy. But I haven't ever damaged anyone by being my silly self...at least I don't think so... I so often work with prison inmates, young people living on the streets, new little NGOs which are only comprised of volunteers, faith communities... I want to give everything away. But perhaps ;o) when I make my millions off the fat guys I can give everything else away as is my dream.... The other thing that I have found, is that when you help people see this training or experience as professional development and something with which [I] will help them on their resume / CV, I feel I am reminding them that they are indeed professional, and skilled, and amazing, as well. PS: I have been part of boring staff ;o( as *well* as lunatic staff ;o) and I by far prefer the lunatics. I feel I am among my own people.... Take care, and please do continue letting us know if there is any way we can help and support you, Lisa Lisa Heft Berkeley, California, USA * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html =========================================================== osl...@egroups.com To subscribe, 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign up -- provide an email address, and choose a login ID and password 3. Click on "Subscribe" and follow the instructions To unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@egroups.com: 1. Visit: http://www.egroups.com/group/oslist 2. Sign in and Proceed