With THRIVE possibly becoming a follow-up cultural phenomenon to The Secret (Elevate is the brilliant distributor for both of these films), there’s stimulating food for thought being served up. Here’s the interesting piece, Thrive: The Story is Wrong but the Spirit is Right, that Charles Eisenstein wrote.

A number of people are sending out must-see emails, while I question what the movie is telling us. It proclains that a global elite is trying to establish a New World Order where we’re headed for a military dictatorship and the elimination of a large percentage of the population. The pre-film buzz was that the film was going to be a bombshell that exposed our darkest secrets, and if the claims the movie makes were substantiated, which they aren’t, indeed it would be making headlines. It’s said that the website fills in any blanks in the movie, but the data there does not validate the movie’s declarations.

What is there to say about all the cheerleading going on? Is there any harm done by a film that is trying to help the world? Well, if you’re looking in the wrong place, even finding what you’re looking for won’t get you anywhere. But then, if controversy about the movie stimulates dialogue in which we deal with big issues, that would be a good thing, and I’d encourage everyone to see this movie so we can have serious conversation about it. Read the Comments on the Charles Eisenstein post for some of that.

For my two cents, it bothers me when our problems are blamed on some illuminati type force, as if the rest of us would make the world be different if it were up to us. But would we? We all are stuck in complex gears arising from a worldview based on economics, where, to be simplistic about describing our challenging situation, having the most toys is the highest good. In that set-up, ordinary people’s well-being (think 401Ks) depends on maintaining our model, whereby we wouldn’t be so quick to overthrow the status quo if we had the chance.

But, given we are in dangerous water, what could we do to get us to collectively decide to re-steer our ship? It is beyond daunting to think there’s any action that could be taken that would bring about the fundamental change we need, which typically only happens when everything falls apart. But, what might we at least try to do to preclude calamity?

I heard Richard Branson on the Today Show this week. He’s written a book, Screw Business As Usual, that will be out in a few days. He talked about business people needing to shift their policies to what involves doing good for the world. Could that book be a beacon to inspire us to make a game plan to get the world to think differently?

Here are excerpts from the book:

Over the last few decades as I’ve started up one exciting business after another, I have often thought that life and work could not get any better. In writing this book, however, I’ve come to realize that we’ve really been on a dummy run, preparing ourselves for the greatest challenge and opportunity of our lifetime. We’ve a chance to take a shot at really working together to turn upside down the way we approach the challenges we are facing in the world and to look at them in a brand new, entrepreneurial way. Never has there been a more exciting time for all of us to explore this next great frontier where the boundaries between work and higher purpose are merging into one, where doing good really is good for business…I constantly meet a growing army of entrepreneurs around the world, and when they ask me if I have one single message which will help them, I tell them it’s this: doing good can help improve your prospects, your profits and your business; and it can change the world…in our newly interconnected world, no one can any longer ignore the issues we are facing. The best bit is that people are finally starting to realize that it’s not about throwing charity at issues – it’s about working in partnership with people on the front lines to turn those issues into opportunities. Change is happening…It’s a different kind of business book. It’s about revolution. My message is a simple one: business as usual isn’t working. In fact, it’s ‘business as usual’ that’s wrecking our planet. Resources are being used up; the air, the sea, the land – are all heavily polluted. The poor are getting poorer. Many are dying of starvation or because they can’t afford a dollar a day for life-saving medicine. We have to fix it – and fast…Despite this, I wake up in the morning feeling positive. I feel positive because I have a great belief that we – ordinary people everywhere – not only want to do the right thing, but we will do the right thing. We will fix things, not just because we have no choice, but because this life and this world are all we have.

All right!!!!!!!

This is item #2 in column left on my blog – scroll down to Outside the Box Ideas.

Promote a change of paradigm where getting the most money as the primary goal would be replaced by doing the most good. Make a brilliant ad campaign: “Whoever Does the Most Good Wins!”

What do you think? Anyone know Richard Branson? A funder for an ad campaign would be on my Christmas wish list. Any other thoughts are welcome.

In the meantime, I’d  appreciate it if you’d help me get the word out re giving my DVD, the original and a Spanish subtitled version, as Christmas gifts. We’ve slashed prices to make that attractive: http://CropCircleMovie.com. Any shout-outs to tell people about this would be great!