Motivation inside an Easter egg?

Lucas was very keen on getting all possible information related to the business entrepreneurship, but realized that not everyone was as keen on following the lessons. He started to note down the different behavioral habits of his co-students and questioned their motivations.

Here is a list of most common characteristics in his class:

• speaking on the phone while "listening" - same claim that this is possible, maybe, but at least it is rude for others.
• listening to music with one ear
• reading a news paper/book while trying to follow
• discussion with the person next to you - if on the topic, fine, but if not...
• walking back and forth - normally this takes place in the end of the class room
• sleeping participants
• ....

This made him very sad, as although several efforts were done for the future of the students, those were not appreciated. Lucas started his Easter break by writing a letter to himself on how his own attitude, behavior and motivation influence on his future. Like an Easter egg- his future has several layers still to be revealed.

Earth Hour every hour?

During the past two weeks, preparations of the conference have taken big leaps forward and soon we are able to come out with practical news about the content and more on what has been planned. Locally a big effort has been given to improving the use of local food in restaurants. This has meant that the logistical chain from production to table has been widely discussed.

For many of the restaurant owners, the immediate reactions to sustainability are linked to switching off lights when not needed, saving water and avoiding garbage. These actions mainly happen automatically for those that are committed. But for others they need to be reminded or made automatic. The same goes for the local food, it needs to be made so easy to get and use, that there is not anymore the arguments of "more work is needed" or it is not cost-effective. Even the most dedicated green thinkers use these arguments and not in vain, as at the moment you need to make a big effort in order to fill your plate with ingredients that are locally produced.

Campaigns like Earth hour are needed to showcase the power of decision in our daily lives. We need to rethink our systems so that the Earth Hour would be every hour for us all!

Any business ideas?

The first morning of the course for future entrepreneurs had come. Over 25 participants with different backgrounds all expressed their expectations towards the content. It became evident, that the financial depression was forcing all of the participants to rethink about their future and this course had high hopes for it.

The course was mainly based on self development and practical tasks. Once the basics had been taught it was time to find a business idea that could be developed further. Lucas wrote several ideas for himself.

---A copy of Lucas´notebook--

• production of ice cream or frozen yogurt several of my friends are producing milk and eggs that could be used for this.... No - to many are trying the same.
  
• use of recycled materials for something else well, what would be the thing here..
  
• delivering of fire woods would this be rewarding enough
  
• garden planner trendy idea, but could I really do it
  
• logistic dealer for local food a lot of investment and networking.. needed but difficult
  
• ...
  

More carrots

On national level, a lot of discussion has been focusing on the future vision and what alternatives do we have for it. There seems to be a consensus that a change is needed and everyone has role to play in it. Still we are not burning yet for the change. Is it so that we do not have a huge need that forces us to do anything radical?

Before sustainable changes take place, we need to have many measures in place, both carrots and sticks. We can force some changes to take place by laws, taxes and limitations. Still the hardest challenge is - how to change the behavior of the citizens so that they feel positive about it? What changes trigger a behavior change and what kind of measures are needed for that? Many experts are looking for the answers in their own surroundings.

Many say that it does not, in the end, matter how do we reach the change, as long as it takes place. I do not totally agree on that, as we need to ensure that everyone is going to be on board. The carrots make things easier and we can all create them by being/looking for role models, organizing competitions or offering peer support. Hopefully the conference will be one of the big carrots! Let´s create the positive spin among our networks!

Life-course

Two weeks had gone since the citizens’ forum. That evening had not resulted in any decisions yet. A month had gone since he had lost his job. The job applications he had sent hadn’t resulted into anything either. Lucas wasn’t worried about it – the compensation from his ex-employee would help him to get by for a while. But Lucas was bored. What would he do?

While scanning through the Sunday papers in the library he saw an announcement of adult education meant for people who would like to be entrepreneurs. Maybe there would be something for me, he thought, and wrote down the Internet address for more information. One of the courses especially sounded interesting. It would be something totally different to what he had done earlier. He felt excitement rising within him. Could this be for him? Could it help him to utilize all the new information he had recently found out with his new way of thinking?

His imagination run wild when thinking about the possibilities that lay ahead of him. Even some of the new ideas would be nice to accomplish. He knew that that would require a lot of hard work but he wasn’t afraid of that. Some luck would also help. But, first he must send in his application.
---

Lucas was getting coffee ready for his wife who was due to come home any minute now. He had even bought some locally baked cakes as he felt like celebrating. He had just heard the news: he had passed the interview for getting on that course.