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December 2008 
Lesson's Learned...
Posted on Aug 31st, 2007
by 
Kris
Kris
Recently I invited Rick (a Zaadzster) to be a friend. Rick responded by sending me to his blog post where he was very direct and honest about Zaadzster's posing as community members, but only interested in selling crap. It was enlightning and I appreciate Ricks reply, because he forced me to think. I obviously post a lot of information about Zrii and now I can see how I might come across a little sales-ish.
So I've rewritten my profile page in response to Rick's reply and am glad that I did. The exercise helped me to ponder my intentions and my commitment to the Zaadz community as a whole.
You can check out Rick's blog post by clicking here, but make sure you read the comments - good stuff.
Happy to be a Zaadzster!
Kris
So I've rewritten my profile page in response to Rick's reply and am glad that I did. The exercise helped me to ponder my intentions and my commitment to the Zaadz community as a whole.
You can check out Rick's blog post by clicking here, but make sure you read the comments - good stuff.
Happy to be a Zaadzster!
Kris
Access: Public
hey Kris:
I have heard others complain about the same thing, but mostly because people were not getting to know them as people first and not just potential customers. I knowthis place has room for people to “sell their stuff” and have welcomed some into my friends as well…
I know people who blog and comment or email each other learn more about the others and later, people may seek out their services…
I am happy to know you are a new friend of mine and that you are open minded and kind. I know we have not spent much time yet learning about each other due to my vacation, but I am looking forward to more interaction…
Sending love,
Aley
There ya go. Went and had a look. Very nice re-write… and I especially like the “Two Z’s” approach.
Crikey… didn’t mean for us to get off on the wrong foot. You’ll notice now I’ve gone ahead and inserted myself up there on your friends list… hehehe. Ya can’t get rid of me now… (well, I guess you could, but hopefully not!)
Peace and blessings!
i never read the pre-write but i have to be honest, my first thought here was, i'm glad i didn't!
you seem totally well-intentioned and understandably exuberant. i remember i posted an ad for my bike tour business on a BBS way back and got slammed for it, just not knowing there was a protocol and being new to it. i thought that that was what it was for! it only seemed natural (don't you think, Kris?!).
my inclination off the top would be totally dedicating an outside blog to your business - and referencing it here. i can't see how that can hurt you any business-wise and it may give you an opportunity to better focus on those greater questions here… just a thought.
i do understand and relate to where Rick was coming from, and it's a valid concern i feel we all need to consider as we rise up. that's cool he followed up so as to not be defined by that post! no, just kidding, it's a good post, and i am glad he posted it.
this is not to say, again, don't mention Zrii, but as it's going here it's kind of like cake for dinner! =;)
speaking of cake for dinner: how do we get a “zrii” sample, anyway?!! i'll take seven!
Hey Trailman,
I appreciate your comments.
Actually today I did have cake for dinner followed by an apple : )
If you're in the market for some samples of Zrii - I can hook you up the 2nd week of October. Send me an email and I'll get some to you. Actually, I read your profile and I'm going to send you an email… have a question about one of your interests.
Kris, after reading a little more in depth, I do need to mention a huge point of concern regarding the promoting of spiritually-based businesses, this product, consciousness, etc…
i've never heard a military defense company referred to as any sort of green or conscious capitalist business, and Zrill's CEO,Farley, is “CEO of Unity Group LLC in Washington D.C., a private security force and defense contractor operating in high risk areas such as Iraq, Sudan, and Indonesia,” as you state on your blog. i mean, if i'm buying health juice made from the profits of war and suffering, gee, how healthy is that?
while i appreciate that this fact was not omitted, it's not exactly accentuated or explained unless i am perhaps missing something?
…so if i buy Zrill i support Bush policy in Iraq? good luck with that marketing nightmare! i know i'd need one heck of an explanation to buy Deepak's endorsement with those connections (and can you direct me to something stating his views on this?).
i'm willing to listen, though! whatz the deal?? thanks!
I'll find out as much as I can for you.
Here's what I've found so far…
Here's Unity's website:
http://www.unityresourcesgroup.com/index.htm
Looks like they provide consulting, training, and protection for companies looking to do business in world hot-spots.
Bill Farley once considered running for President as a Democrat (while I don't know for sure, one can pretty safely assume he's against the Iraqi war).
But all this brings up an interesting discussion point:
In my profile I posted some thoughts on Capitalism - I'm all for responsible Capitalism - but how responsible? I don't know for sure how to answer that. Industry and progress usually take a toll on things that I find important. For instance, I'm a big believer in preserving American jobs and ensuring fair working conditions around the world - but is it realistic for me to boycott everything made in China or in a third-world country that may or may not be supporting poor and even illegal working conditions for children?
Or how do you support companies that go out of their way to make positive contributions to their communities and sincerely try to do the right thing, but contribute to pollution by the very nature of their business?
I like progress - I'm not ready to live off the land and ride a bicycle everywhere - but I'm not about ready to let progress go awry, unchecked, and out of control. I'll drive my car, but I'll push for and support zero-emission projects. I'll buy goods made from other countries, but will not stand for injustice.
I suppose we could look at companies the way we look at individuals…
By our nature we as individuals have the ability to accomplish wonderful things and contribute to the greater good of us all. Likewise we can go out of our way to make life miserable. There are some of us that are good, some of us that are bad, and most of us fall into the category of trying - but far from perfect. I try very hard to associate with those that have the intent to be nice and to avoid those that are out to take advantage of me. But even those with their hearts in the right place are not perfect. I have to make a judgement call and think.
There's likely not a perfect company out there (Zaadz employees probably aren't required to ride bikes to work). What's important is our ability as consumers to perceive the intents of those we purchase from. This perception takes a savvy consumer that doesn't just aimlessly consume products, but has an awareness about their purchases - they think about it.
So with Bill Farley, yeah… he's CEO of a defense contractor company, but he's also an incredibly giving individual and he's putting his heart and sole into Zrii, a company aimed at changing people's lives. I think I'm a fairly “aware” consumer and I believe that Farley's intentions are good. One could even look at his Unity Group and conclude that he's helping build the infrastructures of hostile areas around the world - that's a nice thing to do. LOL
Well for what it's worth, I'm not about to tell anyone that Bill Farley is perfect and that his years of business experience has been squeaky clean - but I've met the man and my friends know him on a personal level and think he's a legitimately caring soul, and he's said that he's out to make a difference in the world and his vehichle is Zrii.
thanks, Kris! i look forward to hearing Chopra's views on the larger picture.
the little I know of Mr. Farley he certainly seems well-intended, and rather than focus on him personally or pass any judgment, which i am not doing or think is necessary, i think it's a great opportunity here for us to learn and grow from this ethical situation.
Kris i think a lot of people, and it's a real live concern with real live consequences, seem to equate “living off the land” with an anti-tech stance, and i truly believe this is doing a lot of harm to our present socio-ecological condition and getting in the way of progress, because they are not opposing directions. but mistaking them as such really grows into a riff down the road of action.
i've been talking on my bicycle since around 1993 (on a cell phone!) - i mean i hear ya' there and i believe that tech is going to save old school actually. but i see no reason horses cannot be used for transportation correctly if one chooses, as well as cars, etc. we bypass a lot of simple solutions because of the economic loop.
i guess i'm saying i think living off the land, riding a bicycle etc and modern progress can all work in harmony for a much better result than we are getting now!
certainly i'm in agreement nothing is perhaps 100% pure in this worldly realm, and not suggesting that it is, or that concessions are avoidable totally, that would be unrealistic.
my answer to: “…how do you support companies that go out of their way to make positive contributions to their communities and sincerely try to do the right thing, but contribute to pollution by the very nature of their business?'…. you don't (support them)! you support solar and wind instead of limited messy oil - or any efforts to perpetuate its hold on our choking world and domestic economy - for example. you don't buy jackets from farmers clubbing seals; you invest in an insulating options with less harmful impact on life. and so on. i totally agree it's not always easy, possible or necessary, but still, that's not where we need to focus because there's a lot we CAN do.
military needs to exist too, and i agree the greater good and larger picture must factor into the equation, so this seems here a good example of the complications of making sound ethical choices. does it come down to a delineated line between supporting war and supporting peace? or is it more of a gray area by nature?
with reason i guess you could argue in favor of gun manufacturing, but is that where we want to be going…? do we fully have a choice?!!