The Business Oasis Manifesto

Why The Business Oasis exists.

On the face of it, it's pretty simple: it can be hard, lonely, overwhelming work to get your small business up and running. The Business Oasis is meant to be a barn-raising for your business- a lot of people with know-how, heart, and generosity to help you develop whatever business you are dreaming and sweating into reality.

But, it's more than that.

With increasing environmental degredation, economic injustice, global corporations run amuck, things are definitely getting interesting around here. At the same time, uncounted miracles are unfolding. A change in consciousness is happening globally, spiritually, communally, economically, physically.

Each of us is urgently needed. You are urgently needed.

And, you also have your own needs. You need to pay the bills and keep food on the table. If your security is threatened, it's really hard to stay generous, open-hearted, and creative in the ways that are being asked of us. We're not going to heal the situation by completely exhausting and impoverishing ourselves.

The world of troubles seems large, and almost invincible. And yet hope is continually renewed in the human heart.

I believe the solution lies in both: caring for yourself while caring for the world. Giving your gift through a business that sustains and supports you. Expressing actions in business that cultivate love, beauty and connection at the same time that they add to your bank account.

It's a big order, and it's almost impossible to do it alone. Yes, you need systems and information that help. But even more than that, you need the organic support of a community.

The Business Oasis is meant to be a community of hope, and to serve three specific functions:

1. The Business Oasis is here to help you create a life-sustaining business.
In the Sufi tradition it is said that if you are standing with a palm tree seedling in your hand, and you hear the angels blowing trumpets announcing Judgement Day, first you plant the seedling, then you go.

We are here to serve and to make a difference. The Business Oasis is here to help you grow and develop your business, whether it's a seedling or a fully-developed tree, so that you and your family can thrive financially, have a sane schedule, and enjoy yourself while helping others.

There is a body of work created for this purpose through Heart of Business. For consistency of support, all members are asked to use and refer to this body of work as the foundation, even when learning from other places. This gives the community a common language and points of reference.

2. The Business Oasis is a community of truth and compassion.
If truth doesn't have compassion, it's only a partial truth, and if compassion doesn't have truth, it's denial, not compassion.

Each member of the Business Oasis dedicates her or himself to facing and bringing compassion and truth in our lives, because that is where healing comes from.

3. The Business Oasis invites all of you.
Your business is only a part of your life, and yet compartmentalizing life into different boxes isn't very effective. What goes on in your life affects your business, and vice versa.

You are invited to bring all of yourself to this community.

To support these three intentions, there are four rules:

The Four Rules:

Be kind. (Assume others are responding with good intentions.)

Be generous. (Help those who ask, even if it's just letting them know you read what they wrote.)

Trust your heart. (Which means you have to check in with it.)

Ask for help. (Even when you think you don't need it or will never get it.)

Welcome to the Business Oasis.

with love
Mark

Ready to join?

If there is anything else I can tell you about the Business Oasis, please ask.