A New Project

In the summer of 2023, me and 3 others spent the day together thinking about how we might help organizations evolve. More specifically, how me might catalyze the organizational change that is already underway but, in our opinion, happening far too slowly. To use a very broad term, I’m referring to organizations with self-managing teams.

As the four of us explored ideas, dreams, challenges, and pitfalls – we came to an uncomfortable realization. The only way to catalyze lasting change would be to become majority shareholders of each organization. As it’s been told many times, several organization have flourished with self-managing teams and then lost their way as owners re-took control to protect profits or play defence. This was the greatest pitfall we could envision, and what led to our uncomfortable realization.

Buying the majority stake of an organization that has both revenue and a team is not for the faint of heart — especially if the finances aren’t promising. Worse though, is the personal hubris one must exhibit to believe owning an organization is the only way to change it. For me, someone who doesn’t really believe owning an organization means much, talk about uncomfortable!

The idea kind of fizzled out until, one day in March 2024, I get a text message from one of my 3 partners in thought from that fateful summer day. When we meet, she tells me about an organization that’s ripe for change. After many conversations with her, the team members at this organization, and the current owner, we found ourselves suddenly and surprisingly responsible for the organization as of May 1st. And, to that extent, on track to become the owners of the organization as of June 15th, 2024.

The organization, you might ask, is Soaring Eagle Nature School, an innovative outdoor school, helping kids follow their curiosities while connected to nature and community.