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by Bryce McDougall
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"I believe there’s a greater fulfillment available to all of us"
"I believe humanity is ready to become wise"
"The approaching zeitgeist makes now an awfully exciting time to be alive"
"the two most pressing issues facing humanity are environmental degradation and the widening gap between the rich and poor"
"The values ‘for profit’ businesses thrive upon have infiltrated all aspects of society right across the globe"
"There are root problems facing humanity globally that when addressed, will over time automatically solve many of the resulting problems we see in our day-to-day lives"
"A corporation is traditionally an entity that exists for one primary reason, to make money. What if the primary reason for being in business were to make the world a better place?"
"By 'not for profit' I mean 'not for the profit of individuals'"
"Perhaps looking out for one another is more important than looking out for oneself"
"Humans created the problems we face, therefore humans can solve them"
"The dictionary definition of greed is the quality of wanting more than ones share"
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It’s fairly clear to me that after twelve months since the release of The Too Hard Basket, and ten years of planning prior to that, that my time needs to be spent differently. The books objectives are not being realised and I need to find a new way forward.
NFPOIs are intended to work for the good of all and I had hoped that readers would get behind my ideas. My hopes of finding just one wealthy philanthropist and/or many readers willing to donate small amounts, have faded. Book sales barely covered printing costs. Therefore the first NFPOI remains unfinanced and the objectives unfulfilled.
During the eleven years I’ve been working on this I have considered that if I were to make myself wealthy, to then put the funds into starting up an NFPOI, I would appear hypocritical, and in the interim seem no different to some of the greedy in society whom I am critical of in the book.
Given that I have invested enormous time and energy and nothing tangible is established, I now feel I have no choice but to head off and try and earn the funds myself to put back in. I’ve tried the most ideal way of getting it started, which has to this point failed. So I am now looking for alternative ways to quickly increase my personal income so I can return to this project as soon as I have sufficient funds to invest.
The first NFPOI is ready to go should funding become available, so if in the interim you think you might be interested in investing, or if you would like to know exactly what I have planned for the first NFPOI please make contact.
As far as the philosophical content within The Too Hard Basket, I hope this might have in some small way reminded you of the important things in life.
To those of you who have already donated money thank you enormously. The cost of maintaining the company responsibility.com.au Pty Ltd and this website is in the vicinity of $2,000 per year so your donation has helped cover a portion of my outlay. When the first NFPOI is eventually established it will have in part been attributable to the support you have given.
I feel like I’ve achieved a lot since my last blog. Even though I have no hard evidence of any dramatic progress, I’ve got the funny feeling a break through is not far away.
During my six weeks off work recovering from my hernia operation I found energy and passion flooding back at an ever increasing flow rate. Although I devoted much of my August to responsibility.com.au and The Too Hard Basket, it was also a good time to enjoy the time off, catch up with old friends, and clear emails, in trays, to do lists etc. Anxiousness had clearly built for some years and it was good to be knocking things off, one by one.
When holidays come around I normally jump on an aircraft and go holidaying somewhere. So to be confined to home was entirely invigorating and totally sensible. The time off served as a reminder of the importance of rest and balance.
I sometimes get so caught up holding down full time employment, whilst actively trying to get all this established, that I don’t devote quite enough time to my wellbeing. Things like friendships, me time, time in nature, exercise, etcetera, are all critically important and need sufficient attention.
That said, I still started to ‘cram’ in the last 7 days prior to returning to work and became more highly manic than I have been for many years. I guess I just wanted to achieve as much as I possibly could. Sleep was elusive and I was probably only managing 2 hours per night.
During my time off I sent off a few dozen copies of The Too Hard Basket to a diverse range of people from all around the world seeking support, took a stall at Rozelle Markets a few times looking for like minded individuals whom I found, chatted with Jeff Kennett about interesting matters, and liaised with Cheryl Kernot trying to organise a catch up. I obviously did heaps more than this, but it feels like any of these endeavours could lead to something.
My confidence in The Too Hard Basket, I trust, will now remain high. I concluded over the course of the past six weeks that my words greatly unsettle most readers. Home truths seem to do that. My writing is not profound, it simply reveals truths most of us know and understand, but are not keen to face.
A book that asks readers to consider deeply why we think what we think, and do what we do, can only be confrontational when I say the results of our thoughts perpetuate the problems humanity faces. The Too Hard Basket might be little but, it’s a somewhat bitter pill, and finding people to swallow it is clearly going to take time. I’m finding it’s about three months after a read before most can manage any sort of comment.
I guess I have time, although I hate this feeling that time is wasting. They say, I suppose, that some things can’t be rushed, and similarly some things will only succeed when the time is exactly right. When we’re ready for change we will embrace it. I’m still anxious though and want to get started ASAP.
I look forward to devoting all of my energy to this. If you can help me please I am asking.
Phew, the darkness has left me for the time being. Despite trying to prepare for The Too Hard Basket being a flop, it still took its toll. I thought I was ready for full success or complete failure. Maybe I was, I sort of knew I’d get pretty down if it wasn’t well received; still wasn’t nice though.
During the ten years whilst formulating the original full manuscript for The Too Hard Basket I struggled on an ongoing basis with a lack of self confidence in my vision. I knew it was radical, but the more I worked on it, the more I became convinced that what I hoped to achieve was sound. My confidence came in waves, I’d do three months work on it, then ask myself for another three who I thought I was kidding.
For several years I was hesitant to show this ‘big version’ of the manuscript to friends, or publishers, for fear of their reaction. It’s not easy when your thinking varies quite greatly from the status quo. Early last year, however, whilst trying to find more time by experimenting with alternative employment in Western Australia, I thought; ‘what the hell, I’m confident enough, I’m not getting any younger, I’ve got to condense it down dramatically, make it simple to understand, and just get it out there and let it sink or swim.’
So that’s exactly what I did, and so far it has sunk, like a lead balloon…or has it?
I do not know where support will come from to get the first NFPOI financed and established, however at least I have my thinking out there now. A seed is planted in every persons mind that reads the book, and what at first feels like failure, I’m certain, is just one of the necessary steps on the path to success.
Just this morning I received some feedback from a reader in Belgium who said, “I’ve read your book and found it inspiring. It inspired me to make more ‘ethical and moral choices’ in how I’m living my life.” I’m hoping she gives me permission to upload her full email to the ‘Your emails’ page of this website. To know that my writing has caused a highly qualified, successful and intelligent lady to give consideration to trying to make more ethical and moral choices is the sort of thing that makes this whole project truly rewarding.
Until next time, please stay happy, and if you can’t manage that, try and rest your soul and be good to yourself; and happiness will surely return.
In the mean time I’m sending out free copies of the book, left, right and centre, to all different sorts of people, all around the world, as I look for support.
Yet again, apologies to any regular blog checkers for my delayed entry. The last three months have been debilitating for me. My hopes and aspirations for my future, contained in The Too Hard Basket, do not feel like they have gone anywhere. I had hoped the book would have proven to be the key that would allow me to invest all of my time in getting the first NFPOI up and running, and in the process help bring positive change, not only in my working life but, in society.
Unfortunately I remain stuck between the proverbial ‘rock and hard place’. The rock appears to be my inability to find funding for what I propose, the hard place is that my mortgage forces me to remain employed working full time in a job that does not contribute to fulfilling my dreams. I’m a slave to my debt. I know it’s somehow my fault that I’m not moving forward right now but, I can’t see what to change to take the next steps.
Do you feel like you’re wasting time in your life too, or is it just me?
The death of Michael Jackson just a few days ago reminds me that I am getting older. I grew up admiring him enormously, and although I’d pretty much forgotten about him in recent years as his career declined and his behaviour became weirder, it has instilled an urgency to somehow push through my pain, and achieve what it is I need to achieve.
Michael Jackson had enormous desire for positive change, yet I don’t know that he would have achieved what he would have hoped for. What about his Heal the World lyrics? ‘Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race.’ Did he? Or was he able to inspire others to do so? Perhaps he did, or will in his death.
This song became like a mantra to me in a time in my life when I knew I had to somehow contribute to bringing positive change. Perhaps he influenced me. Regardless, his death serves as a reminder that I need to pick up and move on. I must remain focused on moving forward with my dreams. If I feel I am wasting my life I fear continued fulfillment may elude me.
I think a burst of passion and renewed energy is awaiting me. Please check back again soon for an update.
Apologies to regular blog checkers for my delayed entry, I this morning returned home from a relaxing nine days in the spectacularly picturesque South Island of New Zealand (yes, two small chunks of annual leave over the last eight weeks). The air was crystal clear, the pace slower and revitalising, and the locals more noticeably helpful and friendly. And what is it about the light in New Zealand? Truly wonderful!
The circumnavigation brought lots of inspiring vistas and silent moments, encouraging peaceful contemplation of possible ways forward for the proposed NFPOIs. As touched on briefly, both on this website and in The Too Hard Basket, property development will be the first business where I apply the NFPOI model. I saw plenty of tasteful and environmentally friendly construction whilst away, giving me lots of good ideas.
Whilst The Too Hard Basket slowly filters into the hands and minds of readers I remain hopeful that momentum will build for its philosophy. Support may come from many, or perhaps just one person will sit down with me and say, ‘okay Bryce here’s the cash you need to get it all going’. In case that doesn’t happen though, I will in the short term push ahead and try to work out how to kick things off on a smaller scale. This will be slower to bring results, but I remain confident the time will come for NFPOIs. Please stay tuned.
New Zealand nicely reminded me of things that are important in life.
Book sales aren’t taking off and I’m now back at my ‘real job’ after taking annual leave for the release. I work full time, unable to devote all of my energy to this project, but look forward to the day I can. Following are some of the strategies I’m pushing ahead with in the mean time to try and achieve the books objectives:
- Trialing the handout of free copies of The Too Hard Basket containing stickers that read “Please read it, donate, then pass it on”.
- Contacting influential decision makers globally endeavouring to find support.
- Seeking ongoing support from the media, like the following letter written to New Scientist magazine this morning:
Dear New Scientist
The Too Hard Basket, my new book, is likely to be of great interest to many of your readers. It discusses the problems humanity faces, how they evolved, and what we can do differently. It ultimately proposes a new breed of businesses entering the market called NFPOIs (Not For Profit Of Individuals). They will only be in business to help solve social and environmental problems.
Instead of making a minority wealthy, they will provide sustainable employment with improved conditions for an increasing employee base.
Training will bring back more decent values of community, compassion and responsibility that our twentieth century greed has sucked from society.
The businesses will compete with ‘for profits’ to provide better products and services, but they will do so according to their different purpose. As customers gravitate to them, ‘for profits’ will be forced to change for the better if they want to stop losing customers.
I hope you might be interested in running a feature on the book, or at least devoting a column. Love your magazine, and considering your stories discuss cutting edge technologies and new ways of thinking, I believe the subject matter fits your magazine perfectly.
Please let me know who I can address a copy of the book to for consideration for a story.
Kind regards
Bryce McDougall
Wow, what a funny old week it’s been. All this pent up hope and nagging fear; the latter has proved to be more well founded so far. It appears the subject matter of The Too Hard Basket is for many, exactly that, too hard. The book isn’t selling.
I’m wondering if listeners think I’m a guy just trying to cash in on the GFC (Global Financial Crisis). Do they know all this happened after the book was written? Do they realise my motivation is not to make money out of this? It’s all detailed in The Too Hard Basket, but people aren’t even getting that far.
Or is it because we’ve concentrated on the GFC in the fourteen radio interviews rather than the specifics of how a persons life will be enriched through the establishment of NFPOIs?
After the bad news of knowing the book isn’t yet selling, I’ve picked myself up, and acknowledge that its philosophy, though not radical, will at first appear that way. I remind myself I’ve invested ten years of my life working on this so far, along with tens of thousands of dollars, and when I consider my motivation I realise it doesn’t matter how long it takes, I’ve got a lifetime left to try. I know my thinking is sound and I will not give up.
I trust that in ten years many will look back and say things like, ‘Of course NFPOIs successfully challenge for profit business – why would anybody have thought they couldn’t?’
The Too Hard Basket – If we can change big business we can change the world was officially launched this week. I’ve been working on this project for ten years so far, off and on, and have invested enormous time and energy. It’s been more than a labour of love; it’s been a life changing experience.
The very things I value in life have shifted as I have contemplated the causes of the problems humanity faces. I realised on the journey that we, humans, are the problem. The world would likely go along very nicely if we weren’t here. I quickly discovered it wasn’t just everyone else that needed to change, so too did I; and considering my self-centeredness, I needed to change quite considerably.
I last year decided to condense The Too Hard Basket into a brief and easy to read manifesto. It uses the sort of language I use on a daily basis. That’s me I guess, a relatively simple person with relatively simple values; certainly simpler now than they were ten years ago. I still have high aspirations, but they’re very different.
Many years ago life, for me, was all about making money. Now, as much as I wish to put food on the table and live in relative comfort, money is inconsequential. My passion now is trying to do my bit to help save this planet of ours, and I’m not just talking environmentally, there are plenty of experts already on that path, I’m more concerned about our social ills.
You can read all about my conclusions in the book. This blog, I suppose, should be more about what I’m feeling this week.
I’m cautiously hopeful that the manifesto will find a market for itself. Like all writers, you put your words out there never really knowing what effect they’re going to have. You dream that your book might take off, but at the same time know that it could be a complete flop.
You may wonder if I am feeling stressed. Funnily enough I don’t think I am. I’m ready for things to go either way. If it sells, great, I will simply get on with what it proposes. If it doesn’t sell, fine, I will still get on with what it proposes, it will just take longer that’s all if I can’t rally support. Perhaps my timing may be a little out, perhaps my ideas need more refining, either way it’s a life long passion now and I will never give up. I’m 100% confident, one way or another, that the propositions in the manifesto can be achieved.
The media circus kicked off with a Sky Business Channel Book Review, I wonder how that came across, I don’t have Foxtel so haven’t seen it. I get ridiculously tongue tied and nervous in front of the camera. And there’s been several radio interviews so far, I find they’re a lot easier.
So, after ten years it’s finally out there. Irrespective of whether it sinks or swims, to have it off my hands is simply one more step on my journey, and it is a huge relief.
Until next time, be good to yourself, and perhaps more importantly, be good to those around you.
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