In my recent book, “Precious Jewels: small experiments for personal growth,” I explore how small, intentional experiments can create meaningful change in our lives and work. Today, I’d like to share a new experiment I’ve just launched called “Ideas in Circulation.”
The Genesis of an Experiment
As Chief Explorer, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by how ideas move through communities. Do they travel like seeds carried by the wind, taking root in unexpected places? Or perhaps they’re more like water, flowing along paths of least resistance until they find their natural resting place?
This curiosity led me to wonder: What happens when we deliberately release our ideas into the world with generosity and without expectation of return?
The Gratitude Connection
This experiment emerges directly from my gratitude practice. Over the years, I’ve developed various approaches to expressing gratitude – from my “Shoebox of Wonderful Messages” where I collect feedback and kind words, to writing imaginary letters to those whose work has influenced me. The “Bridges to the New” card deck was also an example of gratitude as this began as a gift to those who I worked with when I left my NHS job in 2022.
I was reminded of this recently when a coaching client mentioned how a concept from “The Inner Fire” had sparked a significant breakthrough in their leadership approach – in a context I never would have anticipated. The idea had traveled far beyond our original conversation, creating ripples I couldn’t have predicted.
Offering my books freely is another expression of this practice – gratitude for the privilege of having ideas worth sharing, gratitude for the community that has supported their development, and gratitude for the opportunity to see these ideas take on new life in the minds of others.
How the Experiment Works
For a limited time, I’m offering a free eBook copy of any one of my four published works:
- “Values Count: believing in what we do”
- “Insight Coaching”
- “The Inner Fire: a coaching alchemy”
- “Precious Jewels: small experiments for personal growth”
I’m tracking several dimensions of this experiment:
- Which books resonate with different audiences (through a simple tracking system)
- How far these ideas might travel beyond my immediate network (through occasional follow-up conversations)
- What unexpected connections or insights might emerge (documented in my journal practice)
- How the act of giving freely affects my own relationship with these works
There’s a concept in Buddhist practice called dana – generosity without expectation of return. It is the first of the Six Perfections or Paramitas. This experiment is, in many ways, an exploration of dana in the realm of ideas. What happens when we release our attachment to our creations and allow them to find their own path?
The Invitation
If you’d like to participate in this experiment, you can request your free eBook here. You have until Wednesday 30th April 2025 to take up this offer. All I ask in return is that you consider sharing any insights or reflections that arise from your reading – although this is entirely optional!
As with any small experiment, the outcome is uncertain. But as I’ve learned through many such experiments documented in “Precious Jewels,” it’s often in this uncertainty that the most valuable discoveries emerge.
A Reflection for You
I’ll end with a question for you to consider: What ideas are you holding onto that might benefit from being released more generously into the world? What small experiment might you design to explore this? I always welcome responses either via the comments or an email.