More on our, ahem, acquisition... :)
Posted on Aug 11th, 2007
by 
Brian
Brian
Hey guys:
My apologies for the delayed response on questions about our deal with Gaiam. Been off the computer for the better part of the week dealing with the admin/finance details of the merger/acquisition as well as a trip to Boulder to meet with the team that’ll be integrating all the companies. And, frankly, to exhale a bit. It’s been quite a ride. :)
Siona's update rocks.
Here's my quick take:
First, we've been acquired (100%) and if I had to re-write the announcement it would have been more direct. Duh. That's pretty straight-forward. :)
Second, I'm really excited about this deal for many reasons. It’s all part of a much longer chat I wish I could have with each of you in person, but for now I’ll hit some stream of consciousness highlights:
One of my mentors once told me that everything (our lives/businesses/whatever) goes thru different phases of development/evolution. It all starts with the “inspiration” phase where life is literally breathed into a person or an idea or a business. Then you move into the “conspiration” phase where you find the people who will “conspire” with you to make your idea a reality. Then you move into the “perspiration” phase where you work your butt off to make things happen. Then you move into the “expiration” phase of that cycle where you die to the old way of doing things and move into the next inspiration phase. Make sense?
Here’s what I’ve learned over the last several months: Business-wise, I’m pretty good at “breathing life” into a business and moving it thru the first cycle of its evolution: finding people to build the biz with me, finding people crazy enough to bet on me with their money, and then working hard to get things done during the inevitably tumultuous start-up phase of any venture.
What I’m not anywhere near as good at is scaling a business—taking it from where we are today to where we know it can be by building in more robust operational systems and all that good stuff. (See my first business, eteamz, as another example. :)
Now, when I started this biz, I said some pretty audacious things about the fact we’d be doing any of the necessary acquiring (Princess, I knew I could count on you to remind us all. :).
Over the last couple years we’ve had more than one CEO of a big biz express his desire to acquire us and I’d give my standard response: “No thanks. We’re going at this alone.” In fact, the first time I met Jirka (the CEO of Gaiam) a few months ago and he expressed an interest in making a significant investment +, that’s pretty much what I said. :)
When I got back from that meeting and reflected on my/our strengths and weaknesses, I was able to see Jirka’s genius at building huge businesses (he built his last business into a Fortune 500 biz) and actually felt a sense that building the leading company that can help transform consciousness was his dharma and not mine. As I asked myself how we can best truly serve all of our stakeholders (our community, our team, our partners, our shareholders and the world at large), I felt myself opening to the possibility of merging with another biz for the first time. It was an incredibly transformative event for me. To say the least. (Ask Dave about the hike we went on when I first discussed this a few months ago. :)
Fast forward thru a lot of soul searching.
(Note: this is where the dialogue can get very personal and very lengthy. Highlights:
Epiphanies triggered by my work with my new coach, Bert Parlee, whose first assignment (to read the first chapter of Robert Kegan’s brilliant book "In Over our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life" which focuses on subject-object perspectives) helped me witness my (very strong and ultimately not optimal) attachment to my identity AS Zaadz…
A consciousness-shifting moment while reading Chopra’s “Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” (highly recommend that btw) chapter on “Dharma.” He asks the question: “If you had all the time and all the money in the world, what would you do?” It was the first time in 3½ years where my automatic answer wasn’t to put it all into Zaadz. I literally had to stop reading and simply witness that fact. (And then, of course, ask myself, “Well, what would I do?” More on that later but the short answer: get back to studying life full-time.)
Fast forward thru many conversations about and continued meditation on ideal paths and explorations of ideal options.
Arrive at a lunch meeting with Jirka at Urth Café in Santa Monica a few weeks ago.
Fast forward thru ten hours over the next two days. I’m blown away by our shared vision. Felt like we’d been reading the same script on how to serve the world.
Arrive at a deep sense of knowing that a deal with Gaiam is the ideal way for us to reach our highest potential.
Couple of “logical” reasons why we did the deal to complement the intuitive knowing: First, we’re no longer ever going to worry about money. (For those of you who know what it’s like to worry about making payroll for 15 people you love, you know how excited I am about this. :) Second, we have an opportunity to plug Zaadz into a huge community with Gaiam’s reach into millions of other people passionate about living more consciously. Third, we have operational support to scale the biz. All this means we can focus on what we do best: building great social media technology that inspires and empowers people to live at their highest potential and to change the world in the process.
For me, this translates into optimal value for all of our stakeholders: Our community is better served as we focus on what we do best plus getting the benefit of all the resources of the other companies coming together (amazing content, more passionate people, etc.); our incredible team is all part of the going forward team (there were scenarios in which this wasn’t the case); our shareholders get a nice return on their investment (I’d raised about $2.8m and my friends and family investors are happy to get their money+ back); our partners will be even better served with the shared resources of the combined businesses; and, I absolutely believe we’ll be able to accelerate the rate of change in the world.
I like that math.
And, I personally feel great that I have breathed life into a vital community that is changing the world and that now has a structure in place to serve its continued growth—allowing me to pursue my next steps beyond Zaadz.
My next step?
I’m currently immersed in the transition of our biz—which is actually very straight-forward, with Dave leading the operational/admin/finance side of things and Siona and her team leading the product/community development side of things. From there, I’ll be leaving the next steps in the capable hands of Siona, Dave, and the rest of our team + Eddie (Gaiam’s brilliant President of Community) and his team as I take the next steps in my dharmic evolution—which are quite clearly pointed in the direction of a full immersion back into studying and embodying the universal truths of optimal living.
Ahhhhh…
Time for me to get outside but wanted to add this note to the discussion!
I won’t be online much next week so if I’m delayed in my response please understand.
Once again, I thank you for all your support. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with this community and I’m excited to see everything that transpires in the months and years and decades ahead.
Big hug and a lot of love,
-bri
P.S. I’m in love. That’s been a huge catalyst for seeing the power of communion vs. always going alone. Will blog more on that later. :)
(*Braces for Princess’ reminder that I blogged about falling in love two years ago as well.* :)
My apologies for the delayed response on questions about our deal with Gaiam. Been off the computer for the better part of the week dealing with the admin/finance details of the merger/acquisition as well as a trip to Boulder to meet with the team that’ll be integrating all the companies. And, frankly, to exhale a bit. It’s been quite a ride. :)
Siona's update rocks.
Here's my quick take:
First, we've been acquired (100%) and if I had to re-write the announcement it would have been more direct. Duh. That's pretty straight-forward. :)
Second, I'm really excited about this deal for many reasons. It’s all part of a much longer chat I wish I could have with each of you in person, but for now I’ll hit some stream of consciousness highlights:
One of my mentors once told me that everything (our lives/businesses/whatever) goes thru different phases of development/evolution. It all starts with the “inspiration” phase where life is literally breathed into a person or an idea or a business. Then you move into the “conspiration” phase where you find the people who will “conspire” with you to make your idea a reality. Then you move into the “perspiration” phase where you work your butt off to make things happen. Then you move into the “expiration” phase of that cycle where you die to the old way of doing things and move into the next inspiration phase. Make sense?
Here’s what I’ve learned over the last several months: Business-wise, I’m pretty good at “breathing life” into a business and moving it thru the first cycle of its evolution: finding people to build the biz with me, finding people crazy enough to bet on me with their money, and then working hard to get things done during the inevitably tumultuous start-up phase of any venture.
What I’m not anywhere near as good at is scaling a business—taking it from where we are today to where we know it can be by building in more robust operational systems and all that good stuff. (See my first business, eteamz, as another example. :)
Now, when I started this biz, I said some pretty audacious things about the fact we’d be doing any of the necessary acquiring (Princess, I knew I could count on you to remind us all. :).
Over the last couple years we’ve had more than one CEO of a big biz express his desire to acquire us and I’d give my standard response: “No thanks. We’re going at this alone.” In fact, the first time I met Jirka (the CEO of Gaiam) a few months ago and he expressed an interest in making a significant investment +, that’s pretty much what I said. :)
When I got back from that meeting and reflected on my/our strengths and weaknesses, I was able to see Jirka’s genius at building huge businesses (he built his last business into a Fortune 500 biz) and actually felt a sense that building the leading company that can help transform consciousness was his dharma and not mine. As I asked myself how we can best truly serve all of our stakeholders (our community, our team, our partners, our shareholders and the world at large), I felt myself opening to the possibility of merging with another biz for the first time. It was an incredibly transformative event for me. To say the least. (Ask Dave about the hike we went on when I first discussed this a few months ago. :)
Fast forward thru a lot of soul searching.
(Note: this is where the dialogue can get very personal and very lengthy. Highlights:
Epiphanies triggered by my work with my new coach, Bert Parlee, whose first assignment (to read the first chapter of Robert Kegan’s brilliant book "In Over our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life" which focuses on subject-object perspectives) helped me witness my (very strong and ultimately not optimal) attachment to my identity AS Zaadz…
A consciousness-shifting moment while reading Chopra’s “Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” (highly recommend that btw) chapter on “Dharma.” He asks the question: “If you had all the time and all the money in the world, what would you do?” It was the first time in 3½ years where my automatic answer wasn’t to put it all into Zaadz. I literally had to stop reading and simply witness that fact. (And then, of course, ask myself, “Well, what would I do?” More on that later but the short answer: get back to studying life full-time.)
Fast forward thru many conversations about and continued meditation on ideal paths and explorations of ideal options.
Arrive at a lunch meeting with Jirka at Urth Café in Santa Monica a few weeks ago.
Fast forward thru ten hours over the next two days. I’m blown away by our shared vision. Felt like we’d been reading the same script on how to serve the world.
Arrive at a deep sense of knowing that a deal with Gaiam is the ideal way for us to reach our highest potential.
Couple of “logical” reasons why we did the deal to complement the intuitive knowing: First, we’re no longer ever going to worry about money. (For those of you who know what it’s like to worry about making payroll for 15 people you love, you know how excited I am about this. :) Second, we have an opportunity to plug Zaadz into a huge community with Gaiam’s reach into millions of other people passionate about living more consciously. Third, we have operational support to scale the biz. All this means we can focus on what we do best: building great social media technology that inspires and empowers people to live at their highest potential and to change the world in the process.
For me, this translates into optimal value for all of our stakeholders: Our community is better served as we focus on what we do best plus getting the benefit of all the resources of the other companies coming together (amazing content, more passionate people, etc.); our incredible team is all part of the going forward team (there were scenarios in which this wasn’t the case); our shareholders get a nice return on their investment (I’d raised about $2.8m and my friends and family investors are happy to get their money+ back); our partners will be even better served with the shared resources of the combined businesses; and, I absolutely believe we’ll be able to accelerate the rate of change in the world.
I like that math.
And, I personally feel great that I have breathed life into a vital community that is changing the world and that now has a structure in place to serve its continued growth—allowing me to pursue my next steps beyond Zaadz.
My next step?
I’m currently immersed in the transition of our biz—which is actually very straight-forward, with Dave leading the operational/admin/finance side of things and Siona and her team leading the product/community development side of things. From there, I’ll be leaving the next steps in the capable hands of Siona, Dave, and the rest of our team + Eddie (Gaiam’s brilliant President of Community) and his team as I take the next steps in my dharmic evolution—which are quite clearly pointed in the direction of a full immersion back into studying and embodying the universal truths of optimal living.
Ahhhhh…
Time for me to get outside but wanted to add this note to the discussion!
I won’t be online much next week so if I’m delayed in my response please understand.
Once again, I thank you for all your support. We’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with this community and I’m excited to see everything that transpires in the months and years and decades ahead.
Big hug and a lot of love,
-bri
P.S. I’m in love. That’s been a huge catalyst for seeing the power of communion vs. always going alone. Will blog more on that later. :)
(*Braces for Princess’ reminder that I blogged about falling in love two years ago as well.* :)
Access: Public
Your update rocks more. :) And that's the best PS I've seen in my life. Congratulations on everything and, because I can never say this enough, thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you….
Powerful post!! Here's to deeply connecting with Love, Faith, and Knowing…. I, too, am very excited at the VAST potential that lays within this seedling… breakthroughs, new light, lots and lots of growth! I am honored to be a part of this marvelous growth!
In service and Love to all…. :)
ps…. LOVE helps our perspective… it is inclusive, unconditional, and just … well… LOVE - is what makes life grow. So very happy for your “I'm in love” acknowledgement! And I can see (and intuit) why! :)
Thanks for the update Bri. It's nice to hear from you again and always fun to hear you say you love me, however indirectly :) - “(For those of you who know what it’s like to worry about making payroll for 15 people you love, you know how excited I am about this. :)”
oh a reminder.. anytime (lol)
n of course i knew ur d best @ this ^.^
cuz im d best @ dis (hehe)
You know I love you, Matthew. :) Big hug. And a smile.
P: hehehe.
S: thank YOU!
MsK: you are the specialist-K anywhere. :)
Very reassuring post. I have to admit, the idea that Zaadz was acquired was making me a bit nervous, but it sounds like Zaadz is most likely still in good hands. :-)
Bri- enjoy the fresh air. ;) Life always amazes me at how it sneaks things in. I can't think of a single person involved in Zaadz that will not benefit from all of this. And to hear it is the best decision for you too is music to my ears. It just reaks of perfection. ;) Hearing you acknowledge your strengths, and deciding to focus on them more reminds me of a book you sent to me, and a few hundred people by now. :) Simple concept, but wildly profound. Thats's how I like em. ;)
Love the cycle your coach mentioned. Hits the nail on the head.
Looking forward to reading the new philospher's notes and observations. This is sure to be a very exciting time for us all. And one last thing-
Here's to the crazy ones!
:)
Bri, these changes are amazing and I love the update. Very sexy and transparent. Also, in these short years you have given so much and helped to transform so many lives. It's been wonderful. I think everyone in this community has grown immensely as a result, as have you. These changes are a natural expression of that.
I know you are going to continue changes lives, as is Zaadz, as is Gaiam, as are all the awesome people on the team and in this community. It's an honor to work with you and to have you as a friend. I'm sending 4 hugs to your special lady friend!
Brian, thanks for this detailed update. i'll always say this time and time again. thanks for your trust. thanks for the opportunity. thanks for taking good care of Zaadz. i'll do my part in carrying on with our vision.
you've changed my life for the better. and for that i'll always be grateful.
take care and stay lucid always.
~C
Wonderful blog Brian!
Thanks so much, congrats on your transitions and love in your world!
You have brought love into many of our lives. for myself and Keith: a sense of alive-ness by being able to be in this community of like minded people, loving ourselves again and connecting and feeling connected to a higher purpose.
Since March, I have reinvigorated my life here…and my creative side, which had been starving…
there is not enough I can write to express my appreciation to you, Siona, Matthew, Dave, Chaos, PJ, and all the others who have brought your vision to reality.
Zaadz rocks, the team rocks and there is a feeling much more can and will be done here…and none of us are alone anymore in what we need to express and do in our lives!
Bowing to all….and much love,
Aley
:)
bless your precious heart!
every expression is perfect!!
Thank you for everything…:) Love love and more love…:)))
Brian Rocks,
Matthew Rocks,
Ms K Rocks,
Siona Rocks,
Dave Rocks,
~C4 Rocks,
The Team Rocks,
I Rock,
You Rock,
Zaadz DEFINATELY Rocks
& i'm with ~C4 on this…
you've changed my life for the better. and for that i'll always be grateful.
Onward & Upward, Zaadsters Rockin United!
Love & Hugs,
Ladybear
Bravo, Brian!
Congrats on everything! Though you may not know it, I kind of think of you as a mentor. I know you will continue to make us all proud!
Who's the lucky gal?? ;)
Good move!
This is all good.
Congrats and Big
Surges of Love,
xo
cree
“Mergers” or “aquisitions” happen all over the place, but the consumers never even know it. I'm sure this one will be transparent to us, the members of Zaadz. If there are going to be big changes in the way we do things, I'm sure there will be emails and announcements galore to let us know beforehand.
So, Brian, I'm guessing that Gaiam is based in Boulder? I'm just 45 minutes away…I'd drop in to meet you if you let me know the next time you're visiting.
Blessings to you and your Big Love! Things change!
Mu
Zadzooks… I guess it's time to expand ourselves somemore. Thanks for being the example on every level you can Bri. Have fun in the sunshine glowing with love!
Blessings, David
Isn't is wonderful how you go along, and suddenly you find that you're making a surprising decision for reasons you wouldn't have understood a while ago, but now you do. Thank you for sharing with us so openly. It's definitely a quality that makes Zaadz such a unique, and very good, place. Ladybear said it for me above. My sincere thanks to you Brian, for creating this wonderful place, and to the Zaadz team for making it excellent and real every day.
Great update Bro!
Wow! We've been on some great hikes, haven't we? The hike you're referring to here was one of the most memorable. I'm looking forward to many more brain/soul-storming miles on the trail…. It's been a blast growing with you and witnessing the business' (and our own) evolution through the last couple of years. You've been a major inspiration and I totally support you following your Dharma and… as you know, I believe that this merger is the best thing for all of us involved in this amazing community.
Here's to the next chapter!
Much gratitude and love, Dave
man, those hikes sound good! Bri, when all this settles down, maybe you and your better half (imagine that!) will come join Jodi and i on some amazing hikes around here? Dave, you and Beth still coming?
anyhooo, much kudos, love and respekt. and GRATITUDE.
Congratulations!! A big step and a big decision that you obviously put your heart and soul into. The universe is behind you and is the spirit of our community. Change and growth is a natural part of any seed's evolution and it's path to maturity. I welcome the chance to grow with all of you and be a part for the transformation of our planet.
Blessings and Peace!
With all of the group hugging going on here, I feel like my question might be a little dry - so I’ll start with hugging back! It’s great to see you shining, Brian - I wish you tons of love and meaning and purpose and fun and light all around. And I echo everyone here who’s excited about this being a growth spurt for our communal seed-plot - I trust your vision and your take on it all.
Now, I’m still fuzzy on this part:
Is Zaadz an independent company owned by Gaiam, or is Zaadz essentially a department of Gaiam, or some new parent to be named? Siona and Dave are leading teams focusing on Zaadz development and cultivation, but who is the CEO - or is this even the right question?
Sounds like it's all good. Hope we still get the fabulous Philosopher's Notes! A great success story and great people. This place is just amazing, so much growth. Blessings, Moni
GOOD TIMES!!! Change ever changing…
Heck, I just hope you guys come to the beach party next weekend and play some wicked cool VOLLEYBALL like last year and we enjoy each other's company once more.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER!
My heart fell out of zaadz today. Good luck Brian, this was awesome.
Darn, are you the GW who had that fascinating blog? Seems like it, because I can't reach your blog anymore. Did you delete your account? Why? I'll miss you!
Man, the Philosopher's quest continues :) Let's keep the conversation going, eh brother?
Way to know your strengths.
And welcome back to the life of a Philosopher. :)
All this self-congratulation and love is such a crock. Plain and simple YOU SOLD OUT. This isn't about building a community or maybe it was when it first started I don't know but what I feel now is like a demographic experiment and all the big love and huggity hugs will not change that. I feel dirty and used. Used by Mr. Wonderful Philosopher Brian who obviously philosophized that it would be a great idea to sell off this community and make some scratch.
I thought the tools here were interesting but I did wonder - how the hell is this thing going to make money? But that was not the point - was it? The point was to build it and get rid of it. That was where YOU make the money. And now this lovely community 80K strong can go have Gaiam shove its yogarific products down our throats.
Apparently for all the love here and the huggles and cuddles and unbelievable ass-kissing of each other no one really GOT IT.
It's nice to see that zaadz plans to change the world the old fashioned way - by making gobs of second-wave internet moola.
I'm done here. Hope you all enjoy your new organic-cotton overpriced yoga pants from Gaiam.
Oh, Amita. I just dropped you a note, but ai. That made my heart ache. I know Brian never intended to sell Zaadz. I've been with this team for a long time and I've seen a great deal of growth and I can respect, fully, the realization that running a business is not what one expected.
(I mean, he had other options, no? He could have turned the site off, or sold to a higher bidder or a private equity firm or a business without such a concern for community. )
And I don't know. It feels a little unfair to make such predictions. I completely understand fleeing from this site if it does turn into some marketing arm for yoga mats and organic zafus (not that I mind either :), but why not wait to see whether things change? Our team is still here. We're still focused on doing what we've been doing. I'd hate to see you go.
Amita,
I work for Zaadz. I don't financially benefit from this acquisition, at least not directly; for me, everything goes on the same as it did before.
And you know why I do this? Because I *do* believe in building a community that wants to change the world and in giving you some tools to help you do it. And I believe that's true for every one of Zaadz' employees.
You haven't been in our heated discussions where we tried to balance advertising presence on the site with our members' sensitivities, where we talked about finding sponsors that were so in line with with our mission that people would actually ENJOY the presence of those ads.
As one of the people building those tools, yes, the intention is both: to grow this community of change, to reach even more influencers; and to make our business self-sustaining so that we can continue to do the former in perpetuum.
I'm angry that you took your prejudices against money and corporations and attacked the motives of all the people building this company and this community, without taking the time to consider other alternatives, some of which Brian actually explains in this very entry. I'm saddened that you feel we mistreated you or experimented on you, because I know for a fact that's not true.
If I believed it was, I wouldn't be here doing what I am now.
I hope that you will stick around long enough to see the joint vision of Gaiam + Zaadz grow into reality, a vision that is not about shilling 'overpriced yoga pants' down your throat, but about sustainable living and change and the people that can create that change. (And yes, to make money, but in a compassionate and sustainable manner.)
Having said all that, I understand your fears. I hope that you can set them aside long enough to hear what I'm saying to you - we're here to change the world with you.
EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Amita listen…. im going to put it for u Plain and simple BACK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
its one thing to point out if someone fucked things up n totally another to talk bulshit on someones blog from ur own illusion & personal drama which blinded u to really get what brian had to say
cuz u know shit what ur talking about n im not even going to spend my energy waking u up from ur own self imposed false reality cuz its urs….. but if u wonna get urself out into d real world u know what to do… as all it takes is spell ^.^
~High Priestess has spoken~
Hey Amita:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I feel your pain and totally understand why you and others might feel some (/a lot of) frustration.
However, as I pondered where to begin my response, I was left with the thought: did you actually read my post? In all honesty, I can't imagine that you could have read it and then made your post.
In the chaos of our personal evolutions,
-bri
“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.”
~ Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) | Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None
And, Laurie: You asked “Is Zaadz an independent company owned by Gaiam, or is Zaadz essentially a department of Gaiam, or some new parent to be named? Siona and Dave are leading teams focusing on Zaadz development and cultivation, but who is the CEO - or is this even the right question?”
Zaadz is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gaiam. We're still figuring out the details of how everything's going to come together (and who will have what titles) but as it stands not a lot is going to change from the current day-to-day. Gaiam is building a meta community called “gaia” that will pull in the shared resources of all the companies that have merged together and we're working to figure out what all that will look like!
Everyone else: I sincerely appreciate your kind words and support!
more hugs cuz I like em,
-bri
Thank you, Brian!
I wish you well.
Listen.
In every office
you hear the threads
of love and joy and fear and guilt,
the cries for celebration and reassurance,
and somehow you know that connecting those threads
is what you are supposed to do
and business takes care of itself.
-James Autry
Brian, I did read your post. I read it silently to myself, then out loud because I wanted to hear every word. Your verbosity tired the tongue a bit but other than that I had full comprehension - not obviously the way you would like everyone to see it, but that's the breaks when you are in “the biz”.
Mostly I am upset with myself, for filling out my stupid little profile and sharing bits and pieces of myself that were really part of a commodity to be bought and sold. For that I am ashamed that I longed to belong to something; complete ego issues there and ones I will continue to combat.
Jake, the only reason you would be angry with anything I said is that you could see too much of the truth in it. Just because you signed on to something that you are willing to back (as long as you get a paycheck I would gather) to expect everyone to glad-hand your beliefs is ridiculous. i certainly don't have to tow the company line. It is good that you like your job. It is good for you since it is your job and you should like it and believe in it. But man, you are heavily biased here.
This was not what I expected or hoped for with zaadz as a community member. I feel betrayed and slighted and used. Allow me to own that feeling, please since I did not have a choice in this decision to become demographic fodder, nor was I aware that such a possibility existed.
Big business hiding behind spirituality/consciousness raising/greening etc. gives me hives.
Princess, I would have a response to what you wrote but I will need to use my Little Orphan Annie de-coder ring to make sense of it, first.
Amita? Thank you for owning your feelings. And I don't know how to put this, but in denigrating your “stupid little profile” and regretting the sharing you've done I feel a bit as though you're the one turning this community into a “crock,” not Brian.
I don't think there was anything inauthentic in the exchange you and I shared; I certainly value the human connection I felt with you, just as I value, deeply, the connections and relationships I've felt with so many others on the site. I value what I've gained from you, and I feel no shame at all in having made myself vulnerable here. Nor do I feel remotely betrayed by this sale—and again, I took Brian at his “I will not sell” word when I joined the team, just as I take him at his word now.
Perhaps I don't see commodification as something necessarily dirty; I'm sure that's a bit where we differ. And given that you do view money and money-making as somehow contaminating and contaminated, I can very, very much understand why you'd feel the way you do.
But please, again, don't push this too heavily onto Brian or the company; he's been transparent from the beginning about the fact that this IS a business and that “capitalism comes first in our little letter.” And while I'm utterly willing to recognizing your hurts and aches around this, I suppose I'd ask you to grant the same space.
(Thank you for continuing to write here. You're teaching me.)
heeyyyy Amita… i had to de-code urs too… (thk g'd for wiki ;)…
so np… take ur time with mine… im not going anywhere ^.^
This really reminds me of Steve Jobs' speech recently at Stanford. I think?
Follow your passion, your love, your bliss, your happiness even if people tell you it's all wrong and it's not the usual “normal” path.
“Stay hungry, stay foolish”
Brian I wish you all the best in whatever endeavor you will be taking on next. And again thank you for building such a wonderful community with your crazy vision and passion for what you believe in.
Amita, I don't know much more about the deal than you do. What I do know is that Gaiam has probably paid much less for Zaadz than some other offers Zaadz had in the past.
There is something else going on here apart from plain capitalism. This is what Zaadz is all about. Consciousness - and world change through Conscious Capitalism.
Zaadz is about raising consciousness and being the change. Brian, and all of us, had certain ideals when we got involved with Zaadz. If some of those memes, ideas and ideals are not open for change, then seriously, what are we doing here? Wouldn't we be hypocrites? Are we here to teach, and not to learn? To speak and not to listen? Change starts with us.
For Zaadz some of that meant that we changed direction a few times in the last year, focusing on different paths to a sustainable, profitable business - which would enable us to get back to focusing on the community and empower us to meet our massive goal of positive world change.
I am 100% sure that this deal would not have been done if Brian wasn't completely sure that this will enable Zaadz, the company and the community, to focus on our core mission and purpose.
I have not met Jirka, but i really hope I will, I want to get an idea of the vision that he has obviously shared with Brian. And I am excited to see what positive change that might have within this community and throughout the world.
While I'm sure Brian's motivation during this deal was not completely selfless - it seams like he'd appreciate some more time to spend with those closest to him and follow his evolved calling - I am sure it was not driven by the possible personal gain of dollars and cents. As stated before, he could easily have found a buyer to pay more for Zaadz' advertizing potential. I'm sure a simple Ebay auction would've generated more cash than the monetary exchange of this deal. Obviously this is all speculation, but I've got a feeling something world changing-ly huge is on its way, and we're right near the center of it!
This is a deal that is radiating WIN-WIN-WIN.
As for change in the very short term: the biggest changes will probably be felt by Brian as he loses ownership of what is essentially his brain child and the manifestation of his being for the last few years.
To a lesser extend there will be some changes for the staff as we settle into a new phase of the business. We'll get to stress less about getting Zaadz profitable within the next shortest amount of time, and we'll probably get more time to focus on the community tools and growing the community satisfaction.
For the community, you, there should be very little short term change, and noticeably the longterm picture is looking really good. As I understand it, Gaiam is invested in the integrity of the Zaadz community and platform and will be trusting the current Zaadz team to build and lead this platform to an even more amazing online oasis.
I'm not sure why you would feel betrayed. Zaadz, in it's ideal vision, was always going to be big business. We now are part of a big business, and while the selfish me would've liked Zaadz becoming the greatest company in the world independently, I'm trusting Brian, Siona, Dave and the executive team at Gaiam to lead this new combined company to greater benefit of the kosmos.
well that is my two hundredths of a dollar.
oh WOW…
:franc ur post is just a shot of powerful energy that vibrates at d speed of light frequency….
felt it right through d core of my heart, my entire being n tears that were falling….
LOVE u n YES to radiating WIN-WIN-WIN.
~so be it~
Amita:
I came across this thought for the day:
“The knowledge of the ancinets was perfect. How perfect? At first they did not know that there were things. This is the most perfect knowledge - nothing can be added. Next, they knew that there were things, but did not make distinctions between them. Next they made distinctions, but did not pass judgements. When they started to pass judgement, the Tao was destroyed.” Chuang-Tzu
Please look for where your emotions are coming from. Are there other possibilities?
Love and Blessings, Tom
Change is something that happens all the time, and for some reason sometimes we are still so afraid of it. BUT DON’T !
Some times we enjoy change sometimes we don’t but at the end is necessary for our evolution and to have a better understanding of our power.
I can’t tell you if this is great or not, and probably no body can’t.
What I CAN tell you is that is in our hand to make it great, it’s going to be up to us to make the future of this community.
Since we are not there yet, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about today.
Fist I am grateful that I found this community… at the time it was 5000 people old and was in beta mode.
Since then I met great people, I have learn many great lessons, it has been just an amazing ride and I know that personally it help me to believe more in my dreams, it help me achieve many of my goals and it was a great, safe place to post my intentions and share my ideas with minded like people.
I think it speaks volumes about the current team that so many people wouldn’t like to see zaadz to go to other hands… Brian, Dave, Ziona and the rest of the team take that as a big complement you guys ROCK! And just like a kid has trouble leaving the house his first day of school worried that the new teacher is not his father/mother many people today are afraid of the future. NOT BECAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE YOU BUT BECAUSE THEY LOVE YOU SO MUCH !
Thanks for all the great memories and experiences we shared. It was an amazing time and with sadness and excitement I look forward to the new era of ZAADZ !
WITH LOVE
OREN
Wowza! This got interesting. Personally, I’m an ass-man. I’ll kiss ‘em every chance I get.
Brian? Smooch-smooch, Brother. Enjoy, Be. I know you’re a good man. I know you care. I think you did what you did to be the change YOU want to be. Good on ya, Mate. Salute.
The door is there for us to use, eh? Leave, stay, go out for a while, come back in…
Siona said it, SPACE. Allow some space. And I’m with Tom too, “distinctions not judgments.” Beautiful. The Tao, it alone endures…
Amita your feelings are valid. They have to be, they are yours after all. I will say the Buddha comes to mind from the Dhamapadha and I paraphrase…Thoughts make our world.
I think it’s fascinating that this deal has caused tension around what it means to be the change and how that manifests. Tension is what the seed endures as it breaks ground. Look it, we have world wide access to one another as a diverse community of common goals with vastly different means for making a change. It’s really beautiful and unique and I don’t see any hard evidence that this has changed. I still find it awing what the potential is here and the present actuality too. Let’s allow the space for change, even internally within Zaadz.
Gaiam would commit hari khari if they messed with this community’s intention. We are the LOHAS market! If they don’t do what we want they’re done – not us. The community (market in business terms) will go on whether there’s a Zaadz or not and whether there’s a Gaiam or not. The change has happened and it continues…
I’m gullible. I think you have to be to truly KNOW anything. I say you have to bite the apple while you’re here unless you already know not to. I’ve swallowed the Zaadz thang totally for now and it’s been enlightening. I’ve swallowed some junk too and I’m thankful for the experience and knowledge, thank GOD. On the surface being gullible looks immature and stupid but over time, maybe lifetimes, depth is established.
I say bring it effin ON! Let’s swallow the Gaiam deal and see where it leads. I say let ‘em practice what they preach. Gaiam, drop off some of those fat-ass cash reserves right here baby! Make Zaadz sustainable to allow it TO BE THE CHANGE! I'm open!
But hey, I’m gullible.
Those are the thoughts that make my world…for now.
Love One Another and
Dare to look through your eyes as GOD gazing upon GOD…
p.s. Y'alls better show up for some beach volleyball next weekend… I'm making my famous Mustard Potato Salad. Yeeeehaaaa!!!
Scoreboard ROD! Rack that call. Top it or just go on about your business.
Wow. This is an incredible dialogue.
Amita, you're definitely entitled to have those feelings, but I do hope you read franc's post and take that to heart. We could have easily sold the business to a generic company, or one that would have offered much more money and sold-out. This was a big decision for Brian, but he did it because it took care of our community, the team, and everyone else involved. Honestly, this was not a simple decision of dollars. And, in defense of Gaiam, they actually seem to have no desire to shove yoga products down anyone's throat. They have expressed interest in less advertising on the site than we have now. In the end, I hope you will stick with us and keep making this community what it is. You are not our victim, you are a co-creator, as is every Zaadzster. That might sound cliche, but it's still true.
Rod, Oren - what beautiful and honest posts. I love you guys. It's going to be an amazing adventure.
They're still using money; we'll have to get some! (from Star Trek IV). Until our planet doesn't use it anymore, it is still needed. I myself plan to bang on Gaiam's door to talk story about partnering with my webTV show and to establish a project that will fund other lightworkers webTV shows. Imagine: shining your light to the whole world and earning funds to support one's light work. Whooaaa! Financially supporting our passions has been a HUGE challenge for cultural creatives. This is a real fun way to do it. I'll be up in Colorado in 2 weeks, and knocking on Gaiam's door sometime in September. Whaddaya get when you mix Gaiam & Zaadz? Gaaadzooks! You go ya' all!
David ~
Gorgeous!
That Star Trek quote is so very fitting here!
Gadzooks!
Rod!!!
Spot on.
Once again humbled and awed, by
your vision and ability to animate the
divine masculine with humilty and
humor. (takes notes, ya'll!)
I've learned to sit down my beverages
before reading your posts, lest they come
out my nose unbidden.
I want to second this and hope that others see it:
Gaiam would commit hari khari if they messed with this community’s intention. We are the LOHAS market! If they don’t do what we want they’re done – not us. The community (market in business terms) will go on whether there’s a Zaadz or not and whether there’s a Gaiam or not. The change has happened and it continues…
I say bring it effin ON! Let’s swallow the Gaiam deal and see where it leads. I say let ‘em practice what they preach. Gaiam, drop off some of those fat-ass cash reserves right here baby! Make Zaadz sustainable to allow it TO BE THE CHANGE!
Yup.
You GO Ass Man!
Surges of Love to All of You,
cree
cree and Rod- you guys are hillarious.
I have to say tho, when I first heard about this news, I spent a lot of time reading every little detail on Gaiam's coorporate site. It was apparent right away that our intentions and the intentions of Gaiam were one in the same. Check it out. I think it will really help you appreciate the perfection of all of this. :)
Dave-
I'm with you. I researched Gaiam several years ago when I first heard of the whole LOHAS thing. I think they are solid and a perfect fit for Zaadz. I just had to issue a salvo to them like a rebellious child. They (it) are (is) the “parent company” after all. LOL! Can't wait to see how good their parenting skills are. “Jirka, can I borrow the keys to the corporate car, pleeeease!!!”
I re-read what franc said too… nice, huh? Really nice.
cree, darlin', I'd never want to cause fluids to come out your nose unbidden…well that's not true. I'd love to see video of that! Youtube, Youtube, Youtube!!!! Love ya, Hon.
Youtube, Youtube, Youtube…
Ass Man (I like it)
Everyone?
Thank you, again, for all this. I just wanted to let you know that the team blog has been updated with a bit more, and that we've gone and created a pod on the topic. Feel free to come dive in. :)
Hmm…….Brian …..Thanks for teaching me that life does continually change…and that it needs to. Being “the change” now seems to me to be “keep evolving”? Almost that being human comes with a special knowledge that to move forward behooves us all perhaps……?…and so we may feel that it is our duty to do so in honorably?
I don't know! I'm still evolving ;-)
What does all this really mean for the future of Zaadz? in short? If you had only one short paragraph?
How do you see Zaadz evolving?
H
Harticulate… My thoughts.
Blessings David
Brian, I thank you so much for sharing so transparently about this whole process, of building zaadz, and now of letting go of it. Lest we all forget, it was your vision that created this whole community, and now your vision of it's continued future that has created this acquisition. We were all very eager to follow the first one, now the second one has left many of us wondering.
The way I see it is that nothing has been “done” to any of us in this community by this move. We all signed on, voluntarily, to your vision of zaadz. Some may now see where they may have used a “pick and choose” approach to hearing what you said in the past about zaadz, but again, we are the ones who made those choices of what to pick. We heard what we wanted to hear, we followed the paths we thought were right for us within those choices.
At all times, this has been an association of people whose passion is change in uplifting directions. If zaadz never did one other thing, and totally tanked right now, you still would have created something of value that I would honor forever. You have shown the world that it is possible to create a space where people from all over the “spiritual” spectrum, could finally start moving forward together and actually start bringing positive change into reality. I myself, have all sorts of feelings about this change, but whatever I decide to do with my membership here at zaadz, it will be because the future direction here aligns with my direction, or it doesn't. I am in control, now as always, of that.
With the deepest gratitude of my heart, I thank you, and the zaadz team, for every positve, uplifting, thought you have ever given to the zaadz community.
namaste,
Cynthia
But no man is an island and turning this vision into a reality has always been dependent on a willingness to search for all the component parts, to communicate and collaborate with the multitude of people destined to provide the component parts and then to “glue” the whole together into a cohesive and meaningful solution.
THANK YOU for your vision, determination, strength, fortitude & above ALL - COURAGE …
ALL HAIL to Brian and the WHOLE TEAM @zaadz - which will ensure that THE SEED will flourish & blossum into THE PHENOMENUM which will change the world … ably led, no doubt, by the children.
Congrats Brian on the power change. Expansion is felt througout and even more order is going in than there was and we were pretty orderly as a group as I have experienced.
Hugs to your team for reaching new potentials vertically and moving forward to new “horizaadz” :-)
~KES
Brian,
Just returning from vacation to the lovely chaordic dissonance out of which something new and amazing will arise here in zaadz!
Thank you for your honesty and authenticity in your blog posting. In my mind it takes more guts and courage to do a big turn away from an original vision than to keep plodding forward. And as a coach myself, love to hear how you are working with a coach! Coaching is pretty darn powerful!
As both you and Siona have said in the past… deep bows to you!
namaste,
Zoey
@ ROD- Yeah man. Franc's post is wonderful, and I have read it a few times myself. :) Beautiful.
@ Harticulate- Those are wonderful thoughts. :) I think in the near term– on top of all of the improvements we have planned for community features, and a better zPro- you can expect to see lots of new and awesome content, since we will have access to everything these guys have. It will be nothing but one improvement after the next. :)
I also want to add- that you guys ARE the zaadz community. And while this news certainly affects the community, it's going to be good. And the more we focus on what we want, and then voice what that is– the more we (the staff here at Zaadz) will have the opportunity to make you happy. :) So if you haven't expressed what that is, and would like to– please check out the new pod and introduce yourself! This is a very good opportunity to shape the coming years of what will be one of the most powerful forces for positive change on the planet. Let’s not forget the big picture. :)
I dunno. Having come back from two weeks of vacation, I find myself, well, stunned by this development. When a friend told me earlier today on the phone, I had to ask him three times whether this was actually true or just a rumor. I suppose I had a mild case of cognitive dissonance.
My feelings are many and, at best, mixed. Gaiam and Jirka are very powerful entities – juggernauts, even – and it is hard to believe that Zaadz won't end up a substantially different place – and all too likely, a less desirable one – under their direction.
This doesn't mean I think Brian did the “wrong” thing. Brian did what Brian thought and felt was best, I'm certain of that. And the fact that he made his investors whole, and is ready to move onto the next phase of his life, should indeed be applauded.
But I'm also certain that the strength of my misgivings is a signal that I cannot ignore. (I don't know about the rest of you, but I've gotten into some of the worst spots in my life when I've ignored my instincts, my intuition, my gut feelings; remember Nietzsche telling us that there is more wisdom in our little fingers than in all the great philosophies that have been written.)
And, I hate to say it, but it does feel like the “loss of a love.” I trusted Brian and his hand-picked team. I trusted them enough to recommend Zaadz to thousands of people in my own newsletter.
But I don't trust Gaiam. Not because I believe the super-weird rumors about Jirka, but because big corporations are big corporations, and inevitably, by law and by social convention, by corporate entelechy and lines of authority controlled by fiduciary responsibility, they put a certai