Getting ready for our gathering in Brunswick

1. WOLFPACK
@ EMERALD BUILDERS
​ Orientation
and
Preparation
for
the
Wolfpack
Gathering
at
Emerald
Builders
in
Brunswick,
ME
​ October
4-­‐6,
2015

2. 2|
Table of Contents
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​ Here’s what you will find in this document
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The
Wolfpack
Evolves
Carefully
Timed:
What
Happens
When
Arriving
Sunday
to
Connect
over
Dinner
We
explore
the
PEOPLE
Botton
Line,
then
focus
in
on
“Burning
Questions”
We
shift
our
focus
to
Emerald
Builders
Gaining
perspective
on
Emerald
Builders
We
conclude
by
looking
forward
Prepare
to
Engage!
Ground
Rules
Assignments
13
page
Being
a
Good
Group

3. 3|
The Wolfpack
Evolves
​ We
have
a
good
feel
for
each
other
and
our
companies.
We’ve
experienced
two
network
gatherings.
We
touch
base
monthly
and
communicate
online
to
track
each
others
progress.
Now
we’re
ready
to
try
some
new
approaches
​ PEOPLE FOCUS: At our last
gathering we had a good opportunity
to dig into the financial side. We
shared income and expenses in the
form of a Common P&L. Going
forward we will be shifting between
that focus (in the spring) and what we
want to be paying attention to in the
People and Planet domains in the
fall. At our upcoming gathering the
focus will be on People – “happy
people” and what that condition
requires internally, externally, and
with those we collaborate with.
BURNING QUESTIONS: As we did last
time, we will each zero in on a couple
distinct challenges we each face and try
to provide perspective and guidance
that may lead to strategic action. We
each get twenty minutes, so careful
preparation is essential.
​ EMERALD BUILDERS FOCUS: In the
course of our engagement with our host
we will pay special attention to the goals
they have identified:
• Generating better leads for the work
we want
• Weeding out dead end/unrealistic
leads and clients
• Using company values and how we
treat empoyees as a selling point
​ COMMUNICATING VALUE: There
seems to be a larger theme here that
we will attempt to explore. It relates to
how we establish and communicate
value for those we are asking to invest
their valuable resources in what we do.
Prepare
to
engage!

4. 4|
Carefully Timed:
What Happens
When
MONDAY
7:30
Breakfast
8:00
Orientation
8:10
People Discussion
10:00
BREAK
10:15
People Discussion
11:15
SHORT BREAK
11:20
Building Shelter
11:40
Lewis
Creek
12:00
LUNCH
1:00
Uncarved
Block
1:20
Demetrick Woodworking
1:40
Walker D/B
2:00
New Commons
2:20
BREAK
2:30
Building Logic
2:50
Bob Irving
3:10
Wolfworks
3:30
BREAK
3:45
Emerald Builders
4:30
BREAK
6:00
Emerald Systems Paper
Trail
7:30
Dinner at Ebenezer’s
Pub
Here
is
an
overview
of
the
schedule
for
our
gathering.
TUESDAY
7:30
Breakfast
8:00 Orientation for Emerald
8:15 Staff Interviews
10:15 BREAK
10:30 Staff Interviews
11:00 Interview Team Huddles
11:30 Overview of Process
12:00 LUNCH
12:45 Strategic Priorities for
Emerald Builders
2:00 BREAK
2:15 Insights for Owners
3:00 Company Commitments
3:30 Burning Questions
4:00 Schedule Next Gathering
4:30 END
SUNDAY • OCTOBER 4
TRAVEL TO BRUNSWICK, ME
Hit the road and make your
way north. Consider a car
pool.
1:00 Optional: Meetup with BEBL
Mainiacs for lunch at KTA
office in Portland
5:00 Check in to the Daniel Hotel
5:30 Assemble in the lobby to
organize for travel for dinner
Travel (30 minutes)
6:15 Dinner at Dolphin Marina (in
time for sunset!)
Return to Hotel

5. 5|
Arriving Sunday to
Connect over Dinner
​ We
start
out
by
gathering
together
over
good
food
and
drink
in
a
convivial
environment
that
reflects
the
local
culture.
This
is
our
time
to
share
stories
and
connect
with
each
other
and
our
host.
Who’s
up
for
car
pooling
for
the
drive
north!
Maybe
even
a
meetup
with
fellow
Bottom
Liners
for
lunch
in
Portland?
It’s a long drive for many of us to get to
Brunswick. I’m inviting Portland area Bottom
Liners to meet up with us for lunch in
Portland to break up the trip. We should also
work to coordinate shared travel.
We
are
staying
and
meeting
at
the
Daniel
Hotel
in
Brunswick.
Plan
time
for
a
walk
in
nearby
downtown
Brunswick
or
along
the
Androscoggin
River!
We’ll travel to the end of the world
(OK the end of Harpswell, ME) to
have dinner at the picturesque
Dolphin Marina, arriving just in time
for what we hope will be a
wonderful sunset. Plan to meet in
the lobby at 5:30 to make the trip.

6. 6|
Monday: We explore
what it takes to create
the conditions that
support “happy people”
​ After a late morning break we will shift
our attention to the one or two
“burning questions” that we are
challenged by in each of our
companies.
​ Plan on the following:
• At least one week before we
gather provide some background
about where things are for you and
introduce us to your challenges
• When you present, take 5-7
minutes to review these
challenges, then invite input from
the group
• Set time aside before we meet to
understand what each company
has shared and be prepared to
explore each challenge and
contribute your insight
Then: Focus on
your burning
questions
for 20 min.
​ Mark
is
going
to
facilitate
this
discussion.
Here’s
where
we’re
headed:
​ Happiness is at the foundation of the People
portion of the triple bottom line mission. When
we are happy and those we work with are
happy it is contagious. People are attracted to
happiness. Through the development of
happiness we create a “happiness magnetic
field” which can have a profound impact on our
businesses.
​ We want to tell stories about what happy and
unhappy settings look like with a focus on
happy, then chart the qualities of a happy
enterprise. What do we pay attention to to
create happiness in our relationships with our
client, team, and collaborators? We will look for
the tools and systems we need to help guide us
toward creating the “happiness magnetic field.”
Domains
we’ll
explore:
Deep sense of purpose.
Recognizing our innate purpose in
being! What motivates us? Education,
Growth, Helping etc.
Making concepts reality.
FULFILLMENT of that purpose.
Building stuff, Manifesting stuff,
Making stuff! Including business
systems.
Meaningful connections. A caring
and connected community including
boundaries, rules and policies. Our
commitments to each other.
Nurturing and being nurtured.
Feeding and caring for the
community ! SUSTAINABILITY.
Compensation packages.
“Attending to” things as they
change and evolve. Design! What
needs to be pruned and what needs
to be redirected in order to be faithful
to the purpose above. Evaluation,
Quality assurance, tracking, sorting
and measuring, the happiness chart of
accounts.

7. 7|
We shift our focus to
Emerald Builders
​ Emerald Builders is gaining
experience and maturity. They are
deeply committed to satisfying the
commitments necessary to
achieving measurable results in
each of the bottom lines.
We are meeting them in the midst of
that journey. They are invested in
developing a hub for their business
in a shared workspace. They are
endeavoring to build a team that is
both productively competent and
culturally aligned with their mission
​ Emerald
Builders
will
get
the
final
time
slot
before
we
take
a
break
at
4:30PM.
They
will
set
the
stage
for
our
engagement
with
their
company
and
call
attention
to
the
things
they
specifically
hope
to
gain
from
our
visit.
​ From
4:30
-­‐
6PM
we
will
take
a
break.
This
is
the
time
to
make
some
calls.
Check-­‐in
with
your
family.
Take
a
walk.
Catch
your
breath.
​ We’ll
meet
up
again
at
6PM
to
meet
the
staff
and
learn
how
they
practice.
Then
we
will
head
out
for
dinner
to
get
better
acquainted
and
digest
the
day.
We will meet them at this juncture.
We will endeavor to grasp the
challenges they face and the
potential they possess and are
developing.
We will focus on the immediate
challenges they have identified in
communicating their identity and
value. Together we will explore how
to translate their aspirations into a
concrete action plan that everyone
understands and is invested in.

8. 8|
Tuesday: Gaining
perspective on
Emerald Builders
​ These 25 minute interviews will
follow a common script. Each team
will ask each person the same
questions. These questions explore
both personal and company
aspirations and invite observations
that lead forward. We’ll pay special
attention to domains that matter
most to Emerald Builders.
​ The interview teams will take a
moment to huddle, digest, and
summarize what they have
observed.
​ Next we’ll all assemble to offer
insight and guidance based on a
deeper understanding of Emerald
Builder’s people and operations
​ This will be both in response to the
guidance they are expressly seeking
as well as what we have observed
and they may find revealing.
​ After
breakfast
we
will
break
into
three
teams
to
interview
three
active
staff
members
and
a
vendor/
client/mentor.
​ Going
in
Emerald
Builders
will
call
attention
to
their
domains
of
interest.
The
interviews
provide
a
breadth
of
perspectives
on
the
challenges
and
opportunities
the
company
faces.
​ We
will
then
gather
to
share
what
we’ve
observed,
engage
their
team,
and
identify
strategic
opportunities.
​ We will assemble with their full team
to reflect together about what we
have learned. We will invite them to
query us.
​ We
will
pay
special
attention
to
the
question
of
how
Emerald
Builders
establishes
and
commuincates
value.

9. 9|
We conclude by
looking forward
​ Each company will reflect on what
they have learned and determine
what their most important areas for
focus and development will be going
forward.
​ We will each share these insights
with each other in this final phase of
our gathering. We will each identify
three measurable goals that will
make a significant difference in our
operations in the next six months.
​ These will be the goals we report on
during the next sequence of monthly
conference calls.
​ After
a
break
we
will
conclude
our
day
by
sharing
our
company
and
individual
goals
and
commitments,
surfacing
and
discussing
“burning
questions”
that
emerged
during
our
time
together,
evaluating
the
success
of
our
gathering,
and
scheduling
our
next
meeting
for
the
fall.
​ The
gathering
will
conclude
at
4:30
and
we’ll
hit
the
road
for
the
journey
home.
​ Before we conclude we will review
and discuss any “burning questions”
that emerged and were captured in
our “parking lot.” We will expect to
explore these online following our
gathering.
​ We will also take a moment to
evaluate the experience we just
shared. What worked? What might
we do differently? What next?
​ Finally we will determine who will be
our host and what dates we will plan
on gathering again in the spring of
2016.
​ We will also highlight what will be
taking place at the Bottom Lines
Summit in Northampton.

10. 10|
Prepare to Engage!
​ To
get
the
most
from
this
experience
we
each
need
to
devote
a
bit
of
time
to
preparing
ourselves
to
be
active
and
involved
participants.
​ This
includes
completing
the
Common
P&L,
preparing
and
assembling
any
documents
you
will
share,
choosing
your
“burning
questions”
and
briefing
everyone
online
before
we
meet.
​ You
should
also
devote
some
time
to
digesting
what
is
posted
in
advance
of
our
gathering.
The
better
we
understand
each
other
the
more
usefully
we
will
be
able
to
provide
insight
and
support.
​ VISIT
B-­‐LABS
​ During our exploration of the
PEOPLE domain we will reference
the B-Labs assessment. Take a
moment to familiarize yourself with
this system and set of metrics.
​ SET
GOALS
&
PLAN
YOUR
PRESENTATION
​ Make a list of things that you want to
get out of this experience. This might
be challenges you are facing,
opportunities that have presented
themselves, or business practices
you are having difficulty mastering.
Identify the “burning questions” that
emerge from these conditions, brief
us on them, and we will engage in
discovering useful strategic
possibilities. We each have twenty
minutes for this activity so plan
carefully.
​ BRING
THINGS
TO
SHARE
You may have been getting a lot out
of a book or online resource. Bring
these along to share. If you have
images of projects you’re proud of,
include a few (but be brief). If you
have a form you created that is
working great or a marketing piece
you want input on, bring them along.
There will be times at breaks for folks
to share this stuff.
​ GET
MENTALLY
FOCUSED
​ Set aside one hour a week leading up
to the gathering to work on
preparation. Give yourself time to
prepare and to think about why you
joined Bottom Lines and what you are
hoping to get out of it. Write things
down, make lists, create outlines.
Making time ahead of time helps
avoid having to pull things together at
the last minute when the phone is
ringing and suddenly the printer is out
of paper.

11. 11|
Ground Rules
​ Learning
to
behave
effectively
as
a
group
is
one
of
the
organizational
skills
we
want
to
help
Bottom
Liners
develop.
We
do
this
by
practicing!
​ All
groups
benefit
from
agreeing
to
some
basic
ground
rules.
These
guidelines
help
the
Wolfpack
make
the
most
of
the
time
we
have
committed
to
sharing
with
each
other
to
achieve
a
common
purpose.
​ PAY
ATTENTION
TO
TIME
As you may have noticed, the
schedule is rigorous. Everyone
deserves an equal share of time to
present, to be heard, and to listen.
• Quietly get ready to start your
presentation five minutes before
your time.
• Plan your presentation to plenty of
time for engagement with the
group.
• Focus on key issues and listen for
insights that emerge.
• End on time!
​ RESPOND
BRIEFLY
​ Our engagement with each other is
one of the most valuable features of
our gathering. Ask questions and
offer insights as succinctly as you can
so everyone has a chance to
contribute.
​ SHOW
UP
ON
TIME
​ Better yet, show up early! See a
theme here? Moving a large group
requires that we all be ready to go at
the designated hour. Help keep
things moving by listening to the
plans and following them.
​ MIX
IT
UP
While our days are tightly scripted
there are times and spaces between
where we can visit with each other
and our host. Make an effort to rotate
socially. Sit with different people at
meals. Most importantly, determine to
get to know our hosts.
​ FOCUS
YOUR
ATTENTION
​ Every phase of our agenda has a
distinct purpose and you should be
clear about what we’re doing and
what your role and responsibilities
are. This means no interruptions for
calls, email, texting, etc. Everyone
needs to pay attention and contribute.
​ USE
THE
BREAKS
​ To avoid distraction while we are
meeting, use the breaks to check
email, make calls, or respond to
texts. This is also an important time
to get up and move around. Just be
sure to be ready to return to your seat
on time.

12. 12|
Assignments
​ We’ve
all
got
some
work
to
do
before
we
arrive
in
Brunswick.
Set
time
aside
to
give
these
assignments
your
attention
well
before
you
are
packing
for
the
trip.
​ We
will
also
each
be
responsible
for
capturing
what
we
learn,
sharing
what
we
observe,
and
most
importantly,
giving
Building
Shelter
our
full
attention.
​ TAKE
STOCK
OF
B-­‐LABS
Again. Take a moment to vist the B-
Labs website and at least probe the
assessment. We will be referring to
this during our exploration of the
PEOPLE domain.
​ OTHER
REPORTS
OR
FORMS
​ If you have business documents that
you like or depend on bring them to
share. This may be sales tracking,
production reports, job costing, or even
a great invoice. These may be
referenced during discussion and its
useful to have them to share if need
be.
​ CREATE
A
BINDER
​ This is discretionary. If you find it
useful, bring a binder to collect stuff
that people may distribute.
​ MEASURING
PEOPLE
&
PLANET
​ Our discussion will include the
question of what quantitative and
qualitative measures we want to start
tracking and sharing. Bring your ideas.
​ TAKE
NOTES
While you listen to others make notes
that will help you offer them insight or
ask questions. When its your turn to
present keep notes about what others
offer you. Capture everything that has
meaning for you. Review all this
before setting your next goals.
​ TAKE
A
TURN
​ Each of us will take a turn keeping
notes that will be shared during
discussions and presentations. These
are intended to help capture as much
as possible that is said and shared.
​ LISTEN
CAREFULLY
AND
SHARE
USEFULLY
​ Two of the most important activities
we will do are tp learn how Emerald
Builders operates and then
interviewing the staff and a
collaborative ally. What we hear and
observe will form the foundation for
the insight and support we will share
afterward. Our purpose is to help
them discover and set useful short
and long term goals that everyone in
the company can embrace and
enthusiastically pursue.

13. 13|
Being a good group ​ One
of
the
important
leadership
skills
we
will
all
be
working
on
learning
together
is
how
to
behave
as
an
effective
group.
These
three
practices
are
intended
to
help
us
do
that.
​ CAPTURING
GOALS
While we are together we will gain
insights and be inspired to pay better
attention to the domains of our
businesses. Consider how to
translate these insights into plans to
act. Record measurable goals and
identify them by business domain:
Sales, Production, Administration,
Owner, and Team. For each goal
determine if it is short or long term
and preferably who will be
responsible for success. When the
list is complete we’ll identify priorities.
Before
we
leave
we
will
each
commit
to
three
short
term
and
three
long
term
goals
and
share
them
with
each
other.
​ BACKUP
NOTES
During your presentation you’ll want
to take notes. Because it will be hard
to both present and capture
everything that is said we’ll each take
turns making backup notes for each
other. Think of it as a buddy system.
We
will
use
a
Google
Docs
Spreadsheet
to
take
notes
in
a
single
shared
file.
​ PARKING
LOTS
Meetings often end up following paths to topics
that are not related to the purpose of the meeting.
Good facilitation requires the group to recognize
when they have strayed. It is useful to have a
place to “park” these ideas and topics and a
process to return to them later. When we stray we
will park the topic on a flip chart page and get back
on course. At the end of our meeting we will review
what we “parked” and decide what to do with what
was recorded.
We will also keep one other parking lot for
resources. These are the books that get
recommended, forms someone relies on, websites
or software that are worth knowing about.
During
each
presentation
we
will
each
take
turns
being
the
scribe.