In 2013, I was in the process of establishing a new organization, New Myth Works, and needed to create a business plan with clarity and strategic direction to help align my team and the candidates for the board of directors. Neil was referred to me by another small business owner who was in the start-up phase of her organization as a person who felt he would be helpful in creating my business plan.
I met with Neil and discussed the vision for my new organization, New Myth Works. I found Neil to be incredibly astute and intuitive, able to read between the lines and cohere with the vision. I brought my team in and Neil worked with us to first to develop our vision, mission, goals and objectives, and values statements. This helped us lay the fundamental groundwork for creating business plans in full alignment with our values and direction. This development process was incredibly intensive, and Neil created the opportunity for my team to dive deeply into strategic questions, and craft wording that best supported our growing clarity and definitions.
In the ensuing years, I continue to meet with Neil on a monthly basis. Our developing connection is both in friendship and in mutual professional support. Neil has remarkable depth and breadth of professional and life experience that make him one of my “go-to” guys for advice and guidance in several domains, especially in business and organizational development. And when I am in need of professional consulting services, Neil is the person I will hire.
Currently, Neil and I serve together on the board of directors for The Intentional Living Collective, a non-profit organization. In this capacity, I have been able to experience Neil’s deep abilities to ideate, network, problem-solve, and ensure that we are grounded in reality. We can always count on Neil to bring perspectives to the table that help us align our strategies and tactics with emergent information and directions. I’m very excited to continue working with Neil toward creating innovative, resilient, and responding organizations that support purpose-driven work, and finding joy in vocation.
Mara Evenstar, Ed.D. ABD
Co-owner, Evenstar’s Chalice
Managing Member, New Myth Works
Director, Conscious Rites