154 THE CREATIVE INVESTMENT TEAM
P: Physical
I: Intellectual
E: EmotionalPeople comment briefly on each area of their lives. In a new
group, the leader may go first to model it for others:I’m Joe Bloe. Physically, I’m feeling tired, I’ve had a long day. My
back hurts and my throat is scratchy. Intellectually, I feel pretty
clear. I’ve been reading a great book on Websites that really is
fascinating. Emotionally, I feel nervous, since I don’t know some
of you men. And since I’m the leader I feel some performance
anxiety. Like I’m supposed to do everything just right. Even though
I know that there isn’t a “right way to do this. But I also feel
excited about the start of this group. I’m in.When the speaker finishes—and says “I’m in”—he usually feels
more present in the room and less scattered. As others reveal their
doubts and limitations, the room becomes safer to simply be real.
And from that realness comes the willingness to risk and stretch
creatively.
An example of this occurred for me in a writer’s workshop in
Taos, New Mexico. The leader, Natalie Goldberg (author of Writ-
ing Down the Bones, Bantam 1988) is excellent at creating safe
places. She reads her own blemished, unedited writing exercises
right along with the rest of the participants. She is one of the most
“real” people you could ever hope to meet. One of the attendees
was a professional writer with the New York Times. Sidney’s first
writing attempts at the workshop were full of clever, intellectual
puns and references that showed the rest of us his brilliance. They
were the work of a “professional” writer.
Three days later Sidney’s writing was transformed. He had lis-
tened to a woman’s writing about her experience as a prostitute
and another’s description of her rape attack. He had witnessed the
power of mutual trust and respect. Safety. He finally felt safe enough14-25 ware 154 1/19/01, 1:14 PM