The Encouragement Manifesto
When we ran a small business, there were values at its heart
It was owner-run; just the two of us. So the way we worked, who we were, was never written down as such. It was in our hearts. We are pretty sure it was clear to our customers who we were and what was important to us. We worked hard to be consistent, to celebrate others and to stay positive and optimistic. Our business was built on the successes and strengths of others; kindness and generosity were keystones. We only talked about value, not price; slowly, gently, we built a community. We gathered up and shared inspiring stories and we sought to be a pebble in the pond, creating ripples.
These values are now at the heart of The Encouragement Manifesto
We asked some folk we trust, who live and work in the way we do, to interpret the values in their own words
What Kind of Pebble?
Stefan Powell explores the feeling of community at the heart of his small business to make sense of how being the pebble in a pond can make the right sort of ripples
Hope Shines Brightest
The astonishingly resilient Nia Davies seeks answers about her son’s condition, never giving up hope that his health will improve. So inspiring.
The Value of Everything
Written from deep in his body and soul, this celebration of ‘value’ by Stefan Powell cuts to to the heart of the matter
Thank You, Nan
A beautiful gentle celebration by Nic Shayler of the influence her Nan had on the good person she grew up to be. A loving ‘thank you’ letter
Find Your Audience
The Good Life Experience is more than just a festival. It is a gathering of like-minded souls, gently gathered by Tara Gladstone and her family
The Power of Imagination
Geoff Withers encourages us all to unleash the potential within us, through the power of positivity and imagination
A Brighter Kinder Future
Damon Webb imagines a future world focused on community, more considered consumption, local food systems and, most of all, kindness
Ripples Across My Pond
Two huge stones in the ‘pond’ of Simon Cookson’s life forced him to re-think his safety first, cautious approach, leading to a richer life experience
Wild Bluebells
Sarah Morris slows us down to remind us that in our breathless pursuit of ‘new’ and ‘original’ there is a risk we will miss out on nature’s beauty
It is not the giving that empties the purse
A timely reminder from Katharine Barber that words matter. Probably more now in the digital age we live in. Words matter. Give them generously.
Anticipating Positivity
A gentle realisation that a key skill in the workplace was clouding his outlook on life introduced Harry Watson to words of positivity
How Small Can We Be?
Tim LeRoy takes the notion of thinking big to make big change and turns it on its head. Think small, make seismic change.
Small Changes, Big Differences
Nutritional Therapist Patricia Alexander-Bird makes the case for making small consistent changes to achieve huge long term improvements in life
Tales of Uncle George
Heartwarming memories of Anna Koska’s late Uncle George epitomise the very definition of generosity
Open Your Heart
Matt Inwood explores the vital two-way relationship between someone willing to offer an act of kindness and a person able to receive one
Credit Others for your Success
James Taplin explores how crediting others for your success gives you permission to seek out people and ideas, and to build new solutions out of the rich materials on offer
A Better Kind of Thank You
Andy Foster pens heartfelt ‘thank yous’ to the people who have, unbeknownst to them, inspired him to overcome his struggles with writing