Martin Rutte #PiMaker - co-creating Heaven on Earth
Martin Rutte is an international speaker, management consultant, an author and a #PiMaker. As President of Livelihood, a management consulting firm in Santa Fe, USA, he explores the deeper meaning of work and its contribution to society. Martin has written the book “Project Heaven on Earth” and created the project and community “Heaven on Earth”.
We initially wrote an article about Martin because his philosophy of living tremendously resonates with ours: He believes in the power each of us, human-beings, have to co-create Heaven on Earth. Now, Martin has not only accepted this interview, but also is part of our PiMov community. We are beyond excited, because we know that together we can co-create Heaven on Earth!
How did you come to do what you do? What’s your personal background story?
"…Another thought popped into my head: “You mean Heaven on Earth!” I said: "Yes! That’s it!””
About 25 years ago I was running a successful consulting business in Toronto, Canada, and after coming back from a business trip to Hong Kong, I felt lost, not knowing what was happening to me, why I felt so empty. I ended up in a monastery outside of Toronto and on Sunday morning I heard a voice in my head say “It’s about God.”
It just clicked! I understood that I wanted to talk about about spirituality in the workplace.
However, I stopped and didn't pursue this epiphany because I was afraid of loosing my credibility as a successful consultant.
That summer I went to California and spoke to my friends there about the idea. That’s when I understood that we have to look at spirituality at work not as an answer, not as something that we alone know, not as something we wish to impose on others, but rather as an inquiry, as an on-going inquiry, namely, "What is spirituality in the workplace, for you?” It’s because business is as much a part of the spiritual domain as is our home or our religious place of worship.
And so that's when I decided to begin my own inquiry into this field.
Some years later, I was going to do a keynote presentation in Santa Fe for a conference on spirituality and work, and before going on, I was sitting by myself meditating. A question popped into my mind: “If every business in the world is spiritual is that what you want?” I responded “No", because if we can transform the institution of business then we can transform the world. That’s when another thought popped into my head: “You mean Heaven on Earth!” I said: "Yes! That’s it!” I began interviewing people about what Heaven on Earth is for them, evoking their thoughts and ideas and, more importantly, their actions to co-create it.
How do you feel you are positively impacting your society and environment?
"What I’ve discovered is that everybody knows what Heaven on Earth is for them."
I started asking people “What is Heaven on Earth for you?” What I’ve discovered is that everybody knows what Heaven on Earth is for them. No one asks “What do you mean by ‘Heaven on Earth’!" I started learning from peoples’ answers and by asking the question over and over again I distilled out three basic questions that I have included in my book, Project Heaven on Earth. These 3 questions evoke deep thoughts and engage people in action which positively changes the world. The 3 Heaven on Earth Questions are:
Recall a time when you experienced Heaven on Earth. What was happening?
Imagine you have a magic wand and with it you can create Heaven on Earth. What is Heaven on Earth for you?
What simple, easy concrete step(s) will you take in the next 24 hours to make Heaven on Earth real?
At a meta level, what we are doing is co-creating the new story of what it means to be a human and what it means to be humanity.
The title of the book can also be read as “Project (evoke) Heaven on Earth”!
What's your dream, your vision?
"I believe in Heaven on Earth. We’ve done enough talking about Hell on Earth haven’t we?"
I believe in Heaven on Earth. We’ve done enough talking about Hell on Earth haven’t we? Let’s start talking and acting to make Heaven on Earth real.
We’ve heard for many years that we need a new story – people say that the current story is not working, but no one has named the new story. What I am saying is that now there’s a name to the story, and if you chose to participate, in a way that is unique to only you, then you will be contributing to co-creating this new story… co-creating Heaven on Earth.
I want us to live the experience that we are actually doing this and seeing that we’re making a difference.
Do you feel you have found your meaning and purpose in life? Why?
Yes I have. It’s to co-create our new story….Project Heaven on Earth.
More about Martin Rutte: ProjectHeavenOnEarth
Martin’s Book: Project Heaven on Earth is available on Amazon world-wide.
You can also sign up for Martin’s free course ‘One Week to Simply Begin Creating Heaven on Earth’ here You’ll also get a free weekly blog.