[UPDATE: Steve Frazee—the previous CEO of I-I—is doing a series of posts on his Zaadz Blog with the intent of shedding some light on what was actually happening w/ certain projects at I-I while he was there (IU, integral books, Seminars, Coaching, etc.), as well as key management issues. Stay tuned to that blog for his posts, and his perspective on things, if that interests you.]
In an earlier post I started (lord knows I didn’t mean to start an online shit storm) it looks like Steve Frazee—ex-CEO of Integral Institute—found the thread and has left a pretty substantial comment. Here is his comment in full.
Hello all.
A friend sent me this thread today. I thought it was best to write something here. I’ll try to be brief but complete.
First, I’m alive and well and my mother knows where I am. That bit that Tom Armstrong wrote was really funny. I-I’s current offices are an old yoga studio in Boulder and just a small open space filled with used office furniture The idea of my mother wandering around that tiny space carrying a sign is hilarious.
I gave my resignation to Ken and told him I would work through January 31st. I resigned because Integral Institute under Ken’s leadership is not the type of organization that I want to be associated with. Ken’s theories are beautiful and I am eager to see them actualized in an organization and embodied by that organization’s leadership. I didn’t see that happening with Ken. Once I tendered my resignation I was immediately asked to leave. Ken has said complimentary things about my business skills and asked me to stay around consulting. I declined.
Ken has given the world a great gift with his maps. To ask him to be a good leader as well as a genius author may just be too much to ask of one human being. Isn’t his writing enough?
As of the time of my leaving, only one person was fired, and that was Rich Fegley the COO. Rich is a talented businessman and gave service to I-I with enthusiasm and humility for almost two years. Ken fired Rich. Ken and Rich can share their own perspectives on that event.
A number of other people have left or are leaving. The attrition is architected as layoffs, but it is my understanding that all these people desire to leave for the same reasons I resigned, but they should post here for themselves.
I am encouraged that these good people are going “into the world” to both learn and teach. Not much is happening at I-I, so the more Integral and opened hearted people that venture “out there” to offer healing and leadership in this world…well I think that’s a good thing. Ken has suggested that these people are leaving because they were in allegiance with me. It is an insult to suggest the good people that are leaving I-I are doing so for any reason other than it is best for them at this time.
I deeply disagree with Ken on a number of topics in the realms of professionalism, organizational planning and financial management, but the ultimate reason I left is how Ken treats people.
My interest is leading I-I was to quickly bring a number of concepts into reality such as fully functional centers, an annual Integral conference, a salons support plan, best in class web systems and professional financial and project management processes. Tax, legal and other issues needed immediate attention too. Improved staff environment including salary, insurance and suitable workspace took a high priority. Additionally, I was hoping to help I-I become an organization that was known for under-promising and over-delivering.
The Phase 2 plan included a strategy to grow I-I into what I was calling a “world class” institution. We had already begun planning a Multiplex relaunch that would make the website more useable and professional. A new 10,000 sqft office was also being designed. A real board of directions including AQAL seats to insure the quality of the products and services was in motion too. The executive team and staff were really putting their backs into bringing I-I up to a level of sophistication that was/is seriously missing.
Ken has said many times that he did not trust the plan nor understand how the revenue model in the plan was to be achieved. That trust and understanding was critical to making the plan work. In the end, I would say that personality and style conflicts between the builder (me) and the founder (Ken) led to the demise of the Phase 2 plan. The recent massive attrition I believe is due to more systemic leadership and integrity issues at I-I.
In closing, I would say this:
What is it that we expect of Ken that we are not fit to do ourselves? Ken has drawn the map; that is his genius. We should use the map to serve the world. Maybe many of us are using Ken as a reason to not encounter our own power and highest purpose. Ken may never be successful at turning Integral Institute into a healthy and professional organization. Let’s not use his failure as our excuse. I for one will be reading Ken Wilber for the rest of my life and using his work to serve the world in all I do.
Any of you are welcome to contact me at:
steve.frazee@yahoo.com
I will not engage in maligning Ken or mud slinging, but if I can help answer questions and give guidance I would be pleased to do so.
Love and light!
Steve
P.S. – Before simply accepting that this was actually Steve I asked my good friend Paul if all these details were correct and it did indeed sound like Steve. Paul said that the details were right on. Thanks for the clarification Steve!
P.P.S. – I’ve turned off the comments for this post in consideration for Ken’s health, and because I’m not interested in this turning into a shit throwing contest (kind of like a shit-storm, but with more throwing). That being said, I’ve been happy that there has been some conversation around this topic (being close to my heart), and I look forward to seeing how things transpire in the future.
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December 6th, 2006 at 12:35 am
From my very limited perspective peering out from under a rock over here in the corner…
It’s a true shame that Steve didn’t achieve his goals with I-I, it certainly sounds like he was after the right things.
December 6th, 2006 at 2:06 am
i don’t know the details as well. but based on the perspectives that i’ve seen and heard so far, and the professional tone that Steve conducted himself, i have to agree with Dave.
~C
December 6th, 2006 at 10:33 am
Ditto that. Steve’s statement was clean and compassionate. Definitely I-I’s loss, especially since he seemd to have a plan to make them financially sound.
Peace,
Bill
December 6th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Nice to get some details. I have to say though, that while Steve’s goals are incredible, Steve’s plans also seem to require a huge cash influx.
Having been through two early-stage tech companies, sometimes don’t realize how much of a burn rate can kill an organization dead. Having been in a non-profit, and having a good friend who specialized as an accountant for non-profits – and juggling money for the non-profits – until you have responsibility, or at least a healthy appreciation, for the overall financial picture, and everything that this affects, visions like Steve’s don’t come cheap.
Start-ups are notoriously hard. I don’t know if Steve’s incredible vision – which I share – was financially possible, without running I-I into the ground.
(Although, it also sounds as if there could have been better decisions made regarding contract hiring, rather than full-time hiring. But that is one of the lessons learned.)
And of course, driven writers, tend to be notoriously bad managers, as a rule. (I’m thinking of a particular Myers-Briggs type, that is both super-intelligent and driven, yet also tend towards a short fuse.) Ken I am sure, is at the upper scale of that personality type, but I’m sure that comes through occasionally.
Thanks for the update!
December 6th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
in regards to eBuddha’s comment, I think it’s helpful to point out that before I left I-I Steve was in the process of raising (he did so successfully) some 3 million dollars for this new business plan (aka Phase 2). He seemed, more then anyone else, to have a solid sense of what was needed on the financial side.
December 6th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
great inside info dawg! didn’t know that. nice.
my take is somewhat general since i don’t know any of the details. but here’s what i’ve felt all along. i don’t care what KDub says about second-tier organizations, if you don’t have a solid first-tier to back it up, it’s highly unlikely that it will take sail. maybe there are exceptions, but just because there are exceptions doesn’t mean that the are no rules. in fact, the exceptions uphold the rules.
having said that, i wish I-I well. most organizations go through a series of changes until they succeed or fail altogether. in any case, i hope the management at I-I practice what they preach: organizations go through stages as well. also, they have access to people like Peter Senge, Fred Kofman, Otto Scharmer, etc… maybe it’s time to consult them to get to the bottom of what’s going on at I-I. it’s hard to make a case for Integral Business is the flagship is not doing well.
my two cents.
~C
December 6th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Again, the question is about the burn rate – revenue coming in versus revenue going out- not about funds raised.
I’ve seen 50 million raised, and then gone in a 10 mil monthly burn rate.
Sustainability for an organization requires something different.
Now of course, I have no idea of Integral Institue’s particular situation – Steve may well have had a good handle on the revenue picture and the burn rate – but the simple fact of raising 3 million doesn’t address this question.
December 6th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
EXPENSES going out…
December 6th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Yeah, Steve seemed to have a full handle on the burn rate and how it related to the overall business plan. In fact, I’ve heard him talk about that particular issue several times, and his plan included that information.
Granted, I don’t know whether or not it would have worked, or what the specifics were. Steve would have to give that info. But I do get the sense that he was the only person @ I-I (minus maybe one or two other individuals) who had any finance experience under their belts. That is including Ken.
Good point though eBud.
December 6th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Vince,
Thanks for the additional information – and yes, it definitely sounds like Steve had a very practical grounding in these type of concerns!
December 6th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
hi, vince.
here’s my two cents. all this looks a bit differently from across the pond. stay cool.
December 6th, 2006 at 9:03 pm
Vince,
Thank you for posting my comment.
I have been overwhelmed by email questions from around the world about I-I. It seems I am being called to provide some transparency to a confused and concerned Integral community.
Over the next weeks I’ll be doing a brain dump on my Zaadz blog. The first post is here:
http://frazee.zaadz.com/blog/2006/12/integral_university_fact_or_fiction
It is my intention to share information in a postive way and for the service of all.
Blessings,
Steve
December 6th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Thanks Steve. I’ll most definitely direct people in that direction.
-Vince Horn
December 7th, 2006 at 5:55 am
A very clear structured and perveived comment from Steve.
As I am myself was involved this year to fund a worldclass project in higher media Education in Dubai and to share many thoughts in preparation of the start off with chancellor and founder I can imagine what it takes for phase 2.
Fully agree with Steve:
“In closing, I would say this:
What is it that we expect of Ken that we are not fit to do ourselves? Ken has drawn the map; that is his genius. We should use the map to serve the world. Maybe many of us are using Ken as a reason to not encounter our own power and highest purpose. Ken may never be successful at turning Integral Institute into a healthy and professional organization. Let’s not use his failure as our excuse. I for one will be reading Ken Wilber for the rest of my life and using his work to serve the world in all I do.”
This was already my conviction in 2002. And its in fulleast appreciation of Ken Genius whom I see for 26 yeas as Einstein of Consciousness even in times when in Germany everybody said:
“Ken who?”
My sincere and deepest wishes for Kens health and may Steve go on with his excellent work.
Greetings from Germany,Berlin,
Albert