Freedom at work
In her early 20s, Traci Fenton had an epiphany about the power of democracy in the workplace and how it could transform people and businesses. From this inspiration grew WorldBlu, a global organization and movement, which is still expanding under Traci’s stewardship as Founder and CEO. In this interview, Traci shares insights about her organization and about Christian Science and Mary Baker Eddy’s achievements as a break-out thinker and leader. And she shares some powerful tips about how to stay true to one’s God-given gifts and pursue one’s dreams no matter what others say or think. To learn more about Traci and her organization, visit: worldblu.com.
Posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 at 4:48 pm | Follow responses with the RSS feedTopics: Work Relationships
Thank you for you Mark and Chris and Dean for your comments. Obviously you are all “thinkers.”
VERY Inspiring! Thank you for all you are pursuing….and sharing!
I would like to join your organization on a volunteer basis. I am in the part-time practice and FREEDOM is very important to me. I am self-employed and have done so 6x …..Please let me know what I can do to join and/or represent your organization? I live in Raymore, Missouri..just south of Kansas City. It is also possible for you to engage my services on a straight commission basis. REPLY/ADVISE..Robert Weiss
P.S. I am a class-taught student and am very much a student of the Christ Science. The freedom this gives me resonates quite well with your mission. I also have lots of consultative sales experience as well. IF NOT, I would really like to join your organization in some way!
“A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may
take away the rights of the other 49%.” — Thomas Jefferson
Although Traci is well intentioned, she has fallen for the “democracy” trap being fed college students and the American public over the last 15-20 years. This is a slippery slope taking into account that the term “democracy” has been misused by the media and academics to describe the American system of government.
We live in a representative Republic that elects representatives in a democratic fashion. A Republic is a system that rules by the concept of Law protecting each individual…our Bill of Rights. A democracy is purely a system that rules by the Majority negating all the rights of the individuals not in the majority. Democracy is really anti-freedom. You don’t have to take my word for it, I will just quote the father of Communism, Karl Marx, “Democracy is the road to socialism”. Mrs. Eddy very purposely wrote in the Preface to Science & Health with key to the Scriptures that “the time for thinkers has come”….thinkers not followers. Again you seem well intentioned Traci, I would however challenge you to do a little more research about the path you seem to have chosen.
Ideologies are important because they give society hope while also providing focus on how to govern. Yet, they can also limit our perspective of things…
As you point out Mark, we should always be mindful not to buy into a system that tramples on the inherent rights of men. It is clear that you seek to know an equitable and harmonious solution for all! Therefore, I recommend that to look to the CS Pastor to know God’s Government can reign in our lives and supply us with infinite good, right now (+ there’s no red tape!)
Traci did an incredible job detailing exactly how democracy is striving for this higher system of government because it starts with acknowledging every citizens self worth. Striving to permit humanity to live freely, everyone is legally protected to participate in this system, as well as speak and practice religion freely. It was because of this that Mary Baker Eddy was able to publish Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures and form the Christina Science Church. Now, I don’t know about you, but I frequently give gratitude for this because how an understanding of the Christ, through a study of both the Bible and the CS textbook, has changed my life — time and time again! I was baffled that you would say something as outrageous as, “Democracy is really anti-freedom,” when there is plain proof as to the contrary.
I really appreciate the way Traci framed her comments about the higher sense of democracy with her personal gratitude for seeing this demonstrated through her work. BTW, JSH-Online is a good resource packed with tons more examples.
Also I want to say something regarding your use of Mrs. Eddy’s words: “the time for thinkers has come.” You have masked the phrases true meaning and used it out of context. Her sweeping statement is crafted to break the cold conventionality of materialism, and prepare her readers heart for what will come in her book (vii: 15). From beginning to end, she teaches us that Man is created, educated, controlled, and governed by GOD not by matter, and this phrase is helping elevate us to follow” the Christ example.
Lastly, before when I was talking about God’s government I just want to say that Mrs. Eddy mentions this subject in numerous ways. Instead of writing any more (this has been a LONG reply already, and I appreciate you staying with me) 2 sentences from the text book on page 63-64 are worth quoting here:
“A feasible as well as rational means of improvement at present is the elevation of society in general and the achievement of a nobler race for legislation, — a race having higher aims and motives.”
“Want of uniform justice is a crying evil caused by the selfishness and inhumanity of man. Our forefathers exercised their faith in the direction taught by the Apostle James, when he said: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
Sorry but i can’t be silent on this comment. I’ve never heard Mrs. Eddy’s statement ‘the time for thinkers has come’ used as a put-down or insult, which this seems to me is -though thinly veiled. Mr. Patterson should do some self-examination on this point.
Mr. Dean, if you want to debate this topic then have the professionalism to list your full name so that all may know who you are. My comment was not a put down but a warning of error’s subtle attack on true Liberty using buzzwords like social justice, environment justice, democracy, etc. Unfortunately most Americans have no clue what democracy means and most incorrectly think that the United States is one. Democracy sounds great in the workplace, but what exactly does that mean? In today’s world the language you use can be a force for good or sometimes a subtle cloak for evil.
Again I think that Ms. Fenton is well intentioned and certainly she is entitled to promote her strategy of work place management. In reviewing her website there certainly are some positive qualities that may have positive impact on the workplace. Certainly applying of view of Man as God’s Idea can move mountains. However, the slope is slippery when many are working from a point of reference that would steal the terms of democracy and freedom and use them to promote the opposite. Which was exactly my point. Again, I don’t know Ms. Fenton personally, but taking into account that we have 19 mutual FB friends I would again assume that she is referring to these concepts in the correct light, however many have been influenced to believe the contrary.
Since I no longer qualify as a “youth”, and am the same age and a classmate of the gentleman that leads this division of the MC, I like to keep an eye on what type of concepts are being promoted through arms of our Church.
I will leave you with this last thought, Mrs. Eddy demands of loyal Christian Scientist to daily “watch and pray……..”. I am sure that most Christian Scientists get the “pray” part but what about the “watch”? What are we supposed to be watching for? Should Mr. Dean ever show up in my office looking for a job in the future, I look forward to posing that question to him.
Dean isn’t trying to hide his identity in any way. He’s a registered user and if you click on the orange link with his name, it takes you to his profile so you can not only see what his last name is, you see his photo, and you can follow his participation on the site.
Amy, your correct….my bad.
Wonderful! Inspiring for each of us. Traci is truly a woman of substance, speaking on the victories and hope of the greatest woman-Mary Baker Eddy.
Thank you, Traci! This is really quite impelling.
this is really important stuff.
i just saw Capitalism, a love story by michael Moore– He focussed on democratic workplaces in part of it– i immediately wondered why world-blu wasn’t featured….
This is what it’s all about – the message is so clear – you are an expert on this topic and are empowering others to deeply value the democratic ideals that are imbedded within our Religion. Thanks for pointing them out!
Thanks so much Candlde, I’m so glad it resonated with you! We can all help each other get rid of fear and choose to live freedom-centered lives instead. :)
This is one of the most inspiring pieces I’ve seen on your site – it really shows how Christian Science is both big picture and practical in people’s lives. The points Traci makes about our churches thriving with more freedom and less fear really struck a chord with me! Thank you, Traci, and time4thinkers.com for sharing these insights with us. Everybody should watch this!
yes, i agree with Candide’s comments, thanks..