Welcome to SeekingTrueNorth.com! Here you will find information about our book, the authors, and an interactive forum discussion about Seeking True North. Of course, if you came to buy the book, you can go directly here.

SeekingTrueNorth.com is the blog of authors Tim Walther and Erick Erickson. You can search the blog entries by category at the bottom of the left-hand Sidebar to find out more about the book, the ongoing adventures of Tim and Erick, and their businesses Grand Dynamics and Erickson International. We also highly encourage you to visit our forum where you can read and add commentary about Seeking True North and the application of all the models, methods and tools! Please subscribe to the RSS feed for future updates.

Tim Walther and Erick Erickson

Welcome Everyone -

If you are reading this because you got an email, talked with a friend or read an article in Planet Jackson Hole or Jackson Hole News and Guide and are considering the Seeking True North ACTION SEMINAR, here are a few things to consider.  My name is Tim Walther and I am the President of Grand Dynamics. 10 years ago I started this company with the dream of creating a way to live in Jackson Hole and create a life where I could explore the world through climbing adventures.  I had a vision to work with corporate groups long before there was a Four Seasons, Amangani or even consistent air service into the valley.  Equally imporant was my vision of creating a company based on experiential training and development principles. Principles in which action and adventure melds together with psychology, business and philosphy and focused on empowering individuals and teams to live a life of their dreams.  After living in Jackson Hole and realizing that I needed to take action to realize my vision, I went back to graduate school and studied the science of Experiential Training and Development - my Masters thesis was my business plan for Grand Dynamics. This was the winter of 1998.  Now in the early days of this venture I, like many starving entrepreneurs, worked multiple jobs as a bar tender and such to make ends meet.  I began my busines with a focus on quality over quantity, as we all know that this town is very small and word travels like lighting. 

I went to countless seminars, read hundreds of business, self-help, psychology and human performance periodicals. I worked day and night to deliver one successful program after the next and began to travel around the country delivering seminars. Steadily I began to have people believe in what I was doing and invest in my programs that I developed.  Over the years Grand Dynamics has developed into an international company with offices in New York, Baltimore, California and now in Chiang Mai Thailand.

About 8 years ago I had the great pleasure of meeting Erick Erickson at one of those training and devopment seminars.  Little did I know how much power this man would have in my life. A few months later Grand Dynamics landed a contract with CFMA- The Construction Financial Management Association. Since the first program with CFMA, Rick and I have delivered, every fall, two 4-day leadership retreats (I now call them Advances) along with a multitude of other training programs around the country - and globe.  The focus of these leadership development programs is to combine an amazing Experience with as many personal and professional models, methods, tools and habits as one can reasonably fit into any multi-day format.  The design of these programs was an amalgamation of what I had and what i continue to learn about the art and science of human performance. At the end of each program Master Rick and I would stand before our group of 25 attendees or more and ask what they had learned.  The result was a list of well over one hundred principles that have had PROFOUND impace into the lives of our program attendees.  Of course these concepts are also at the core foundation of the varied Grand Dynamics programs. As the successful training programs, speaking engagements and international climbing adventures continued Rick and I began to talk about writing a book. That book, of course, is Seeking True North.

It is my honor to be launching Seeking True North - the ACTION SEMINAR here in Jackson Hole. This program will be an intimate group of friends and colleagues who share the passion for a life of Freedom, Beauty and Success.

Here is a taste of WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT when you sign up for this weekend program. For starters, we have an amazing group of individuals who are commited to an amazing weekend.  People from varied industries including Data Networking President, Construction CFO, Building Entrepreneur, an individual about to embark on a year or more tour of Europe, a full time Musician, Performance Consulting Executive and one of the worlds best female rock climbers to name a few.   Several of our key Grand Dynamics team members will be on hand to support the delivery of an outstanding three day transformation.

FRIDAY NIGHT we will focus on the art of PREPARATION. Fundamentally this begins with our personal and professional VISIONS of the life we want to live on a continuours basis. In a fun, engaging and interactive environment we will explore the core of what is most important to focus on in life. We will embrace our fears and create powerful psychological anchors that will be with you to call upon for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.  This experience culminates in the BREAKTHROUGH experience, where you will literally break through a wooden board as a metaphor and achor for total success.  The first time I experienced a workshop of this sort, I had three words written on my board. CREATE GRAND DYNAMICS. This was 11 years ago.

SATURDAY will be a day filled with adventure in our back yard at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Participants will engage in a series of activities that will bring to life the PRACTICE of Seeking True North. Challenge, Adventure, Teamwork, Deep Shamonic Meditation, Rock Climbing and MORE await. Saturday night will be filled with more action, learning and fun… before we head downtown to celebrate the day!

Sunday we will be moving from knowing what to do to doing what we know with Grand Dynamics Action Planning process that has WORKED FOR THOUSANDS of our PARTICIPANTS. We will also focus on additional models, methods and tools that are not in Seeking True North.

The models, methods and tools in Seeking True North are there because they work. IF you use these tools you WILL create and live the life of YOUR DREAMS and experience happiness and passion like never before. And our committment to you is to deliver them through an experience that you will never forget.

One WORD OF CAUTION: This program is for leaders - and for people who STEP UP. We have no room for people who don’t want and expect the best out of life - and from the people we CHOOSE to surround ourselves with. If you are ready for a transformational experience, then sign up NOW by emailing me directly at tim@granddynamics.com .

I look forward to talking with you soon.

Yours in Adventure -

Tim Walther

President

Grand Dynamics International

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind!   California - Denver - Boston - Harvard - Jackson - Wind Rivers! It has all been great. and I am so looking forward to the fall line-up of programming. In less than two weeks we will officially kick off Seeking True North in Jackson Hole.  A few of my dearest friends and colleagues will be coming to share an incredible weekend in Jackson.  If you’re on the fence… come join us!

The time has finally come!  The launch of Seeking True North: The Action Seminar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming is here.  On September 26th -28th, 2008 a group of like-minded individuals will gather to celebrate the Pathway to Freedom, Beauty and Success.  Over three action packed days we’ll cover a plethora of the STN Models, Methods and Tools for personal and business success. The registrations are rolling in and thus far we have participants coming in from New York, Iowa, California, Thailand and of course, Jackson Hole!  

We have a rockin program ready for you and are offering this program at a mega-discount. I would like to thank our Sponsors - the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Spring Creek Ranch.

To REGISTER NOW, go HERE: http://www.granddynamics.com/company/seekingtruenorth.htm

or simply send an email to info@granddynamics.com and we’ll send you a registration form you can fax into us.

 Here’s the Agenda for the Program:

Seeking True North The Action Seminar

Prepare, Practice & Ignite Passion for Personal and Business Mastery

AGENDA & OVERVIEW:  

Program Opening:

Friday, September 26   Spring Creek Ranch Sage Conference Room

5:00 – 6:00 PM Welcome Arrival and Program Registration

6:00-7:00 PM    Light mixer and networking

7:00-10:00 PM  

Opening: Personal mastery “Break Through” experience

The Seeking True North Compass: Prepare, Practice and Passion

Visioning for Clarity in Values, Beliefs and Actions

Affirmations and Psychological Anchors to Build Confidence

            The Board Breaking Experience

Sat   8:00-5:00  PM   Teton Village – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Mastery Mountain:

A full day of adventure on the mountain integrating the models, methods and tools of Seeking True North

Wake-Up Health and Wellness

            Gondola Ride to 9000 feet at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

            Team Rock Climbing: Passion, Presence and Trust

            A challenge no matter what your experience level

Trust Building, Leadership & Team Initiatives

Emotional Fitness and Stress Management

Sat   7:00-10:00 PM Famous Cowboy Bar in Downtown Jackson Hole

Networking, Billiards and Dancing!

Sun  8:00-12:00 PM      

            Morning Meditations and Energizers

Action Planning and Transference

            Coaching and Accountability

            The Gift 

Spending time last week in Colorado with Mark Sanborn (author of “The Fred Factor”) was fun, inspiring, and refreshing. Mark is genuinely passionate about making a positive difference in people via his books and speaking. My intent upon returning home to upstate NY was to blog on Mark’s sincere, benevolent influence and “Edify” him as we give example in our book Seeking True North. (His wife and two boys are awesome too!) Lo and behold he (Mark) beat me to it by edifying me first!

The lesson……. Go out of your way and make the time to positively compliment another person. Be ready for the “Spontaneous Praise” as you edify another. It does so much good in our world!

Below is the comment Mark posted. A great sample of edifying another. I am energized  and humbled by his praise.

Erick Erickson

« Creating Community

Heart

July 27th, 2008 by Mark Sanborn

My friend Erick Erickson spent the weekend with us. He came to Colorado with a friend to hike and then arranged to spend a couple days in our home.

Erick is a neat guy: he is a master builder and when he comes to visit, he makes a list with his host of some things that need to be done. What was even better for me–home-repair impaired as I am–is that he taught my boys some basic building skills while he was at it. We worked on our fence, poured a footer, plugged a hole in the deck and took care of some other nagging repairs.

While he was once a commercial contractor, today Erick is a speaker and trainer. He specializes in experiential and adventure training and just released a new book called Seeking True North. He’s one of those guys who is always up to a dozen interesting things, often traveling abroad to do them.

After he left to fly home to New York, I started thinking about all the things I like about him, and what stands out most is his heart. He loves: people and life, nature and experience, books and ideas. He’s a kind and gentle spirit but an outdoorsman, too. 

And my life is better because he’s my friend.

Mark Sanborn Blogs on Leadership and Life

Hi, Mark Sanborn here. Welcome to my blog on leadership and life. If you’ve read my books, blog posts and/or articles or heard me speak, you know that my passion is leadership.

In my opinion, there are two kinds of leadership. The most familiar is what I term “big L” leadership; this is formal leadership that typically comes with a title. But the other kind is important, too, and begins with a “little l”. It’s not conferred by the title a leader carries or the corner office she occupies. Rather it’s expressed in a leader’s daily actions and the influence he or she has with others, whether customers or colleagues. I believe that the definition of true leadership is not power over people but power with people. And true leaders see leadership as the ultimate opportunity to serve others and to give back; they are people committed to making a bigger positive difference in their organizations, communities and world.

This blog is a reflection of my experience with leadership at every level. I’ll post on the leadership lessons to be learned and applied for the purpose of learning to lead, or learning to lead better. A leader realizes the need to continually reinvent him- or herself to stay relevant and effective. It is my goal to provide you, the reader, with ideas you can use in business and in life, regardless of your title, position or formal authority.

If you’re currently a leader aspiring to be more effective or an aspiring leader I look forward to your participation. Comments are read, posted (as long as they aren’t spam) and encouraged because I believe that dialogue is at the heart of effective leadership. And I always welcome and encourage your observations of leadership at its best AND worst (we can learn from both kinds of leadership).

Thank you for reading. I will strive always to make your investment of time and attention worthwhile.

People all over the world are becoming more aware of the realm of sustainable environments for our homes, businesses, communities and nations.

We must all do our part to become more educated, take action to conserve energy, and create a healthier world locally and globally.

Ongoing courses and programs are being held internationally to inform the general public, contractors, government officials, and associations on the particulars of action planning and implementation.

Over the past year we have been directly involved in certifying hundreds of contractors and individuals from many professions. The photo above is a recent course with Erick Erickson and select contractors honing their skills for home energy audits through the Energy Star program.

So, what does the “Green Theme” have to do with Seeking True North?

The Second Law of Thermodynamics basically states that pressure goes from high to low and temperature goes from hot to cold.

Think about it for a moment. If the simple, but powerful laws of nature dictate this force then is it probable that this force also works the same in our relationships? Have your relationships gone from hot to cold? Does the relationship with your significant other go from high  pressure “P” to low pressure?

What is the Relationship Delta P between you and your loved one? Why?

What “tools” can you choose and use to understand and improve your relationships?

This Law of Thermodynamics in action is a constant fluctuation based on many factors in nature.

The same is true in our relationship dynamics. Being “Aware” of the Relationship Delta P is an incredible asset in the process of improving our desired relationship results. 

Understand and use the simple, but powerful natural laws, create sustainable environments, and let’s keep our relationship delta P beneficial.

                                                                                                                     - Erick Erickson

It’s official! Grand Dynamics and Seeking True North will be featured on National Business Series - The Winning Edge.  This program will educate viewers world-wide on our personal and professional strategies on gaining and maintaining the winning edge!

This is a feature on Public Television Segment with Hugh Downs - the Emmy Award winning news anchor of 20-20. This program will broadcast on Prime-Time to an extimated 84 million homes in addition to distribution on Public Television Stations Nation-Wide to over 40 million Households. This feature will also broadcast on Voice of America - an international broadcast funded by the US government with a daily viewing audience of 96 million people airing in 200 cities in 127 countries!  Production will take place this summer and will feature one of our clients (TBD - this COULD BE YOU!).  Airing will begin late fall and continue over one year.  Contact us to find out how your company might be a part of this exciting feature!

What a Day!

Tim Walther