Here is a Q & A that will give you a good idea of how I decided to start Provokare Presentations and its purpose.
September – 2007.
What made you decide that the way you wanted to manifest humane education was through giving presentations to businesses and other organizations?
For a few reasons, one is that I worked for over 15 years with small to large fortune 500 companies and have a good knowledge of what is going on inside organizations. In the last few years, while working with these companies, I often heard people talking about what was happening in the environment, but they seemed confused about what they could do, and how much they were participating in maintaining the status quo. Also, often companies and organizations are ready to “green” their products or services, but don’t think of involving their members and employees as part of the changes. The other reason is that I would like to work with companies because they have a lot to gain in being socially responsible. When I offer them my services, I tell them that it is not only going to benefit our world, but also their bottom line, customer satisfaction, their employees, and put them ahead of the curb in the increasingly growing “green” market.
How did you decide what presentation areas to focus on?
I chose presentations that would encompass most of the subjects that I learned in the last few years. I use examples on how they have impacted me and how I have changed my lifestyle because of what I learned
I don’t think that one is more important than another. All presentations can be customized to the organization’s needs and how it affects them as a business, their employees, their members and customers. I’ll try to answer their question: “What’s in it for me?” while showing them how everything is interrelated. If I do my work well, the “What’s in it if for me?” will become a “I don’t exist and can’t survive in isolation because I affect and depend on much more than I would ever think of”.
Tell us about the first presentation you gave. How did it feel? What was the audience’s reaction? What would you have done differently?
I’ve been practicing presentations in small groups for the last five months, and felt quite confident about giving my first 45 minute long Provokare presentation. However nervousness and all, I had to crack my “I’m imitating Al Gore” joke when I started sweating a little too much. But hey, I didn’t have to use that one on my second one already J.
For each presentation, I provide a 25 to 35 pages booklet with detail information on the subject. They can download it from my website. That alone takes me a couple of weeks to research and put together. I then look for case studies and try to assemble stories that I can use in my presentation to motivate them and show what they can do.
In my presentations, I give the facts, as gruesome as they can be, but I make sure that the audience receives also information about how we got there. Then I focus on the solutions, and create a vision, with hope, about what anyone can do. Throughout the presentation though, the most important point is to entertain people, I make sure that everyone has a good time while learning the issues.
I always include anecdotes and real case studies to demonstrate the fulfilling benefits of change.
How have you been making contacts?
Mainly word to mouth. I talk about Provokare with my friends, co-workers and business groups. I’ve joined San Francisco Rotary club, and will attend more networking groups. In November I’ll go to the CoopAmerica Green business conference in San Francisco. I also offer free “signature speeches” to showcase what I do.
Why did you choose “provoke”? It seems like sort of an aggressive word.
I had such a hard time trying to find a name for what I wanted to do. Then I asked a few friends to help me. One of them, knowing me for “Never keeping my mouth shut and saying it like it is” thought that “provoke” would fit me well. He then gave it a little Italian touch by adding the “are” for the infinitive Italian form. (“provocare” in Italian).
I don’t want to provoke as in creating trouble, I want to provoke as in shaking people to see what is behind their mundane daily activities, how we impact the planet and other people; and provoke changes in a positive way. Just as much as what I learned provoked me to react and change my lifestyle.
By the way, pronounce the “kare” as in k + verb “are”, not Kare as in “caring” 
What are your goals for Provokare Presentations? What are some of your desired quantitative outcomes?
I would like to reach people in any type of organizations, small or large, in my community or away from home.
But I’m especially hoping to give presentations someday, where I’ll be using my personal case studies, from organizations I motivated to change, to convince other organizations about the all encompassing benefits of being socially responsible.
Share a success story. What has helped encourage you?
I am only in the nascent phases with Provokare, but I already see success when people thank me for all the information I have provided, acknowledging that there was so much they didn’t know and that they are going to change a few things in their lives because of it.
This is what is encouraging to me, that even with a small audience and in my very first presentation, a few people will already take steps to change, much as just a few things.
There I feel like I have provoked one change, and it makes it all worthwhile.
September 2007
You can visit the website at: www.provokare.com
