The hundredth monkey phenomenon refers to a sudden spontaneous and mysterious leap of consciousness achieved when an allegedly “critical mass” point is reached. Even though there is really no evidence for the hundredth monkey phenomenon, I believe that there is a point at which there is a new awareness and a field is strengthened so that this awareness is picked up by almost everyone. I experienced this phenomenon and it was magical.
It was spring of 2006 and I had just joined a businesswomen’s group in Washington D.C. The group met four times a year and the members were from different parts of the country. They were highly successful in their businesses. I remember walking into the first meeting feeling a little intimidated by these powerful women. They were genuinely nice and welcoming and asked about my business. I had just launched the Core Passion Assessment a few years earlier and was consulting with small businesses. After I told them about my business, they were very nice and said that it was interesting, but I could tell they weren’t really interested. At that time, no one was talking about passion in business.
Later that spring I even went to Greece to an international businesswomen’s conference. Again, everyone liked me but did not really take what I was doing seriously. In July, I again went to Washington D.C. for a conference. The weather was hot and steamy, and during our free time I got the opportunity to personally know many of the women. I loved talking to them and I learned it does not matter how much money you make; the challenges of life and business are the same. They were very successful, but they had the same problems as everyone else.