the local investment banks, research houses, and mutual funds/money management industries. They all wanted more of my reports. My take is that its easier for individuals to grapple with challenging material like this, if the setting is conducive. However, as part of larger groups the individual will lean away from acceptance of the net-energy situation and economic descent, and will be pulled inexorably into the views of their tribe. As always, we are intellectually constrained by social demands. That said, it's very encouraging to hear your account of this retreat. Thankyou. Thank you for the report and encouraging insight. I've often thought about the implications of decline from individual, family, and community impacts, but I've not thought of what the corporate impact would be. What if the "nose under the tent" lead to a "great awakening" on the corporate front - what would that look like? Did any of the executives you spoke with suggest business paths that would replace the growth paradigm for their business? How many companies would it take to create a tipping point of driving a new paradigm of "sustainable corporations" rather than BAU of growth, Growth, GROWTH! (and picture pounding fist on table in boardroom.) As I drive around Austin and surrounds, I see an incredible number of brand new and older strip malls with multiple empty leases - and we haven't been as hard hit as Detroit or much of California. To me it's a confirmation that we have begun the stair-step decline described