Ultimate Destinyland Steward

I have been called a visionary all my life. However, it is only in the past few years that it was meant as a compliment. I have been developing innovative programs and products for over 40 years that help participants discover how to realize more of their potential and expand their capacity to address and resolve issues. That has included mostly non-profit agencies, communities and cause-oriented companies. In my career, I served mostly as a disaster relief specialist for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and as a "turn around management expert" for some of the Department's worst "man-made disasters" including projects in Detroit, MI, Chicago, IL, East St. Louis, IL and Kankakee, IL. I received the highest cash award ever paid a HUD employee for one "changemaker" suggestion I made that saved an estimated $300 million. I also received numerous awards for helping transform some of the nation's worst performing organizations into some of the best, partly by implementing changes that inspired and motivated employees to care more and produce more effective and efficient results.

Instead of any single "place", I would like to share my fondness and connection with intentional community. During the 25 years or so that I have lived in spiritually centered intentional communities, and the 5 years that I published and served as Managing Editor of Communities Journal of Cooperation, I observed and benefited from the most empowering and nurturing environments I have ever experienced. The communities I belonged to (including Stelle, in Illinois and the Emissaries of Divine Light center near Muncie, IN) shaved a focus on Spirit, Service, Stewardship and Sustainable Living. Many experts in the personal development field state that our "frame of reference group" is one of the most important determinants of how much of our potential we realize. They also say that living and working together with others of like heart/mind enhance the individual and collective effectiveness of applying Universal Laws, the power of Intention, shared vision, masterminds, etc.

As someone who considers myself to be a "community development specialist for heaven on earth", I want to see millions of people A.R.K. -- Awaken to their true spiritual identity; Realize more of their inherent potential and Know how to fulfill their ultimate destiny as co-creators. While that may sound religious and presumptuous, the statement is based upon a belief that we are "spiritual beings having a human experience", that we are here for a purpose and that each of us has gifts and talents that are needed to help fulfill our individual, collective and global ultimate destinies.

I have been cofounding programs, organizations and projects for 40 years that help empower individuals, organizations and communities to enjoy a clearer and shared vision, become empowered to realize more of their potential and expand their capacity to address and resolve issues while evolving toward better more fulfilling situations. My background includes about 10 years as a disaster relief specialist with the US government, another 10 years leading NPO's involved in community development, community economic development, intentional community, empowerment and transformation. Some of the accomplishments and (mostly) award winning programs are described at http://www.candoresourcecenter.com, http://www.charlesbetterton.com, http://www.ultimatesuccesspuzzle.com and http://normanvincentpeale.wordpress.com. I have a Masters in Community Economic Development, have lived in intentional communities for over 25 years, have cofounded several award-winning community empowerment and development resource centers and co-authored dozens of publications designed to help individuals, organizations and communities realize more of their potential including the 14-part, 1,000+ page Ultimate Destiny Success System Library (http://www.ultimatedestinysuccesssystem.com)