How we will make our vision a reality

Every entrepreneur knows the really good new ideas always beg the question “how come nobody did this before?” or the statement, “someone must be doing this already.”  I have personally been there; with two separate pioneering ideas that ultimately proved to be highly successful; natural food stores (in the mid 70’s) and the fresh herb industry (in the early 80’s).  In both cases, when I shared my vision I was faced with either blank stares of disbelief, or various forms of “it can’t be done;” words that are sweet challenges to any man or woman who has faith, and has done their homework.  Once again the same blank stares, raised eyebrows and shaking heads have shown up when I tell people my idea of ending the plague of unhappy marriages through education.  The difference, this time, is what is at stake; the forgotten children.

The sad statistics are all too real.  The differences between children who are from broken homes versus intact families are too chilling to ignore.  In virtually every conceivable category, from higher educational opportunities and material success to violence and addictions, children from broken homes do much worse.  We can only imagine there are slightly better statistics for children from near broken homes; where mom and dad have all but given up, yet remain together for the kids; or because they settle for fighting and all but dead intimacy.  Married life does not have to be a crap shoot!

My own awakening came at great cost.  My family of five became a divorce statistic in 1995.  From my baseline of misery I sought to find universal solutions for marital suffering, so I could help others.  While avoiding the usual negative mindsets, I studied; and found answers that helped thousands find joy in marriage.  By teaching individuals and couples; both in person and through my writings, it became clear to me that the key is education; not psychoanalysis.  The next step was inevitable.

In 2009, the realization that what it will realistically take, to change the current divorce and unhappy marriage trends, is science.  Marriage needs to be addressed in the same way as any other important topic.  Ideas need to be postulated, debated, tested and made readily available. 

Once there is a body of knowledge, though initially small, it must be promoted, and judiciously fed into the school systems; so children are given the actual tools they will require to have a happy family.  Every pertinent marital topic, from how to assess compatibility to preparing for children, must be commonly understood; only then will unhappy marriages, divorce and poorly raised children become a thing of the past.  When that magic moment arrives our foundation will have accomplished its mission.

Our step by step Plan

            Step One

The first step, which has taken place, was to become a public entity that encourages involvement and promotes a sense of urgency.  I began the “Global Foundation for Marriage” with the support of friends, and funded the legal work with my own money.  The California corporation is a legal “not for profit” 501c3 corporation.  Those who contribute are able to write off their donation in accordance with all state and federal rules.  As the director of the foundation I will not receive compensation until there is adequate positive momentum which requires my full time efforts.

            Step Two

The second step is to create a sustainable infrastructure, more akin to a for profit business than a non-profit foundation.  In order to accomplish quantitative satisfactory results all sub and general goals will be met by utilizing tried and true business principles.  The creation and establishment of the infrastructure will be to serve specific ends.  Each department will be rewarded based on productivity. 

            The first tangible accomplishments will be full time employee(s) and contract services, a functional web site, collateral materials and specific near and long term goals.

            Step Three

The third step will focus on two agendas

1)      Identifying every bit of marital science knowledge that is obtainable; from authors, “fix-it” systems, and parochial sources.

2)      Gathering and classifying the information into a library of untested materials

      Step Four

The fourth step is an initial process.  A panel of experts in curriculum will “reduce” the submissions we gather to their core principles, feed it back to the authors for confirmation and refinements, and then place the works in an upgraded library; ready for testing.

            Step Five

The fifth step will be the testing phase wherein the foundation will contract with social workers who will follow up with actual users of the materials in the testing library, so authors can receive honest feedback (through the foundation) in order to increase the usability and effectiveness of their products.

            Step Six

The sixth step is to build a library of proven marital sciences that addresses every aspect of married life.  This well of knowledge will be categorized so we can

A)     Provide a pool of tested principles to authors, schools, media etc

B)      Create forums for debate among experts and laymen

C)      Allow for ongoing testing

D)     Etc.

At some point in time physical locations will be opened by us or subsidiaries that will be labeled, if not called, universities of marital sciences. 

The overriding agenda of the foundation is to educate as many individuals as possible, as rapidly as possible with validated marital sciences.

In so doing the numbers of happy marriages will increase and spawn a natural resurgence of safe families.  The family is the core unit of measure of society.

My personal goal is to bring the divorce rate down to under 5% in less than 25 years; a good indicator of happy marriages being the norm