Welcome to the Meta Spiritual Podcast! In this episode, we discuss the inspiring journey of the Grateful Giraffes movement, which aims to spread gratitude globally in a commercially viable way. I first met Max Marine, Founder and CEO, at the Tulum Crypto Fest last year, relaxing in a treehouse cabana in the most serene crystal spring water cenote. Right before his keynote speech about gratitude, I first learned of the Grateful Giraffes movement.
The video below is at Tulum Crypto Fest, jumping in the Cenote!
The movement was born out of a desire to use NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as a positive force and create a symbol of gratitude to counter the mindless animal symbols that had gone viral in the NFT world, which were focused more on materialism, clout, and exclusivity. Through Grateful Giraffes and Grateful Labs, the founders, Max Marine and Adar Weinreb, are building a global conscious community centered around gratitude, wellness, and positive transformation.
"I had this instinct, that maybe there's a way to spread gratitude globally, and do it in a commercially viable way and actually build a business with gratitude at the core."
Building a Gratitude Movement through NFTs: The Grateful Giraffes movement was sparked by the founders' curiosity about spreading positivity using NFTs. Observing the success of other animal-themed NFT communities, they decided to create a symbol for gratitude using the majestic and universally admired giraffe. This symbol represents rising above negativity, having vision, and standing tall. The characteristics of the giraffe became the embodiment of the type of members that the movement hopes to attract - big-hearted, spiritually grounded, and “dreamers who get shit done."
The Power of Gratitude Walls and Community Engagement: To kickstart the movement, the founders built a gratitude wall in Tel Aviv, inviting people to express their gratitude openly. This led to the realization that the most potent form of gratitude is the appreciation of others, fostering social cohesion and connection. They replicated this experience at a conference in New York City, NFT NYC, where they encouraged attendees to express gratitude to their loved ones on a gratitude wall at the entrance of the conference with 16,000 attendees from 70 countries.
"When you read 100 different perspectives on gratitude, one after the other, after the other, it's just really beautiful. It's moving and inspiring, and it expands my awareness of what it means to be grateful." - Max Marine
From Setbacks to Success: How Gratitude and Laughter Fueled the Leap of Faith: Starting this venture was no easy feat, and Max faced multiple challenges and setbacks. The crypto market crash was a moment of truth, leading to a deep reflection on overcoming obstacles. Gratitude played a significant role, reframing adversity as a gift and finding the strength to persevere. Max’s commitment to spreading gratitude was the driving force that fueled their leap of faith—recognizing that life is one big cosmic joke and keeping laughter at the forefront of adversity.
Overcoming Adversity and the Road to Los Angeles: Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial setbacks and personal struggles, Max and Adar persisted due to their unwavering belief in the mission to spread gratitude. After a leap of faith and relocating to Los Angeles, they continued their mission, hosting weekly events focused on art, wellness, live DJ sets, and community dinners.
Building Conscious Community in LA and Beyond: The key to building a community, as Max discovered, lies in consistency. By consistently offering valuable experiences, such as meditation, art, and live music, the Grateful Giraffes community has grown and thrived. They’ve added their 580th Giraffe and expect to cross 600 by the end of July. Max emphasized the importance of creating a social fabric that allows new connections, friendships, and partnerships to form.
Community-Owned Capitalism and Its Vision: Grateful Giraffes is more than just a community; it's a movement. The parent company, Grateful Labs, aims to enhance the well-being of over a billion people. The unique aspect of this movement lies in its Community-Owned Capitalism model. Community members have the opportunity to become shareholders in the company, aligning incentives and providing them with a sense of ownership and engagement. This unique model fosters a sense of collective responsibility and an active stake in the community's success.
Fireside Chat with Deepak Chopra: As a special perk for the community, the Grateful Giraffes movement will be hosting a fireside chat on July 20th with renowned author and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra. This exciting event exemplifies the movement's commitment to intellectual and emotional stimulation and provides members with unique opportunities to connect and learn from influential leaders.
Conclusion: The Grateful Giraffes movement is an inspiring example of how gratitude, resilience, and a commitment to conscious community can drive real-world change. Through their journey, Max and Adar have shown the power of gratitude in transforming lives and fostering a global movement of conscious community-building. As they continue to expand their reach and offerings, the future looks bright for this movement to spread gratitude and positivity worldwide. Remember, no matter where you are in life, a sense of gratitude can open doors, fuel growth, and bring us closer together as a global community.
The Gift of Gratitude: Global Community Building with Max Marine, CEO and CoFounder of Grateful Labs