We recently connected with Jae Sabol and have shared our conversation below.

Jae, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I’ve felt like my entire life was preparing me for leading and creating One Community as a model for individual transformation and global sustainability. I had no idea how much work making it open source and DIY-replicable would take though, or how big it would become, before we even broke ground on the construction process.

Growing up in a rural town in Washington state, our 1.5-acre property was in the middle of farm country, with a creek running through it and surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland. This beautiful environment, teeming with wildlife, fostered my deep appreciation for nature.

My love for the outdoors was further nurtured by my grandmother, who introduced me to camping, fishing, and wild food harvesting. These experiences taught me the joy of self-sufficiency and the value of fresh, home-cooked meals.

My entrepreneurial spirit surfaced early with my first business: a worm farm. I sold worms to people driving past our house to fish at the nearby lake. My childhood was filled with outdoor adventures, fishing, and exploring the creeks around our property. This upbringing taught me self-reliance, responsibility, and the importance of family.

After graduating high school with honors, I sought more culture and diversity and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. My engineering studies were fulfilling, but a near-death experience at 20 made me reconsider my life path. I shifted towards self-improvement and entrepreneurship. Focusing on health and fitness, I ended up earning over 70 certificates of qualification in holistic living, nutrition, and psychology and launched my first two businesses.

As my business expanded, I realized the difficulties of creating a truly healthy environment in the city, even with financial resources. This led me to explore sustainability through gardening, composting, and even bow hunting, a process that further deepened my connection with nature.

A big move forward for me came when I attended a Tony Robbins seminar. It ignited my passion for psychology and large-scale change, helping me to think bigger than I ever had before. I immersed myself in studying emotional health, leadership, and social change. Volunteering and working at events, I gained insights into community-building and accelerated my path of personal growth.

In the mid-2000s, I began designing a holistic, sustainable community that combined the best of everything I’d learned about into one location. Toxin-free eco housing, sustainable food, energy, social architecture, recreation, and an engine for free-sharing and helping others to replicate it all. In 2010, after over two years of searching, my life partner Sara and I found the perfect property to host it. This milestone motivated me to liquidate my business and dedicate myself full-time to volunteering on the project.

With the property identified, the real work began. The first task was to thoroughly research and understand the requirements for creating a sustainable community. I spent countless hours reading books, watching videos, and connecting with experts in permaculture, renewable energy, and sustainable architecture. It was crucial to build a solid foundation of knowledge before diving into full development of the project.

The next step was to assemble a team. I reached out to like-minded individuals who shared my passion for sustainability and community building. This included architects, engineers, permaculture designers, people passionate about world change, and volunteers from various backgrounds. Building a team with diverse skills and perspectives was crucial to bringing the vision of One Community to life.

We started with detailed planning and design. This involved creating drawings and blueprints for eco-friendly buildings, developing permaculture layouts for the land, and designing systems for water conservation, renewable energy, and waste management. These plans had to align with our core principles of sustainability, affordability, and replicability.

Simultaneously, we began the process of exploring the necessary permits and approvals from local authorities. This was a lengthy and sometimes frustrating process, but we were overall well received and it was essential to ensure that everything was done legally and replicable. I learned a lot about patience and persistence during this phase.

Fundraising was another critical aspect. While I had savings from my previous businesses, it wasn’t enough to cover all the costs. We created a website and started sharing our journey through blogs, videos, and social media. This not only helped spread awareness about One Community but also attracted more volunteers, supporters, and sufficient donations to sustain us as we complete the open source design process.

Now, 14 years later, we’ve become the #1 global sustainability systems organization in the world. As of this writing, we’ve coordinated the work of over 1100 volunteers from 67 countries, completing over 300,000 hours of research and design work, built an open source website with over 3000 pages sharing 7 sustainable village models, a duplicable city center, food, energy, waste management, community management and decision making, K-12+ education program, social and recreation models, and more.

As all this has continued to take shape, we’ve also developed tools for fostering a sense of belonging and easier collaboration among our global team of volunteers. This includes custom software for project management, objective progress tracking, and helping maintain strong relationships and a shared sense of purpose. This has helped us to continue to grow, learn, and inspire others to join us in creating a more sustainable and harmonious world. Our ongoing team ranges from 130-150 active volunteers contributing over 2000 hours a week, a testament to what is possible when passion, perseverance, and a shared vision come together.

One Community It is no longer just an idea, but a global team that’s created a complete model for sustainably-holistic living and replicable community-building. The journey from idea to execution has been filled with hard work, sacrifices, and countless learning experiences. But it has also been incredibly fulfilling and transformative. Every step, no matter how challenging, has been a step towards creating a better future for ourselves and the planet. And that, to me, is the true essence of One Community.

Jae, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am the lead Project Manager for One Community and an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. My vision of sustainability and a “new way to live” began in the 90s and grew into my life’s work through a series of life-changing events and thousands of hours of education. You can read the details of my journey here: https://www.onecommunityglobal.org/jae-sabol/

One Community: Vision and Mission

One Community is creating open-source replicable plans for teacher/demonstration hubs that will demonstrate a maximally sustainable and more advanced standard of living. These living models include holistic, environmentally-regenerative, self-sustaining, adaptable solutions for food, energy, housing, education, economics, and society. Our village designs are appropriate for each of the five main types of climates and include options for even the most challenged economies.

These hubs are designed to collaborate with one another, share ideas, resources, and work together as a network to heal the planet. They aim to transform the global lifestyle to a more enjoyable, fulfilling, healthy, and sustainable one. The specifics of how we are accomplishing this can be found on our website: https://www.onecommunityglobal.org/

What Sets Us Apart

Open-Source and Replicability: One Community stands out by offering open-source plans that anyone can use and adapt to create their own sustainable communities. This transparency and accessibility ensure that our solutions can be implemented globally, regardless of economic or climatic challenges.

Holistic and Integrated Solutions: Our approach is comprehensive, addressing food, energy, housing, education, economics, and social structures in an integrated manner. This holistic perspective ensures that our models are not only sustainable but also enhance the overall quality of life.

Collaborative Network: We emphasize collaboration and resource sharing, fostering a global network dedicated to sustainability and regenerative living. This collective effort amplifies our impact and facilitates continuous improvement and innovation.

What I’m Most Proud Of

I am most proud of the 1100+ volunteers I’ve worked with, the global community we have built, and the tangible impact we are making. Seeing our vision come to life through the hard work and dedication of our team and volunteers is incredibly fulfilling. Each step we take towards creating a more sustainable future brings immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

Key Messages for Potential Followers/Fans

Commitment to Sustainability: One Community is dedicated to creating a sustainable future for all. Our open-source plans and holistic approach are designed to be adaptable and accessible to anyone interested in making a positive impact.

Educational and Inspirational: We aim to educate and inspire individuals and communities worldwide. Our resources, tools, tutorials, and DIY-replicable plans are designed to share knowledge and empower others to take action towards sustainability.

Community and Collaboration: We believe in the power of community and collaboration. By working together and sharing resources, we can achieve more significant and lasting change.

Vision for the Future: Our ultimate goal is to transform global lifestyles into more sustainable, fulfilling, and healthy ones. We invite everyone to join us in this mission and become part of a movement that prioritizes the Highest Good of All.

In summary, One Community is not just a project; it is a movement towards a sustainable and regenerative future. My journey, experiences, and unwavering commitment to this vision have shaped One Community into what it is today. I invite you to learn more about our work and join us in creating a better world for all.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building my reputation within the market has been a journey rooted in authenticity, relentless commitment, and a genuine passion for sustainability and community building. Here’s what I’d say are the key elements that contributed to establishing our reputation:

1. Authenticity and Passion

From the very beginning, my dedication to sustainability and creating a new way of living has been genuine. Growing up in a rural town surrounded by nature, and having 100s of childhood nature experiences with my family, instilled in me a deep love for the environment. I think this authenticity resonates with people and builds trust.

2. Extensive Education and Continuous Learning

My extensive education, with over 70 certificates in holistic living, nutrition, and psychology, laid a strong foundation. Continuously seeking knowledge in permaculture, community building, social change, and leadership helped me stay ahead of trends and innovations. Being a part of organizations like the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, and gaining specialized training in relevant fields like permaculture, showcases a commitment to lifelong learning and expertise that I think is hugely important.

3. Hands-On Experience

Leaving college to start my own business in 1998 gave me practical, hands-on experience. Over the years, I applied my knowledge in real-world scenarios, learning from both successes and failures. In 14 years leading One Community, I’ve personally hired and managed over 1100 people, never missed a day of work or team call, and led the team in weekly and total hours contributed. This practical experience has built my credibility as someone who doesn’t just talk about ideas but implements them.

4. Vision and Leadership

My vision for One Community, a holistic, sustainable community, and my ability to lead and inspire others to join this vision has also played a crucial role. By assembling a diverse team and leading by example, I demonstrated effective leadership and a clear direction. I feel this has helped me gain respect and esteem within the market.

5. Transparency and Community Engagement

Being transparent about our journey, challenges, and successes helps build a strong connection with our audience. Sharing our progress and journey through blogs, videos, social media, and articles like this has not only educated people but also built a sense of community. Engaging with supporters and volunteers creates a loyal and passionate community around our mission.

6. Persistence and Resilience

The journey has been filled with challenges and taken much longer than I initially expected. My persistence and resilience in the face of obstacles demonstrates my unwavering commitment. I think showing determination and the ability to navigate through tough times is essential to building a team and accomplishing big goals.

7. Commitment to the Highest Good

Ultimately, I think my commitment to creating for The Highest Good of All is what really makes the difference in what we’re doing. This philosophy guided and guides every decision and action, ensuring that our efforts are not just beneficial for us but for the broader community and the environment. This ethical stance attracts like-minded individuals and organizations, further solidifying our reputation.

8. Networking and Collaboration

Building a network of experts, supporters, and like-minded individuals is essential. Collaborating with others in the field, broadly sharing what we’re doing through social media, our website, weekly blog updates, articles like this, interviews, etc. helps spread our message and establish a reputation as a knowledgeable and collaborative leader in the market.

9. Consistent Delivery of Value

Delivering consistent value through our projects, educational content, and community initiatives showed that we are reliable and capable. This consistency built trust and a positive reputation over time.

In summary, my reputation within the market is something I am always growing. My success so far was built on a foundation of authenticity, extensive education, hands-on experience, visionary leadership, transparency, persistence, ethical commitment, collaboration, and consistent delivery of value. Each of these elements contributed to creating a strong and respected presence in the field of sustainability and community building,

Any advice for managing a team?

I think managing a team effectively and maintaining high morale are crucial for the success of any project or organization, especially in endeavors like One Community where collaboration and passion are key. Based on my experience, here’s what I’d say are most important:

1. Clear Vision and Purpose

Ensure that every team member understands the vision and purpose of the project. Clearly communicate how their individual roles contribute to the bigger picture. This clarity fosters a sense of purpose and alignment.

2. Clear Expectations and Goals

Set clear expectations and goals so every team member knows exactly what their role and tasks are. This involves defining specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for each team member and the team as a whole. Regularly communicate these expectations and provide ongoing feedback to ensure alignment and address any misunderstandings promptly. Clear expectations and goals help to minimize confusion, increase accountability, and ensure that everyone is working towards the same targets, ultimately contributing to a more cohesive and productive team environment.

3. Empowerment and Trust

Empower your team members by trusting their expertise and giving them autonomy in their areas of responsibility. Encourage innovation and creativity, and be open to their ideas. When team members feel trusted and valued, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged.

4. Effective Communication

Establish open and transparent communication channels within the team. Regularly update team members on project progress, challenges, and successes. Encourage feedback and ideas from everyone, creating a culture where communication flows freely.

5. Recognition and Appreciation

Acknowledge and celebrate achievements, both big and small. Recognize individual contributions and milestones reached collectively as a team. This fosters a positive atmosphere and reinforces the value of each team member’s efforts.

6. Support for Growth and Development

Support the professional and personal growth of your team members. Provide opportunities for learning, skill development, and career advancement. Show genuine interest in their aspirations and provide mentorship when needed.

7. Resilience and Adaptability

Acknowledge that challenges and setbacks are inevitable. Foster a resilient team culture by demonstrating perseverance and adaptability in the face of obstacles. Encourage a problem-solving mindset and show confidence in overcoming challenges together.

8. Balanced Work Environment

Promote work-life balance and prioritize the well-being of your team members. Make sure whatever environment you are creating includes breaks, vacations, and time for personal interests. A healthy and supportive work environment contributes to higher morale and productivity.

9. LEAD BY EXAMPLE

As a leader, embody the values and principles you expect from your team. Demonstrate integrity, dedication, and a commitment to your project’s goals. Be approachable and supportive, maintaining an open-door policy and culture of mutual respect and collaboration.

By implementing these strategies, you can create a team environment where morale remains high, and team members are motivated to contribute their best efforts towards achieving shared objectives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.onecommunityglobal.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onecommunityglobal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onecommunityupdates
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-community-global
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/onecommunityorg
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/onecommunityorg

Image Credits

One Community Global – www.onecommunityglobal.org