Creating with intention
What if the miracle never happens?
What if while you’re waiting, something better comes along but you miss it because you’re too focused on waiting for the first miracle to happen?
What if instead of waiting for the miracle, you took concrete steps towards making a dream come true?
What if the miracle isn’t what you need in the first place?
If you are counting on a miracle for your plan to work, chances are you should focus your energy elsewhere.
Travel isn’t just about a place, it’s about the people you meet along the way, and volunteering can be a wonderful way to connect. Not only will you learn more about the community, their culture, their struggles and their celebrations, you can help in a meaningful way — perhaps even leave a lasting impact.
But as a traveler, you have responsibility. You have responsibility for the choices you make, the businesses you support, the money you bring into a country and spend. For this reason, “voluntourism” programs are on the rise, hoping to capitalize on the hearts and checkbooks of do-gooders.
How do you find the right organization to volunteer with? Don’t be afraid of asking questions: what you’ll be doing, how you’ll be providing support, where your fees go. Be realistic about your skills and abilities and be open to the many different experiences that come along with entering a new culture. You may find yourself in potentially uncomfortable situations. Yes, pack your essentials and bring a few comforts to remind you of home, but don’t make comfort your first priority.
In travel and in business, put people first and be willing to step beyond the familiar.
What could happen?
What are you afraid of?
What’s the risk?
What’s the benefit?
Who would you disappoint?
What if they don’t like you?
What if they laugh?
What if you’re wrong?
Our culture is obsessed with success — mostly because success, as portrayed in media, is sandwiched between wealth and fame. This idealist notion of success, especially in terms of entrepreneurship, has extreme consequences. Hearing stories about those select few who have made millions can alter young entrepreneurs’ expectations of themselves and their perspectives on the future.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for most of my life, and I’ve been teaching skills associated with entrepreneurship for over ten years. In working with clients and students of varying ages, I’ve learned:
Emphasize progress, not results
Entrepreneurship is a long road filled with pivots, failures, hiatus, flashes of brilliance and extreme exhaustion. When successful outcomes are the only stories highlighted, the heavy lifting journey loses value. It is imperative that students learn the importance of sticking things through, even when challenges become great. Success rarely happens overnight, and students need to understand hard work, patience and determination.
Build autonomy
Autonomy is belief in ability; when a student develops skills that contribute to her autonomy, she builds confidence and independence. Research has shown that autonomous students are more motivated, make better decisions, and are more responsible than their peers. Groups exercises, presentations and debates can push students to find answers and perform, even (and especially) when they are nervous.
Encourage questions
Asking questions is an essential step in finding new ways of doing things and improving outdated products. When students learn to think critically, there is no end to what they can do. Students who acquire critical thinking skills are able to analyze arguments, evaluate information and transfer ideas from one environment to another. And in today’s world, when industries borrow from others and businesses must quickly adapt to changing market needs, these skills are essential.
Teach communication skills
The ability to communicate is one of the most valuable business tools. If a student can structure an essay and clearly articulate key points, that student can learn to write a pitch, compose sales emails and rehearse cold calls. Being able to communicate (and listen!) builds confidence and empathy. Both are necessary for entrepreneurs.
Find local role models
No matter where they are in the world, students have heard of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Introduce your students to local entrepreneurs. Tell your class stories about people in their neighborhood, people who have built something, kept it going and continue to show up day in and day out. Even better: invite these businesswomen and men to your classroom and set up a mentoring program.
Reward mistakes
Students need to understand that few, very few people, get it right on the first try. Products can be taken off market and rebranded, launches can happen more than once, sometimes you have to go back to the drawing board and start all over again. Talk to your students about famous people who failed but kept going. Teach students to edit and find their own mistakes instead of giving them paper with red ink scrawled all over the page. Work with them to identify where mistakes occurred so they don’t happen again.
Our world needs young people who are confident, who aren’t afraid to question, and who get back up after failing. It’s our duty to show them how to do it.
Without a clear list of priorities, you will be sidetracked. Fixed, clear goals help you say yes when it supports you and no when it derails you. Priorities steer your ship in the direction you want to go as oppose to being blown around by life’s unavoidable forces.
Commit to at least three areas in your life and move them to the top of your “to do” list. Once you have these goals identified, you can work backwards to set monthly, weekly and daily actions. After all, one hour each day adds up.
I was speaking with a fellow writer today. He has two kids, a humongous garden, several horses, two rambunctious dogs and a wife. “Commit to a schedule,” he said. “It’s the only way to get anything done.” He told me that we have to trick our minds. That by establishing the practice of sitting down and writing every day — even if it is two hours of futzing around with one paragraph — is important.
We commit to partners and pledge to causes and sign contracts. Why can’t we make a commitment to ourselves, to our art?
If you want to finish anything you’re proud of, you have to commit to it. Reserve that hour, set up a monthly schedule, make your work a priority. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t pay. It doesn’t matter if it feels selfish. This is your art. Commit to it.