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Tag: community

Now is the time to think about the Connection Economy — and your role in it (a free workshop)

Seth Godin dubbed the phrase “Connection Economy” to encourage meaningful relationships that inspire art, community efforts, and the pursuit of worthwhile work.

Right now it’s easy to feel stuck. It’s more important than ever before to be kind and present and approach others with consideration and respect.

We live in a moment in which the internet spreads information quickly (for better and for worse). We can use this to our advantage to help each other.

Task 1. Build a group

You want people who can call you out, people who can serve as your cohort and personal sounding board as you make moves (or sit on the coach and try to find a new Netflix series). We all have unique talents and traits to share; a group offers support, accountability, and the ability to help you level up. These people can let you know when you’re on track and nudge you gently should you veer off course.

Whether one other person or four, enlist a few friends. Ask, “Will you try something with me?”

Task 2. Designate a time

Set a day and time and commit. Make the details known.

Everyone is struggling with responsibilities, house work, inner battles. Make each other a priority and respect everyone’s time. You can choose to meet once a week or on Mondays and Fridays, for example.

Task 3. Finalize your reading list

You can find many books online. I’ve listed a few here as suggestions. If you have a book that has been important to you, use that one instead.

Sample list:
Linchpin
Poke the Box workbook
Superconnect
Business Model Generation
E Myth Revisited
4 Hour Work Week
Creatively Independent
Make Your Idea Matter
Host an unforgettable dinner party

Task 4: Put it into practice

The activities are designed to get you out of your comfort zone and reinforce what you’re reading. If you feel inspired to add your own twist, please do. The most important action is to set aside time for writing.

The writing prompts provide creative direction. Use what is helpful and change what isn’t. Not everything works for everyone.

FIRST MEETING

Reading: Bernadette Jiwa’s Make Your Idea Matter
Project: Tear out photos, images, and words from newspapers and magazines. Look for anything that inspires you. Rearrange the clippings onto a new piece of paper.
Writing exercise: Set your alarm for ten minutes and choose one prompt:

  • Imagine your dream life. Write down everything it entails. It doesn’t need to be complete sentences or thoughts, words are fine.
  • Write a series of questions. Every question you can think of. They don’t need to make sense, and you don’t need to have the answers. Just ask.

Group discussion: What is the difference between storytelling and dreaming? Do you set aside time to dream? What are some of the stories you tell yourself about yourself?

SECOND MEETING

Reading: Tim Ferriss’ 4 Hour Work Week
Project: Do something new. Cook a different recipe. Sign up for an online class. Find a new place to explore using Google Maps.
Writing exercise: If you could do anything, anywhere, what would it be?

Group discussion: How do you define work/life balance? Is a distinction necessary? What helps you set better boundaries between work and home?

THIRD MEETING

Reading: Seth Godin’s Poke the Box workbook
Project: Print out the workbook and try to complete it in thirty minutes.
Writing exercise: Notice areas of hesitation while you complete the workbook. Is a particular topic more challenging than others?

Group discussion: What stops you from shipping? How do you get in your own way?

FOURTH MEETING

Reading: Project Exponential’s Host an unforgettable dinner party
Project: Plan an online dinner party. Get creative.
Writing exercise: Set your alarm for ten minutes. Choose one:

  • What are the traits you admire in others?  What are the traits you’re most proud of in yourself?
  • Assemble an imaginary Dream Team. You get five players. Who do you choose? What skills do they bring to your team?

Group discussion: What kind of people belong on your Dream Team? Who inspires you? Discuss how teams are formed and which environments contribute to their development.

FIFTH MEETING

Reading: Jess Pillmores’s Creatively Independent
Project: Challenge yourself to write the first draft of your very own ebook.
Writing exercise: Consider the uniqueness that you bring to your work, your relationships, and your family. What are the traits that single you out?

Group discussion: How do you stay inspired? What techniques have you found to be helpful during the goal setting process?

SIXTH MEETING

Reading: E Myth Revisited and/or Business Model Generation
Project: Brainstorm how you might turn $10 into $100.
Writing exercise: Write out a sample business plan. What would you do if you had no excuses, no responsibilities? Think back to the days of mowing lawns, selling lemonade, or babysitting.

Group discussion: How would things be different if you set aside time to write, dream, explore, or learn?

Modified from A Free Program posted February 26, 2013.

If dinner conversations can change the world

Social media is abuzz with prevailing issues. How to provide platforms for underrepresented voices. How to protect those speaking out against injustice. How to tip scales and create balanced systems of power.

Maybe it’s overwhelming to expect or look for answers. Maybe the best we can do is focus on finding solutions through awareness. From awareness comes discussion.

If people aren’t encouraged to tell their stories for fear of retribution or alienation or ostracism, how can we fight for change? If derogatory names are spat freely, if media remains unmonitored and unchecked, how will anyone find the people they need — those to assemble, those who create, those who listen.

One day, legislative change. For today, maybe it starts with a conversation at dinner.

7 essential benchmarks for progress

Inspiration

Who and what inspires you? Where do you go to find inspiration?

Motivation

What keeps you pushing and moving forward? What sustains you through hard times?

Support

What do you need to feel supported? How can you get even more?

Commitment

What does commitment mean to you? What can you to commit to? For how long?

Feedback

What do you need to feel appreciated and valued? How do you know what you’re doing is working?

Guidance

Who do you look up to and from where do you receive advice?

Nourishment

What keeps you strong, both mind and body? Where will you learn and how will you grow?

Celebrating all entrepreneurs and creatives

To those who refuse to give up, those who won’t turn their backs on dreams;

Those who wake at all hours of the night with a new idea, a new vision, a new challenge to solve;

Those who push past naysayers and doubters, who instead choose to listen to their own voice, no matter how small the whisper;

To those brave enough to return to the drawing board, pick up the pen, revisit, redraw, rewrite, edit for the 1,237th time;

To those who build communities of people with energy and light, people who champion innovators and creators;

To those who cheer on others just like them, others choosing life of action over apathy —

You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.

Keep going.

The lost art of looking back (plus a 5-year anniversary)

Anniversaries are a wonderful time for reflection; unfortunately, most entrepreneurs (myself included) are often too focused on task lists, what still hasn’t been done, the goals that are yet to be achieved.

As the five year anniversary of Learning House grows near, I find myself combing through photos and memories. It’s emotional to think about all the people who have helped foster and shape this community from a seed of a dream. (If you’re interested about stats and numbers, I’ll be posting on our nonprofit’s page soon; impressive, like so many of the people we work alongside and serve).

The biggest visions come with challenges and frustrations and disappointments and even moments of despair. But there are flashes of promise and success, too.

Failing to set aside time to appreciate those moments can lead to burnout. It’s a refreshing gift to look back and see all that’s been done.

Yes, focus on your goals. Yes, take daily steps in the direction of progress and improvement. But please, make time for reflection.

Share gratitude with others.

In the upcoming weeks, we will be posting some memories and stories from the past five years on Facebook. I’d love to invite you to follow along and celebrate with us.

1:1 coaching – in person or online

After receiving so many requests to “pick my brain,” I’m offering one-on-one coaching slots, both in-person and online. We can talk about community building, organizing, branding, marketing, personal development, and more.

What’s available:

  • New York, New York (face-to-face – limited slots available)
  • Denver-Boulder, Colorado (face-to-face – limited slots available)
  • Worldwide – Zoom or Skype call (live and online)

If you’d like to schedule time with me or wonder how I might help you, send me a note. I enjoy watching others make the most out of life.