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Showing up for yourself

For over two decades, I’ve been helping people set goals. Whether I was working with clients on probation or coaching entrepreneurs building communities, there has always been a common hurdle. This might sting a bit.

When it comes to setting goals and achieving them, we are great at coming up with excuses. I don’t have the money. I don’t have the time. I’m not gifted enough. I don’t have many followers. I didn’t get the degree. It’s already been done.

As difficult as it might be to hear, it isn’t usually that thing, and the excuse you’re making is just that — an excuse. Plenty of artists and business owners learn to create in spite of tremendous hurdles and obstacles. If you need proof, check out A Beautiful Constraint. It’s recommended reading for altMBA participants for good reason.

It’s us. We get in our own way. If we ask enough questions and peel back the layers, eventually the excuses can’t stand. You owe it to yourself to show up for yourself and your dreams. Ten minutes a day can build momentum that spills over into other areas of your life. A daily journaling practice can help you find the courage and confidence to work on a business plan. A daily doodle can lead to a finished painting. Weekly blog posts can become a book.

Make a promise to yourself to show up, even if it is for five minutes. If you need help getting started, Amie McNee has generously put together a list of 31 prompts to inspire you to put pen to paper. 

Let me know how it goes.

Community is good business

When I log onto LinkedIn, I see a slew of “Community Manager” job postings. It’s taken awhile, but businesses have finally realized the value of community. The problem? Building community isn’t easy.

Maybe you’re trying to build platforms to encourage discussion and facilitate learnings. Perhaps you’re wanting to bring together like-minded individuals and introduce professionals with complementary viewpoints. Or you’re needing support yourself and craving the encouragement of those with common interests.

How should you begin?

Revisiting your why can help you focus on the work and your audience — not your own insecurities, anxieties, or ego. No community is built overnight; it takes time to establish trust and reputation within any group of people. And most likely, you will have to step outside of some comfort zones.

Whether you’re growing an online community or building a network within your neighborhood, you’ll be faced with tactical choices. How do you communicate? What are the rules of engagement? Are finances needed? How much energy and time is required from participants? When cultivating community (or looking for communities to join) consider these prompts:

Think of the communities you are part of. How do you show up? What do you gain? What do you offer? Who are you meeting?

Think of the communities you grow. What do they expect from you? Why are they there? What are they hoping to learn? Who would they like to meet?

Let me know how this exercise works for you. I’d recommend a solid fifteen minutes of free-writing. Don’t edit yourself, just go!