“The other half of this is being clear about our intentions with anyone counting on you” - I feel like this is especially important with projects that work with vulnerable people.
I’ve seen too many bursts of inspiration strike well resourced people, who sweep into a community promising the world (often with a messiah complex), only to lose interest and leave them in the lurch.
Yup exactly!! I bet this is a familiar experience especially for anyone from the nonprofit world and/or folks who have been touched by one-off, grant-funded "outreach" initiatives only for them to disappear. I do think this is evidence of us all being in haywire relationship with the people around us; we swing from isolation to saviorship because we have no idea what is possible in the middle.
I am also thinking about how this thought, if taken in concentrate, also prevents ANY work from happening. Like, it's still a positive thing if you were able to distribute burritos a few weeks in a row to folks who need an extra meal even if you can't do it forever, maybe that was lunch they wouldn't have had otherwise, etc. It might be about 100 overlapping factors at once; the scale of what you're offering (i.e. is it just you or part of a bigger org), the scope of your promise, your relationship, the larger ecosystem in/out of play. Something I gotta noodle on more!
This is so good! FYI Elise I would love to join your community practice coworking time but I’m on the west coast and I’m never available until late morning. I would love a later in the day version!
Really good set of questions/parameters!
“The other half of this is being clear about our intentions with anyone counting on you” - I feel like this is especially important with projects that work with vulnerable people.
I’ve seen too many bursts of inspiration strike well resourced people, who sweep into a community promising the world (often with a messiah complex), only to lose interest and leave them in the lurch.
Yup exactly!! I bet this is a familiar experience especially for anyone from the nonprofit world and/or folks who have been touched by one-off, grant-funded "outreach" initiatives only for them to disappear. I do think this is evidence of us all being in haywire relationship with the people around us; we swing from isolation to saviorship because we have no idea what is possible in the middle.
I am also thinking about how this thought, if taken in concentrate, also prevents ANY work from happening. Like, it's still a positive thing if you were able to distribute burritos a few weeks in a row to folks who need an extra meal even if you can't do it forever, maybe that was lunch they wouldn't have had otherwise, etc. It might be about 100 overlapping factors at once; the scale of what you're offering (i.e. is it just you or part of a bigger org), the scope of your promise, your relationship, the larger ecosystem in/out of play. Something I gotta noodle on more!
damn i needed this
💜💜💜
Elise, I'm gonna share this with the Barnraisers crew! I have a feeling it's exactly what a bunch of folks need right now.
Ah I'm so glad to hear that!! Can't wait to hear what it brings up for them.
your newsletters are always so inspiring, thank you <3
This is so good! FYI Elise I would love to join your community practice coworking time but I’m on the west coast and I’m never available until late morning. I would love a later in the day version!
*West coast of the US
you got it!! Hopefully more GROUP HUG EVENT CO. in the works in 2025!
(and we'll miss you) :)