Episode 113: The Artisan Life – Serving the Greater Community

Finding Your Groove With Kathleen Thompson

As interesting as your work may be, sometimes it isn’t enough to keep you motivated. There’s an element of service. To your own community, as well as to the greater community. On this episode we explore different ways to serve with your work.

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On This Episode

Rhythm of Life – Virtual Reality Has Nothing on Me
Random Riffs – I Don’t Get the Enneagram
Feature Segment – Serving the Community at Large

Today’s Quote

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. –Mahatma Gandhi

Rhythm of Life – Virtual Reality Has Nothing on Me

You know those Virtual Reality scenes in a movie? Where the character flies from one place to another in a split second, when there’s no way it could happen in real life? It feels like my life’s a bit like that lately.

There are so many different facets to my life, that it’s hard to keep up. Or keep them straight. Stuff piles up on my desk because I don’t even have time to put away. Suddenly the desk has been swallowed up.

It’s not always like this. There are days where I focus on one thing and get completely in the flow.

It turns out that I need both in my life. Days of novelty or change. And times of concentration and flow. The problem is, there are so many distractions.

The phone, undone chores, to-do list, beautiful weather. Anything and everything can be distraction.

For me it’s often reading a book. For you it could be something else. What’s most insidious, though, is what we do that looks like work and feels like work…and isn’t the work that will actually move us down the field. It isn’t important to further progress. It’s busy work. And it’s a form of hiding.

Only you know for sure whether the work you’re doing is important – or hiding. It’s pretty easy to convince yourself of anything.

Random Riffs – I Don’t Get the Enneagram

People all over are asking me this question – what’s your Enneagram #? What’s an Enneagram you ask? A system that explains personality by splitting into 9 types. And something called a Wing.

Despite reading the entire book, I couldn’t decide what I was. I felt like a combination of 3 or 4 different options. When I tried to guess some of my closest friends, I couldn’t figure out what they were either.

I’ve found much better luck with DISC and Strengths Finders. Check them out if you’re interested.

Feature Segment – The Artisan Life: Serving the Greater Community

Jeff Goins and Stu McLaren weren’t motivated to make more money with their businesses. Until they discovered this – a great purposes. Not just the purpose for their business, as great as that is. No, an even greater purpose. To serve the community.

Jeff connected with a charity that was close to his heart. And Stu McLaren’s wife formed a charity that funds the construction and teacher for a school in Kenya.

Serving can come in different forms.

Active service:

• regular volunteer like my sister Ann at Pine Street Inn in Boston
• special event like a short-term missions trip
• Do your normal work for a charitable organization – like bookkeeping, teach music
• Or do something completely different – cook and serve at soup kitchen

Another option is with the business itself. If you run a company, you can get certified as a B Corporation. Combine profit and purpose.

Even if you’re not running a business, you could try and work at a B Corp or similar.

What else can you do beside active service? –Donate.

It could be money or goods. Direct or indirect. You’re only limited by your creativity. Listen to hear about how some famous and not-so-famous people serve their communities. And why not share your story of service, if you have one? Leave a comment or send an email to [e-mail].

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Serving the community with your work can be as rewarding as the work itself.
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Artisan Series

090: Why You Should Be an Artisan at Work
091: The Three C's of Artisanship
092: Are You a Creator, Consumer, or Critic?
093: Where to Start as an Artisan? With a MAP.
094: What's Your Signature Scent?
095: The Foundations of Craftsmanship
096: Follow Your Curiosity to Build Craftsmanship
097: Craftsmanship Requires Change
098: Building Craftsmanship – When it Gets Hard
099: Building Craftsmanship – Take Care of Your Tools
101: Building Craftsmanship – Be an Apprentice
102: Building Craftsmanship – Practice
103: 4 Habits That Foster Creativity
104: Time for Wonder
105: Forget the Big Bang Theory
106: Constraints Ignite Creativity
107: Seal Creativity With a KIS
108: Creativity: One Ring to Rule Them All
109: Creativity: What's Old is New Again
110: Creativity: Create Your Own Seal
111: Community: The Beauty of Collaboration
112: Community in an Artisan Collective

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