Doing “I Am Great” as Conscientious Entrepreneurs
If no one could see your hands, how many of you would raise yours if I asked you, “Do you want to be great?” You may need to dig down a few wounded layers to authentically raise or not raise your hand in response to this question. I know I do.
“I am great” is so egotistical and lone cowboyish to me. It is isolated and competitive. I think and cringe at the thought. I’ve witnessed so many offensive expressions of what I think fits the stereotype.
And . . . I want to matter; I want to make a difference in my life; I want to be the leader of my life; I want to express my purpose with passion; I want to be . . .
Last week, I mentioned a book I’ve been reading, Tribal Leadership, by Dave Logan, John King, and Halee Fischer-Wright.
Here’s the boiled down gist, as I see it:
1. We humans gather in one of five like-minded tribes relative to our sense of position and performance in life.
2. Each tribe is defined primarily on a common mood and language.
Level five: Innocent wonderment—”Life is great”
Level four: Tribal pride—”We’re great (and they’re not)”
Level three: Lone Warrior—”I’m great (and you’re not)”
Level two: Apathetic Victim—”My life sucks”
Level one: Despairing Hostility—”Life sucks”
3. Each human begins at level one and must experience and live within each tribe level sequentially. (You can’t jump from level two to four, darn it).
4. In the world, 49 percent of workplace tribes, or what the authors call “The Wild Wild West,” operate at level three–professional types, you know them, you may be one. (And that would include us entrepreneurial, do-it-yourself types, right?)
Wait a minute, we are heart-centered entrepreneurs. We’re not trampling over each other to get to some top spot. We’re not wanting to go toe-to-toe with everyone who might threaten our contribution, our intellectual property, our turf. We want to work together, to make a difference, to rise up our quality of life and those around us, to be generous.
But when you look at the levels defined, many of us are all about being great or getting to great through our individual contributions. Can my business succeed, do I have enough training, am I worth paying. All that stuff. And we don’t have much in the way of a “we” support system or team.
Mark and I had a conversation this week that ended in accepting that he and Heart of Business are solidly working from level three. And that I’ve been tirelessly trying to move the business, the team, to a level four consciousness without having fully stepped into level three consciousness here myself. Ugh!
I got it though, and the conversation has set off a reconfiguration of the dilithium matrix, for sure. (More on that in the coming weeks.)
So what the heck is my point? It’s worthwhile to reflect on and own the parts of our entrepreneurial hearts that want to be great. In turn, as heart-centered business people, it’s worth waking up to the places in us that add that second phrase: “. . . and you’re not.”
The other piece is knowing that stepping solidly into our sovereignty as business owners means that we are developing the skills and experience to move into levels four and five as we move forward in our purpose with passion.
I would love to join you if you feel moved to take this discussion further. Send me a PM if you start a thread.
See you in the Tent,
Kate
What’s New Friday, May 21st
Article: When the Speed of Business Has Left You In the Dust
Have you ever been pulled by a dog on a leash whose just seen a squirrel? These days, business technology can feel an awful lot like that bolting dog that’s tethered to us. Imagine the feeling of dropping the leash . . . Please read this article and then come to the Tent to discuss.
Article: Money’s Starring Role in the Creative Process
Okay, have you ever wondered what makes Mark “all gitchy-wah-wah”? How about the difference between Frederich, who needs cash, and Alberta, who also needs cash
but . . . Please read this article and then come to the Tent to discuss.
Article: When Making a Profit Feels Greedy and Selfish
Reality check. If you can feel guilty that having enough money is greedy, consider a different perspective. What is enough, and can you accept it graciously, even when you know the gross inequities in our world? Please read this article and then come to the Tent to discuss.
Tutorial/FAQ
We are in the process of creating the Tutorial/FAQ section, so please ask your questions about how this new-fangled thing works here. Questions about this new Oasis and Tent?
Plus, there are a number of discussions already starting up in the Tent:
Testimonials—Who, How, When, Where . . .
Tips on Building Social Sites?
Are U an Initiator, Coordinator or Finisher?
North Star?
You can see a list of all the most recent discussions here.
We have lots more planned coming up, see keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks. And, if you need something, give a holler! We’re here to help and make it easy for you.
Until next Friday, see you in The Tent.
