Activism, Business and what my mentor told me

One of our clients recently came to the decision to stop participating in a volunteer project in order to focus on her business. This was a hard decision to come to, and because she was the lead on that project, it means risking that no one else will step into the void and the project may come crashing down.

So many of the critical issues that we hold dear as human beings depend on volunteer effort, and when you also have a business you are trying to grow, it can seem like a real struggle between one part of your heart and another.

There are some critical issues, as we all know, some of which are urgent and just won’t wait. Issues of social and economic justice have become extremely visible this past week to many people who weren’t seeing them before.

We have to engage, and yet I recommend we also see the struggle between your business and any volunteering or activism for what it is: developmental.

In our ecovillage, there are families with very young children (ages 1-2) and families with older kids, and some with no kids at all. Naturally the families with young kids can give a lot less of their time now to community projects, and everyone understands that. And the kids will grow up.

(This is specific to this situation, and doesn’t attempt to speak to situations where someone is disabled or has other factors impacting their ability to give time/effort – and they are welcome in our community as well.)

For instance my son is sitting reading a book as I type this. Two years ago this wouldn’t have been possible, and I would have been sitting with him instead of writing this.

Human beings often fall into the trap of thinking that the way it is RIGHT NOW is how it will always be, and any choices you make are permanent. It’s a painful way to live because it robs us of the medicine of hope, and makes us fearful to try things out and experiment.

When a business is at an early stage of development and needs extra care, you have less time to give. If you focus on business building for a few years and get it into a more stable place, you’ll have more time again to volunteer.

I didn’t do much volunteering at all the first 4 years of my kids’ life, and I didn’t do much volunteering the first few years of my business’ life.

But before that I volunteered a LOT. I ran a completely volunteer magazine, I did street level activism and protests, and was involved in activism at a national level.

One of my earliest mentors in activism, the inestimable Lani Ka’ahumanu, told me that things don’t change quickly, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. You have to take care of yourself or you’re not going to be around for the long haul.

It’s coming back around for me – both my kids and my business are further along that developmental path. I’m volunteering on several committees in our ecovillage (though still not as timely as I want to be with my assigned tasks). I had been active with 350PDX when I was in Portland, and now here in Ithaca I’m reaching out to SURJ, and about to join our local fire department.

Trust, it will come back around. It’s not a permanent decision, it’s a decision of focus in the stage you are in.

If your business is at an earlier stage of development and you don’t have the time you want to volunteer, here are things you can do.

1. Identify your values, what’s important to you. Is it social justice? Is it the environment? We all depend on everything, but in terms of an individual’s work we’re allowed to focus.

2. Find organizations who are already doing that work. As a visionary you may be used to embracing things with both arms and being super-involved. Instead, learn moderation. Is there some small way you can contribute? An hour a month? Less? Little bits of help when you can are important.

Then, you are connected to an organization, and when something big comes along, or you have space open up, you can plug in more easily because the relationship is already forged, instead of spending all of your spare time just figuring out where to plug in.

3. If you have it, give money. $10/month can mean a lot to a small organization, especially if there are 100 or 1000 or 100,000 of us doing it.

4. Speak up. In the course of your business you’ll have opportunities to speak to people, in person, on social media. Don’t just talk about business, talk about the things you care about, and that can include the issues important to you and not just hobbies or personal interests.

A lot of this is obvious, and you may have already thought of it. What you may not have done is given yourself permission to really care for your business as it develops, and to engage in the world the way that you can.

Once your business does develop, and it will!, you’ll be in a more stable, and probably more flexible place schedule-wise, than if you had given up your business and just gotten a job.

The world is facing many urgent issues, make no doubt about it. We need all of our voices and hands doing the work to create a truly beautiful society built on justice and love.

And, as Lani told me, the work won’t be done by this weekend, or this year. Walk your path, live your life, and remember that love is the fuel to action that bears fruit worth eating.

p.s. Start with The Heart of Your Business

Your business can thrive, with love, but it needs you to show up in a healthy relationship with it. It starts with heart and returns to the heart, and in between there’s a lot of work that arises out of love. When we forget the love, and lose the heart, all of that work drains our life and, even if the business “succeeds” it’s not sustainable or nourishing. And often it doesn’t succeed.

I really recommend, for everyone to get right with the heart of your business, and to really take in the big picture. And because I think everyone needs it, it’s why we’re offering this program at pay-what-you-want pricing, what we call “Pay from the Heart.”

Check it out here: The Heart of Your Business.

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And always feel free to take a look at the full menu, everything from DIY home study programs, affordable group programs, to highly personalized coaching.

Click: Heart of Business Training Programs

Let me know if you have any questions.

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Heart of Business Community Update

As a community member, here’s quick access to resources and conversation!

Marilyn Yohe’s case study is a look into when you’ve done a lot, but truly only one piece is missing to make it all work. Check out this month’s Case Study and see what resonates for you!

In our Facebook group yet? 

In our Facebook group, here are some discussions happening right now:

• Have you found yourself needing to make a choice between community service and supporting your business? Join the conversation with other Community members and share your thoughts.
• So many horrific events happening worldwide – how are you supporting yourself and others during these challenging times? Check out what your fellow Community members are sharing now!

These are just 2 of the many discussions happening every day in our active, compassionate group! Don’t yet have access? Click here. 
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