Last week Steve Mattus, our Director of Education, outlined some changes that are coming, which we’re all excited about. To continue in that vein, I wanted to explain a critical concept that’s called a Community of Practice.
Most spiritual paths name “community” as a necessary part of the path. Buddhism talks about “sangha,” for Islam it’s the “umma” (pronounced “ooma”), in some forms of paganism groups of practitioners are formed into “covens.” Whatever your language for it, the idea that spiritual travelers find the most progress and nourishment when traveling together is nearly universal.
One of the peculiarities of micro businesses, especially the self-employed, is that so much of the journey is solo. Even for a small team like we have here at Heart of Business, as wonderful as it is to have team mates, sometimes it’s not enough to feel fully supported in all the ways that a larger community can offer.
Recently we stumbled upon the language of a “Community of Practice.” And the clarity that had been coming into focus sharpened suddenly for us.
Spiritual transformation, what some might call “realization,” “enlightenment” or “awakening,” is not the work of a day or a month. It takes time, and consistent practice.
The truth is that anything worth having is the same. Relationships. Skills. Businesses.
Until a business reaches a place of sustained momentum, with the support, systems and audience to maintain that, then it remains fragile. I’ve seen people, fairly successful in business, switch focus or take extended time off, or simply take their eyes off the basics for a long time, and the business backslides, and runs dry.
What we know to be true is that it takes 18 months at an absolute minimum, and more like 3-4 years to build a business up to that point of sustained momentum. We’ve seen this over and over and over again.
It would be crazy, CRAZY, exhausting, destructive to be intensely pushing forward those 3-4 years. You have to be able to honor your own rhythms of more productive times, and less productive/more inward times. And yet you do need to stay focused.
What’s needed is compassionate accountability.
Compassionate, in that you aren’t being shoved forward relentlessly, at a pace that is harmful to you, or out of sync with your own intuition.
Accountability, so that you aren’t going to sleep, so that you aren’t choosing the ease of inaction, when the discomfort of pushing boundaries, of showing up in new ways, and of just continuing to apply love and action is what your business is calling for.
This is where a Community of Practice comes in, to help provide compassionate accountability. Within our Community of Practice we’ll be focusing on three areas:
(1) Work schedule. We’re going to be helping people find a work schedule that best supports their own creativity, productivity and intuition. People who are self-employed can struggle mightily with having a productive work-from-home schedule.
(2) Nourishment. Far more than the easy-to-ignore “self-care,” nourishment needs to happen at three levels: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
(3) Compassionate Accountability. I discussed it above, but actual structures so that both compassion and accountability are present, and your business keeps moving forward into sustained momentum.
(Interested? Stay tuned. It’s all coming. If you want to be in on the new implementations as they happen, join our Community or our Clients and Money program.)
What’s been your experience of finding a healthy work schedule, keeping yourself nourished on all levels, and consistently moving forward?
With love,
Mark
p.s. Last week Steve also mentioned that we would be raising the price of our F1: Clients and Money program. Because our original deadlines were ambitious, and we may not hit them (ready to go by June 1), we’re not sure yet if the price rise will take effect June 1 or later. Either way, it’s coming.
If you’ve contemplated joining our Clients and Money program, please take advantage of the current pricing and join us. Enroll this month, and you’ll start the first Monday in May. Click: Clients and Money for more information.
p.p.s. Not sure what your business needs? Take our free Readiness Assessment and get a personal reply from us.
9 Responses
Hi Mark, As a small business owner I often struggle with finding a healthy work schedule whilst watching my energy levels or keeping myself nourished, as you call it. Your “Community of Practice” sounds great and very helpful. Can I suggest a fourth area: I regularly need help with getting back on track and re-focussing on what’s actually important (for my business and my whole life). It’s like re-gaining a bird’s eye view on what’s actually going on. In my business and private life, challenges pop up all the time, it is so easy to get side tracked. It’s like getting washed away by big waves and somebody helps you back on your feet. I can be so overwhelmed by what’s going on, that I totally lose focus. At least every 4 weeks, I need a check-up in with my mastermind buddies to re-focus and calm my confused mind. Perhaps this is covered with your (1) / work schedule?
Yes- big picture/strategic view is so important, Jutta. And I would put that under Compassionate Accountability. There are many things to be accountable to, including returning to the big vision.
This is exciting! Thank you!
Yay!
For me, it’s an uphill battle on all fronts. I work nightshift 4 nights a week just to pay my bills. Then I struggle to get anything done the other 3 days, shoehorning in necessary chores, family, etc. There’s not a lot left over for progress on getting a business started! At this point, there’s no such thing as a healthy schedule.
As for community, because my life is essentially on opposite timing to everyone else, I don’t have one.
That doesn’t mean I’m going to toss in the towel, though.
Karin- that sounds so hard! I can’t imagine having the wherewithal personally to start a business, access to creativity alone. Compassion and hugs to you.
Yes! This is just what I have been thinking about and needing for months! I have an intention to set a work schedule that balances nourishment, and all the in’s and outs of managing a business, while also seeing clients, but I have not been able to land on anything yet. I seem to plow ahead with sessions when times are busy, then get caught up on other things when it is slower. I’d like to find a better balance with this. I am very eager to see how these elements come into being in the Community. So grateful for you all!
Hi Sarah- yes! that can be challenging flow to imagine and put into place. 🙂 And I’m looking forward to the beta test.
Wow Mark, this is just amazing!
I agree, many people get too content and allow detrimental habits to arise like taking too much time off and eventually that leads to a downward spiral of failure!
I especially liked your 3 “pillars” (as i’d call them), it really hit me hard. Work Schedule, Nourishment and Compassionate Accountability are so important, for both the individual and the survivability of a business, and I enjoyed how you explained them, so good work and keep it up!