Kindred Spirits

I've often talked about kindred spirits in the context of community. These are like-minded people who will further your thinking. They take you on an unexpected and better path than you could take by yourself.

In the spring of 2008, I put together a team of consultants with expertise and talent in four areas--marketing, networking, technology, and community-building.  Over the past five years, these areas have played a part in running a successful business as a coach and consultant. More importantly, focusing on these areas has given me a bigger voice in the crowded marketplace of ideas and solopreneurs.  I've been able to attract my tribe.

I not only hired consultants. I found kindred spirits. While we each had different areas of expertise, the common ground for this team was a shared passion for giving full expression to one's wisdom, stories, and dreams. It was the start of the community for A Bigger Voice: 

I found Beth Wallace, our community-building lead, right under my nose. Beth was my deep-thinking editor for a book that never came to fruition. In addition to being a writing coach, she is a life coach with a voice that envelops you like a warm blanket on a cold winter morning.  Beth understands how communities grow and thrive because she's been part of communities all her life, both online and offline, as instigator, as participant, and as observer.

I met Bill Silverman, our marketing lead, when he enthusiastically raised his hand (through email) to work on another initiative oozing with meaning--the Conscious Living, Conscious Leaving podcast. (I started this podcast as a way to spread the wisdom from interviews I had done with a friend dying of ALS.) Bill is an experienced branding and marketing professional, as well as a life coach, with a penchant for understanding the big picture and a gift for dreaming into the future.

Connected through a friend of a friend of a friend, I knew within ten minutes of talking with Ellen Ingraham that she not only understood networking, she lived it. Ellen networks, not because it benefits her (which it eventually does,) but because it's joyful. Yes, joyful.

I found Simon Young half way around the world in New Zealand, in the middle of the night, surfing a Squidoo lens about digital coaches. Simon is a social media consultant and freelance journalist, with a friendly face and manner that makes technology approachable, even understandable.

Our community is growing.  Tomorrow, you'll see a new look and feel for this blog, along with the addition of Beth, Bill, Ellen, and Simon as bloggers. I hope that we also see more kindred spirits show up. Tell us a bit about yourself, either with an email, community [at] abiggervoice.com or by clicking on the comment link below.

Comments

[Pete Wendel]

I've been a follower of A Bigger Voice ever since my sons, Chris and Tim, 'got me on to it' several months ago. The idea of builing a community is a fascinating concept.

Over the past couple of weeks, it occured to me that there is an interesting parallel between A Bigger Voice and a blog/newsletter called the Leland Report (LR). The LR focuses on the county just northwest of Traverse City Michigan - an area often called 'the little finger of Michigan because it extends into and is nearly fully sourrounded by Lake Michigan. LR is published daily by Keith Burhans - a photographer and retired engineer - who takes a picture every day, gives a little update on the weather and local happenings and provides a spot for folks to make comments.

Leelanau is a beautiful, pristine country side with bright skies, rolling wooded hills and clean, clear blue water. It's a magical vacation spot that people come to every year and then long to be there the rest of the year! LR becomes their connection to the area when they aren't there.

The distribution of LR is now over 5500 - up from about 2000 a few years ago! Keith, by publishing the Leland Report has, to my thinking, created a COMMUNITY similar to what ABV is prescribing. The common thread is the connection of people from all over the world who have a 'sweet spot in their hearts' for the Leland area.

You can check it out at http://www.lelandreport.com/index.asp?indate=10/14/2008

'Nuff said.'

Pete Wendel

[Carol Ross]

Hi Pete,

Thanks so much for making that connection between the Leland Report and creating a community. I can see from the notes left by visitors that it is indeed a group of people who enjoy this vacation spot and want to stay connected to it.

I hope you continue to provide your insights, ask questions, and contribute to the conversation here. Thanks again for stopping by.

And for those of you who may not have made the connection, Pete's sons, Chris and Tim, were part of the pilot for A Bigger Voice. We're so glad that we had the opportunity to work with them!