A Bigger Voice

Do You Know the Entrepreneur's Secret Weapon?

Most entrepreneurs know they need to be heads down, focused, in order to achieve their goals.  And along the way they see the value of having their ducks in a row---whether it's identifying who they are trying to attract or crafting a compelling message or developing a solid business model. 

The entrepreneur's secret weapon has nothing to do with planning or working hard and everything to do with being in the moment and playing. It's the art of improvisation.

A year ago, I interviewed Patricia Ryan Madson, author of Improv Wisdom, for this blog. She's a wisdom entrepreneur intent on bringing the wisdom of improv to help people in their every day lives. Little did I know that I would come back to her book a year later, spurred on by the insight that improv could help me as an entrepreneur.

The story starts about a month ago. Burned out from my recent start-up, My Alumni Link, business was no longer fun. The joy had been squeezed out of this project, in direct correlation to the tightness of my grip on controlling the results.  "Must have X number of registrants for my webinar series."  "Series must be flawlessly executed, from reminder emails for participants to the VOIP technology used to listen to the webinars to visually enticing slides." And on and on it went.

With the encouragement of a friend, I signed up for an improv workshop, one that I had been pining over since I tried to take it three years ago, got sick, and had to cancel. Since then, my Gremlin had kept my creative muse shuttered, believing that there was never a good time to spend an evening and a day, just playing, with others. And especially not during the the weekend before the start of my webinar series. 

That weekend, I found my mojo again. I was like a traveler in the desert who found water, and had forgotten how water was essential to life. I laughed. I cried.  I made quirky sounds and moved my body in odd ways, with a quickness that felt foreign but exhilarating. I was asked to show and embrace intense emotion--joy, frustration, anger, compassion--as a way to expand my emotional range when improvising. It was ten times more than I usually express in my daily life. It felt good to clean off the emotional barnacles that had built up over months and leave with a fresh coat of paint. I tapped into my imagination, the things I couldn't see but which I had to feel my way through. I signed up for another class the following weekend.

More importantly, when I got back in the office, I was calm and refreshed.  I didn't have the need to do, but rather to enjoy what I was doing or not do it. I learned to say "Yes, and" to whatever was showing up.  Improv got me back in the flow of the Universe, instead of trying to control or resist it. Now, I'm the raft riding the river, instead of the rock in the middle, being worn down over time.

Why is this so important as an entrepreneur? Because entrepreneurship is a journey down the river. There will be ups and downs and all kinds of surprises. No matter how well you prepare, things will not go as planned. You think you've got it figured out and here comes another rapid, swirling around you. It threatens to take you into the undertow, unless you stay alert to conditions of the moment, and know how to pop out and get back into the flow of the river. Photo by Rob and Jules

There's a passage from Patricia's book, Improv Wisdom, that I've underlined and marked with a bright pink Post-It note. Here it is:

"A good improviser is someone who is awake, not entirely self-focused, and moved by a desire to do something useful and give something back and who acts upon this impulse."  

Let this be a guidepost for entrepreneurs everywhere. Give yourself the gift of improv and if not that, learn the lessons of improv with Patricia's book, Improv Wisdom.

Traps That Wisdom Entrepreneurs Can Fall Into

As a wisdom entrepreneur, there are many places where I can get stuck. Here are a few of traps that I fall into:

• Skimping on "dream" time. This is a big one for me. As someone who likes to get things done, I can rush through the phase of dreaming about what I want, envisioning how things could look differently. I settle for a "rough sketch" of the future or worse yet, a small dream, and move on to tactics and implementation. Stay in the dreaming phase as long as you can stand it. Revel in possibilities and what ifs. Give your imagination a work out. Photo by MysticMoon14

• Relying on observation instead of action. Finding great examples to inspire and model after are great. But eventually, you have to figure out the solution to your specific situation by moving into action. Success is created experientially, not theoretically. I once had a coaching instructor say to me, "Carol, you can't just be an observer of life. You have to be a participant."  Be a participant. Try stuff out and see what happens.

• Action that's not grounded in essence. I can get caught up in the doing, without being grounded in the essence or core of why I'm doing something. This is otherwise known as "being busy." If you find yourself frenetic, with no feeling of progress, go back to the core of your message, the essence of your idea.  Essence relates more to feeling than thinking. Once you have the feeling, then bring in purpose. Align essence with purpose with action. If you have trouble aligning those three, reassess the need for action.Photo by jurvetson

• Losing the essence altogether. I have to admit that this is probably where I've been for the last few weeks. While focused on building a new business related to my Networking Naturally Program, I lost sight of the essence of A Bigger Voice. I forgot about the magic that comes with building a community, how the seed of an idea can blossom into something larger than a single individual, how communities can produce unexpected and stunning results.  It wasn't until I caught up with a couple of our pilot clients from last year, and heard how the concepts of A Bigger Voice have been put into practice, that I got excited about working on ABV again. In the next few weeks, I'll post portions of my interview with the Wendel brothers, Chris and Tim.

You may be wondering, "How does this relate to the three phases of A Bigger Voice?"

We can know the recipe but still be reluctant to cook. We can follow the steps but not know what it is we are preparing. We can lack the anticipation and excitement of imagining what the dish will taste and look like when it's done. We can forget that we are hungry, more hungry than we know. The three phases of A Bigger Voice--Crystallize, Build Community, and Sustain--provide the recipe. Just like a cook sees the recipe as the start, so should the wisdom entrepreneur see A Bigger Voice--as a roadmap for a long and wonderful journey.

Which trap have you been falling into lately? 

Photo by erix!

Being Scrappy and Running a Marathon

These are just two lessons I've been learning recently with my new venture, My Alumni Link. It's too new for a website but the business stems from success with the Networking Naturally Program.

Whether you are a wisdom entrepreneur or a traditional entrepreneur, here are a few lessons to keep in mind:

1. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I forget and want everything in the next  release of the product. I forget and think that I have full control of the Universe. I forget and feel driven by deadlines instead of common sense. Photo by epimetheus.
2. Be scrappy. Make every dollar count on the expense side, independent of how many dollars are coming in. Look for value. See what you can get for free before deciding to spend money.
3. Build to what's good enough. Don't over engineer. This is related to number 2. The perfect solution may not be noticeably different from the good enough solution in the eyes of the customer (or the community member). 
4. Put one foot in front of another. It's easy to get overwhelmed if I think everything that needs to be done to launch a business (or a community.) Juggling sales, marketing, business process work, and product development can drive you nuts. But if I only look at what needs to be done today, and tomorrow, and this week, it's manageable. 
5. Networking requires patience and rewards me with magical results. I've done my share of networking recently to find allies, collaborators, and customers for My Alumni Link. Things don't always move as fast as I would like, and that's okay. I've been blessed with incredible support from my network, especially when I ask for what I need. 
6. Create plans and goals but don't be attached to the outcome. I figured this one out in time to rescue my sanity. This is where the task master in me can go off the deep end. ("No you cannot go for a bike ride! You have more emails to send!" Ughh....)
7. Focus on creativity. I used to think money fueled growth.  But I found out it's the power of the mind to create something from nothing, to meet a user need, that results in growth. Photo by Bohman.
8. Understand your break even point. Know what Plan B is. Without that, I ended up chasing imaginary goals and numbers. Urgent or not? Necessary or not? I had no idea.
9. Take a warm lead. Always. This relates to number 5. One person leads you to another to another. If you can get introduced, even if it takes going through two or three people along the way, it's worth it.
10. Work on yourself. Taking care of your mind, body, and spirit is just as important as working on your business or your cause. Time to rest and rejuvenate is just as important as time to focus and get down to work.

I love being an entrepreneur. I used to think it was all about creative freedom. What I'm experiencing is the joy of the learning curve, the delight of meeting new people, and the magic of how the pieces come together, when I least expect it.

Tomorrow, I journey to Houston to give a talk on "Finding Your Voice" at the Juvenile Arthritis annual conference. More learning, new connections and seeing the pieces fit together. Fun!

Photo by alicepopkorn-busy

The Stunning Result of 10+ Years of Work

My friend, Dave, sent me this video of land that was recently designated for public use in Traverse City, Michigan. It's a pristine piece of property on a peninsula jutting into the Grand Traverse Bay, that includes meadow and virgin forests and the remnants of a long-forgotten orchard. Dave and many others worked for over a decade to take the property from private ownership to public caretaking. Last November, with a ballot initiative that passed, the fruits of their labors were realized.

When I was in Traverse City last September, Dave and I walked parts of this property. It's lovely. I enjoyed seeing from the video what it looks like at other times of the year. BTW--Dave tells me that the music to the video is original and was composed by a fellow community member and music instructor at the reknowned Interlochen Arts Academy.  Another mark of community is the giving of one's gifts to the larger cause that the community embraces.



I've never asked Dave point-blank why he worked for so long on this project. I'm sure there were times when his enthusiasm waned and his frustration level rose like a childhood fever. My guess is that even he wouldn't be able to fully articulate why he hung in there for so long.

When passion takes hold, I am smart to follow and see where it leads me. Logic becomes secondary to what my heart tells me is important. In the end, I know of no other way to respond, in a way that keeps me congruent and in alignment with my deepest beliefs--about what is right or who I am. I'm guessing that Dave feels the same way.

Are You Worth Following?

When I first started working on A Bigger Voice, back in December 2007, I discounted the role of personal leadership/development in turning an idea into a sustainable movement. I was more concerned with what wisdom entrepreneurs need to do, rather than how they need to be.  Ironic, given that I've been a professional coach since 2003.  Photo by HaPe_Gera

My pet peeves in working with social entrepreneurs--places where they shoot themselves in the foot:

• Not committed.  See my post about why commitment trumps passion.
• Not respecting the power of grassroots and/or obsessed with power at the top to create change.
• Focused on the "big bang" of an event (front end) instead of the long-term conversation (back end).
• Thinking that someone else needs to make the first move before change can happen.

This is all about your head game--how you view the world, how you are being.

Seth Godin sums this up very nicely in his newest book, Tribes. He asks the question:

Are you worth following?

Indeed. If you're not committed, if you only are in it for the big bang, if you can only see power at the top, if you keep waiting for someone else to make the first move, you're not worth following. Pure and simple.

If you are passionate about creating change in the world, pause to assess whether you are worth following. Leave a comment below. I want to hear not only where you come up short, but where you really shine.

Photo by jhdtolentino

Why Commitment Trumps Passion

One of my big lessons this last year was this:

Passion is not enough to change the world.

That might sound strange, coming from a coach, whose job is to help people find their passion. I've met plenty of passionate people, individuals who found the thing that makes them jump out of bed in the morning. The thing they formed a non-profit around. The thing they can't stop talking about. Yet passion is not enough.

Commitment is needed. In fact, commitment trumps passion, time, authority, money, and most anything else you can think of.

I recently saw Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, speak in Denver at the Paramount Theatre. I wish I had taken my teenage sons to hear him speak. Mortenson has that impact on people. He inspires them, not with his words, but with his actions and for lack of a better word, with his presence.

What hit me between the eyes was encountering someone who is the essence of commitment. It's rare to see someone who devotes his life to a single purpose. In Mortenson's case, his mission is to create peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan, by providing education for children, especially girls, in those countries.

Commitment looks like this:

• Attending an event in LA until 2am, getting a few hours of sleep, then hopping on a plane to Denver, only to return to LA that evening.
• Visiting 118 cities in one year to speak about your cause.
• Sleeping in your car and eeking out a living as an ER nurse, in hopes of raising $12,000 to build a school on the other side of the world. Deciding that pennies from school children could be the start of collecting the funds.
• Building schools, one by one, in a remote part of the world, with political, geographical, and cultural obstacles at every step of the way.
• Providing a consistent message, day in and day out, to groups as diverse as U.S. military commanders to school children to outdoor enthusiasts. 

The results are impressive:

• Since 1994, nearly 80 schools have been built in one of the most troubled and remote areas of the world, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Three Cups of Tea is now mandatory reading for senior officers in the Pentagon in charge of counter insurgency efforts.It has also been on the New York Times bestseller list for two years.
• After reading the book, military commanders like General David Petraeus and diplomats like Richard Holbrook are focused on listening more. Mortenson relayed how Petraeus, after reading the book, said, "We need to listen. We need to have respect. We have to build relationships."
• Collecting 100 million pennies from school children, as part of Pennies for Peace
• Fifteen years after living in his car, Greg Mortenson was nominated in January 2009 for a Nobel Peace Prize. 

For wisdom entrepreneurs, take note. Yes, one voice can start a community (and judging by the crowd at the Paramount Theatre, Mortenson's community is as diverse as I've seen in a long time.) But without commitment, it's all for naught. Mortenson has shown that when you make that commitment, your life changes. (BTW--that scares the heck out of a lot of wanna be wisdom entrepreneurs. I've seen it.)

Mortenson confessed near the end of his talk that he doesn't know why he is compelled to do the work he does. In his words, "I just listen to what people need." It made me think that commitment is not entirely a choice. You choose to surrender to the call, but after that, you are compelled. There is no other choice.

Mortenson closed with two thoughts that are particularly appropriate for wisdom entrepreneurs, one a quote from Martin Luther King and the other a result of a plea from Mortenson's wife.

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

"If you want to make the world better, you need to take care of yourself to be strong."

P. S. I had contacted Mortenson's non-profit, Central Asia Institute, asking if I could interview him for this blog. I received a reply a few days later that my request had been forwarded to Mortenson. Because of his busy schedule, not all requests could be honored. I never heard back from Mortenson, but it didn't matter. Who was I to slow down the progress of this man, with a mission so clearly imprinted on his heart and mind?  Instead of asking for a favor from him, I was compelled to offer up whatever help I could for his cause. That's what happens when you see commitment manifested.

Jeremiah Owyang, Part 2: The Nature of Communities

"When you are spearheading a movement, you are relying on the groundswell that happens within the community. The community is in charge."
--Jeremiah Owyang

In this second part of a three-part interview, Jeremiah Owyang talks about the nature of communities and the role of the community manager. Most surprising take-away? You can't rely solely on online community-building. It must be supplemented with in-person connections. In Jeremiah's words:

"If you want to be a true advocate within your market or community, you really do need to connect with them in person. If you are serious about community, you should be an advocate, helping them, leading them, and that should be online and off."

Listen in as I start off asking Jeremiah about the differences between online and offline interactions. The interview is a little over 8 minutes long.

Look for the last installment of our interview. Jeremiah and I talk about the unpredictability of communities, social capital, and how rewarding behavior is a stronger incentive than money.

Three Cups of Tea

I just finished the book, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Dave, my friend from Traverse City and a partner in crime on spreading the word about A Bigger Voice, had seen Mortenson speak last month at a local school.

Dave described Mortenson as an ordinary, humble man, doing extraordinary things, against all odds--a single voice that had turned an idea into a movement.  I was hooked enough to order the book.

The book is a wonderful example of how one person can make a difference and what it takes to be successful on that journey--listening more than speaking, humility, persistence, a compelling vision, an ability to create allies in unexpected places, courage, and faith. Faith that despite the lack of you name it--money, supplies, time, people--there is more than enough in the world to manifest our vision. More than enough willingness. More than enough know how. More than enough heart.

Mortenson's story reinforces the principles of A Bigger Voice:

• One voice can start a community. Starting with an idea and a promise to a village elder in Pakistan to return and build a school, Mortenson grew his community into a melange of tribal leaders, religious clerics, mountaineers, school children, taxi cab drivers, military personnel, widows, philanthropists, librarians, journalists, well, you get the idea. Just about anyone that he came into contact with who resonated with his cause became part of his community.
• Community creates stunning results. Schools that normally would take the better part of year to build came together in less than three months, with the help of villagers who embraced the vision of a place to educate their children. Religious leaders banded together to support and endorse Mortenson's work, to remove the obstacles of local village politics.
• Sustainability requires monetization. Mortenson tells about being on the edge of financial disaster, for long periods of time, even with benefactors who provided substantial donations. With the publication of a bestselling book, and a speaking schedule that is booked a year in advance, I'm guessing that monetizing is no longer an issue and that sustainability is now a reality. The point is that even with a non-profit in place, a board, and a thriving community, this work was not sustainable until Mortenson was able to create a steady revenue stream.

All entrepreneurs, not just wisdom entrepreneurs, should read this book. It has given me perspective and inspiration on my own journey with A Bigger Voice.

Wisdom Entrepreneurs: Do You Have the 5 P's?

This blog is about the "how-to" of transforming an idea into a sustainable movement, helping wisdom entrepreneurs achieve success more easily and intentionally. The how-to's don't say anything about personal traits that contribute to success. Enter a few thoughts on what it takes to be an entrepreneur, in general.

My husband pointed me to the blog, Get Rich Slowly and today's posting, "Hustle and Patience: What It Takes to Succeed in 2009."  There are some real gems related to A Bigger Voice. The posting is about entrepreneurship. I took away five traits that are critical to the idea of building anything from the ground up.

Photo by imjoshdotcom

• Patience. It takes time to grow an idea into something sustainable, whether you are starting from an insight to address a social condition or a skill that can be turned into a business. I've been working on A Bigger Voice for over a year. Some days, it feels like progress comes slowly. And yet, slow and steady does win the race. I know that from my coaching and consulting business.  It wasn't until year three that I was able to make a living at something that I was pretty good at, had lots of passion around, and had committed myself to full-time. 
• Proactivity. J.D., the blogger for Get Rich Slowly uses the term hustle, which can have a negative connotation. I think of this as proactivity, always on the lookout for opportunity, and being willing to take action. It also means being up for trying something new and changing direction based on feedback. This trait reminds me that turning an idea into a movement has a lot to do with being in the right place at the right time--not because you fell into it, but because you made yourself accessible to outside information and read the signs pointing to the next opportunity. This relates directly to the tools that A Bigger Voice uses in the Community-Building phase--Networking, Marketing, and Technology.
• Persistence. Not only does it take time to build a movement, it takes hard work. J.D. talks specifically about blogging and building an audience.  Building a community, whether online or offline, using lots of whiz bang social media or regular in-person meetings, takes work. Crystallizing your vision and linking it to your life story takes work. Planting the seeds for monetizing, so that your efforts become sustainable, takes work. I've been playing with Twitter recently. I haven't yet decided to put the work into it to make it work for me. And I know that it won't pay off until I commit to doing the work.  Photo by alexindigo.
• Passion. Where would any of this be without passion? Passion is what fuels the journey, and makes it not just bearable but enjoyable. Otherwise, why do it?
• Paradox. I've left this one for last, because it's something that's often overlooked. J.D. talks about the dichotomy of artist/entrepreneur. Embracing both sides can feel like a paradox. Yet often, it's not one approach that will get you to where you want to go, but taking the best of many approaches. I've referred to the power of hybrids, having a "both/and" vs. an "either/or" mindset. Being able to adopt the "both/and" way of thinking (e.g., how can I do good and do well at the same time?) is a valuable trait.

If you are a wisdom entrepreneur--an innovator with an intense dislike for some condition affecting society, insight from your life to address that condition and commitment to transform insight into a movement--tell me what traits you see as important. I'm curious to know.

Superman, Gremlins and Phone Booths: Kryptonite to your Bigger Voice?

This morning, as I was working on a new business idea that popped into my brain over the weekend, I found myself thinking about Clark Kent, Superman and what it takes to have a bigger voice. I noticed there is a BIG SPACE between my ideas and my actions, and what happens in that space plays a huge role in determining how big my voice can be.

Photo by Scott Feldstein

Superpowers... of hesitation?

I often feel like Clark Kent seeing some bad guys robbing a bank, but instead of jumping into a phone booth without hesitation (Phone booth? What would he do today?) and flying out in my funky superman suit, there’s a space... and I fill that space with: “I can’t do it”, “What if I fail?” “That’s a stupid idea," “No one will care,” “I don’t know how."

Did Superman ever have days like this? Do you?

Meanwhile the phone booth is getting hot so I leave without unveiling that damn suit and blasting off to fight for “truth, justice and the American way." Another idea DOA. This is clearly a place where I need to focus some attention.

Yes, I hear voices. You probably do too.

Photo by Ron Marshall

When I plumb the depths of my soul (scary place!), I realize much of what fills the space between my ideas and actions are my fears and insecurities. Thoughts like “You're not smart enough,” or “People will laugh at you if you do that.” (and on and on and on).

Do you hear those voices too? Please tell me that it isn’t just me.

Other voices raise seemingly real and rational limitations like “I don’t know how,” “I don’t have the time or money,” or “I’ve never spoken in front of a group before.” But are these real limitations? Could I find a way around them if I really wanted to?

Self, meet Gremlin. You'll be seeing a lot of each other.

In the coaching world we call these voices and self-limiting thoughts “gremlins.” Their power to sap your strength is like Kryptonite to Superman. Based on an informal poll among life coaches I know and on my experience as a life coach, I estimate that what happens in the space between our ideas and actions may account for more than half of the failures among folks who want to have a bigger voice.

As you’re reading this you might be saying to yourself, “I’m already well into my Bigger Voice project so this gremlin stuff doesn’t apply to me.” Think again. These self-limiting thoughts don’t just kill new ideas; they can overtake you in the middle of your quest for a bigger voice and convince you that it’s time to throw in the towel.

Imagine that you hit a little rough patch in your efforts. Maybe you’re feeling a little stuck. Maybe your community isn’t growing as fast as you would like. Maybe you’re having trouble rallying resources for your cause, or monetizing your idea is a bit more difficult than you thought.

Got the picture?

Photo by Dunechaser

Now hear the gremlin voices of doubt creep in: “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea after all. Who am I to think that I could pull this off? Maybe I should give this up and go back to my old job. At least I know how to do that!” They can strike at any time and they are all part of your journey to A Bigger Voice, so you might as well prepare yourself.

So what can you do to improve your odds of success?

• Tune in: The first and most important thing to do is listen carefully to those voices. Think about that Bigger Voice project that you’ve been dreaming of. Do you hear the voices of insecurity, fear and limitations? What are those voices saying? How do you feel when you hear them? Do you believe them?
• Learn to recognize your own gremlins. Most people have their own special gremlins. Learn to recognize yours. Look for themes. Do certain fears and limitations keep coming up? Those are your gremlins at work.
• Put a moratorium on killing your ideas. I tried this recently and it worked wonders. Usually when I come up with a big, bold, exciting idea my gremlins rush in to the space and kill it immediately. So I’ve put a moratorium on killing tender, fragile, cute little kitten ideas by putting them in the incubator.
  For example, I had an interesting idea last week and immediately the gremlins rushed in like antibodies attacking a virus. Instead of letting the idea die right there, I thanked the gremlins for their input and mentally put the idea in the incubator. Once there I journaled about it, wrote up a one-page concept statement and shared it with friends. They liked it and gave me lots of good ideas on how to improve it. Once the idea gets strong enough I’ll take it out of the incubator and let it stand on its own.
• Stay when it gets hard. When things get shaky, hang in there. It is often your gremlins talking. Stay and take one more step.



Photo by Just Only Steve

• Ask for help. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but I usually don’t ask for help (or directions). I want to go it alone. But lately, based on some sage advice, I’ve been asking for help early and often. What a difference it makes. I don’t spin my wheels and get crushed under the weight of my own self doubt.
• Check out a couple good books. If you want to find out more check out “Feel The Fear… And Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers and Taming Your Gremlin by Rick Carson.

What's keeping you in YOUR phone booth?

So I’m wondering, when you feel compelled to jump into that phone booth and come out fighting for truth, justice and the American way, what are your biggest gremlins that fill the space? And what do you do to combat their kryptonite?