Episode 113: The Artisan Life – Serving the Greater Community

As interesting as your work may be, sometimes it isn’t enough to keep you motivated.  There’s an element of service.  To your own community, as well as to the greater community.  On this episode we explore different ways to serve with your work. Play Episode |  Subscribe in iTunes | Subscribe in Stitcher  On This Episode Rhythm of […]

The post Episode 113: The Artisan Life – Serving the Greater Community first appeared on Kathleen Ann Thompson.

As interesting as your work may be, sometimes it isn’t enough to keep you motivated.  There’s an element of service.  To your own community, as well as to the greater community.  On this episode we explore different ways to serve with your work.

(c) AdobeStock Photo
Play Episode

|  Subscribe in iTunes | Subscribe in Stitcher 

On This Episode

Rhythm of Life – Virtual Reality Has Nothing on Me

Random Riffs – I Don’t Get the Enneagram

Feature Segment – Serving the Community at Large

Today’s Quote

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.  –Mahatma Gandhi

Rhythm of Life – Virtual Reality Has Nothing on Me

You know those Virtual Reality scenes in a movie?  Where the character flies from one place to another in a split second, when there’s no way it could happen in real life?  It feels like my life’s a bit like that lately.

There are so many different facets to my life, that it’s hard to keep up.  Or keep them straight.  Stuff piles up on my desk because I don’t even have time to put away.  Suddenly the desk has been swallowed up.

It’s not always like this.  There are days where I focus on one thing and get completely in the flow.

It turns out that I need both in my life.  Days of novelty or change.  And times of concentration and flow.  The problem is, there are so many distractions.

The phone, undone chores, to-do list, beautiful weather.  Anything and everything can be distraction.

For me it’s often reading a book.  For you it could be something else.  What’s most insidious, though, is what we do that looks like work and feels like work…and isn’t the work that will actually move us down the field.  It isn’t important to further progress.  It’s busy work.  And it’s a form of hiding.

Only you know for sure whether the work you’re doing is important – or hiding.  It’s pretty easy to convince yourself of anything.

Random Riffs – I Don’t Get the Enneagram

People all over are asking me this question – what’s your Enneagram #?  What’s an Enneagram you ask?  A system that explains personality by splitting into 9 types.  And something called a Wing.

Despite reading the entire book, I couldn’t decide what I was.  I felt like a combination of 3 or 4 different options.  When I tried to guess some of my closest friends, I couldn’t figure out what they were either.

I’ve found much better luck with DISC and Strengths Finders.  Check them out if you’re interested.

Feature Segment – The Artisan Life: Serving the Greater Community

Jeff Goins and Stu McLaren weren’t motivated to make more money with their businesses.  Until they discovered this – a great purposes.  Not just the purpose for their business, as great as that is.  No, an even greater purpose.  To serve the community.

Jeff connected with a charity that was close to his heart. And Stu McLaren’s wife formed a charity that funds the construction and teacher for a school in Kenya.

Serving can come in different forms.

Active service:

regular volunteer like my sister Ann at Pine Street Inn in Boston
special event like a short-term missions trip
Do your normal work for a charitable organization – like bookkeeping, teach music
Or do something completely different – cook and serve at soup kitchen

Another option is with the business itself.  If you run a company, you can get certified as a B Corporation.  Combine profit and purpose.

Even if you’re not running a business, you could try and work at a B Corp or similar.

What else can you do beside active service?  –Donate.

It could be money or goods.  Direct or indirect.  You’re only limited by your creativity.  Listen to hear about how some famous and not-so-famous people serve their communities.  And why not share your story of service, if you have one?  Leave a comment or send an email to [email protected].

Serving the community with your work can be as rewarding as the work itself.
Click To Tweet

Artisan Series

090: Why You Should Be an Artisan at Work

091: The Three C's of Artisanship

092: Are You a Creator, Consumer, or Critic?

093: Where to Start as an Artisan? With a MAP.

094: What's Your Signature Scent?

095: The Foundations of Craftsmanship

096: Follow Your Curiosity to Build Craftsmanship

097: Craftsmanship Requires Change

098: Building Craftsmanship – When it Gets Hard

099: Building Craftsmanship – Take Care of Your Tools

101: Building Craftsmanship – Be an Apprentice

102: Building Craftsmanship – Practice

103: 4 Habits That Foster Creativity

104: Time for Wonder

105: Forget the Big Bang Theory

106: Constraints Ignite Creativity

107: Seal Creativity With a KIS

108: Creativity: One Ring to Rule Them All

109: Creativity: What's Old is New Again

110: Creativity: Create Your Own Seal

111: Community: The Beauty of Collaboration

112: Community in an Artisan Collective

 

The post Episode 113: The Artisan Life – Serving the Greater Community first appeared on Kathleen Ann Thompson.