The Courageous Create: 3 Ways to Push the Impact Envelope
I have joined “The Creator Economy”.
This wasn’t really a goal of mine. However, there are fifty million people involved according to Signal Fire’s article. Whether I like it or not, all the “impact content” we are producing is contributing to the economy in some small way.
I have said many times that it is important for us impactmakers to stay on the cutting edge of society. The only way we can expect to keep advancing and making positive changes is by saying modern.
A Modern Industry
The Creator Economy has grown rather quickly as an industry. It is important to note that creating is a very general term. There are endless ways to create now; but there have always been. We are just in an age where it’s easier to share and curate what you want to experience.
The most isolated niches of creativity are now relevant because they’re easier for the right people to find.
If you’re into the newest forms of digital artwork or non-fungible tokens (NFTs), you can do a simple internet search. In fact, let’s say your desire is so detailed that you only want NFTs that depict Asian basketball players. You can find it. Or, what if you wanted a tangible sculpture of exotic African animals? I’m sure there’s a creative specialist out there.
What a Variety!
In addition to an endless variety of subjects, you can also create in many ways. You can write (like this), you can broadcast (like #founderjam, live 3pm East on Wednesdays), you can record podcasts and YouTube videos (like Speaking of Impact), and you can draw or paint, just to name a few.
Your creativity has no restrictions, as it shouldn’t. I have learned in the past six months that ideas should be presented. Sometime last year my business partner, Stacee, and I decided to open our own Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm. We spent a lot of time conversing and praying about this big jump. We would have to leave our employer at the time after a combined 27 years of experience.
Our transition was challenging. But, I could never have guessed how freeing the opportunity was. I realized earlier this year that I had a huge amount of pent up creativity. I had so many ideas that couldn’t be expressed in my previous role. This is not a slight at the company for which I worked. In fact, I owe the people there a lot to helping me develop my thoughts.
I learned that entrepreneurialism is economic creativity. I wasn’t exactly sure how it would be expressed, but I knew it was present. I am part of The Creator Economy as the founder of Initiate Impact regardless of the things you can find at bobdepasquale.com (including my book, “Personal Finance in a Public World”.
Join Us
It’s not enough to think “impact”. You must “do”.
Use your ideas to create great things that drive impact in our world.
The motivations referenced in E-Impact 58 and E-Impact 63 are great things. Use them as fuel for action.
Taking action in The Creator Economy is simple. It’s easier than ever to express your impact. Here are some simple (and familiar) options:
Blogging
Podcasting
Writing a book
Social Media Posts (Tweets are a quick way to get started)
Social Media Stories
Phone Calls and Text Messages (yes, there’s creativity here)
Direct Messages
Public Speaking (admittedly, this is not as simple as the others)
Next Level
Admittedly, you will need some direction. This is where you have to have courage.
It’s not likely you’ll have the perfect blueprint when you start an impact project. This is for two reasons. The first is that impact is unique. It’s something new (not the general concept but your specific idea). See E-Impact 51 for more on this and “The Zone of Desire". If it’s new, there’s no existing model. Secondly, there may never be a perfect blueprint. Impactmaking is about working with imperfections. There are problems to solve. How can we expect there to be a flawless solution?
Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
This is not a new subject for us. Gregoire Narcisse first brought it up on Speaking of Impact episode 11. He stressed the importance of challenging yourself.
Challenges are essential for growth in your faith life, your professional life, your family life, and certainly in your impact life. The best of the best always push forward and it really isn’t pushing forward if isn’t something new.
Can you push laterally? NO.
There are a three important things to think about when you are “pushing the envelope”:
Don’t sacrifice previous progress - You’ve made it to a certain point already. It doesn’t make sense to risk losing all the prior work to do more. I always encourage perfecting one process at a time. Ruining what is good would be counterproductive.
You must be able to put forth the same amount of effort - If you can’t devote the same amount of time and concentration to the new initiative, it’s not worth it. Your success has relied upon the existing level of effort. Anything less is unacceptable (especially for a new idea).
Don’t start something you couldn’t stand to stop - Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, #1 and #2 may still happen. There are always unexpected things. Consider your reaction in the case of each. If a little regression or a failure (which is really just a hurdle of success) would sacrifice more than just the new effort, that risk should not be taken. Never put your impact project at risk of catastrophe.
Finding Courage
I’ve stated that there are no blueprints in the impact space. Therefore, we must reach to other sectors for inspiration.
I believe that a purpose is not something that can be sought. It has to be experienced. But, courage is different. Once your purpose (your impact project, business, idea, etc.) is identified, the confidence to chase it will be built over time. You are going to start out with a lower level than you’ll have after a year of work.
I’m not saying jump out of a plane. But, take a leap.
It could be intimidating to think that you are the pioneer of an entire initiative. But, I look at it like this:
Inspiration for positive impact is everywhere.
We can look to any area of life for motivation. There are stories of change in business, in families, in medicine, and in places of worship.
In my book, “Personal Finance in a Public World”, I tell a story about Apple found, Steve Jobs. He was a brilliant man and relentless pioneer. It got him removed from his position. But after some time away, he was restored to his position and Apple is still a world leader in technology.
See the movie, “Instant Family” for a great tale about adoption, parenthood, and caring for loved ones.
I have my own personal story about survival and modern medicine that can be heard in Speaking of Impact Episode 1.
Last week, I watched a Tik-Tok (yes, Tik-Tok) video about prisoners committing to a life of faith after acknowledging the felonious crimes they committed.
These are just the first examples that came to mind. I encourage you to seek inspiration in multiple forms.
I admire you for your ambition. I am sure your impact ideas are great. You may have a daunting task ahead of you. However, there is no task too big and there is always an example that can prove you’ll be successful.
The impact space puts no boundaries on where you can find inspiration. This blog is but a small speck in the universe of motivation.
Execution
You have the project.
You have the vehicles.
You have the inspiration.
Now what?
It’s time to put all of it together.
Whether you have an existing focus and are looking to expand or your idea is brand new, you have to consider what is the best way to express your courageous creativity.
Podcasting and blogging was a natural fit for me. I wanted to talk about positive impact and I felt the best way I could do that was to speak with other people who are living it (the podcast) and provide my own experiences and opinions (blogging). I have a master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and I was published in the Miami Herald. I identified skills in which I was trained and applied them in a way my message was best shared.
My project is positive impact.
My vehicles are a podcast and a blog-my skill, journalism.
My inspiration was seeing other people change their life’s course by finding fulfillment in helping others.
Imagine if you were interested in helping people with housing needs. What if you had some photography skills? You might express your courageous creativity by taking pictures of some inadequate places to live. You would need to be tactful but what a great way to show a need. You could use Instagram (IG) to display these pictures and follow them up with the solutions you provided.
Your project would be adequate housing.
Your vehicle Instagram-your skill, photography (and maybe construction)
Your inspiration is seeing the quality of life boost that a home provides a family
My first step was to reach out to some podcasting experts and research blog sites. As soon as I did that, I was executing.
In the housing example, it could be to start an IG page or communicate with organizations that help with housing needs (i.e. Habitat for Humanity).
I have found that the initial execution often happens on a whim. It’s something that inspiration sparks at an unexpected time. If it’s a brand new idea, you certainly don’t have a plan. You just saw something on the internet one night and started doing some research. If it’s one of those new initiatives inside of the same project, you likely uncovered an additional need or way to help while working on something else related to the cause.
Be ready for those moments of sudden inspiration. You’re an impactmaker. You develop plenty of project ideas. There are plenty of vehicles as mentioned above. The motivation is more unpredictable.
Share, Share, Share
I have said before that most impact projects or impact driven companies never “complete their mission”. There will always be a need. With that in mind, never underestimate the work it takes to even begin. In other words, don’t wait until you’re done or have solved the problem to show people.
Share your inspirational moment as soon as they happen. Use the technology we have to let everyone know what you have in mind. Champion your cause.
You’re a creative hero; a beacon of courage.