08 Apr Celebrating Community
This graduation photo is a great bracket for our 30th-anniversary edition as it celebrates the end of Write of Passage cohort 8 (WoP8). I launched my newsletter in the first week of Write of Passage cohort 7 (WoP7) way back in September 2021.
And I get to thank you for allowing me to visit your inbox with my weekly dose of observations, future and hope.
See you again next week,
Karena
Come for the learning. Stay for the community.
When education meets community, anything is possible.
Graduation
I felt myself choking back a few tears. “No! Let it last … just a few moments longer,” I silently pleaded with the zoom screen in front of me. The past five weeks have been intense and fast-paced. It is the final moment of cohort 8 of Write of Passage (WoP) and I am despondent. It feels like a graduation ceremony. And comes with those same contradictory feelings of elation at completing the curriculum, and sadness at losing the camaraderie of my class. It’s only been five short weeks together – but we have already bonded and developed deep friendships.
Come for the education
Each person joins WoP for their own reasons. I needed to figure out how to overcome the giant wall that comes weekly as I sit to publish my newsletter. Consistency and conciseness plague me, constantly!
I’d come for the techniques. Those appear to be working. So far. How have I managed to publish a regular newsletter? (Don’t get excited. Made it to edition 30 this time, but not yet at a year). How did I do what has eluded me before?
- I committed to a small run. 21 editions to listen to what my readers want, test and hone my system.
- I unlearned my previous process. Just as I had done with decision-making (my book), I gained control by breaking my writing process apart into its components. I realized I work more effectively if I place distance between my first draft (idea), my essay (writing), my editing (polishing) and my publishing (distribution).
- The group that I had gathered around me in WoP7 sustained me.
I had come for the education. But I stayed the course because of the community. At a point where I would normally lose my publishing rhythm, I found motivation as I watched others in my group, who published a day or two earlier in the week, maintain theirs.
Community spirit – paying it forward
Many of my friends from WoP7 are in this photo. These are the people who reviewed my early newsletter essays after the cadence of WoP7 disappeared, who cheered me on with likes and tweet responses. Their own daily commitment to Ship30x30 and Visual Zettlekasten encouraged me to keep stretching.
Like me, many have returned to steward positions for WoP8 – as editors, mentors and coaches. A vibrant learning community adds to our learning experience, and we wanted the new cohort to feel that same energy, engagement and encouragement.
Now – at the end of WoP8 – my community has grown stronger and larger. New voices have entered my network, teaching me new things.
Gather your communities and hold them close
We are rolling into those bitter-sweet days of late spring. College and high schools will be celebrating prom and grad ceremonies. There will be tears shed. “It will never be the same,” you may say.
And I am here to say “Yes. It can be.” Not the same. But similar. Search for these clusters of like minds. Search for those who propel you. Because they will help you go further. Particularly if you happen to work for or by yourself as we step into the Future of Work.
I am lucky. I have discovered that a net-work is exactly that. A net. Of supporters in different places. Over time I have gathered a pearl necklace of great communities who support me. I wish the same for you.
Ash Lamb (part of my visual communication community) says this better:
- Thank you to Leo Ariel whose made this week’s essay so much better with his generous editing feedback.
- Speaking: Knowledge shared helps various communities. Could my Future of Work message help someone you know? Contact me. I’m always expanding my audience.
- Other articles that talk about my writing journey:
- From sous-chef to plating – How Write of Passage, Build a Second Brain and Writing in Community are working in tandem to help me improve my writing
- Gratitude and Lessons Learned from writing for 365 days – Reflecting on writing daily for a year and being part of Writing in Community where e and published my first book
- Book: “Contours of Courageous Parenting – Tilting Towards Better Decisions” is available on your local Amazon site
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