First to anchor this beyond yourself, if you lead a business, organisation, movement, know that I see you. Know I see that sometimes you doubt yourself, you don’t fully act, say, do what is your absolute truth. I know that. I do it too, we are all human.
What are your “SLB”s, your self-limiting beliefs?
Two of the most common themes are :
“I’ll be judged” / “I’ll be laughed at”
“I could lose my job” / “I need the money”
So many more, but today I’ll focus on these two broad themes around money and taking risks with your reputation.
Imagine if you no longer worried about money or reputation, what would you, could you, will you do differently? Some of it is in your head, some of it you can do something about.
A story now that vividly illustrates what is possible.
A few weeks ago I wrote “Smashing Paradigms – from Patron to Patreon“. In this I wrote about Patreon and AFP (thank you once again to my awesome friend Rosie von Lila for introducing me to both).
Fast forward a few weeks and I found myself at an AFP “happening” in London. More formally, AFP (“Amanda “F***ing Palmer” to her adoring fans) called it a :
SUPER-SPECIAL SUPER-SECRET AFP PATRON-ONLY LONDON THROW-DOWN!!!
An amazing venue, 250 (at most) of her patrons (including yours truly), for what felt like a party among friends. One of her friends, Laura Kidd, as she got up to sing a song said: “if all parties were like this, I’d go to them!”.
It was a great evening full of memories. What I will remember most vividly, though, was how Amanda talked to a room of her people and said that this is what she always wants to do now, and she can do it because she is supported by something like 13,000 patrons on Patreon. She can be vulnerable, she can stop, start, talk, play, laugh, cry, share, be personal, be true… be AMANDA F***ING PALMER !! with no filters.
She is supported in two ways.
First, her patrons provide her with financial stability so she doesn’t have to worry as much about selling albums. She can put out the music she wants, not what experts around her think will sell the most.
Second, she has built a global tribe that is not in the millions, but of well over 10,000 people who invest in her not only financially but also with their heart and soul.
As Lao Tsu once said :
It was a truly special evening with a human being who deeply cares for others, and who attracts a tribe to her who deeply care for her.
I would imagine she is always like this, this is who she is, and yet… she can do exactly as she likes now as she has the Patrons. She can #BeMoreAmanda.
What would be possible for you if you knew you were financially supported, if you knew that you had a powerful tribe behind you, believing in you, your vision, your passion, your purpose ?