Although we meet together by phone at least weekly and use online technology to work collaboratively, because our team is international, we are physically in the same space together only a few times a year. So it was a blast to kick off our tour all together in Chicago a few weeks ago. We were struck once again by what a strong bunch of personalities we have assembled, each one as unique and powerful as the next. No whiners or cry babies here. That could be why, as a team, we are so passionate about helping people be who they are and see what they have for the sake of doing what matters. Few things are more frustrating than people and organizations who choose to wear the cloak of victimhood, uttering one version or another of The Great Excuse: "...if only we had more [fill-in-the-blank with money, people, time, etc.] we could [be bigger, try something new, take that risk, etc.]." The result? Impotence and apathy.
Grrrrrr.
Thanks to our friend Karis for linking us to a story about some women who, on the surface, would be completely justified to give The Great Excuse and remain victims of their circumstances but who have refused to do so. These immigrant Hmong women have been deserving recipients of food stamps, free clothing, government aid, church charity. But in 2004 they also became members of a giving circle. For the past five years they have been pooling their money – from .50 cents to $15 a day – and giving it away. Last year they gave away over $20,000 of their own money. They are using it to address issues that affect their community – sex trafficking, for example – that other agencies and donors don't necessarily want to deal with. They are committed to doing more than just giving people a hand up; they want to create systemic, social change. And they support people and organizations they believe are doing that. In a lot of cases, these women know the track record of their recipients first hand because they, themselves, have been beneficiaries of the good work they've done. One of the Hmong women described how empowering it has been to be a part of this giving circle:
"We have always been on the receiving end, not the giving end," she said. "Culturally, we have not seen ourselves as an asset." (Read the whole article here.)
These women have learned the secret and the power of being who you are and seeing what you have for the sake of doing what matters. But old habits can be hard to break. That's why we have developed something we call the PAWN Process(TM) for helping people and organizations see themselves and their context with new eyes, for helping them discover what they have for the sake of putting it to use in a way that really makes a difference. We call it a PAWN Process(TM) because it helps you see all of the possibilities for action that emerge at the place where your Purpose, Assets, Wows, and Needs come together. We also think it doesn't hurt to be reminded that each one of us is called, like the pawn on a chess board, to be on the front lines, making a positive difference in the organizations we care about and in the world.
The Great Excuse is one of the symptoms of a consumable approach to life and work. Have you heard it recently in the organization you care about? It can sound something like this:
- ...but we tried that before and it didn't work.
- ...maybe we'll be able to do that when we have more money.
- ...if only we just had more people to help.
- ...if only we had more time.
- ...if only the economy was in better shape.
- ...maybe one day we'll be able to do that.
If so, it's time to make the shift. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Focus on what you have (instead of what you don't have);
- Engage your friends and neighbors to find out what assets, gifts, and passions they have – ask how you can pool what you have;
- Train your eyes to see the needs around you – these are places you can make a difference;
- Decide that you are going to do what matters – in your life, in the organization you care about, in the world.
We're teaching about the PAWN Process(TM) in our "Treasure in Clay Jars" workshop. And we expect our newest book called Seeing With New Eyes: Using the PAWN Process(TM) in Faith-Based Groups to ship on December 1. It's available exclusively at the online ARE Bookstore.
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