Your Community Gives Richness and Meaning to Your Lfe.

January 22, 2014 asparker

business development, Career Changers, job search, Lawyers, Meaningful work, networking, practice management, values

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Who are the people in your community? My dictionary says a community is “a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government”. It also says, “a social group or class having the same interests.”

For me a community is a group of people to whom I am connected because we share an interest or a set of values. Seth Godin calls his community a tribe. No matter what you call them, tribes or community, they are important to our well-being.

As a career transition coach and a practice advisor to attorneys I see how important community is on a daily basis. When you are out of work who can you turn to to help you find meaningful work? The people who share your values—your community. When you are building your practice or business who do you turn to for support, guidance and referrals? Your community.

Today so many of us work by ourselves. It is easy to become isolated. Even if we work in an office setting the connections we have will be business connections – our business community. In times of personal or professional trouble we may seek people who know us in a different context.

People often come together during times of difficulty. After September 11^th so many people sought churches and synagogues. Many felt a need for comfort and spiritual support so they sought it out.

So what about other times – times when we are going about our everyday activities, do we provide support to our communities? If we want them to be there in times of our need, we need to support them when there is no immediate problem. To keep our community strong we need to foster its growth and viability.

Churches and synagogues provide wonderful ways to get an instant community because spirituality provides a platform to get to know someone more deeply. If you belong to a church or synagogue then you share the values of the other members. Do you take an active role?

Not all of us want to be part of an organized religion however. If that is the case your community can be made up of people in your town, people you graduated from school with, and/or people who belong to the same organization as you do.

Your community may come from a combination of all of those. In fact some people prefer to build their community-one small group or person at a time. The point here is to plant the seeds of common interest and nurture its growth by participation so it flourishes all through your life. Helping other members is the best way to support your community.

Think about the age range of the members of your community. We tend to be attracted to groups that have people who are our contemporaries. There is so much wisdom to be shared across generations. A retirement community is wonderful place to establish relationships. My choir does a lot of singing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. What an appreciative and impressive audience!

How are you supporting your community today? Are you an active member? Do you take responsibility for staying connected to your community and encourage other members of your community to stay connected too? How are you serving the members who need your help?

Helping and supporting others provides meaning, depth and fulfillment in our lives. Find a tribe or community you enjoy and then have fun with them!

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What communities do I belong to?

2. Are they serving me?

3. Am I serving the communities I belong to?

Take Action:

Determine the characteristics you are looking for in your community or tribe. Find a way to connect with your community on a regular basis. Nurture that relationship.

Need some support in creating your community? Feel stuck in a job you used to like but are not happy with any more? Notice that you are not having as much fun as you used to but are not sure why? (or are sure why but don’t know what to do about it!) I can help. I have 15 years of coaching people so that they can have a happy life and do meaningful and important work. Don’t you deserve to feel good about your life and your work? Call me at 781-598-0388 or email me at asparker@asparker.com.