The Optimistic Anthropologist Vol. 10

When Collaborations Fail, #GoodReads & #GoodListens, Racial Equity Here, and 35+ New Opportunities

July 24, 2018

 July 2018, Volume 10View this email in your browser

Dear ,

Last summer, I interviewed a host of entrepreneurs who I respect to get advice about starting my own businesses. As I look back, what strikes me most is that their advice wasn't just useful to me as an entrepreneur, it was useful for life. So, in honor of Optimistic Anthropology's first anniversary, I thought I'd share a bit of it with you.

Early on,

Dave Viotti

of

 shared this gem:

"You don't launch once, you're constantly re-launching."

 Optimistic Anthropology's work and language has evolved over the last twelve months as a result of all that I've been learning. I continue to get clearer on how OA can best serve clients and collaborators, what kinds of work we are uniquely equipped to do, and also what we need to stop doing. This process also has allowed unexpected opportunities to develop, like 

 work.

Another important piece of advice I received came from

Heidi Sparkes Guber

of

.  She told me:

"People will tell you that work and life and learning and family and friends and travel have to be separate from one another. But, that's just a construct."

 Before OA, had spent 15 years commuting to an office for 8+ hours a day, and then seven months traveling the world on sabbatical. Heidi's advice has proven incredibly powerful in re-shaping my notion of work and life.  It helped me realize that with technology and a flexible mindset, meaningful work can be done in many ways and from lots of locales, such as an

.

Over the last year, I've also been asked to share what I've been learning with others entrepreneurs. I always encourage people to, 

"not only focus on revenue, because it's important to be intentional about aligning who you are with what you do and how you do it." 

I

and developed its mission and approach around what I care about (positive social change for all people), what I'm good at (learning and sharing, making connections, activating others), and how I like to work (on a range of topics, in collaboration with others, with joy and curiosity). And I've tried to make sure that everything I do relating to OA -- from the projects we take on to the website to this newsletter --  reflect that alignment.

Optimistic Anthropology's success in its first year was the result of the support of so many people --

; friends, family members, and colleagues; mentors, sages, and co-conspirators; connectors, sharers, cheerleaders, just saying hello-ers, and blog/newsletter readers. On the occasion of our first anniversary, I want to say thank you!

Be well and do good,Alison

P.S. I'm starting to plan for the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first of 2019.  If there are ways that Optimistic Anthropology can be of help to you, your organization, or cross-sector collaboration,

and let's schedule time to connect!

New on the Blog

Job, Consulting, and Fellowship Opportunities

We love connecting people to each other, to useful resources, and to great opportunities. This month the Optimistic Anthropology network shared more than 35 opportunities.

 

Check out the 

, and 

 for our August round up by 8/19.

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