This year’s theme for the annual BLD PNW was BLD Y(OUR) IMPACT: Beyond Good Vibes. A fitting theme for a time in which we are simultaneously adjusting to post-pandemic life, craving community, relearning our limits, and itching for those outdoor summer hangs. Many of us are over simply talking about community and good vibes - we’re ready to take action. That’s the vibe I got that day and wow, that’s what this work is really all about, right? If only I could have attended every workshop and talked to every values-driven person there! But that’s what makes me excited to continue showing up and building on those actions from the day.I have to admit that it’s difficult to distill my feelings about the magic of the Portland B Corp community into a simple blog post. And I can’t help but think that simply writing about the day is the exact opposite of the theme from the day - spouting good vibes. So here are my takeaways and ponderings as well as ACTION items that I’m committing to for each one. Maybe you’ll join me in building our impact beyond good vibes?Go Beyond ME As a recovering overachiever, I know all too well the appeal of focusing on my own path, my own goals, my own purpose, my own worth. I spent many, many years competing for approval, thinking that if I could just be #1, then I’d get the approval and acceptance I so longed for. That way of being in the world is comforting in a way - safe, familiar, easier to control. But you know what it leaves out? The magic that’s created when we come together, when we give up some control, when we risk seeing what happens by opening up to others. That’s what I felt at BLD - magic that’s hard to describe. The buzzing of innovation, creativity, and joy that can’t happen when I’m alone and working from home.How I will TAKE ACTION - I’m committing to attending one B Local PDX event a month, to reconnect with that buzzing magic and to see what happens next!Go Beyond PerformanceThis is the 5th BLD PNW I’ve attended and something really struck me about this one. Very few of the presentations and workshops were actually about the presenters. You can really tell when a presenter is there for themselves vs. when they are there to be of service to their audience. And oh, how I appreciate the folks who want to be of service - who seem to care more about what I as an attendee walk away with rather than what the presenter gets. Granted, I didn’t get to attend every workshop this year (if only!), but the ones I sat in on were all about the participants. I learned, connected, and gained inspiration. And you know what? I bet the presenters actually did get more from that approach. I know I would rather work with them or buy from them, that’s for sure.How I will TAKE ACTION - I’m updating our presentation slide template with one question right at the top as a reminder - “How am I being of service?”Go Beyond ScarcityI can feel my scarcity mindset creeping in as I hear more and more about the economic downturn we are facing. As much as I believe in an abundance mindset, of course my environment affects my thinking. And you know what’s interesting about that? The very fact that I’m thinking in terms of scarcity then contributes to an economic downturn. A self-fulfilling prophecy. And yet - I met so many people at BLD who want to help, who want to do things differently, who want to collaborate vs. compete. How do we harness that to make sure we lift each other up? To make sure we are supporting rather than competing? As Daesha Ramachandran, Principal at Tusk Consulting, explained in her session on Regenerative Organizations, if I look at The Impact Collective’s stakeholders both within and outside of our organization, and I see someone suffering, that means I suffer. “If you’re not good, I’m not good.”How I will TAKE ACTION - I’m committing to checking in with our stakeholders and asking them “You good?” and if the answer is no, “How can we help?”So, dear friend - “You good?” If not, “How can we help?” Seriously, message us! We really do want to hear from you. Let’s create magic together.
