THRIVE! Talkin'!

Don't just read the newsletter, live it!
Jump into the THRIVE! forum and get set for success!

Give Me a C

There’s no “i” in team, but there is in collaboration. Last week the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod presented their First Annual Creative Collaborative Conference and Team THRIVE! was lucky enough to participate.

Now, we’re no arts organization but I have roots in our local arts community (that’s right, I’m a thespian) and loved the idea of the conference. I spoke with Beth Dunn of the Arts Foundation, and she was interested enough in the THRIVE! concept to have us present a workshop that matched the theme.

Matt and I got together, sharpened our figurative pencils and knocked out a little ditty we called “The THRIVE!Step Plan for Success: Goal Achievement through Collaboration” . Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?

The T! Step Plan has at its heart a focus on collaboration (Step 3: Help Me Obi-Wan - that’d be Alec Guinness, not that scruffy nerf-herder Ewan McGregor). In this step you look for assistance, help, hmm what’s the word….? Right, collaboration – in achieving your goal. When you reach out to friends, colleagues and mentors you get powerful contributions towards your success. I know it works for me.

Hit a wall in your creativity? Talk it out with a couple of friends, bounce ideas off of each other and soon enough you’ll have a fresh batch of great concepts to explore.

Need a resource that knows about trademarking slogans, retailing t-shirts and other products? Put a blatant plea for help in your weekly newsletter (subtle, right?).

What Do You Need to Succeed?

No matter how original or unique your goal, there are experts out there waiting to help. They have at least some part of the puzzle. They’ve either done it before, done something like it, or know someone that can help you.

Part of our presentation included a breakout session that explored what an artist needs to succeed. Not surprisingly, it’s a lot more than talent and a burning desire to create. In fact, the lists that were created apply to almost any endeavor seeking public awareness or business success. Marketing, PR, Office/Studio Space, Financial Expertise, Business Advice. Sure looks like artists face a lot of the same issues as the rest of us.

Once we had the list, participants did a little networking to discover the people and resources available to them simply by asking a few colleagues. Sure enough, experts and connections became clear.

Our final challenge to the group was to identify the gaps in their list within the next 24 hours. Where they were missing an expert or connection they were asked to find three people within the next 48 hours that could help them make those. Finally, within 72 hours we asked them to make that connection. Simple as 1, 2, 3.

Sharing is Caring

What became obvious to all involved is that people looking to succeed are also willing to share. It’s a great feeling to help someone achieve their dreams, almost as good as achieving your own. The artists and organizations that met to discuss their collaborative efforts last week have seen that first hand. Try it yourself and let us know your results.

Related Links

Quote of the Week

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
Henry Ford

Coaching Quickie: Give Me a C

Check back next week for results!

Last Week's Results

Coaching Quickie: Trick or Treat
How well do you manage your interactions with others?

(09%) Mission Accomplished - I'm always careful to share what I should and not what I shouldn't.
(73%) Mostly There - I have a few missteps, but I mostly make the right choices.
(18%) Work in Progress - I need to be more mindful of the impact I'm having on others.

If you missed it, you can read last week's newsletter online here.