Why are we here?
And other professional wonderings.
I was awarded Charles City’s Hometown Hero award in April of 2023. It was completely unexpected and prompted quite a bit of self-reflection. Only the ‘really good’ people in town had gotten this award, and I did not feel that my work was worthy of it. What do I mean by “really good?" In my head, they've been working a lifetime on their achievements. When you come back to the same town you grew up in, it can be hard to differentiate between the younger self and the professional self. I think, at some level, my head doesn't fully associate me with a grown-up yet. However, the more I thought, and the more I stayed curious, the more I realized: you don’t have to be special to be a hometown hero; you just have to care and show up.
“You don’t have to be special to be a hometown hero; you just have to care and show up. ”
This thought process continued as I tried to maintain healthy friendships and relationships with family and friends throughout graduate school. When everything else was stripped away, it became clear that all of these were built around shared experiences. I just needed to show up, and the friendships and relationships would continue to grow (at some level).
All of this comes into play when searching for my why. I wrote in my LinkedIn summary that ‘it’s clear to all who meet me that I am dedicated to bettering the communities I am a part of.’ This is my why. Community can be used broadly to describe a physical location, a work organization, a culture, a people working for change, or any other just cause (as Sinek says in his video). Regardless of where I am or what group I am working to better, my why remains the same. We were given a gift from the generations before us who dedicated time, effort, and resources to making a good product. It is our duty to continue their work and provide for the coming generation. We have knowledge and connections that must be utilized for the better good of the city and all who inhabit it.
I don’t know many people who can look me in the eye after I say all of that and not get behind my why. They want better for their communities, too! They want to look around and say, ‘Wow, this is good.’ When you believe in that why with everything you have, never entertaining a moment of doubt or fear, then others can’t help but join in.
References:
Sinek, S. [simonsinek]. Is a why or a vision more important? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olX3quSd4Eg&t=6s
“We were given a gift from the generations before us who dedicated time, effort, and resources to making a good product. It is our duty to continue their work and provide for the coming generation. ”