Passion Project Week 6: Gotta Dance!

Singing in the Rain (MGM, 1952)

One of my favorite moments in the film, Singing in the Rain, is the fantastical modern ballet towards the end that features a young start-up eager to prove himself on Broadway. In it, Gene Kelly's character bounds around the imagined Broadway streets, rhythmically knocking on agents' doors, and belting out, "GOTTA DANCE!"

Two times the character is rejected, and each time he rebounds resets and knocks on another door. Finally, third times a charm, the character gives it his all and the agent at the door makes a deal. The character is whisked off and joins the ranks of the Broadway hopefuls, dancing, succeeding, and charming the world.

I thought a lot about this scene over the last couple weeks. Each email, each meeting, each invitation to share and engage had me singing under my breath 'Gotta Dance!" Unlike Gene Kelly's character, however, sometimes there is no one on the other side of the door, or the email. In our day and age, it's hard to know if the person on the other end of the email is real, and if they are real, what is their intent and are they trying to scam me out of something.

Sometimes I feel like starting my emails with: I promise this is not a scam

Then I think -- that is exactly how a scammer would start their email.

You won't fool me, you scamming scammer!

But how does one get past the emotional and literal firewalls?

This is what I've decided to do. I'm going to make my little part of the world my only world for a little while. You see, I live in a small town near Salem, Oregon, and kind of like the Tri-State Area of Phineas and Ferb, our little town sits in between several counties.

I know these counties pretty well, but I don't know everyone, every business, or every school. I have had lovely friends who have graciously introduced me to potential partners in other states, but they don't know me or why I would want to help them when we aren't even in the same area.

BUT, my local colleagues and friends do know me. They know the local businesses. They know the schools. They know the needs of our area, and most of all, when I say that I'm from Polk County, they know where that is. More often then not they know someone I know and suddenly I'm not so much a stranger, I'm just a friend they haven't met yet.

Let's be very honest. I have a goal of helping others and growing my business. I want to increase the amount of teaching I do to help augment my personal portfolio (not financial, but practical). AND, I want to be their friend. I really do want world peace, so why not make Marion/Polk county my world. I have this saying, you have to slow down to speed up.

I'll explain what that means in another journal entry, but for now I will simply say, that maybe what I'm learning is that I need to narrow my field in order to expand. Maybe that means I will expand my reach into other counties, states, and countries. Maybe it will mean I simply expand my impact by helping local partners facilitate meaningful growth and change with the young people they serve.

The Lord says that if we help one soul our joy will be great. Okay then. I'm going to focus on the one. One town. One county. One person at a time.

I look forward to seeing all of you out there singing and dancing. If you have something you want someone to hear, I promise to listen.

Quick metrics update:

I have successful secured two partners and a speaking engagement. I cannot share the partners yet, but I am extremely grateful for their trust. Yes the partners are local. Yes, of these partners I knew someone who knew someone in the organization. Yes they referred me to the next partner.

I'll be building curriculum through the winter break to be ready for some amazing events early next year.

Until next time. Take care, my friends.

Always,

Slade