One of the most amazing things about the Quest and Dare to Excel challenges have been the people I’ve connected with. People whose words and work inspire and amaze me. People who have expanded my way of thinking and broadened my horizons. But this whole journey has also re-opened my eyes to the likewise impressive people doing great work outside of the current quest.
#DaretoExcel Challenge- 14:
Champion someone else’s work in public. Identify someone whose work you believe in and want to acknowledge specifically and genuinely in public online.
That someone may be a colleague you’ve connected with in our forum. It might be a team member. It might be one of your customers, clients, or participants who has done heroic work in line with what you and your brand Story are all about.
It might even be a perceived competitor – someone who shares members of your audience.
Here are ways you might champion them:
- In a blog article or LinkedIn article, mention them and link back to their work.
- Share their work on your Facebook Wall or Twitter feed with a recommendation.
Do It Together. It’s exponentially more fun and effective. And it’s business as unusual
I’ve mentioned many of the names listed below on this blog before. I’ve also shared them on Facebook, both on my timeline and in groups I belong to, and mentioned their work in many conversations. But for those of you who don’t want to dig back through months of posts to find them, here is a handy reference list. My life and work has evolved in a truer direction due in part to their presence in our shared quest to embrace our truest work and walk what could otherwise be a lonely path.
- Saundra Goldman, whose Creative Mix: Art & Life, Optimally Blended is dedicated to just this idea–elevating the work of creative women with the hope that it will help inspire us to hear and heed our own callings; be sure to check out her Continuous Practice challenge
- Brenna Layne, whose writing is filled with unique and beautiful images, ideas, and insights, and who also embodies the very essence of this particular dare in her dedicated and vocal championing of others’ work; I would love to live in one of her stories…
- Marisa Goudy, whose thoughts on entrepreneurship and writing, have inspired me to rethink my own ideas on these topics
- Tracee Vetting Wolf, whose work doesn’t stop with her art, it dives deep into the realm of creativity itself, and even works to open us up to creative collaboration
- Vanessa Herald, whose #365 Quote project is chock-full of inspiring words, art, and all-around wonderfulness
- Lora Jansson, whose brave and wonderful spirit is dedicated to the interconnectedness of all, and to healing our world through shamanic practice; her work with animals is particularly heroic
And of course:
- Maia Duerr, whose Liberated Life Project and Fall in Love With Your Work e-course helped me see a more creative and liberation-based way of living and supporting myself financially
- Jeffrey Davis, whose Quest 2015 and Dare to Excel challenges have helped me prioritize and whittle down my many passion projects into a focused, cohesive whole
There are, of course, many more, and you will see them, too, as I continue to share the work that inspires me, on this blog, on social media, and in person.
