by Tara Joyce | Dec 1, 2016 | Cultural Creativity
I don’t want to feel this way any more. I don’t want to feel that I am ‘not enough.’ I want to see how wonderful and amazing I am—and how wonderful and amazing you are. It has been far too long that I have bought into the message that you and I are ‘not enough’ as we are.
In response to these feelings, I’ve decided I’m no longer accepting any message, internal or otherwise, that encourages me or anyone else to believe that who or what or why we are is ‘not enough.’ I’m done buying into it. It’s horseshit and it is created out of our polarized culture that thrives on encouraging us to feel separate, alone, and mindlessly focused on consuming in order to fill the void we’ve created together.
Not enough, not enough, not enough. Buy more, get more, perhaps then it’ll be enough.
I’ve decided to become like a superhero, vigilant to the messages that encourage us to feel like we are not good enough as we are. Fuck these messages, and fuck the cutting voice inside me who actually buys into its bullshit. Only I can give any thing the power to make me feel not good enough. Only I can choose to dis-empower myself. It takes my ‘buy in.’ I’ve decided it’s time I own this.
You and I are so much more than we realize—and that is the real truth. The breadth and heights of what we’re capable of is actually what we need to be reminded of—and yet our dominate culture has a different message. It sells us on ways to be more, better, faster. It fearfully sells us on ‘not enough’ in hopes we will buy into its offerings. It needs us to feel less than, in hopes we’ll feel we need it to feel whole. It’s a never-ending co-dependent see-saw we ride, if we allow it.
I’m buying out of ‘not enough.’ For it’s the only way I can see clearly through the noise and to the heart of my self. Doing my work to release this dominant message, I allow myself the ability to rise to any occasion, confident in knowing I am enough as I am.
photo credit: Ron Mader
by Tara Joyce | Mar 24, 2014 | Cultural Creativity
I like to write about our Values, our Worldviews, and the Subcultures we inhabit — but I don’t think I’ve ever clearly explained why, have I?
Maybe I’ve never written about it clearly before because it hasn’t been clear to me why it really matters until now.
Having knowledge about these topics is a business owner’s secret weapon. For they determine what and why we buy.
They’re psychographics and they explore an individual’s concepts of the world they live in. Demographics don’t have a chance against these bad boys.
Can I Get a Definition?
We use a lot of words every day. And many words — words that I use and you use — mean different things to me than they do to you.
For that reason, I feel like I always liked definitions as I often find myself asking, “yes, but what does that word really mean?”
What are Values?
Values are what’s important in your life (your life priorities). Values are what you actually do, accomplish and be.
You live your values. Each of us commits our actions in pursuit of the important matters in our lives.
Your “individual character” is built around your deeply held values and the meanings and worldviews associated with them.
Values determine how and if you will vote, what products and services you will buy, how you live, and what kind of future you want for yourself and your loved ones.
What are Worldviews?
Worldviews are your set of beliefs about “how things work”, “how life is” and “what’s objectively important in life”. It’s your perspective, your point-of-view on life.
An interesting thing about your worldview is that the more you believe that your worldview defines you, the tighter you grasp onto it’s truth.
Your worldview can be your pain and it can be your peace.
What are Subcultures?
Subcultures are a cultural group (e.g., the Cultural Creatives) within a larger culture (e.g., Canadian culture), often having values and lifestyles alternative from those of the dominate culture.
Dr. Paul Ray (who wrote The Cultural Creatives) observed that there are three major subcultures in the Western World — the Moderns, the Traditionals and the Cultural Creatives.
Everyone within these subcultural groups shares similar values, worldviews and lifestyles and these things define their actions far more than any other subculture they may belong to, including their Ethnic subculture.
Psychographics – what and why we buy
A powerful thing about psychographics is that, as a business owner, the more you work on your own understanding of your values, your worldviews and what subcultures you connect with, the stronger your understanding of your customer’s psychographics will be.
A more empathetic understanding of what and why you buy can help you more authentically understand and connect with the buying motivations of your customers.
And the best part is you may just find that you know your customers far better than you think you do, and that they value, view and live in the world very similarly to you.
photo credit: illuminaut
by Tara Joyce | Jun 6, 2008 | Cultural Creativity, Featured, Innerpreneurship
Where the Word ‘Innerpreneur’ Came From
I didn’t make it up.
The book, Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerprenuers, by Ron Rentel, was the first, to my knowledge, to use and define the term innerpreneur. (Editor’s Note: I now know this to be incorrect.) The book is an exploration of the nine most interesting consumer types evolving today.
The Making of an Innerpreneur
An innerpreneur is an entrepreneur who use their business to find personal fulfillment (creatively, spiritually, emotionally) and create social change.
You may have heard the terms ‘creative class‘, ‘creative capitalism’, or ‘cultural creative‘ used to describe us as well. Basically, we want to use business to improve the world and ourselves.
We have the defining entrepreneurial traits. We have a(n):
- high need for achievement
- high need for independence
- low need for conformity
- internal locus of control
- love of ambiguity
- propensity for risk-taking
- obsession with opportunity
But innerpreneurs are characteristically different as we start businesses to aid in our personal growth rather than that of a company’s. We start our businesses so we can find personal fulfillment and satisfaction through our work.
We are driven by our need to realize our full potential, to make a difference and to constantly learn and evolve.
Further Characteristics of an Innerpreneur
- you believe you should do what you are and what you love
- you see the world in a different way than most
- you let your values and passion for exploration guide your life
- you have an innate need to be creative and honest, to follow your own unique path
- you want to make things different; you are attracted to industries that improve the world
- you may alternate periods of career focus with periods of reflection and/or adventure
I’m an Innerpreneur
After reading the chapter on Innerpreneurs in Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs, I quickly identified my needs and desires as one of an innerpreneur.
Just before reading the book I had just decided to start my own business. I had realized that I had to in order to have the life I desired. I want to write, to learn, to help people, and use the web to create change.
I have always been hesitant to label myself, to put myself in a box of any sort but I couldn’t help but smile and take a deep breath of relief when I read the profile. It is always nice to belong somewhere.
The Point of ‘Rise of the Innerpreneur’
This blog is dedicated to promoting innerpreneurship and helping innerpreneurs, like you and me, make their businesses a success.
