Doing What Matters
“Remind me that the most fertile lands were built by the fires of volcanoes.” - Andrea Gibson
This article is part of the Inspiration & Ideas series. Find the list of posts here and the video playlist here.
This week I wanted to welcome my new subscribers and acknowledge how amazing it’s felt writing on Substack over this past year.
I’d been following some of my favourite writers on Substack for a while: Andrea Gibson, Holly Whitaker, Laura McKowen and Lisa Olivera, so I knew it felt like just the right place for me, if only to be among the other voices I admire so much.
Ultimately, this is a space to share guidance and inspiration, less structured than the training workshops I run, and broader in that I hope it resonates with people who may never have considered starting a social enterprise or charity, but who know, deep in their heart, that they want to somehow make a difference in their community.
So, for those of you who are new here, and as an update for everyone else, this is a bit about my philosophy and what you can expect:
Having worked with charities and community groups for over 17 years, I'm a huge advocate for the third sector; the value it adds to the economy and the great work it does on the frontline.
More than that, I’m a huge believer in the power of an individual or a small community, and I believe that it’s those tiny actions and small acts of kindness made in every corner of the world that add up to real and significant change.
I write under three core topic headings:
Your purpose
Embracing your big ideas, identifying your priorities, organising your time, and looking after yourself in the process.
Your plan
Defining what you’re trying to achieve and the most effective way to get there, then exploring your options of working and volunteering for causes that matter to you.
Your project
Starting, running and funding your community group or not-for-profit organisation, setting targets, measuring impact and planning for long-term success.
It’s likely that your own unique set of experiences inform the contribution you want to make in the world.
For you, this could be:
Volunteering for a cause you believe in.
Caring for a family member.
Changing careers to something that’s more aligned to your values.
Starting a not-for-profit group or social impact business.
Taking the lead on an issue that matters to your community.
I share articles and videos on topics such as:
Turning your ideas into impact and making a difference in your community.
Starting, running and funding a community group or not-for-profit.
Creative tools for inspiration, planning and organisation.
Aligning with your purpose, mission or calling.
Looking after yourself when you’ve dedicated your life to helping others.
You might find the following free online courses useful:
Wherever you are on your own journey, I hope you find something here that inspires you.
Rachel x
P.S. The Q&A sessions are paused for now, as my client work has to take priority, but feel free to add your questions to the comments below and I’ll aim to build my answers into future articles.