01 March 2009

Secret #8 -- Selecting Empowering Partnerships and Alliances

The eighth secret in Gail McMeekin’s The 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women is “Selecting Empowering Partnerships and Alliances”. This was a difficult chapter for me because at this point in my creative journey, I don’t seek/desire a partnership or collaboration, outside of the support systems we talked about in the last secret.

I definitely want encouraging and empowering people around me, but the truth is that I don’t work well with others. I never have. In fact, a teacher noted as much on an early report card! I listen to the beat of my own drum, work by my own time-table, and have my own methods of organization. It’s not that I don’t enjoy working with others; it’s just that I don’t do it very well.

Having said all of that, I’d love to have a support team! I currently have three separate – but intertwined – dreams, so my support team would require people with a variety of characteristics:

  • Working mixed-media artist
  • Highly creative and open
  • Challenging, yet encouraging
  • Background in teaching
  • Connections at teaching venues
  • Someone who can read/critique/edit/make suggestions
  • Someone who understands the publishing process
  • Someone who understands the self-publishing process.

As I mentioned in last week’s post, I’m moving in a month to six weeks, so I’m not going to do much to form a support team right now. But when I get settled into my new dwelling, I’m going to make this a priority!

2 comments:

Jamie Ridler said...

What great clarity you have in this post. Often having that clear a picture of what you want is the first step in making you happen. I'm imagining that new support team already awaiting your arrival in your new home.

And I just loved your description of your ways.

Contessa Kris said...

I know I mentioned this before but thanks for talking about this book. I ordered and picked it up from the library over the weekend and plan to dive into it tomorrow. Happy creating!