Tuesday Thoughts | 1 November 2022 | NaNoWriMo and Public Accountability

A few years ago I took the Four Tendencies Quiz from Gretchen Rubin, and was surprised – actually more like completely shocked – to find myself in the Obliger category (as opposed to say the Questioners or Rebels). While I’m still not sure about how I feel about it, it has been endlessly helpful to realize that I thrive when I create outward accountability and seek out peer support.

Its not that I don’t want to do great things, but when I think about how those great things can be of benefit to community and society, I am more motivated to push through. This idea also forms a dimension of the theme of my YouTube Channel – the One Woman Island – where I’m often taking on adventures, and challenges solo, but with the recognition that, no (wo)man is an island, and it takes a village, and all that good stuff.

Even this newsletter that you are reading has this idea baked right in, #TuesdayThoughts went from a one-off rant one Tuesday in April of 2021, to a weekly post (and then to a full newsletter) after Geoff Mak responded to that original ‘thought’ with a comment that ended “Can’t wait for your Thoughts next Tuesday”; I enjoy crafting these thoughts each week, but what really holds me accountable is knowing that everyone EXPECTS to see my thoughts each week in their inbox (also, please subscribe I’m ‘this close’ to hitting my 500 person subscriber goal for 2022, and share this post if you think it will add value to others).

This November, I’m looking to once again harness a bit of this Obliger magic, by holding myself publicly accountable for another big goal I have, to finally start writing my first book. Long-time readers of #TuesdayThoughts may already know that I’m planning to harness everything I’ve learned being a Young Political Activist, Former Political Staffer, Lifelong Volunteer, and current Not-for-Profit Industry leader to create a handbook for people who want to make a difference and need some help figuring out where to focus their time, talents, and money to make the post impact.

That’s where NaNoWriMo – aka National Novel Writing Month – comes in, while I am not (repeat really, really not) writing a work of fiction; I’m grabbing onto this global movement to keep me going so that I can make a real dent into draft version 1. I’ll be posting and tweeting (assuming Musk doesn’t totally destroy twitter in his first month of ownership) my way through November with updates, thoughts, challenges, and maybe even a few excerpts.

I’ll also be theming some – if not all – of this Month’s #TuesdayThoughts Issues around the craft of writing, sharing ideas, and of course some early thoughts on how to make the most impact with your precious time and resources. I’ll also be crowd-sourcing some info from my network and community, I still have some questions about how things work south of the border (I’d like to create a book that is also helpful to Americans), and I’d love to tell some of your stories about what inspires you to donate, volunteer, and to be of service both in your paid and personal time.

This Week’s Calls to Action: are first please reach out, if you want to be part of my virtual writers’ support group this month, or if you have a story or thoughts you think could make my book even better; and, for everyone, I also want to encourage you to find ways to harness the power of community to help motivate you to reach your goals. BONUS: is there something you want to do (unrelated to writing) that you need support or accountability to accomplish? Drop that info in the comments as well.

New and Noteworthy?is a collection of things readers of #TuesdayThoughts might find interesting, important, or informative;

??Other Stuff I Did This Week (shameless self promotion):?Did you catch my article in the CSAE Association Magazine Conference edition (electronic edition published last week)? Read it now: The one-in-one-out rule: What associations can learn from minimalism and decluttering. Last week I was also honoured to continue on into my second year, of my second term on the CSAE Board of Directors during the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday.

??What to Watch:?Pearson Airport tries out runway inspections powered by drones and AI from CTV News, featuring my awesome cousin Daan Arscott

??What to Read:?Some tips on how to delegate from the Laurier Women Entrepreneurship Centre | Air Canada broke my $30,000 motorized wheelchair. Here’s what happened next from Maayan Ziv in Toronto Life | Women in the Workplace 2022 from McKinsey & Company h/t Jacqui d'Eon | New Evidence Suggests That “Perfect” Woman You Follow on Social Media is Burning You Out h/t Serda Evren

????What to Do:?Donate to Marie-Chantal (MC) Thibault's Tremblant 24 hour run/walk relay challenge for Children's Mental Health | Get your Poppy from the Royal Canadian Legion's poppy campaign | Volunteer as a Judge at the Ontario Colleges' Marketing Competition (OCMC)

??What to Listen To: Stuart Knight on Canada Talks, The Loneliness Epidemic Is Real. Here Are Some Things You Should Know

????♀?Cool Jobs (Paid and Volunteer):?Deputy Executive Director @ Association & Events Management International | TWO positions, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Coordinator AND Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist @ City of Markham working for Joanne Kinya Baker

??Take Note:?Really interesting stats on Who Donates and How Much on the Canadian Knowledge Hub for Giving and Volunteering h/t Imagine Canada | Toy Safety Awareness Month h/t Steve Pasierb | What keeps Canadians from volunteering more? on the Canadian Knowledge Hub for Giving and Volunteering h/t Volunteer Canada | Lyft will take you to your job interview, and then to your job for three weeks until you get paid, for FREE if you need the help h/t Nick Martin

??I am a Certified Association Executive with nearly over a dozen years of experience in leadership positions in Canada's Not-for-Profit Sector; as a College Professor, occasional Speaker, and contributor to blogs, newsletters, and media, I am skilled at using the art of storytelling to explain my ideas and inform audiences and readers on a variety of topics.

??♀?I am also a Certified Organizational Specialist and Practical Minimalist, who happens to have an unhealthy love for Excel Spreadsheets. I don't do this work often, but I am always happy to give a bit of advice if you are struggling.

??Did you know I also paint and draw? I am passionate about the benefits of Adult Colouring, and can create custom colouring sheets for speech and workshop audiences, by request.

Not-for-Profit Consulting Services?(pdf) | Check Out my website?daniellerussell.ca

Join my community, where?I Connect People and Ideas. Use?#TuesdayThoughts?to share this edition of the Newsletter with your networks.

LinkedIn?Danielle S. Russell, CAE (she/her)?| Instagram ???@danielle.s.russell?| Twitter?@dani__russell?|?YouTube???One Woman Island