Weekly Wisdom #19

My daughter graduated from college this week. At the same time, I also finished the book called Professional Troublemaker . As I reflect on when I was my daughter’s age, I wish I had been ready to be a better professional troublemaker. The world is more difficult to navigate these days so I think learning to be professional at troublemaking will be a good skill for her to develop. I am still refining my skills at troublemaking. Here is the wisdom I gained from the book, Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighting Manual .

BE

The first section of the book talks about how to BE in the world. It first suggests you know yourself deeply. I would agree. I wish I had taken the time early in my career to reflect and document my life mission statement. Author Luvvie Ajaya Jones even provides a worksheet. A few key questions I liked included:

Even on your worst day, what makes you amazing? What is worth fighting for, even if your arms are too short to box with God? And most importantly, what do you want them to say when they’re lowering you into the ground.

I have reflected on that last one this past week as I revised my departing documents; will, power of attorney, and health care directive. I had already started a little eulogy a while back about what I think I would be known for and want people to say about me. Reviewing it occasionally reminds me to modify an action that is not meeting those expectations I set for myself.

What do you know about yourself? How solid are you in acting what you hope people will say about you when you are gone?

I think the trouble you want to make should be solidly grounded in you and the gifts you bring to make the world a better place. I loved one of the statements the author reminds herself about; “I am not the best. I don’t have to be. I am enough.” ?

SAY

This section of the book gets into speaking the truth, failing loudly, asking for more, getting your money, and drawing your lines. She says;

We fear honesty because it exposes the rawness of life and our flaws, which we are too willing to ignore. It calls us to the carpet, because once you know, you can’t unsee the ugliness of what was exposed. You might even have to do something about it. The truth challenges us to change and be better, and those are tall orders.

This makes me think of the work I am currently doing in diversity and inclusion. I cannot unsee what I know now. Because so many others in my field are not there yet, I am struggling to try to help them see when I sense discrimination and exclusion occurring. Many days I am discouraged and disappointed in my conservation community, especially those in positions of authority who claim to be working on diversity and inclusion and are performative. Those are the days I want to give up. But I remind myself that this is a sign of privilege.

I keep working on how to speak from the heart and bring compassion to the table. Some days my words make an impact and create change, but often they are met by the minds of the status quo.

This month, I am so excited to be working for the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program Collaborative . I look forward to meeting early-career conservationists from more marginalized communities and igniting their passion for the future. I fully expect that I will be learning as much from them as I hope they will learn from me. I might even recommend the book to help them prepare to speak the truth in ways that I cannot.

How are you speaking bravely to break down the status quo and bring more diversity to life and work?

DO

In this final section of the book, Jones suggests growing wildly. In other words, keep seeking personal growth opportunities. She also talks about being okay with sucking and taking no shit. All of those are true. My favorite wisdom from this section is about building your squad.

One of the pieces of advice I give graduates is about networking. I wish I had stayed connected with my network of people early on. Had I done so, I think in times of major transition, I might have been more comfortable reaching out for help. Both of my young adult children have heard me suggest keeping their network close.

There are two parts of the author’s suggestion of squad building that I like most.

1.?????Fire Yourself. In other words, instead of doing it all, find people to help you, especially in areas you are not good at. No one wants their tombstone to say, as Jones points out “Her grind was impeccable, and she did it all by herself.” I like to switch the narrative around help to something more like “Asking for help is asking someone to share their gifts.”

2.?????Build a bunch of squads with different purposes. Jones points out that on one walks this world alone. And no successful person became that way of their own doing. We need the squads that exist of old friends who know our faults and love you anyway. We need a professional crew members and mentors to help us get the important work done while helping us grow for the good of community. And of course, we need our play group where we can refuel.

Do you have the various crews that can help minimize your load, help you walk in your professional life, and bring you energy?

A note to graduates (including my daughter):

Check out the book Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-fighting Manual. Complete Your Life Mission Statement and review it often. Practice speaking the truth and have tools ready to handle yourself when people don’t want to hear it. Maintain your network because you never know when you will need them, or they will need you.

The future is both bright and dim. You will need to have your squads of people to face the challenges and celebrate successes. Please become the professional troublemaker we all need you to be.

Congratulations graduates! ?