I’m currently doing some consulting work with/for a friend who is trying to resurrect a small business that fell out of sorts for about 2 years. So, every Monday, we have lunch together to discuss several aspects of what’s going on. I’m a sounding board and a voice of reason for him. I was quite reluctant at first to do this as, well, things like this can end up being a “time sucker” and I’m not sure I want to be a consultant for a living…
However…
It’s tons of critical thinking. It’s helping my brain “wake up” from being conditioned to “sit down and do as you’re told” from my previous, extremely disappointing experience in the BBQ world. (It’s no fault of the BBQ. I still love the BBQ. The leaders at that company however…). It’s refreshing. I’m actually doing some work on my own towards the endeavor. And I think about various aspects of this every day. So, currently, it’s all pretty good!
It’s also been a reminder of late of one of the things I dearly long for… being a part of a team. Can 2 people make up a team? Well, ask beach volleyball players. Or doubles tennis. Or POTUS/VP. Yes, 2 people can make up a team. So, our weekly meetings excite me.
I’ve joined a couple of other teams lately that invigorate me. One at church and one with our denomination. And, I love it. Ok, the church team leaves something to be desired. But, in spite of the drawbacks, it’s still a good thing to be in a room, discussing plans for the future and then know that those plans, at least some of them, will actually materialize!
It’s then, also a reminder of some things in my life that aren’t a team. My current self-employment is one of those things. Yeah, I have a “teammate” who is helping. But there are times that it still feels like a team of one. It’s probably the biggest issue I have in working solo. I’m somewhat social, but I am very motivated by working together WITH people. It seems as though many of my recent attempts, whether intentional or not, at building a team, if only of two, have been thwarted. And that there, is what leads to my feeling of despair. It’s been a decade since my day-to-day employment was team centered. I’ve either been solo, or just told what to do. I long for more than that.
