I was listing a summary of recent events and found a confluence of them that made me think of the term "minister without portfolio." Allow me to explain.
First, there was this blog post on Seth Godin's site. I put a link to that blog entry on my Facebook wall got a particularly notable response. That event was following by me reading an online article about entrepreneurship. Finally, I started working on a short-term consulting contract with a former employer. Since all of these things happened within a few short days, I had to pick my head up, look around and think: "What's going on here?"
So, let's assess:
1. The Seth Godin blog posting is a bit of a rant against people who want the economy and lifestyles to go back to where they were, and the people who successfully prey upon our work and life anxieties.
2. My friend's response to Godin's blog was: "There's a lot of quitters and giver-uppers out there who would like everything to go back to easy street and that road is closed to only the lucky residents now. Not sure I could count the times I've had to reinvent myself because it's happened so often to get by, make do, or do very well. It's just part of life." Tell it sistah!
3. The online Slate article told the story of a one-time employee who took a buyout from the Baltimore Sun and built a business by giving away his skills to anyone who would listen to him. It turns out, hundreds of thousands of people are now listening to him and he's about to get seriously paid to continue to give away his skills.
4. I've gone back to the place that initially told my services were no longer required. They are now paying me to do what I've been doing for free for the last 2.5 years.
All of this happening within the same week is totally coincidental. But in each case, from Mr. Godin to workaday employee who would give away without giving up- we are examples of people who do not fear having to start over. In fact, we are constantly doing it.
Call us "ministers with portfolio." We may or may not have an official office but we certainly have plenty to do.
*Chantal de la Rionda edits this blog
