Between Worlds goes live in one week. Get your passes today.
Putting on an event isn’t easy, especially for head-types (Mavens). It requires patience. Each symposium represents a new cycle—like Sisyphus rolling the proverbial rock up the hill. We put together resources. Find support. Think, plan. Think, plan. Rethink, rethink, plan. Bootstrap. Stress. Monitor cash flow—
Stress. Implement. Execute. And hopefully, magic.
Once the participants fly away to their respective homes — hopefully inspired to change the world — we start over. It can take a toll, even as it yields spiritual rewards.
But anything worth doing takes effort.
Educational entrepreneur Michael Strong wrote this passage to inspire us to undertake durable efforts:
The Tibetan Buddhists, who have seen as much deliberate destruction of their lives and their culture than almost any people on the planet, are committed to a 500-year plan to create a better world. While most of us believe that it won’t take 500 years, sometimes it is worth thinking about what you as an individual can achieve over the course of a lifetime.
The Renaissance artist Lorenzo Ghiberti is famous for completing two sets of bronze doors in his life. The first set took him 21 years to complete. The second set took him 27 years to complete. Each door is covered with amazingly beautiful and detailed sculpture, doors that will be famous for as long as they exist. In our world in which life moves so quickly it is worth reflecting on the kind of commitment to excellence that could motivate someone to spend the first half his life perfecting a set of bronze doors (he started on them when he was 21), and then, when finished, to spend the second half of his life on a second set.
What if you committed yourself to making a powerful difference in the world throughout your lifetime?
Making a difference in the world is not about a feeling you have now but a commitment you make over time. You may not know exactly what your contribution will be, and you may experience several different callings. As long as you develop your abilities and apply them relentlessly, you will fashion your own set of bronze doors.
The Grey Robes is our bronze doors.
With your help, we will become more resplendent. With each meeting, our community will grow. But without that community’s support, there will be no siblinghood.
We want to thank all those who helped us fashion our bronze doors. Remember this post whenever you get frustrated, stressed out, or impatient.
We can’t wait to see you in London.