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| My new badge of distinction! |
I had planned to retire at some point after my kids all flew the nest and started to spread their wings three years ago. I wasn't sure quite when I'd retire, but eased myself into it by going to part-time for a few years in order to devote more time to the artwork I love to do.
Pretty soon I found I was burning my candle at both ends because I loved the artwork so much I was constantly working on various projects. It was difficult to leave my studio in the mornings, and I'd look wistfully over my shoulder on my way out the door to the office. Then when I came home after a full day at the office I'd work on some lovely project involving sparkling beads, color, line, form, great music, and satisfaction.
When I finally decided to retire from the office work and devote myself to the artwork full-time the expanse of freedom confronting me was intimidating to say the least, so in order to create structure and a new sense of purpose I wrote myself a letter, this time as the boss (me) to the new employee (me). I love to read this letter because it reminds me of where the new freedoms are in contrast to the limitations of the other working lifestyle.
What's the purpose of this letter?
When you find yourself confronted with too many things you love to do and a backlog of projects that have been started but not yet finished, it helps to create a new structure around that, sort of carrying the best of the project management skills from the office to the new place of work, my studio--so I began at the beginning by welcoming myself onboard.
How do you write a letter like this?
- Ask yourself what you'd like to hear from a new boss
- What kind of culture and environment best suits your purpose?
- What do you want this new boss to recognize about you as an employee?
- What do you want from this new boss? (recognition, praise, opportunities for advancement, flexibility, creative freedom, encouragement, and support)
The Letter
Dearest
Jen,
Welcome
aboard! We’ve been very eager to embrace you as a full-time member of
Dreamkeeper Creations! Thank you for deciding to join us, we anticipate
wonderful things to come.
We’re
thrilled that you’ve decided to join us in the business of bringing beauty into
the world and feeding souls through Dreamkeeper Creations, our joint venture
composed of the mix of mind, body, spirit, and soul and the sharing of our
results for the benefit of all.
Our
mission is to shine a light that will illuminate pathways that others can take
to sustain themselves, and to offer support and encouragement where needed to
help others reach their potentials. We understand that you have a solid base of
experience and we’re excited to be able to facilitate your use of the talents
you’ve developed, including your artistic creativity, as well as your business
acumen. We’re also here to lend energy to your endeavors, and support in a
number of additional ways.
We
appreciate the dedication with which you’ve devoted yourself to your endeavors throughout
your lifetime up to this point, and we applaud the creativity, the relationship
building, and the sharing of all you’ve learned with those who can benefit from
it, including family, students, faculty, co-workers, and the larger communities
of those in your fields of expertise.
We
appreciate the unflagging devotion to doing your best, being your best, and
providing quality resources to help others reach their best potential,
including love, support, encouragement, information, technical facilitation,
and product enhancement through the application of creativity, instructional
design, and innovation.
We know
from your track record that you’re great at applying yourself, and we’d like to
support this. Please feel free to spend as much time learning as you want to,
by watching videos, taking courses, soaking up the resources that are widely
available on the Internet, attending workshops, conferences, and trade shows,
and take all the time you like to practice and perfect your skill sets.
We
pledge to provide you with all the resources you need, including fresh air
whenever you want it, sunshine as the climate provides, surroundings that
provide the right atmosphere for your creativity, including quiet, stimulation,
exposure to others in your field, sleep, meditation, and relaxation when and
where you feel would be the most supportive of your continued application of
your talents and skills. We also encourage you to take whatever time you need
to reflect and savor your accomplishments.
A few
words of advice – please feel free to exercise whenever you feel you’d like to
get out and about, as well as take in a change of scenery. Don’t forget to
check in by meditating whenever you feel you’d like some guidance or
inspiration, we’re here for you all the time. Sleep when you need to, work and
play when you need to. We’re all about balance, which we feel is great for
bringing you to your best potential. And please feel free to play whatever
music or television entertainment you like for background inspiration.
Drink
lots of good pure water, tea, and if you feel like it at times, wine in
celebration. Take whatever time you like
to prepare your food – make a salad, fry an egg, or go out to the café to
partake of nourishment. Spend time with those who encourage and love you
whenever you like, including your fur peeps.
About
compensation – the sky’s the limit! What comes around goes around – do your
best and you’ll be rewarded with the best of the best in all forms (time well
spent, kindred friendships, happy customers, and the wherewithal that sustains
you and feeds your soul as well as those whose lives you touch through giving).
We
appreciate all that you’ve done in support of your endeavors and look forward
to your application of all of your talents and skills in your position with
Dreamkeeper Creations. We’re so thrilled for each moment we get to spend in pursuit
of our common goals.
Namaste!
Warm
regards,
DKC
Team
* * *
Who wouldn't want to sign on?
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