“What do you do?”
One of the simplest ways people interact with others is by asking polite questions that are normally considered safe in nearly any social setting. And, one of the most popular of these questions is to ask about the kind of work someone does.
Many Answers
For many years I did like most people did during that era and worked in one professional capacity at a time. Most of the jobs I held had titles that provided a new conversation partner with a general concept of the work I did.
In recent years, I have had a more difficult time answering or have been selective in choosing one answer from many depending on my context at the time I’m asked about my work. Some of the difficulty is a result of doing many things at once. Currently the list of roles I might consider using to answer the question include Director of Social Enterprise, professor, consultant, and pastor.
And, I anticipate a need to explain the Director of Social Enterprise role as many people are not certain what social enterprise is or why it needs direction.
Spiritual Entrepreneurship
I’ve decided the time has come for me to evolve beyond providing a single answer that speaks primarily to one of my roles and to use a term that speaks to who I am and what motivates me in all of my many roles: spiritual entrepreneur.
While the term spiritual entrepreneur isn’t common, it combines two words that are in nearly everyone’s vocabulary and it invites conversation.
So What?
I’m grateful to be an Adese Fellow. As a part of this year-long learning experience, I spent several days at Old South Church in Boston last week. During the formal learning time and in conversation beyond it, two CLAL leaders introduced me to the language of spiritual entrepreneurship.
As a spiritual entrepreneur I’m interested in hearing from you about what comes to mind when you hear that term. Let me know your initial reaction. And, I welcome any additional thoughts, wisdom, or questions you wish to share.
Note: CLAL started Glean as the first incubator for spiritual entrepreneurship. Rabbi Elan Babchuck – Director of Innovation at CLAL and Founding Director of the Glean Incubator facilitated the Adese sessions one morning and Alan Harlam -Director of Spiritual Entrepreneurship for the Glean Incubator served as a coach and advisor.
Image: The image above was shared on Facebook by Rev. Dr. Patrick Duggan, Executive Director of the UCC Church Building and Loan Fund. It shows Rabbi Babchuck facilitating a thought provoking session.