Life, Incorporated by Halley Bock

Author:Halley Bock
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626343566
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
Published: 2017-04-17T04:00:00+00:00

PERSONAL MANIFESTO

I’m often asked why we begin with a personal manifesto. I’ll tell ya why: It has attitude. Yes, personal mission statements are great, and we’ll pen one, but I find those are a tough place to begin. Instead, I like to begin with something that feels freer, that gives us permission to dare speak courageously and invites passion. In a guest post for the blog A Man’s Life, Zach Sumner put it this way: “A personal manifesto functions as both a statement of principles and a bold, sometimes rebellious, call to action.” Okay. He had me at “rebellious.” The word “manifesto” comes from the Latin manifestum, which means clear or conspicuous. Rebellious, bold, conspicuous—these are all words I like, and it’s not because I’m some diva. I’m not. I’m a card-carrying introvert who shudders every time I’m told I have a dinner party to attend. I like those words because they’re evocative, which is exactly what your personal manifesto should be. If it doesn’t get you fired up, if it doesn’t resonate with you, then you haven’t allowed yourself to reach far enough. This is an exercise where you get to seriously play, and it is for your eyes only, unless you choose to share it.

To get you in the mind-set for creating your own, read the following manifesto by Seth Godin. Other good examples include the manifestos of lululemon, Expert Enough, and the organization (RED). No matter what type of entity or whether the manifesto matches your personal beliefs, you’ll notice one thing in common: They went there. Each manifesto is passionate, specific, personal, and bold. Here is Godin’s:

I am an artist. I take initiative. I do the work, not the job. Without critics, there is no art. I am a Linchpin. I am not easily replaced. If it’s never been done before, even better. The work is personal, too important to phone in. The lizard brain is powerless in the face of art. I make it happen. Every day. Every interaction is an opportunity to make a connection. The past is gone. It has no power. The future depends on choices I make now. I own the means of production— the system isn’t as important as my contribution to it. I see the essential truth unclouded by worldview, and that truth drives my decisions. I lean into the work, not away from it. Trivial work doesn’t require leaning. Busywork is too easy. Rule-breaking works better and is worth the effort. Energy is contagious. The more I put in, the more the world gives back. It doesn’t matter if I’m always right. It matters that I’m always moving. I raise the bar. I know yesterday’s innovation is today’s standard. I will not be brainwashed into believing in the status quo. Artists don’t care about credit. We care about change. There is no resistance if I don’t allow it to defeat me. I embrace a lack of structure to find a new path. I am surprising. (And often surprised.) I donate energy and risk to the cause.

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