Learning to Lead: Acceptance

As Black Minimalists (BM) approaches it's one-year anniversary, I am reflecting on how far we've come. We had great ambitions and we accomplished a lot, like releasing the Simply Black ebook on our launch, having our first volunteer meetup, launching our podcast and coaching services, as well as connecting to over 4,000 folks via our online platforms. To most, these are great accomplishments and more than enough in one-year and it's true, still, there were some things that never got off the ground or are still lingering on the back burner.

When we launched BM, I don't think any of us anticipated how our personal lives would be impacted. As with life in general, there have been many transitions and realizations. As the leader, it has been frustrating at times to feel like we have not capitalized on our unique position to make an impact. It's also difficult not to compare yourself to other groups on a similar path.

The reality is we overestimated what we felt we should've been doing and what we were actually capable of given our circumstances. The circumstances being, we are four individuals on our own journeys, with our own projects, and with different obligations that need to be taken into account. As a result, we've had to take a step back and re-evaluate our purpose and goals. Personally, I've also had to manage my expectations for our development. 

We are all new to this experience of creating and leading an organization with this mission. We are still getting to know each other, growing into our roles, and understanding what is required to successfully manage Black Minimalists in a way that is aligned with our personal goals, values, and BM's purpose. 

Right now, we want to embrace where we are and give ourselves space to regroup and get into alignment. We also are acknowledging: We have done enough (for now) and BM is enough in its current existence.