Goodbye and hello!

We want to start a conversation with you about what it is we are doing. Share with you the experiments and explorations of working in a space that many have a strong aversion to.

Wow, what a week!

We have a great many balls in the air. It takes some dexterity to keep them from bouncing out of sight or crashing into each other and us. Last week some went bouncing behind curtains and we forgot to follow up with an important contact. Some did crash into us, chasing the sun to post a Friday Feature on Friday rather than Saturday or (yikes!) Sunday. It comes with the territory of trying to do everything ourselves.

I am reminded of Yoda’s words from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back: “No! Try not! Do or do not, there is no try.” He is right, there is no try – we just do what we can when we can. We duck to avoid bumping into and tripping over each other in the tiny office we share, while we run on adrenaline, good coffee, feelings (all kinds) and a deep desire to make the world a better place.

It is a big ask, to make the world a better place

It is a big ask, to make the world a better place. I don’t know about you, but someone has to do something. The world is not a great place to be in the moment. Remember last week’s principle: “It starts with me“? I guess most of you are also striving to make an impact. Together we collectively aim to generate enough good energy that the Mothership Earth will slowly start turning. Actually Mothership Earth doesn’t need to do anything more than turn on her axis as she always has done. It’s the errant, misbehaving tenants on board that need some serious talking to.

Exploring the principle: It starts with me

Sharing our experiments and explorations

“Talking” on multiple platforms is what we do a great deal of at 5th Place. To keep us on track with what we need to write when, and where to publish it, we drew up a publishing schedule. One of our aims was to re-invigorate communicating to our mailing list. You guys. We don’t just want to market to you. We want to start a conversation with you (a bit one sided at the moment) about what it is we are doing. Share with you the experiments and explorations of working in a space that many have a strong aversion to. “Feelings?! Oh no! Emotions? Stay far away!”

Our first ‘week that was’

We sent you our first “Week that was” blog last week. In the process we lost six of you. Our mailing list is of a moderate size, so losing six subscribers was a blow. But then we received the most touching message from a subscriber. She said that the post was exactly what she needed to bring light to a particularly dark day. Another subscriber offered us the opportunity to write an article for a magazine she publishes and three new contacts asked to be added to the mailing list.

We are still sad to say goodbye to those six, we thought we were friends! (Place slightly shocked emoji face here that you can interpret to mean anything you like). We won’t take the rejection personally (sob – do several wings of Shape of Emotion – deep breath – feel better). We will still be friends but not of the penpal type.

Confrontational and confusing at times

Building and maintaining a mailing list of subscribers that will continue to find our newsletter compelling, is not for sissies. We realise we can’t be all things to everyone and appreciate all of your feedback, even if it is to say, “Sorry, not compelling enough – goodbye.” Our work is not for sissies either. It can be seen as confrontational, confusing and best tucked away behind a dark dusty cupboard. Despite this we really believe we have something of real benefit for the world.

To our new subscribers, hello and welcome! To our loyal readers, thank you. We hope you will all stay on the journey with us. We won’t take it personally if you choose to hop off the bus. Like the hop-on, hop-off city bus trips, we’ll be back soon enough and if you choose to hop on again your seat will still be there for you.