Smaller World, Same Responsibility
Zero Degrees of Kevin Bacon
Remember the "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" parlour game that became popular a few years back? The object of the game was to find that any two actors were six or fewer connections apart from working with actor Kevin Bacon. Six degrees of separation, the broader theory actually studied by mathmeticians and computer scientists was thought to be true for everyone on earth—all 8 billion of us (and counting).
But this six degrees theory became well-known in the late 20th century, before digital transformation and social networks all but erased the distances between people. For instance, you could go comment, right now, on one of Kevin Bacon's Instagram photos and have him respond directly to you, thus eliminating every degree of separation between you and Kevin Bacon. That's wild. (If you do that, I suggest giving him props for his dancing chops)
Pair the reach of our digital networks with a pandemic that keeps many of us at home limiting our public interaction, and what do you get? A world that feels very, very small. Smaller than even Disney would have us believe. Maybe too small. For instance, you're connected to many influential LinkedIn professionals, but because so many other people are as well, you feel like a drop in the bucket. Ironically, life online might have you feeling more disconnected.
A Lighthouse in the Storm (Core Values)
You might feel, like I sometimes do, washed ashore on a remote island (glad my island has pretty good wi-fi).
Thankfully, Creatis has a roadmap to navigate these times that applies on- and off-line: Core Values. What's the point of having core values if you're not going to actually use them when the going gets tough? And I think we can all agree that 2020 has been tough for a multitude of reasons. Core Values are lighthouses when you feel like you're on that remote island, disconnected and no longer making an impact on the world.
What's the point of having core values if you're not actually going to use them when the going gets tough? And I think we can all agree that 2020 has been tough.
Creatis describes this Do What's Right value as "checking your ego at the door" and "working for best outcomes; for the greater good." These descriptions are a huge nudge out of complacency for me whenever I get a case of the Why Me's? By focusing my attention back on my responsibilities—to the tasks I'm working on, the teammates I'm working with and the community I'm apart of—I feel connected to something bigger again. This core value motivates me to act, even in small ways, to make my circle of influence a little better. Even if digital has shrunk our already small world, it doesn't mean our responsibilities should shrink.
Even if digital has shrunk our already small world, it doesn't mean our responsibilities should shrink.
The upcoming holiday season rightfully reminds us that doing what's right is about making our small worlds better by paying-it-forward through volunteering our time, expertise and resources to causes and groups that we're passionate about. And building a stronger, more equitable community requires individuals willing to donate their strengths in meaningful ways. That could be simply going the extra mile to help a teammate complete a challenging assignment, or taking an extra hour to prepare for leading a meeting. Or it could mean helping more young professionals make business connections and donating to your local food bank.
Help Us Do What's Right...
Creatis Cares was developed as a way to do just that, building up the Twin Cities professional community through inkind creative services and strategic volunteer efforts.
Find out how you can get invovled with our partner, the Minority Business Growth Alliance. The mission of the organization is to empower minority business owners to make business connections and offer strategic support to help growth their small businesses. The MBGA is a brand-new organization looking for funding, consulting and training volunteers and more. Find out how you can help here.
We're also calling for nominations for our 2020 Creatis Cares Honoree Process. Find out more and nominate a non-profit you support here.
Interested in career opportunities at Creatis? Work at Creatis.
