Hello to several new followers on the blog! Thrilled to have you following the journey of Badass Backpacks. [Heads up that I use the BFD acronym for “Backpacks For Dinner” — you can read a touch more about BFD and how we’ve used Tuesday nights if you’re still getting oriented to what’s going on here. :-)]
We just wrapped a beautiful BFD session tonight. I had mentioned before that tonight marks the end of a long running tradition. I am officially counting down the days before the #altMBA begins for me and the altMBA3 crew. The altMBA workshop will be eating up a lot of my time between Jan 11-Feb 8. It’s a sprint. And then it will be done. Following the altMBA, the Badass Backpacks team will be hosting a special BFD session to create a plan for what lies ahead of us, and a plan for what lies all around us.
Tonight’s conversation was an amazing progress report. I don’t mean a bullshit progress report — I’m talking about an expansive conversation that encompassed the entire existence of this project, and all of the possibilities that can’t seem to stop presenting themselves. I love what Seth said in this blog post about “Your Progress Report”:
a. the difficult questions that remain unanswered
b. the long-term goals where you don’t feel like progress is being made
c. risky, generous acts that worked
Even more important: All the things that aren’t on your list, but could be. — Seth’s Blog (Nov 11, 2015)
Difficult questions abound: things like are we spreading our butter over too much bread?
Long-term goals without progress: We thought we’d be moving more quickly by now. (lots to unpack in that one statement :-))
Risky generous acts that worked: we have finally begun to sell bags. (I even sold another one tonight to my good friend, Ian — thank you Ian!!!) But more importantly — we are finding ways to put ourselves into each box that we are shipping. While I’m unsure that we can sustain the current model, it’s earth shakingly satisfying to see our first buyers get so excited with us as we continue to go one by one, selling these first bags. It’s an amazing moment to be a part of. It is the purity of watching the Possible wake up. And then watching the Universe conspire to make it a joyous awakening.
All the things that aren’t on your list, but could be: We want to create backpacks that will spark conversations. The things on our list to accomplish that one singular goal are feeling beyond numerous. At this moment in time — I don’t feel like there’s anything missing from our list. And that brings us right back to that other big question from Seth: Are we spreading our butter over too much bread? Possibility awakens — and it is welcomed with joy.
Thank you Tuesday night BFD sessions. It has been an amazing run. #altMBA — here we come. 5 days and counting. Next Tuesday night I’ll be on a phone call with my altMBA3 cohort — I absolutely can’t wait!
Onwards, with grace and joy!