For over a decade, the name Amity Compass has been on my radar. I chose it carefully, put it into the back pocket of my mind, and left it there.
Six months ago, my life did what lives tend to do and took an unexpected turn out of a job I thought I was making into a career. I loved it that much. No, I thought I did.
I loved that I helped people, felt like I brought something that mattered to my community, and empowered women. But my voice was stifled there, and so was my worth. After a brief period of grief, I finally allowed myself to fully consider the question: what do I want?
I want to bridge my natural inclination toward creativity and my passion for making my community better. I want to share my belief that everyone’s stories deserve to be told. I want to use my natural ability to inspire people. And I’m tired of trying to prove to someone else I’m capable. So I decided to believe in myself.
I created a nonprofit.
I got my nonprofit registered with the secretary of state, all I had to do was fill out some paperwork.
To get my EIN, it was more paperwork.
I found some fantastic board members, invited them to do it, and spent a Saturday afternoon over coffee to exchange some ideas.
I drafted bylaws, and revised my mission, vision, and values a few times, and they will change over time.
I built a website on Google Sites but then found that Wix is far more appropriate.
I went to the AWP conference and found direction with like-minded people.
The next step is to consider 501(c)3 status. My time working in nonprofits has taught me that 501(c)3 is starting to become more of a roadblock than a helpful status, but that’s for another essay.
The above seems like a long list, but I did it all in about four months. That was the easy stuff. Now it’s time for the hard stuff. I can’t tell if I’m stalling the board meeting to vote on the bylaws because my leaders are busy (they are), or if it’s because that means it will be time to do the hard part. You know, like networking, begging volunteers to help me find voices to share, bragging my cause up to get funding, writing enough content to keep an audience engaged, marketing a (future) publication.
I still believe in myself, but I may need to finish my master’s in social work first. The question of when is pulling at me. I want to swoop in, feet first, hollering through open windows, “Look what I’m doing!” But patience is where my success is waiting for me.
It takes time to build a network. I don’t want to be the disingenuous executive director who goes out and wows audiences for their money and then leaves. I want to make true community connections and partnerships.
Most people share their startup stories after the fact, and we get to admire their progress and wonder if we could ever do it. Here is my startup story as it progresses. I’m in the “holy sh*it, what am I doing, can I actually do this?” stage. Instead of only sharing the end of the story, I will share the journey. Join me for the ride and find inspiration, if you’d like.
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