“We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders.”
― Archbishop Desmond Tutu
When did you last experience magic?
That’s a huge question! For me, magic grows in community. I recently participated in a celebration and fundraiser for Unsheltered Utah, a community I’ve grown with over several years. And yes, being with my people reinforced everything I know and believe about being present in our communities.
All of us are busy. Busy with work, with family, with life. And networking! We’re always ready for a new networking opportunity. So why add community building and new communities to our already full calendars?
I came across a quote on social media. I wish I knew the author (if you know, please share.) This is beautiful.
“The difference between networking and community: Networking asks ‘what can this person do for me?’ Community asks ‘what are we building together?’”
I learned so many things from reaching into new spaces. I’ve learned about honoring other voices. I learned about my own voice and how to use it.
I’ve learned about good and bad leadership. And all of these things have made me a better leader and a better follower.
Six years ago, I stepped into the Jordan River as it was beginning to flood and fell in love. I was there with a friend. We worked with people who were living in tents, people who had almost nothing. This group embraced me and shared their stories as we all worked to rescue belongings. I was new to this type of work with people experiencing homelessness. I was new to the service providers. And I was embraced.
From that day I haven’t looked back. That experience led directly to the celebration I attended recently.
More than 25 years ago, I met the recovery community and began learning about substance misuse. That time, I didn’t fall in love immediately! I was far too frightened. Over time, my fear faded, and again, I learned to love a new group far outside my comfort zone.
I’ve learned so much! Leaning into new communities, building relationships and developing new friendships and skills have been unexpected bonuses.
Today, I listen differently. I’ve learned to advocate. I’ve learned that working with policymakers isn’t scary and that those policymakers need our voices.
Most importantly, I stepped away from my echo chamber and learned to value different beliefs.
Ted Malloch, a noted economist, is pragmatic. He recognizes the importance of community building in business. He describes the three cardinal virtues of business: “creativity, building community, practical realism.”
Our world can feel heavy. It can feel lonely and sometimes angry. The communities we support and the bridges we build give us a change of scene and frequently, a change of heart.
As leaders in our companies and businesses, we need to step into new experiences and environments. Discovering new spaces gives us a different way to grow in our roles as leaders. It allows us to develop more flexible thinking skills and better emotional intelligence.
My various communities have given me more than I can ever express. Join me and others. Let’s build!
About Kelly Lake, Managing Partner, The LUX Group
Kelly has been with LUX since its beginning in 1995, and comes from a long history in the food industry. One of Kelly’s first dates with her husband, John, was working side by side at a wedding with him and his sister, Pat Slade. Kelly’s passion and love for the business shines through every day working with employees, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business. In addition to being a managing partner, she is heavily involved with the sister company, LUX Hospitality Group.
Kelly loves working with different aspects of her community. You can find her spending time with unsheltered neighbors and volunteering on neighborhood boards and committees.
*Any reference obtained from this blog to a specific initiative, issue or topic does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the Salt Lake Chamber. The views and opinions expressed in this blog do not necessarily reflect those of the Salt Lake Chamber.
