In his book, “Lynchpin,” author Seth Godin takes the concept of work to an art form.
Not that work isn’t going to be hard and monotonous some of the time. But Godin points out that the elements of art – passion and initiative and the burning desire to create something meaningful for others – is the essence of what our daily labor should be about. So why not tap into it?
“Art is unique, new and challenging to the status quo,” he says. “It’s not decoration, it’s something that causes change.”
When passion meets up with important work that can actually make a difference, this is where true art is created – whether it is in a corporation, a garage, or the kitchen table.
But what if this burning desire also incorporates your faith? What possibilities might that open up?
What if you believed your idea could literally change the world for the better?
Oh, wait – forget it, because this is the part where friends and family talk you off the ledge, steering you back to the Help Wanted ads. It’s too risky, they’ll say. Too difficult.
Too dangerous.
Well, they don’t know about Praxis.
Praxis is a faith-based organization that supports entrepreneurs tackling major social issues. And by support, I don’t mean just a subscription to their blog. We’re talking mentorship, advice, and money.
Praxis recently announced the opening of applications for the inaugural Praxis Accelerator program. Each year, they will select 12 non-profits and mission-driven for-profits for a development program, where mentorship, peer support, and a myriad of organizational development resources will be provided, culminating with a pitch event with $100,000 in cash awards.
Can you say Ka-ching?
These worthy entrepreneurs get to attend three collaborative events along the way, where they will receive guidance from over 20 highly experienced mentors, including Gabe Lyons, founder of Q, Charles Lee, founder of Ideation, and Peter Greer, CEO of HOPE International. The culminating event will be held in 2012 during Q Washington, D.C. where the $100,000 in cash awards will be given to the top three organizations, as voted on by the Praxis Fellows and the Q audience.
Seth Godin also says this in Lynchpin: “Most of all art involves labor. Not the labor of lifting a brush, or typing a sentence, but the emotional labor of doing something difficult, taking a risk and extending yourself.
Applications for the first class of Praxis Fellows are due July 15, 2011.
Go for it.
Visit the website at www.PraxisLabs.org to apply and for more information. You can also follow the program on twitter @praxisinfo.
Image by Kelly Sauer. Used with permission.
