Community of Practice - Idea Realized

Over the past week I have been working with ten arts management consultants and coaches to launch our Community of Practice. What a tremendous group of folks. So positive and solution-focused. Today we launch our new site www.consultantsforthearts.com and behind the scenes we are launching a Wiki through which we will share best practices.

I'm blown away by our eagerness to collaborate, cooperate and create!

The Arts Need You!

That's what Michael Kaiser wrote in my copy of his book The Art of the Turnaround when I went to see him speak at The Commonwealth Club of California on Monday night. He is totally inspirational and changed my view of arts administration as a career path. Previously, for some reason, I felt uncommitted to arts management consulting - a burnout I had been feeling for about four years. Being back in San Francisco I have found a fantastic niche in strategic planning for arts organizations and that has recharged my batteries. Reading Kaiser's book totally sparked my passion and then hearing him speak has fueled the flame. The ultimate affirmation was briefly chatting with him after the event. Here's how it went:

Amy: Hi, I'm Amy Kweskin, an arts management consultant.
Michael: Nice to meet you.
Amy: I wanted to tell you that you have totally re-inspired my passion for arts administration.
Michael: Fantastic!
Amy: I was burnt out and after reading your book I realized that this is a valid career path.
Michael: That's exactly what I want to hear!
Amy: Will you sign my book?
Michael: Yes!

Here's what he wrote: "Amy, the arts need you!" Michael Kaiser

Feeling the love.

Keeping it Simple and Savvy

Have you heard of the KISS theory - Keep it Simple Stupid? I've changed it to Keeping it Simple and Savvy and that's the new approach to my online presence. Would you believe I was paying $19.99 a month for over two years for a Yahoo email service I didn't even need? Bravo to the person who sold it to me. At that rate I should now own a corner office at Yahoo that I paid for in full.

Up until about an hour ago I had four email addresses, two websites and two blogs. Now I'm down to two email addresses one website and two blogs. Getting closer to KISS.

http://www.artsmanagementconsulting.com/ - KISSED it goodbye
http://www.leading-together.com/ - Up and running!

Just logged on to my downgraded Yahoo account and now see that I was paying $19.99 a month to supress ads on my calendar/notes/contacts and non-custom email page. I think I can handle the ads.

Dreaming of a Farm Home

A foundation of the American Dream use to be a white house with a white picket fence. I've never owned a home and in the I've called home homes are far from affordable (except perhaps Houston). Lately I've had this clear vision of owning a farm. It is becoming clearer all the time. I imagine a little house surrounded by gardens and fields, trees and a pond or stream, maybe some barn cats running around. In my dream it is filled with all my wonderful, favorite things that are now stuck in storage in Houston. They fill the little house. There are lots of windows, a fireplace, a cozy living room and kitchen with a butcher block table. Lots of flowers inside and out. My friends and family would come and stay with me and when I needed to be in a city I would stay with them.

I Google searched on the term "Virginia Farms for Sale" and to my surprise there are many fantastic farms with acreage for sale not more than 90 miles from DC. Some are even historic which very much appeals. Perhaps in a year or two I can be living on a farm like in my dream and staying connected to my consulting practice by the internet. Really, the virtual world allows you to be mobile, limitless, networked. I believe it can be done!

Check out this website with Virginia farms for sale.

Free-Spirited Acts #8-14

Now I am accountable to my blog readers as well as my coach to commit 20 free-spirited acts by Sunday evening. It takes a lot of energy to keep this up. I'm sure this is a test of how free-spirited you can be with your free-spirit.

Here are today's:

8. Awakened at the crack of down to be the first on line to get my bike serviced at the first-come-first-served bike shop in our neighborhood.


9. Smiled at the people already waiting outside the shop when I arrived (very not British to smile at strangers).


10. Purged stuff I no longer need in preparation for move back to the States.


11. Set out to find a piece of art that reminded me of the UK when I'm back in the States.


12. Immediately found a piece that spoke directly to my dream of having a cozy farm cottage with a fireplace, books, nicknacks and a cat like Tika.


13. Purchased the artwork "Interior, Manor Farm" by Howard Phipps, wood engraving, 1991 (pictured above) from the Rowley Gallery.

14. Contemplated setting up a bi-coastal, multi-national consulting practice.




I didn't include hosting the weekly yoga class out my flat since I do this every week. But may need to pull that in if I'm having a hard time finishing up the last six tomorrow.

Streamlining my web presence

I've taken a big step and have streamlined my web presence. Up until about 30 minutes ago I had five blogs (although I was only writing on two of them) and three websites (only using two). Yes, I was hogging the Internet.

Unfortunately www.regenxers.com didn't make the cut. It is a concept but doesn't need a website...yet.

Here's what's left:

www.thekweskinreport.blogspot.com
www.careergoals.blogspot.com
www.artsmanagementconsulting.com

That should keep me busy.

London becomes familiar...and exotic again

Leaving work today it was the first day that I wasn't instantly swept away in the action of Kings Cross. Instead I exited our building and was still thinking about work, on the tube, work, the walk home, didn't see the architecture, coming around the corner to the flat, just noticed the usual piles of dog pooh along the sidewalk.

I've evolved through several adjustment phases living in London.

Tourist phase
Getting to know my neighbourhood phase
Trying out different tube lines phase
Finding a job phase
Figuring out how people act at work phase
Making friends phase
--End of culture shock phase--
Hanging out at home and being OK with that phase
and now... I just live in a city and travel to work each day phase

There are benefits to this phase in that I'm no longer on the arching learning curve. I've hit the peak and can now relax and enjoy the ride. And no need to worry about finding new challenges as work provides that now. Director, resigned, Head of Finance, resigned, Policy Director, resigned. Actually, maybe the changes at work are distracting me from life in London?

Next phase - Finding life-work balance phase.

Oh, wait, I did have a living in Britain highlight this morning. A gentleman called from Wales to purchase our Gypsy and Traveller Law book. I actually spoke to a Gypsy/Traveller. His mailing address was really quite extraordinary as the words are in Welsh. He translated it for me and each address line meant something beautiful such as white mountain, flowing river. He was interested in my accent while I thought he was far more exotic.

Here's a cool site that will translate a website into any language. I've translated my site www.artsmanagementconsulting.com into Welsh and Arts Management Consulting is Celfau Reolaeth Yn Ymgynghori and this blog is 'r Kweskin Adroddiad.

Back into the American in London phase