Why a Shared Vision Matters

The Difference Between Surviving And Thriving

Has advice in a few words ever changed the path for you?

In November 2013, the words “Check out Mothership: Hackermoms” changed EVERYTHING for me.

The Background

During the summer of the same year, I literally woke up with an idea for a business.

I had the goal to empower women through connection, community, and education.

At this point in my life, I was highly involved in the local startup community. After I posted that I had an idea, one of the facilitators for an event that night called me out. I was asked to explain my thoughts.

Since the event tended to attract mostly guys, I tagged some women friends to get closer to the target market.

The passion I felt for the idea and the encouragement and support from the startup community motivated me to keep going.

During the same summer, the local University piloted a student business accelerator. I wanted to be in that program and I did not qualify.

The support of mentors and a community while developing my idea seemed motivating. I did not know if I would pursue it otherwise.

I had completed a Master in Business Administration in June. By September, I enrolled to pursue general psychology as a second bachelor’s degree.

Right after, I applied to be in the business accelerator.

The business professor in charge of the accelerator emailed me early Monday afternoon, asking if I wanted to “pitch” at an event that night. The prof noted that there would be decision-makers for the accelerator applications in the audience.

In a nervous excitement, I said “yes” to pitching. As I walked the mile to and from class that day, I practiced what I wanted to say, trying to calm my nervousness. The rest is a blur.

The Result

With many web app ideas or similar, my application was accepted as something unique. What a relief!!!

As part of that application, I had to choose a name. I never liked the name because it gave the wrong tone and made it sound like I intended to help helpless women.

I needed a different example.

After listening to a discussion between intelligent women with great careers and passions, I wanted to do something that proved we were not helpless. Where we could match interests to skills and educate each other.

In November of 2013, I signed up to pitch at the same event I spoke in during September. This time, I invited as many friends as I could think of, especially those in the startup community.

Similar to a favorite blanket or teddy bear, I felt supported by the thirty people who nearly filled the space.

For about 10 minutes, I had their undivided attention. Three minutes for the pitch and the rest for the question and answer portion.

During the second part, one of those friends said the magic words. She suggested checking out “Mothership: Hacker Moms.”

Chapter Two Begins

This suggestion gave me two things.

First, it brought me into the maker world.

Second, it showed me that the traditional “garage” type maker space could be changed to fit what the group needed.

That was it!!! My business was reborn! From that point on, it lived for nearly three more years.

My love for the maker world carries on today.

Within the first year, I met founders and members of other maker spaces and maker groups.

I learned about maker faires. As part of bonding with each other and spreading the word, the group participated in several. The email list grew.

Meanwhile, my business peaked and then died.

The organization had split between two cities.

Although I saw us as one group, that is not how it turned out.The vision between the groups was different from the original intention.

I made the choice in 2016 to shut it down, which also cut the support.

Left with what I had learned, I focused on the next thing.

In the fall of 2016, while attending school, I participated as a speaker at an entrepreneurship forum on campus. I was still a part of the startup community as a chapter director of a global organization.

Participating in the event was like a small family reunion! I knew most of the speakers, and that’s where I found out that the local maker group officially had a place.

Later that week, I went to check out the building space, now two weeks old.

Since I was still in school AND a chapter director facilitating monthly events, I didn’t want to add one more thing. At the same time, I wanted to help.

And the more I engaged, the more I wanted to be at the maker space.

I liked it for all of the reasons from three years earlier — community, connection, and the chance to learn new things.

The Next Chapter

I finished school and left the role as chapter director and put work and the maker space as my main focus.

I liked the vision that the project manager described, and I wanted my voice to be a part of that effort.

When there was an opportunity in late 2017, I asked to be an official volunteer and stayed in that role for over two years.

Similar to my previous experience, ideas and visions were all over the place.

Discussions became arguments, as the push to go one way would equal a pull in one or more directions.

We had moved from a single person to a group of leaders, each in charge of different areas.

While that may have eliminated the feeling some had of a dictator running things, it also meant decisions were slow and clunky, if at all.

Six months ago, I decided to work on the community and connection again.

The pandemic supported the attention for virtual. I created a monthly event inspired by the organization’s previous all member meeting structure.

First, we would learn and discuss business at those meetings. After that, we took turns sharing current projects.

It was (and is) inspiring to see and hear their creation stories.

For the new event, I messaged maker friends from around the state. To expand, I invited the maker friends to share the event details. I also shared with the general community at large.

As long as we are focusing on projects and supporting each other, we are in agreement.

The stats and the comments prove the community wants to be together.

Maybe it is the start of a new chapter.

Is the bond strong enough to discuss common visions and create thriving organizations?