Fall Reflections + Connections
Image above by Nicole McConville
One year ago, I purchased the journal at the top of this stack on a Birds Eye's Adventure to Iona, Scotland. I had no idea to what extent the memories stored up during those precious 8 days would serve me, and the other participants, in 2020. I return there every day in some way to touch an element of that experience again, whether it be to feel the comfort, and intimacy, of resting my head on a travel companion's shoulder on the train lulled by the rhythm of whizzing through landscape, dipping a spoon in a common pot of soup in the hands-down best collective kitchen, or taking a swig from a shared wee dram on a cliffside in the wind and rain. Who would have thought any of these tiny tendernesses would become absolute no-nos just a few months around the bend?
It has also been a year in which reflection on seemingly simple moments like these has revealed to me the immense privileges I carry to have these memories to return to and the honor that comes from being in community with so many who are working to combat the isolation, insecurities, and attacks on identities that have arisen in the wake of this pandemic. I have often found myself avoiding writing because of the chronic oscillation I experience between feeling like I have too much and nothing to say, between my need to speak up and my need to be quiet and listen deeply.
Looking forward, it can feel incredibly daunting to me when I think about the urgency and abundance of care needed for our marginalized communities and for our planet, and yet when I fly a little higher and see the aggregate in the landscape of the efforts of the people and organizations like the ones featured below, in tandem with countless others, I swell with a sense of hope for the future, and am able to reject a ladle of the fear being served up in the world currently.
As Birds Eye focuses on supporting mission-driven entrepreneurs and leaders in the sectors of food systems & farming, health & wellness, and arts & design, here is a cross-section of a few of the folks near and dear to my heart who help hold up the big, bold, beautiful umbrella of a badass entrepreneurial ecosystem. Some are links to current offerings, some are simply introductions to people I care for who are doing business for good.
Money Bootcamp
The brilliant artist and money maven Hannah Cole, of Sunlight Tax, is getting ready to launch her Money Bootcamp. Money Bootcamp is an annual membership for creators, artists, writers, designers, ethically-driven sole proprietors and freelancers who file a Schedule C. Utilizing a creative-centric, no-shame approach, you will be guided and empowered to fix your tax and financial life and take advantage of tax shelters, deductions, and incentives along the way. Please check it out here (and use the code BirdsEye25 at check out to receive $25 off if you decide it is the right time for you to sign up). Free yourself from the lingering confusions of moneyland so you can do what you do like nobody else.
Craft Your Commerce
This Friday the Craft Your Commerce deep-dive workshop series kicks off with the Capture & Convey workshop of the highly revered and beloved photographer, consultant, and adventurer: Nicole McConville. This time around the series will be offered online with a new generous pay-what-you-can model. All five workshops are designed to inspire and educate anyone in the fields of creativity and craft and help us all go into the coming season better informed, connected, and ready to create anew for the new year. Kudos to Gwynne Rukenbrod at Mountain BizWorks for all of her work to bring these learning opportunities to us.
Get the Goods
If you live in the area and haven't had the joy yet of one of the Mother Earth Food trucks pulling up to your home and delivering a wide collection of the produce, meats, and value-added items produced by our area's farmers and vendors then you are missing out! There are so many goodies available to make Thanksgiving extra delicious this year. Let's pump our love back into our local economy this season. This remarkable company has expanded its staff from 7 to 43 people in recent months. They have also reinvested $ 1. 7 Million back into our local food economy through purchasing this year so far, and $6.5 million since inception in 2012. They are currently seeking a sales genius to help sustain and expand this extraordinary growth and impact so if you know anyone interested in applying have them reach out.
Music and Culture
If you know me well, you know how much I cherish LEAF and the experiences I have shared with so many over the years through this organization. Not being able to attend LEAF festival in its regular format has been a loss of vital soul fuel for many music and culture lovers this year, and yet I want to share how impressed I am with how much this organization has dug deep and delivered on its mission in powerful new ways, whether it be online or in their new home downtown. As they are known for saying, "the shortest distance between two people is a story, song, or dance". If you rely on the power of music and global community to keep you buoyant during isolating times, please consider becoming a member of LEAF today. The benefits ripple so deep, far, and wide.
Strengthen Your Core
Brooke Tyler of Clasique, Core Self, and Return is what would many call a powerhouse, I like to say she is a powerhome. She keeps the hearth lit for us all. If you are like me and sense the closing in of winter approaching, I highly recommend accessing her incredible passion and skill to help you keep your core warm and your heart open. Check out her offerings online and stay tuned for how she will be blazing the trail of pilates education in the coming months. Simply put, Brooke possesses a birds eye perspective to the nth degree: hone in on your short game while keeping your long game in perpetual view.
Let's Go Fly a Bike
Though you can't fully appreciate Torin's beautiful eyes in the image below, what you can see is the love that he and his wife, Alice, and Flying Bike co-owner, have for each other and it permeates through their business and community. While Q2 of 2020 was particularly hard for almost all of us, as folks discovered that nature was still open and was making them feel good they have been welcomed with open arms by this team who is dedicated to sharing their love of e-bikes and the accessibility they offer, while at the same time sharing with visitors on their tours what lights them up about this community. Book your tour here.
Because You Deserve It
I freaking love the portrait below and fell for this woman the day we met. Meet Asheville local Courtney Maybin and learn what is the motivation behind her day spa, Beauty Bin which is managed by her mom, Tammy. " Self care is important to maintain for all people, no matter the age, gender, or socioeconomic background. We function better in our individual lives and we are better for others when we do so. At Beauty Bin we strive to make self care accessible and enjoyable for everyone! It is our goal to make sure we help all of our clients to not only leave feeling confident about their outer beauty, but more importantly the inner beauty that is inside all of us!" Escape from it all while trusting that they have your safety top of mind with the stringent Covid protocols that they have in place.
Business Planning Never Ends
One of the challenges I have taken on in the Covid19 days has been redesigning the Foundations course to be offered virtually through organizations such as Mountain BizWorks here in WNC and NEOEDD of Eastern Oregon. It has been a remarkable honor to work with the gifted staff and facilitators to be able to build community and small business skills in this new way. While I greatly look forward to the days when we can share in the legendary cohort celebration potlucks again, for now I must say I am really impressed by what can happen in this new format (and with new, timely content). For those here in WNC, check out the upcoming classes at Mountain BizWorks and for those out of area who may be interested in bringing the Foundations to your community in the future, feel free to be in touch.
Stay tuned for upcoming information on Birds Eye's 2021 new offerings including:
Birds Eye Seasonal Support
(A few more slots for quarterly reviews will be opening up in January)
Customized Retreat Design for Individuals and Organizations
(I will be sharing details and reflections of recent pilots for solo and small team retreats soon)
Until then.....I invite you to join me in relishing in beauty
while living in service whenever and wherever we can.
xoxo Annie
Gallery of images related to content above. Click on image to scroll through.
Featured in order of content:
Hannah Cole of Sunlight Tax (image by Nicole McConville)
Craft Your Commerce Series
Mother Earth Food
LEAF
Brooke Tyler of Clasique and Core Self
Torin and Alice Kexel of Flying Bikes
Courtney Maybin of Beauty Bin
Foundations Business Planning Course
Egrets at Fripp Island