How could I not love a book like Pam Slim’s Body of Work when she says things like “the quality of your life and business, is directly related to the quality of your stories. Tell them well.”
In fact, I was so intrigued by her philosophy that I signed up for her course to become what she has coined an “Indispensable”. The idea of seeing your whole life as a body of work was just a brilliant concept and I knew it would fit beautifully into my research and work in personal branding.
And fit it did.
It really validated why we need to develop our own personal brands so that we can truly do our genius work.
Pam, is both solid and inspiring and intensely kind. And you know that right after the first few minutes of the first class. In a world of “make a 100k in a month” kind of e-courses her approach was refreshing, real and vital.
You could call it a career handbook for disruptive times but that might be selling it short, or perhaps a career transitions handbook but that too would be selling it short. What she really gets at is – how do you take action and responsibility to keep the passion for the life that you create alive. And that’s powerful stuff.
Her creative process takes you through an in depth look at what matters to you, defining your roots, then you work your way through 3 highly acclaimed personality and strengths finding tests all while you are creating your “Indispensable Plan” and turning on your “winner’s switch” (love that concept). It got me to think deeply and plan clearly. Two of my favourite things 🙂
If I had just bought the book I would have loved it. I would have highlights everywhere and little notes in the margins, pages folded over but likely, I would not have taken the time to really “do” the exercises. The course helped me with the “do” and the community that develops amongst the “indispensables” is supportive and expansive. So now I can join Pam’s many graduates who can say I am an “Indispensable” with an “Indispensable Plan” and I am pretty jazzed about that.(I can also now spell indispensable without spell check which is just an added bonus)
Many of her words spoke to me but none more so than “We are made to create. We feel useful when we create. We release our ‘stuckness’ when we create. We reinvent our lives, tell new stories, and rebuild communities when we create. We reclaim our esteem, our muse, and our hope when we create.”
And I think that is just a compelling thought to leave you with.
Create how you want to be indispensable by creating a body of work that matters. All you need is you! (And Pam’s book)
*This is an unsolicited review of Pam’s book and her course. Nobody asked me to, or paid me to, I just can’t resist sharing good stuff, good people and inspiring thoughts.
