James Anthony Ellis
Legacy Magazine Editor
So you wanna make something happen huh?
Is that what you’re saying?
What is it you want to create, build, manifest?
Depending on the size of this creation of yours, you will be facing the very real endeavor of “enrollment.”
The dictionary defines the noun “enrollment” as “the action of enrolling or being enrolled.” Well, that barely helps. Defining “enroll” we get a verb “to recruit someone to perform a service: a campaign to enroll more people.” Getting somewhere now.
The way the organization Mentor Discover Inspire has held enrollment is a bit broader. Here we speak of engaging with another, connecting with him or her, and extending an invitation to participate in an event, a team meeting, a training, a community service activity or any endeavor that could serve them in the process. In this way, enrollment becomes a way of bringing another into alignment with a vision of ours, and allowing that person’s engagement to be an uplift for him or her as an individual, and to the larger organization as a whole.
In basic terms – you stick your neck out there with an idea and see if there are any takers.
In the process, the one extending an invitation may go through various barriers in extending oneself. The barriers come in many forms:
- Fear of rejection
- Fear of being judged
- Fear of losing a friend
- Lack of belief in your own self and vision
- Laziness, wanting to stay comfortable in the status quo
- Concern enrolling another will create more engagement and therefor more work as time moves along
- Lack of faith in the process itself
Now, here is the kicker. We go back to our original question: what do you want to manifest in your life?
You want to have a Snicker’s Bar for a snack? You want to watch some TV? You want to have a nice meal?
The number of people involved will dictate the amount of enrollment is required.
I can run to the store for a Snickers and even get myself a nice meal. Watching TV may or may not include calling my Cable provider for access to certain stations. And even in the latter example, all the enrollment skills I would need would be the ability to find my credit card.
So the individual creating a life for just him or herself can do so with very minimal effort. One cheer for the hermit.
But consider these wants:
- A nice meal with another friend or date
- Successful job positions and promotions
- A winning pick-up basketball team on the outdoor courts
- A household filled with a family (Snickers for everyone!)
- A neighborhood that collectively feels safe as members walk the streets at night
- A winning campaign for a certain measure or candidate
- The sales of your book, paintings, products
- The shifting of a culture from one that condemns masculinity to one that honors, acknowledges and praises it
Well, these latter examples might just take some work. It will take visioning, getting clear on what exactly that future condition looks like. It will take planning and strategy, recognizing what it will require to make the vision reality. It will take effort, energy, motion, movement. It will take reaching out – in transparency, vulnerability and authenticity – to others you wish to bring into your circle of influence.
It will take enrollment – the degree of which matching the size of the overall vision.
Get going. There may be work to do.
James Anthony Ellis is an award-winning playwright, journalist and filmmaker, who is the author of eight books, including the men-focused “The Honor Book” available HERE.