What we’ve learned from building our 101 Club community
Why joy has no boundaries, work and life are no longer separate and some monthly list-spiration…
By Charlie Grabham
Creating a life that you leap out of bed to live- building a global community with The 101 Club to help more people.
If you haven’t heard of the The 101 Club yet, you need some inspiration to start compiling your list, or you want to join our army of dreamers and doers, then read on. Head over to The 101 Club to find out more and sign up to our weekly newsletter.
When we set out on this project it was an email and an agreement by two people with the same goal – to live the best version of our lives.
But if you want to get somewhere, you have to have a vision – and we had a lofty goal in mind – to create the most positive, inclusive and supportive community in the world, using our collective networks to help people realise as many dreams as possible.
If you don’t know anything about The 101 Club, then here’s a quick rundown.
- Back in January we wrote our ‘bucket’ lists, 101 things we wanted to do, make or become for a more fulfilled life.
- We kicked the project off in March, to detail the ups and downs of ticking things off.
- But critically, we also set out to build a community of people who also wanted to do the same.
- Why? Because we want people to feel joy, meet new connections and adventure buddies and help each other to achieve things they never thought possible.
Easy right?
Well yes and no. As with all things, building a community takes time and patience. But here’s what we have learned so far:
#1 People are ready for it
Every time we publish an article, we get people following The 101 Club on Instagram. We get people reaching out about their own lists – whether they have never done one, have done one that’s lying dormant or have religiously been working through 30 before 30 or 40 before 40.
#2 Everybody has drivers for their list
Some people have been through tough times which has led them to The 101 Club. Some people just want to do more in their lives. Some people are deliberately leaving space on their lists for more adventures. Everyone’s dreams are valid, wonderful, unique and inspiring.
#3 Community is everything
The people we have met, the stories we have heard and the joy we have shared will stay with us forever. We are building the most amazing community – so if you are thinking about joining us, head, download a list template and get scribbling.
4# Joy has no boundaries
Since we started this project we have hosted two events, one in Newcastle and one in Amsterdam (led by my lovely friend Andie). She was so taken by the project that she asked if she could run our Amsterdam events for us. Hell yes!
Both speed-dreaming events have been amazing – not only because we have met a pack of stone-cold goddesses but because every single person has an amazing story to tell.
Andie is now organising monthly meet-ups in Amsterdam and hopes to launch some in her native city of Porto later this year.
5# Work and life are no longer separate
We have a theory that people who are happy at work are happy in life- and vice versa. So we have started piloting 101 company days. My lovely friend Alex and her company Simply Certification agreed to be guinea pigs. We measured how her team felt about both their personal and professional lives, then set personal, work and team goals with them. This was to encourage, personal, professional and team happiness – and we will revisit them in six months to see if their scores improved.
#6 Measurement is everything
When we started this, we measured our life balance against 12 areas of life that experts, psychologists and self- improvement gurus say are the ‘spokes of life’.
We measured at day zero, 12 weeks later and a little prematurely for episode 5 of our podcast at 21 weeks. The results are remarkable. At day zero we had real imbalance, at 12 weeks lots of areas had improved and interestingly at 21 weeks, our lives are looking much more balanced.
#7 Progress is not linear, or quick
Our first few months have been amazing but it’s been fits and starts. Some weeks we storm it, some weeks we don’t. But you can’t rush list items, just focus on them. And it’s the process that’s making us happier, opening conversations, forming new bonds and creating things that haven’t been created before. Sometimes we just don’t have the energy or have other priorities and that’s ok. But one thing we know is slow and steady wins the race – and we are living every single moment to it’s full potential.
#8 A call to joyful arms
Our community will be the best version of itself when we get the maths right – more people = a wider network of friends, helpers and skill sets that they can help other people with.
This is not a business club, it’s a joy exchange between all humans – what we can we do for each other that will make us feel better about ourselves.
So, if you are intrigued, visit www.the101club.co.uk to download your Spidergraph to measure your life balance, sign up to our weekly newsletter, listen to our podcasts and follow us on Instagram.
And please, if this is a bit of you – share, get involved and tell people about this project – because the bigger this community gets, the more dreams we can make happen.
Monthly List-spiration!
Each month we want to share some of our top picks from our community. These are on a lot of lists so if you fancy a 101 club adventure with like-minded people or can help with these, let us know by emailing [email protected]
- See the Northern Lights
- Drive the North Coast 500
- Write a novel
- Dunk in the North Sea
- Volunteer at an animal shelter
- Give a Ted talk
- Milk a cow
- Go stargazing
- Travel to Italy
- Spend time on a boat
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