Niching Case Study: Mary Reynolds Thompson

I help change makers unplug from technology and reclaim the power of their innate wildness, for sake of self and planet.

reclaimingthewildsoul.com

#sytycn2014

Tad’s Rating:

6/10

Contest Rating:

8/10

Average Rating:

7/10

Tad’s Comments:

I’m going to give this a 6. And I’m super duper intrigued by it.

Here are a number of ways this could be clarified to bring this closer to a ten.

Define what you mean by changemakers. There are so many ways people could be making change. Are you thinking about healers? Social entrepreneurs? People involved in CSR? Ethical investors? Life coaches? etc.

I love the “unplug from technology.” I very much resonate with that in my own life. Though — the fear that comes up is then, “I won’t be able to make as much positive change as I do now. I’ll miss out.” So if you were to tag it with something like, “I help changemakers be even more effective in their work by unplugging from technology/setting better boundaries around it” I could really be even more intrigued.

The part that doesn’t make as much sense to me and kind of comes out of the blue is the “reclaim the power of their innate wildness.” Philosophically I love it, but I don’t see how it’s connected to having an impact as a changemaker. And I wonder if this is how changemakers would word it. I get that this is what you think is needed. But is this what they’re laying in bed, unable to sleep thinking about? Are the craving this? Are they asking themselves, “how can I recover from the domestication of my colonized, western civilized life and return to my original, wild, indignenous soul?”

If not — the wording might need to change.

I love that you’re doing this. The planet needs this. Thank you.

Niching Contest Participant Comments:

7/10: Actually I do lie in bed worrying about reclaiming my innate wildness and how to help others do the same! I like this and give it a 7 But I also agree with all your suggestions Tad [Hargrave]. Thanks for this awesome forum!

8/10: I love the general concept of this, but I’m not sure what “reclaiming the power of my innate wildness” actually means in practice (this may just mean I’m not part of your niche, of course).

6/10: Not sure if you coach or take people out in the wilderness to connect?

6/10: Intrigued because my whole family could use some unplugging. But . . . I don’t view us as being “change makers.” I think of 2 extremes of “change makers:” those who care about the planet and those who care about themselves. Ego is a big thing to overcome — are you addressing them both with this statement? I’m not sure you can . . . The ego-centric change makers (like a lot of the faculty on my local university campus) won’t necessarily realize that they need to unplug for their health; and they certainly won’t unplug for the sake of the planet.

Perhaps: “I help visionary leaders break from technology to (re)discover their wild soul”?
Is this a solitary retreat at a location you provide? Is it a group retreat where you provide guided activities with some solitude?

6/10: Not sure what my innate wildness is all about of why I would want it!!

This sounds awesome, but is this a workshop? A retreat? Do they do this in groups? Individually?

6/10: Don’t quite get what you offer — yes, wildness . . . but what that is is different for each one of us?

How will it benefit me to tap into my “innate wildness?” Can you elaborate? And how do I know if I’m a change maker? What characteristics might I have?

10/10: Sweet. so important.

I like this, and power of innate wildness hooked me. I don’t think it needs the last 7 words because you said change makers at the start.

6/10: What kind of change makers? What do they get when they reclaim innate wildness?

7/10: It sounds fun but I don’t know what it is. Could be drumming in the woods or networking events, not sure.

7.5/10: You had me with changemakers unplugging but got lost at innate wildness being crucial to the planet. I think you have something very powerful here if there was a clearer connection between the type of change these changemakers want to make, the difference they see is possible for the planet and how their wildness is a critical to making that change happen.

7/10: is this about technology or innate wildness or time management?

Mary Reynolds Thompson‘s Reflections:

n/a

The Revised Niche:

n/a