Community, Belonging, and Being Enough with David Spinks
🌟 “Belonging isn’t something you achieve; it’s something you discover within yourself and nurture in the communities around you.” 🌟
This week on the Bountifull Podcast, I sit down with David Spinks, community builder, coach, and author of The Business of Belonging, to explore the intricate interplay of community, belonging, and self-discovery. From his journey of building CMX, a global community of over 20,000 professionals, to stepping back and rediscovering his own “enoughness,” David shares his wisdom on why true belonging starts from within.
If you’ve ever struggled with chasing external validation, wondered how to create meaningful connections, or felt the tension between ambition and alignment, this episode offers deeply personal insights and practical lessons for creating a more fulfilling life.
For the community managers, facilitators, and builders among you, this episode is a must-listen. David and I unpack what it really means to build thriving communities, starting with the idea that communities are complex, emergent systems—not something to control or predict, but something to nurture. We explore how to create the container for what people are yearning for and how, when done right, community will naturally fill that space. We also discuss the concept of community member fit, the value of running experiments to learn and adapt, and why conscious, intentional leadership is so critical—especially during transitions.
Episode Highlights:
🌱 The Journey to Enoughness: David shares his personal struggles with anxiety, burnout, and the constant chase for external success—and how he found a new path.
🌟 What Belonging Really Means: Insights on the difference between fitting in and true belonging, both in personal life and community spaces.
🛠️ Practical Tools for Inner Work: From meditation and coaching to breathwork and nature, David offers practical ways to uncover your own sense of enoughness.
🌍 Building and Nurturing Community: Lessons from leading CMX on how communities thrive when rooted in connection and purpose.
💡 Balancing Ambition and Well-Being: Why aligning your actions with your values creates lasting success and joy.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to David Spinks and his journey as a community builder.
05:15 – Defining belonging: What it is and why it matters.
10:30 – The difference between enoughness and chasing success.
18:20 – Tools and practices David used to reconnect with himself.
25:00 – The role of community in personal and professional growth.
32:45 – How to build healthier, more aligned relationships with work and life.
40:10 – Reflections on resilience, family, and the meaning of a bountiful life.
47:30 – Final thoughts on discovering enoughness and nurturing belonging.
About David Spinks:
David Spinks is a coach, writer, and community builder dedicated to helping people navigate life’s transitions and uncover their own sense of enoughness. As the co-founder of CMX, he created a global network of over 20,000 community professionals, which was later acquired. David is the author of The Business of Belonging, a comprehensive guide on building thriving communities.
After stepping back from his leadership role, David embarked on a personal journey to find balance and meaning in his life, overcoming burnout, anxiety, and personal challenges along the way. Today, he supports individuals in aligning their actions with their values through coaching, writing, and speaking. When he’s not working, you can find David exploring the woods, meditating, reading, or enjoying time with his wife, parents, and children.
https://davidspinks.com/
The Bountifull Podcast explores what it means to live a bountiful life through stories of wellbeing, resilience, connection and creativity. Bountifull emerged out of a simple yet profound desire to see more joy in the world.
https://www.bountifullworld.com/subscribe/
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New Zealand