The Web’s Secrets

This TED talk by Jonathan Harris brings together technology, story, social science, evaluation, art and is entertaining to boot.

Surf’s Up

This is where I’ll spending the next couple of weeks.

This beach is called Southside and it’s a stone’s throw from where I live. It’s right next to the famous surf beach Bells Beach. Bells is not really a swimming beach - it’s surf central. Southside is also a Marine National Park so there’s plenty to see and do on the beach, in the water and under the water. The marine life in the Southern Ocean is unique - diverse, beautiful and mostly undiscovered. Like this leafy sea dragon. I kinda like it that way.

I’m giving myself time to rediscover my passion, to maybe unearth new directions, and just to be.

So Happy New Year and thanks for your support during 2007. Who knows where 2008 will lead?

A few random thoughts from Banff

The AIN (improv) conference in Banff was a source of many ideas and connections. Here’s just a few.

• Ecoductions - introducing yourself using place as the focus; a way to avoid the trap of defining yourself based on what you do and to revisit the way the environment shapes who we are.

• The Medici Effect - intersectional innovation: bringing together diverse perspectives to the centre. This is one of the ways the Banff Centre helps people discover their leadership potential. Practically, it means bringing art to the centre - sculpting clay, singing, movement, improv, being in the environment - as ways to discover personal truths about leadership.

• From ‘de-storyation’ to ‘re-storyation’: “Just as clear cutting of forests leads to deforrestation, our culture has also been devastated by the loss of storytelling.” (Richard Stone). Story seems to have lost some credibility over the years. Re-storyation is about rediscovering the power of story in our personal and professional lives.

• Alistair McIntyre: “I can’t answer the question what am I to do till I answer the prior question of what am I a part.” via Nick Nissley, Executive Director, Banff Centre.

• Strategic ambiguity - allows space for…anything really.

• Notice your first thought and act on your second. (Patti Digh & David Robinson) In other words, be pro-active rather than re-active. Slow down.

• Also from Patti & David: Wicked problems and tame solutions… When wicked problems are unearthed, deal with them, rather than impose a tame solution. Tame solutions provide immediate gratification but don’t effectively deal with the wicked problem which will re-emerge.

• Do one less thing - thanks to Johnnie Moore for again reminding me how powerful this can be.

From the artist

Today we were at a gallery to check out paintings by Robert Holcombe. Luckily for us, we not only saw some of his paintings but met the artist as well.

This is one of Robert’s contemporary paintings, strongly influenced by Fred Williams. He described his artistic journey from realist to contemporary and now abstract. He described his painting style and how he actually constructs the painting.He also talked about the subtle, but important, environmental messages embedded in his art. This conversation reinforced for me the value of moving from the superficial to depth - and how easy that can be when you are open to the possibilities.

Feel good

This week our new solar panels were switched on. We now draw about half of our electricity needs from the sun. It feels good.