David Hood
Optimist. Instigator. Facilitator. Explorer.
enabling communities and organisations to build better futures for all, together
LinkedIn profile- @davidahood
- Doing Something Good
- @DoingSomeGood
- Doing Something Good
- Collaboratory Melbourne Meetup Group
- Gathering '11 Unconference
- @WeGatherHere (Gathering)
- Gathering '11
- blog: possible universe
- blog: better futures
- delicious bookmarks
- Contact
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Info
- Founder and Free Agent at Doing Something GoodCivic & Social Organization | Melbourne Area, Australia, AUSummaryI have almost 15 years experience working with and for not-for-profit and social change organisations. Through the work we do at Doing Something Good, The Collaboratory Melbourne and Gathering Unconference we aim to cocreate a collaborative platform for the transformation of society, to one that enables all people to participate in the cocreation of solutions to our most pressing social and environmental issues.
We work with communities and organisations from across sectors and diverse disciplines to develop strategies; build skills and knowledge; and facilitate the collaborative development of projects that transform systems and build better futures for all.Specialties: Network weaving, strategic campaign design, digital communications and technology, learning and development, project management, event planning, community building.Experience- Feb 2011 - PresentProducer & Host / GatheringGathering ’11 brings together leading thinkers, change-makers and socially innovative community leaders – for a weekend of inspiration, and to transform ideas in to a foundation for action. Our intention: to explore and cocreate pathways to a future of real solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
- Jan 2011 - PresentFounder & Chief Collaboration Boffin / The Collaboratory MelbourneThe Collaboratory is a forum to connect agents and architects of change; facilitate opportunities for collaboration; seed ideas and inspire action; and supports the emergence of resilient and impactful networks for social good.
- Jun 2010 - PresentFounder and Free Agent / Doing Something GoodDoing Something Good is a social enterprise fostering the development of a resilient and impactful network for social good. We connect people and organisations doing something good; develop programs to share skills, knowledge and resources; facilitate collaboration on projects, and design campaigns and communications strategies to have real positive impact.
- Sept 2010 - May 2012Board Member / vibewire youth inc.Founded in 2000, Vibewire Youth Inc. is a dynamic non-profit organisation that supports young people to effectively shape their world through media, arts and entrepreneurial opportunities. http://vibewire.org/
- Sept 2010 - Oct 2011Social Media Coordinator / TEDxMelbourneVolunteer Coordinator of Social Media for TEDxMelbourne. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxMelbourne, where x = independently organized TED event.
- Jul 2010 - Mar 2011Online Systems & Website Development Project Leader / Hub MelbourneHub Melbourne is a creative and social innovation centre providing people and organisations with a diverse, collaborative environment in which to work, meet, learn and innovate.
- Mar 2010 - Jul 2010Campaign Project Leader / Greenpeace Australia PacificLead the Greenpeace campaign against Nestle for the Australian office.
- Aug 2009 - Mar 2010Public Engagement Projects Coordinator / Greenpeace Australia Pacific
- 2008 - 2009NSW Branch Convenor (part-time volunteer) / Australia Tibet Council
- Jan 2007 - Jul 2009Campaigns Assistant / Greenpeace
Education-
2011 - 2011School for Social EntrepreneursSocial Enterprise
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Interests:wholistic social change, sustainability, design thinking, systems, facilitation, social movement education, strategic campaign planning, community engagement and mobilisation, social media, behavioural change, ecology, environmental issues, human rights issues, buddhism, zen, communications, photography, film, activism, politics, philanthropy,
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Tweets
- Having a play with @Twylah: aggregating trending tweets by topic. Here's a collection of recent posts on #collaboration http://t.co/Mg1oS00l
- @timsout appreciate the conversation you're inspiring, curious to better understand your perspective. :) #tedxsydney
- Happy Birthday Mr @euan Semple. Looking forward to having you back in Australia in November fine sir. :) cc @SamBe11 @kcarruthers
- @maragitado thanks for the #FF Hope you have a wonderful weekend. :)
- @MeiMeiFox thanks for the #FF *waves* to @everettharper @katemural Hope you fine folk all have an awesome weekend. :) xo
- @benrennie thanks for the #FF and intro to @jacobyryan @Martin_North. Hope to catch up with you next time you're in Melbs/I'm in Sydney. :)
- @tedxsydney who's the guy hosting the Q and A sessions during the break. Nice job! #tedxsydney
- @jeremyheimans let us know when you're in Oz again mate. A bunch of movement entrepreneurs in Melbourne would love to meet you. #TEDxSydney
- Loving evolution of TED format at #TEDxSydney and extended exploration of talks during breaks. Watching live http://t.co/F5Z8PqdW
- RT @JenniferSertl: #Transleadership makes us great http://t.co/eyalq90t by @DrAmitInspires @michaelthallium cc @jwaterslynch @drfroth
- With @vibewire you can help young social entrepreneurs to take action on issues that matter. Give your support: http://t.co/GjIqr82K #socent
- "there has to be a fundamental change in the way that consumers consume" http://t.co/nCqzs1c3 #sustainability via @bethworrall
- Why do you do what you do? http://t.co/9PFeWNRg #betterfutures
- @ammonbeyerle would love to catch up with you and @MichelleEJames sometime soon. been too long. :)
- Smart post from @alexismadrigal -> How Google Can Beat Facebook Without Google Plus: http://t.co/QKYrRmE6 #longreads
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Posts
- May 23, 12
Still finding the idea of implementing a social media strategy for your project or organisation a bit daunting? Have an idea for a campaign, enterprise or event and want to...
- May 23, 12
Want to learn to play better with others? “The need for more truly powerful collaborations, where the collective intelligence of a diverse set of minds is harnessed toward a common...
- Apr 07, 12
There’s no doubt that something’s happening here, whether you call it the Great Disruption or The Big Shift. In his recent TEDTalk, Peter Diamandis (founder of the X Prize) paints the picture of a...
- Mar 26, 12
People care,we know that. But how we engage and enable supporters to take action to address an unacceptable situation or resolve any of society’s big challenges? And how can we build the...
- Mar 22, 12
Phase One – Protyping Over the last two-and-a-half years I’ve been exploring ways I can serve people and organisations working toward better futures – so they can be more effective...
- Mar 22, 12
Still finding the idea of implementing a social media strategy for your project or organisation a bit daunting? Have an idea for a campaign, enterprise or event and want to...
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Tweets
- "there has to be a fundamental change in the way that consumers consume" http://t.co/zdQhXPqq #sustainability via @bethworrall
- With @vibewire you can help young social entrepreneurs to take action on issues that matter. Give your support: http://t.co/bLPtsrPI #socent
- Some great ideas in here... Facebook Timeline: 9 Best Practices for Brands http://t.co/w4wnu6jz
- Can Funding Entrepreneurs in the Developing World Create 1 Million Jobs? http://t.co/J9kZN7Z3 #socent
- Why do you do what you do? http://t.co/nvmuKuwe #betterfutures
- Smart post from @alexismadrigal -> How Google Can Beat Facebook Without Google Plus: http://t.co/gSDUCmj8 #longreads
- Want to develop your social media strategy & engage supporters; launch a campaign; make an impact? W/shop 15 & 29 Jun http://t.co/NhVdm8Zm
- @ChrisChinch that'd be great. know there's a bunch of #CollabMelb and @HubMelbourne folk who'd be interested. how long would session go for?
- @make_it_so certainly seems most people are happier. hope there's more of it. :)
- Love this story. Wonder if this would happen in Australia..? -> Nine Year-Old's Blog Shows Internet's Real Potential http://t.co/15vPyDqj
- #Solar Power More Competitive Than Decision-Makers Or Consumers Realize [@Forbes] http://t.co/Qyo94KeK #renewables cc @jjprojects
- This month's news: upcoming workshops, June #CollabMelb Meetup, #Gathering12 tix on sale next week and top links: http://t.co/A4k1l7Bo
- A Last (Chemical) Gasp for Bees? [@YesMagazine] http://t.co/8fwTcq0L
- One to share with your Mum, colleague or neighbour who's just getting started... Facebook for Beginners http://t.co/f9glC6mz
- Would you take a pay cut in exchange for a more meaningful job? http://t.co/BscL1v2t
- Is rising prosperity breeding a generation of entrepreneurs where money is no longer the prime focus? http://t.co/CYP62svf #socent
- New #CollabMelb Meetup: Applied #Improv with @vivmcw & Melbourne Playback Tue 12 June http://t.co/VG8ax9nP Learning to play better w others.
- RT @vibewire: 2 days to go until our #art auction! Register now and come along for this great event http://t.co/52gjK7Ja
- 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Writing http://t.co/4QDlMLZx
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Wall
- We need your help! CafeSmart 2012 is a day to unite cafes and their customers to help fund grassroots homeless projects. Can you help spread the word to your favourite cafe? Simply download an info flyer and HAND IT ON to encourage them to get involved - all the info is here - http://bit.ly/KdEYWe Found at http://on.fb.me/LDw3Bk
- Thanks One Girl for intro to Posters for good - some brilliant creative ways of communicating for positive change.
- Would you take a pay cut in exchange for a more meaningful job?
- Is rising prosperity breeding a generation of entrepreneurs where money is no longer the prime focus? #socent
- Our latest newsletter with info on upcoming workshops, Meetups & info on Gathering '12 tickets on sale next week.
- This month join our special guests, Ian David (Melbourne Playback Theatre Company) and Viv McWaters (Beyond the Edge, Applied Improv Conference), in a fun, insightful, experiential Collaboratory Melbourne Meetup. We will: > explore ways we can build improve the way we collaborate, > discover how to develop our collaborative intelligence, > learn what we can foster a culture of collaboration at work, home and play, and > have a whole heap of fun Register at: http://www.meetup.com/collaboratory-melbourne/events/62021672/
- How Quick Wins Can Become Stretch Goals http://bit.ly/KIRa3O #strategy #nonprofit #npau
- 19 Best Non-Profit Websites (And Why They’re Awesome)
- This weekend, do yourself a favour and watch this thoughtful, inspiring & moving interview with "grandfather of social entrepreneurship in Australia", Steve Lawrence AO. Such brilliant stories and wonderful insights. http://bit.ly/KAmz8K **Steve was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2007. After years of treatment, Steve’s doctors recently told him that his time is short. At the suggestion of one of Steve’s close friends, we asked Steve whether he’d like to participate in an interview to capture and share some of his life’s stories and learnings, and Steve very graciously agreed. Filmed with some close colleagues and families in attendance, this video is the result http://bit.ly/KAmz8K
- You know how to use Facebook, you've a Twitter profile (sitting there), and you're thinking about a whether to blog or setup a YouTube channel... Why? Because that's where most of your audience, clients, customers and supporters are! Join us for our next workshop - Social Media and Communications Essentials: Fri 15 & Fri 29 June in Melbourne. http://socialmediaessentials.eventbrite.com/ Come develop your knowledge of what's possible, your skills to make it happen, and a strategy to maximize your reach and impact.
- Want to know more about social enterprise as a business model for building better futures? Here's a good start. :)
- From making change to enabling transformation: radical social entrepreneurship. http://whatmatters.mckinseydigital.com/social_entrepreneurs/a-new-paradigm-for-change
- So much to take from this insightful presentation from Lulan Artisans founder Eve Blossom. Extracting lessons from her nine-year journey, Eve urges us to be disruptive entrepreneurs, and to view our creative ventures as "cultures" – offering unique frameworks for collaboration – as much as "companies."
- A huge congrats to the wonderful Mindful in May. Pause for a Cause. team - not only bringing peace of mind to meditators in May, but also raising over $10,000 for charity: water and bringing fresh, clean water to over 500 people!!! :) http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=25649 Wonder if we can make it to another well.... ;)
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Collaboratory Melbourne Meetup Group
- "Complex social problems today outstrip the capacity of any single organization or individual to solve them. We don't need to grow non-profits. We need to grow networks for social change." Alison Fine, author of The Networked Nonprofit
The Collaboratory is a cooperative social enterprise developing local projects and campaigns for social good.
The Collaboratory was started as a Meetup group (originally the Social Change Collaboratory) to connect and support social entrepreneurs, those that work in the not-for-profit sector and other change agents in our community. Our mission is to identify opportunities for the group to collaborate with other people and organisations doing social good, and implement projects and campaigns with real impact.
Along the way we also want to have fun, seed ideas and inspire action in others, and support the emergence of impactful and resilient networks for social good.
The Collaboratory meets on the second Tuesday of every month at Hub Melbourne with special guests exploring new approaches to social change, social entrepreneurship and social innovation.
Once a month we also run weekend workshops to develop valuable skills and knowledge, and spend time working together on our chosen projects and campaigns.
The Collaboratory Melbourne Meetup Group
If you would like more information on the Collaboratory or if you would like to explore collaborative opportunities for your organisation or project, please email david@doingsomethinggood.com.au
Sign up for updates on the Doing Something Good blog and follow the #CollabMelb tweetstream.
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Gathering '11 Unconference
- To Build Better Futures
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ~ Bucky Fuller
Gathering '11 brings together leading thinkers, change-makers and collaborators from across Australia and around the world. Our purpose: to explore, discover and co-create pathways to a future of real solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
At Gathering ’11, we’re coming together to ask:
How might we tap into the potential of emerging technologies, networks, and systems to co-create a thrivable new world?
Where are the opportunities – and what do we need – to build pathways toward a new economy, a cleaner environment, resilient communities, and a happier planet?
What can we all do to build better futures?
Gathering ’11 will provide a space to support the emergence of socially innovative and transformative ideas.
Gathering ’11 will provide a space and experience that supports the emergence of socially innovative and transformative ideas. Using the World Café process, Open Space Technology and drawing from the methodology of Improv, Presencing and Theory U, we have collaboratively developed a program to transform inspiration into action with positive social impact.
At Gathering ’11 you will be inspired by presentations, dive deep in to discussions and together develop ideas on how to co-create solutions to today’s pressing societal challenges. You will be working with people who are leaders in the use and development of emerging technologies and systems, to co-create plans for projects, services and enterprises with world-changing impact.
Register for Gathering '11 here.
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Tweets
- "there has to be a fundamental change in the way that consumers consume" http://t.co/6A1zaBWc #sustainability via @bethworrall
- Can Funding Entrepreneurs in the Developing World Create 1 Million Jobs? http://t.co/WJaR8b5P #socent
- Why do you do what you do? http://t.co/vVlXZVvf #betterfutures
- Your House: The Next Great Digital Network http://t.co/QReu3Nez "more devices in the world are connected to the Internet than there are ppl"
- #Solar Power More Competitive Than Decision-Makers Or Consumers Realize [@Forbes] http://t.co/hSxKy0iv #renewables cc @jjprojects
- Would you take a pay cut in exchange for a more meaningful job? http://t.co/qmQudYpL
- RT @JenniferSertl: Must read: Network literacy & economic development http://t.co/gx2Jr3Ne #Gathering12 collaboration = the new competition
- Curious about @bigthink's #bookofthemonth > Less Than Nothing: A Masterwork on Philosophy, Cognitive Science & Physics http://t.co/arPsc6Nj
- In the Shadow of Hegel: How Does Thought Arise Out of Matter? http://t.co/YvZXO7Du #philosophy meets #science
- RT @GOOD: Idea: Could charging people for uneaten food in restaurants help end wastage and obesity? http://t.co/wdSNTApy
- "Creating Shared Value: Connecting Business, Societal Value and Opportunity" http://t.co/x5bRfwoZ Great set of links via @FSGtweets
- RT @rossdawson: Creating protocols for shared value creation http://t.co/LKjXRemX #Gathering12 HT @mbauwens cc @jwaterslynch @tim_butcher
- "Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others..." http://t.co/UusefcfG #possibleuniverse
- RT @VenessaMiemis: New Dream Community Action Kit http://t.co/qRepRshO #sharing via @ShareableDesign
- "Generative Cities: The Future of Urban Intelligence" http://t.co/7iGCGeIF #Gathering12
- From making change to enabling transformation: radical social entrepreneurship. http://t.co/PDAwscHv #socent #socentau
- RT @stuarthorrex: Social entrepreneurship fastest growing sector of Australian economy http://t.co/l9SHJRZY #SocEnt #Gathering12
- Massive open online courses combine exceptional instruction with interactive learning: http://t.co/SKKZCEcq #Gathering12
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Wall
- Hello Good People, we're getting set to launch a new website and early bird tickets for Gathering '12 in the next two weeks. This means two things: 1. we're moving to a new facebook page, please go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gathering-To-Build-Better-Futures/404114222941417?ref=tn_tnmn and *click like* 2. if you're thinking about coming to Gathering '12 and want to make sure you get your ticket, signup for updates to find out as soon as they go on sale at http://wegatherhere.net/ Getting excited... :D
- RT @salhir: “@DruckerInst: "Strategy allows an organization to be purposefully opportunistic.” #PeterDrucker http://t.co/HDRtpmJP #UnCommonSense”
- Save this one for later -> Alex Steffen’s presentation, 'How to change absolutely everything without leaving town', paints the picture of a shared, connected, carbon zero future that is inspiring, transformative, full of potential and practically realisable – today. Or, as Alex put it, it’s about “a larger way of looking at things”.
- Gathering '12 dates now confirmed as 20-23 September, 2012 in Melbourne. New site and tix available early March. Exciting stuff on the way... :)
- So much interest in our final #CollabMelb tomorrow night we've decided to take over Hub Melbourne and have released more tix. Join us for a great night and "Celebrate the Power of Unreasonable People, and Learn to Make Your Ideas Happen." With Ross Hill, Daniel Donahoo, and two of Melbourne's Top 100 for 2011 (The Age Melbourne Magazine) - Kate Kendall and Ehon Chan.
- Great post by Marla Tabaka in Inc. Magazine. "Purpose is the catalyst for the organization. It provides the why and the how. Why is what we want to achieve. How is the means by which we will do it. Defining these words becomes the impetus for action. Purpose is also the trigger for vision, mission and values."
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Posts
If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.
If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the wordl’s wealthy.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation vou are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.
If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all.
(via bitchville)
Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, they send forth a tiny ripple of hope… These ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
Robert F. Kennedy
- Lead like the great conductors. Itay Talgam on the art of collaboration.
“[A conductor’s] happiness does not come from only his own story and his joy of the music. The joy is about enabling other people’s stories to be heard at the same time.” — Itay Talgam
An orchestra conductor faces the ultimate leadership challenge: creating perfect harmony without saying a word. In this charming talk, Itay Talgam demonstrates the unique styles of six great 20th-century conductors, illustrating crucial lessons for all leaders.
Buddhism as a “Science of the Mind”
Jason Gots, bigthink.comBuddhism is not a collection of views. It is a practice to help us eliminate wrong views. – Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching. What’s the Big Idea? I can already anticipate the critiques.…
“if you agree that hatred, anxiety, greed, and jealousy are secondary and deeply destructive aspects of our nature, then – after survival – finding some reliable method to control or eradicate them – and thereby liberating our better angels –becomes pretty much the only worthwhile human pursuit.”
- How We Will Read: Kevin Kelly
This is the fifth post of “How We Will Read,” a Findings interview series exploring the future of books from the perspectives of publishers, writers, and intellectuals. See our kickoff post with Steven Johnson here.
Kevin Kelly is a scholar of the future. There seems to be no better way to encapsulate his myriad intellectual endeavors, which have sought to explain the new economy, technology as an extension of the self, and the mechanisms of complex organization. Even the creators of The Matrix recognized his brilliance — they made his book Out of Control required reading on set. It’s impossible to speak to him without it realizing that you are talking to someone who has a wide and incredible knowledge of the world. A humble and extraordinary man, Kevin has so many ideas for the future, he doesn’t quite know where to put them all.
Currently, Kevin maintains an active presence on his website, KK.org, where he blogs on several different personal projects he is pursuing, including the sequencing of his own genome and incisive analysis of gadgetry. A founding editor at WIRED and prolific writer of nonfiction books, Kevin’s explorations have never been far from text. So that is precisely what we wanted to ask him about. And who better to ask about the future of books than a scholar of the future?
You’re posting your book New Rules, New Economy in blog posts over the course of a couple of years. I noticed that the posts are formatted in a way that makes them seem annotated. Can you tell me about that?
I long ago got in the habit of marking up books as I went along — talking to it, marginalia, dog-earing, all that kind of stuff. I’m an active reader, and I mostly read to write.
This project is a recycling of that book. When the book was out of print, I decided to re-issue it as blog posts page-by-page. I had some heuristics, and my assistant Camille went through the book. It’s her work. There was some emphasis elements that we decided on, and on her own judgment, she followed through emphasizing in more than one manner.
I have had an idea of actually republishing the book in paper in the kind of annotated way. That was inspired by Tom Peters, the business guru, who does these books where he has a kind of kinetic typography. I always liked that, so I thought I’d try to imitate it here.
Why post your book as blog posts at all?
I’m so far onto the left of the copyright issue. I believe that the natural home of all creation is in the public domain. I believe that is naturally where it wants to reside. I think that works enjoy a temporary moment where they are monopolized and you can charge for them, but they’ll revert back to the free. So putting it out free was basically my habit. I believe — I’m not sure — but I believe I was the first person ever to put an in-copyright, in-print book on the web for free. I happened to have owned the digital rights. Because when it was contracted in 1989 or 1990, nobody knew anything about digital rights.
I don’t think my publishers even know. I just decided to do this. I have no idea whether I own the digital rights or not. I’m no longer even concerned about how many books I sell. I’m really concerned about how many books people read. I’m almost willing, right now, to pay people to read my books.
If the future is to remain open and free, we need people who can tolerate the unknown, who will not need the support of completely worked out systems or traditional blueprints from the past.
Margaret Mead- Ira Glass: do a lot of work
Great advice from the iconic producer of NPR’s This American Life. Want to do good work, then do a lot of work… Practice makes perfect. :)
- Reel Wisdom: Lessons from 40 Films in 7 Minutes
This is kinda cool, and includes lines from some of my favourite films. :)
- How great leaders inspire action - Simon Sinek [TEDTalk]
People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.
Excellent presentation from Simon Sinek on why we should “Start with Why”.
Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers …
If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears.
- Ji Lee: The Transformative Power of Personal Projects
Bored with his ad agency gig and the uninspiring work he was producing, Ji Lee – now Creative Director of Google Creative Lab – decided to take matters into his own hands in 2002. The result was the ad-spoofing Bubble Project, in which Lee placed blank speech bubbles on ads around New York City. The masses responded and the project went viral, gaining Lee recognition and ultimately forwarding his professional career. Here, Lee talks about how he created, financed, and marketed the project single-handedly.
You decide every moment of every day who you are and what you believe in. You get a second chance, every second.
I want to stand as close to the edge without going over. Out on the edge you can see all kinds of things you can’t see in the center.
~ Kurt Vonnegut
“What is the legacy that we want to leave for those who come after? How do you want to be seen by the generations that follow? Do you want to be seen as someone who knew what the right thing was and didn’t do it because you were afraid? Or do you want to be remembered as someone who was afraid and did the right things anyway? It’s okay to be afraid. Almost everyone I know is afraid at some time or another. But there is tremendous joy and exhilaration that comes, too, from doing what is right. The fact that those in power will use their power against resisters is not a reason to give up the fight before we even begin. It is a reason to be really, really smart.”
- Aric McBay in ‘Deep Green Resistance’
Absolutely love this. Through creativity, imagination and the magic of web video, we’re able to transcend time and space in a spectacular trip around this pale blue dot.
Welcome to Earth – a universal timelapse to give you goosebumps. (Bonus points for the score by First Aid Kit.)
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Posts
- May 03, 12
Wave Riders are curious people possessed of an innate capacity to go with the flow, constantly seizing upon opportunity when others see no possibility, or even disaster. Their level of performance is consistently high, and projects are often completed in breathtakingly short periods of time, with a degree of excellence that may seem unbelievable. Not always, not in every instance – but with a regularity that sets them apart, but never alone. Together with their fellows, Wave Riders create the critical community bonds, essential for productive activity. And they bring a special gift – Leadership. Their passion and responsibility for a cause inspires others to make common cause. Not by domination and control, but through invitation and appreciation, the efforts of many coalesce as one.Needed: More Wave Riders... at http://www.openspaceworld.com/waveriders.htm
- Mar 06, 12
“Creating abundance is not about creating a life of luxury for everybody on this planet; it’s about creating a life of possibility.”
What's really going on in the world around us? Not just what we're seeing on the news, according to Peter Diamandis. "I’m not saying we don’t have our set of problems; we surely do. But ultimately, we knock them down, " he says.
Peter Diamandis is founder of the X Prize Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is simply "to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity." By offering a cash prize for a specific accomplishment, the X Prize stimulates competition and excitement around tackling some of the planet's "grand challenges".
At the recent TED Conference, he makes a case for optimism -- that we'll invent, innovate and create ways to solve the challenges that loom over us on a more connected planet.
The thing that blows my mind: by 2020 it's estimated 3 billion new minds will be connected to the rest of the planet via the internet. Giving them access to better health, better education, and greater opportunities than previous generations. That's 3 billion voices that have never been heard before - giving the oppressed, wherever they may be, the opportunity to be heard and take action, like no other time in history.
Imagine the possibility...
You can download the first chapter of Peter's new book, Abundance, here.
This post is part of the Blog a Day in March initiative instigated by Steve Hopkins - Day Six. You can find other posts from more than 30 other people taking up the challenge by following the #b03 hashtag on twitter or on this Scoop.it.
- Mar 05, 12
Dad has always been a bit of a science fiction fan, so I grew up watching the original Star Trek series and have alway dreamt of going "where no man (or woman) has gone before".
I watch videos like this (below) and they give me goosebumps. I also feel this incredible expansiveness in my heart... (What do neuroscientists and psychologists put that down to I wonder?) Sights like this are such a gift. Science fiction and imagination can only take you so far - this spectacular vision of our beautiful blue planet opens minds to possibility, and has a way of putting everything in perspective.
From the brilliant Space Collective:
"Thirty-two space travellers were so profoundly moved by their experiences away from Earth they were no longer the same... trying to fit their Earth bound experience into the bigger picture."
Cooincidentally I received this tweet today:
I follow @twisst (a Twitter account for the International Space Station). Almost 45,000 people follow this account, close to 2 Million follow @NASA.
And to finish this exploration of the final frontier (?), a reading of the classic, Pale Blue Dot, by the cosmic Carl Sagan:
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us.
On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives.
The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Hat tip to my dear friend Eddie Harran for the introduction to Space Collective and for seeding the discovery of Mr Carl Sagan. Thanks mate. :)
- Mar 04, 12
Last time I lived in Melbourne, over 10 years ago, I used to enjoy seeing the occasional film at Kino Cinemas at the top end of Collins Street in the city. None of my friends were real fans of independent films back then (certainly not foreign films), so more often than not I'd go by myself - a solo adventure off in to some exotic land.
In winter 1998 the film Kundun was released. I'd started dabbling in meditation and yoga, and found the philosophy of Buddhism very attractive - mindfulness, non-attachment, compassion and non-violence. The story of the 14th Dalai Lama was a moving one, and years later, in Sydney, volunteered with the Australia Tibet Council and was the NSW Branch Convenor for a few years.
In recent years, I've found that I resonate more with Zen Buddhism and it's simplicity in philosophy and approach - that of cultivating a practice. I like that approach to life, that it is a practice - we keep applying ourselves, learning, and developing. I've completed two week long meditation retreats and looking forward to at least one this year. That, and getting back to my regular meditation practice which, unfortunately, I've let slide (but punishing oneself for these things is not useful). :)
I also enjoy the Zen use of koans, from Zen Koan Practice:
"Koan is a Japanese word that comes from the Chinese, kung-an, that means “public dictate.” It is a reference to examples that are meant to guide life; or in the case of Zen, these dictates are meant to be catalysts for awakening one’s true/deep/pure nature. They often recount an encounter between master and disciple, where the master’s response or question is said to reveal the deep nature of things as they are. Koans are an advanced tool, and have no inherent power in and of themselves, but can be very enlightening when used properly. I have heard Genki Roshi (Zen master & Abbot) refer to them as a can-opener for the Heart/Mind (kokoro). They are like a door-knocker, they are of no use, unless used properly as a tool to knock on the door of one’s Heart/Mind."
A classic Zen koan, and one of my favourites: The finger is not the moon...
The nun Wu Jincang asked the Sixth Patriach Huineng, “I have studied the Mahaparinirvana sutra for many years, yet there are many areas i do not quite understand. Please enlighten me.”
The patriach responded, “I am illiterate. Please read out the characters to me and perhaps i will be able to explain the meaning.”
Said the nun, “You cannot even recognize the characters. How are you able then to understand the meaning?”
“Truth has nothing to do with words. Truth can be likened to the bright moon in the sky. Words, in this case, can be likened to a finger. The finger can point to the moon’s location. However, the finger is not the moon. To look at the moon, it is necessary to gaze beyond the finger, right?”
- Mar 03, 12
In June 2010 I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr Michel Bauwens, founder of the Foundation for Peer-to-Peer Alternatives, and advocate for "everything open and free" (presentation below).
As one of the featured participants for the unconference I hosted, Gathering '11, Michel led us through a vision of a future enabled by peer-to-peer technology, cultural shifts in values (particularly trust), and the emerging share economy - or rise of collaborative consumption.
In the above TEDTalk from 2009, he talks about the evolution of trade, markets and production of goods - from a system driven by negative extrinsic motivation, to one of positive extrinsic motivation, where equal value is exchanged.
What we're seeing now, with the emergence of new technologies, new models for business, and the social web, is a new system - a revolution - where we can work with intrinsic positive motivation. This allows the self-aggregation of individuals around the creation of shared value, and with the aggregation of small, big no longer rules.
- Mar 02, 12
This presentation from ecologist Eric Berlow is one of my favourite TED Talks, especially as he so beautifully and simply communicates the concept of complex systems.
As human beings we suffer from a strange disorder of disconnection from the planet, each other, and even our own selves - when in fact we know everything is interconnected.
I'm fascinated by the potential to discover patterns and real insights when applying a systems thinking approach to so called wicked problems - and a reminder that "complex doesn't always equal complicated."
- Mar 01, 12
"Innovation ... rests on foundational institutions that provide fertile soil in which to seed, grow, and renew enterprises. But these institutions—such as universities, venture creators, supply chains, labor markets, and job-training programs—are less effective as economic agents when they operate in isolation. They’re more likely to contribute to shared prosperity when they’re networked—with smooth pathways that allow intellectual, financial, and human capital to flow to enterprises at every phase of development." - Rosabeth Kanter, Harvard Business Review
John Hagel, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison also talk about the value of knowledge flows and creations spaces to harness The Power of Pull, and how small moves, smartly made can set big things in motion.
Over the last two years I’ve been exploring ways I can serve people and organisations working toward better futures - so they can be more effective and have greater impact. Based on ideas I've collected, feedback received, and gaps identified during that time, I’ve focused around hosting events for much needed conversations and idea exchanges; offering facilitated sessions for collaborative project development, and building capability in the strategic use of social media to grow communities, amplify communications and scale impact.
This started with Doing Something Good (enabling clients), evolved and expanded into Collaboratory Melbourne (enabling communities) and from that emerged Gathering '11 (enabling leaders, linchpins and entrepreneurs). 2011 was the year of prototyping, 2012 is the year for laying down foundations.
By the middle of this year, my aim is to establish Collaboratory Melbourne as a community owned social enterprise - an innovative cooperative model that can be replicated and scaled. Its mission: to act as a platform for the development of a collaborative community of practice, and attract people and resources from across sectors to cocreate solutions to our most pressing social and environmental issues. Essentially, enriching the ecosystem to build better futures.
What small moves, do you think we can smartly make to transform our cities into thriving ecosystems for social innovation and social enterprise?
*image from Visualizing Information Flow in Science, Visual Complexity
- Feb 12, 11
It's been a challenge to write a post for National Blog Posting Month the last few days as I've been writing more work-related pieces for myself and others and not feeling like I can do justice to personal pieces. While I'm learning to produce and post on a regular basis it's more important to me to write posts that are meaningful and of benefit to those who read them. Luckily it's easy to find inspiration, and while cleaning out my exceedingly crowded email inbox today, I came across this wonderfully appropriate post from Leo Babauta on Zen Habits.
Post written by Leo Babauta.
When we are faced with a crisis or struggle we often despair.
But it’s in this struggle that the best opportunities emerge. If we’re keeping our eyes open.
A crisis is an opportunity to change, grow, learn, reflect and become better. It’s where we discover who we are and how we can find a new way we couldn’t have imagined before the crisis presented itself. It allows us to practice patience and acceptance and find renewed hope — which is the most beautiful thing.
When I’ve lost my job it was an opportunity for reinvention and to strike out on my own.
When I’ve lost a family member to the unrelenting grip of death it was an opportunity to reflect on that loved one’s wonderful life and for our family to come together in a way never possible before.
When I failed at work I learned to improve and grow better.
When I injured myself I learned patience and new ways to be healthy.
When my children throw tantrums they are teaching me more patience and the power of raw emotions and the wonder of childhood and what happens when you lose perspective.
When my wife and I had arguments it was an opportunity to learn more about each other and grow closer and become better at finding common ground.
When I moved and missed my family on Guam terribly it was an opportunity to learn introspection and self-sufficiency and grow closer to family here in the States.
When I daily face the terror of the void staring at me face to face it is my chance to push back and assert my will and imprint my soul upon this malleable world.
And that my friends is beauty. It is the finding of renewed hope and growth when all else seems bleak and lost.
In the struggle is the possible if we dare to look.
At the moment I'm seeing an opportunity to learn how to have better work/life balance. I've always been a bit of a workaholic - which is easy when you don't have kids, and manageable in a relationship as long as you don't work all the time.
Being that I'm learning so much and loving my work at the moment, I've fallen in to a bit of a trap of overcommitting myself because I'm currently single, don't have many commitments and starting off on a new venture (I'll only need to do this for a little while longer). I was seeing all the opportunity in the offers I was getting (although some of them were unpaid) because I'm getting to work with great people and gaining some invaluable experience.
But do I need it? Probably not. It's certainly not doing a lot for my physical or mental well-being. What I need to be doing is looking after myself and following my intuition (which has always served me well) and take those opportunities where there is flow - not the ones I don't want to miss out on. That and remembering to spend time doing other things I love with the people I love. Good lesson to learn I think.
So I'm starting tonight by posting this now and heading straight to bed. Tomorrow is time with my nephews and off to see my grandmother before flying to Sydney for a few days work. Because I miss it so much, I'm planning to spend some time walking on the beach and getting outside to enjoy the the fresh air and time with my friends. It's the perfect opportunity. :)
You might also enjoy this great 10 minute Ted Talk from Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance work.
What opportunities can you see in your life right now?
- Feb 09, 11
[an updated version of a previous post from my soon to be decomissioned Amplify blog]
For me 2011 is a year of action - taking the ideas and inspiration and making things happen. A large part of that involves writing - proposals, briefs, concept documents and blog posts.
Until about a year ago, I'd not been a big fan of writing anything other than strategies or plans. But after diving right in to twitter and reading blogs far and wide, it seemed a natural progression for me to start using blogging as a platform for exploring my own interests and thoughts, and to initiate or develop conversations with others.
So where do you start? By doing. So I started with a tumblr blog, wrote a few posts on two posterous blogs, made a few contributions to blogs for other people, and just recently set up my own WordPress site. Now I'm thinking I'd like to be a better writer.
So recently, I put the call out on twitter - crowdsourcing some resources to improve my writing skills:
These were the best:- The Most Useful Grammar Post Ever, by @_sarahwilson_ -- via @kateausburn
- The Economist Style Guide -- via @co_ll_in
- The Style Manual: For Authors, Editors and Printers -- via @papier_et_encre
- The Grammar Cheat Sheet -- which I came across yesterday
Kate Carruthers suggested signing up for National Blog Posting Month to improve my writing skills and get myself in to the habit of "shipping" - which I have. :)
@smperris had this advice: "Something that improved my writing was keeping it simple. Good grammar can be a side-effect of breaking a thought down to basics. Also, keep sentences short (unless your "style" is to be wordy). It's hard to go wrong when you stay concise."
@incognitosum also had this great reminder: "Don't rely on your software's inbuilt spelling or grammar checkers."
If you're also looking to improve your writing skills, I hope this has helped. I'll continue to add to this list in the comments below. If you have any other links or resources you'd like to share, please add them in the comments also.Happy writing,
David. - Feb 06, 11
One of the treasures I've been introduced to via twitter is Radio National Future Tense podcasts. I'd never had much of an appreciation for public radio before I bought my iPhone, but discovered podcasts and came to appreciate the skill in delivering engaging and fascinating audio programs. I also quite enjoy presenter Antony Funnell's sense of humour and love the perfectly placed cultural anecdotes he manages to drop in to stories on occassion.
New ideas, new approaches, new technologies… Future Tense explores the social, cultural, political and economic faultlines arising from rapid change. The weekly half-hour program/podcast takes a critical look at new technologies, new approaches and new ways of thinking. From politics to social media to urban agriculture, nothing is outside our brief.
I have a few favourite episodes from the last year, among them an episode on Resilience Science and Future Governance. I’ll be writing about Resilience Science in another post sometime soon, also covering some of my other environmentally themed Future Tense episodes, but wanted to share an insight by Professor Jim Falk from the second half of the program.
Professor Falk is the Director of the Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and society at Melbourne University. He is co-author of the book Worlds in Transition: Evolving governance across a stressed planet: about the great future problems we face; the reasons why we've got those problems in the first place; and how well-suited we are to cope with them and counter them in future.
Professor Falk doesn’t believe it’s all bad news and “cautions us against assuming that human nature is fixed and can't adapt.”
He delivers this wonderful reflection about time:
I think that when we think about human history, we sort of think about it as being an unimaginably long period of time. And I'd like to just correct that for a moment, put us in a different scale. Because actually we haven't been around very long, and there's been a lot of change.
I mean if you take our species, Homo sapiens in our current form, we've been around about 125,000 years. If you think of the Biblical life-span of three-score-and-ten, that's about 1,800 lifetimes laid end to end. Our language has been around for about a thousand lifetimes. The Stone Age was only 570 lifetimes ago. Agriculture came in 140 lifetimes ago; our writing, 70 lifetimes ago. Industrial civilisation, 3 lifetimes ago. We've burnt up half the world's oil in less than a lifetime, and the development and deployment of the world-wide web, has happened in a fifth of a lifetime, in 15 years.
So an enormous amount can happen in a very short period of time. It's true that there is a sort of arms war between our understanding and the development of the problems. But you'd have to say that our understanding is developing very fast too, but it has to be helped. And that's something which is of our lifetime. What can happen in our lifetime given those time scales, is enormously significant for the future of humanity and the future of life on the planet.
“Do all that you can, with all that you have, in the time that you have, in the place where you are.” ~ Nkosi Johnson
- Feb 05, 11
I love Calvin and Hobbes - just the thought of their playful adventures, philosophical conversations and insightful observations is enough to put a grin on my face.
I started reading Bill Waterson’s brilliant comic strip when I was about 13 years old. I could easily relate to Calvin’s unbridled imagination, tremendous curiosity, under-appreciated wisdom, and knack for getting in to trouble for things that were, clearly, never his fault. And even with all of the mischief he got up to, he was a little boy with a big heart.
As an adult, I now also appreciate how well Bill Waterson weaved in political satire, and commentary on society, to this seemingly simple comic strip about a 6 year old boy and his stuffed tiger.
I own two compilations of Calvin and Hobbes comic strips: The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes and Calvin and Hobbes: The Tenth Anniversay Book. They’re great to pick up every once in a while, for a whimsical trip back to my early childhood years, and for that kind of chuckle that warms the heart. It's also a great reminder of the value of good friends and family, and that we all see the world in our own unique way.
For your reading pleasure, here are a few of my favourite strips. I hope you enjoy. :)
- Feb 04, 11
I'm guessing yes. Me too!
It's the human condition to search for something, or someone, to make us feel safe, happy, or whole. Sadly, we often look for what we think we need, rather than what it is that's actually going to help us feel safe, happy or whole. We search for things outside ourselves and lose our happiness in our attachment to our belongings, jobs or unfulfiling relationships.
We all want to connect, we all want to be liked, and we all want to be understood. So why is it so hard? I'm not quite so sure that it is - I actually think it's just that we make it difficult for ourselves. We're so caught up in what we think we need to do, and who we think we need to be, that we miss the whole point.
We're supposed to be ourselves.
How can you have an authentic relationship with someone if you're not being your authentic self? We can't expect someone else to discover us and make it alright to be who we truly are. We have to have courage and choose to be that person who is free to express and pursue all those things that interest us, inspire us, fulfill our passions and give us joy.
In her inspiring and heart-warming TEDTalk, researcher and (wonderful) storyteller Dr Brené Brown talks about the need to have the courage to allow ourselves to be vulnerable, so that we can be our authentic selves and connect deeply to others.
Her research, and her own personal experience along the way, lead her to make several remarkable and fascinating discoveries. She learns that in order to be vulberable we need to have courage - and that courage is the telling of the story of who you are with your whole heart.
"What makes you vulnerable, makes you beautiful," she says. "Connection is why we're here. It's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives."
She believes that we need to let ourselves be seen and “love with our whole hearts without guarantee”. How? By learning to practice gratitude and joy and believing (and I'd say reminding ourselves) that we're enough.
And remember, when times are feeling tough - it gets better.
- Feb 02, 11
On my #greatbigadventure in the US last year I did a lot of walking - and a lot of listening. I signed up for audible.com and started downloading audio books to listen to on my iPhone while strolling the streets of New York and San Francisco.
I listened to quite a few books in that six weeks. There’s something about being away from home that leads to pause, reflection and exploration - in the physical, mental and spiritual worlds. So I “read” books with new theories and philosphies, searching for wisdom and guidance that would help me navigate this new world I now found myself in.
My favourite book, for the trip and for 2010, was The Power of Pull: How Small Moves, Smartly Made, Can Set Big Things in Motion, written by the remarkable John Hagel III, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison.
From the book:
"Pull is about expanding our awareness of what is possible and evolving new dispositions, mastering new practices, and taking new actions to realize those possibilities. It’s about figuring out how to be systematic in how we combine work and life to pursue our passions, how to find other who share our passion but bring different experiences and perspectives to challenging performance needs, and how to create conditions where we’re more likely to happen upon interesting people, resources and opportunities -- even as we contribute the same chances to others."
The Power of Pull comes from the learning and observations Hagel, Seely Brown and Davison gained from their research of “The Big Shift” for Deloitte’s Center for the Edge. The Shift Index, outlining the forces of long-term change on business, economics and society.
There are some great examples and case studies (of individuals and organisations) using the power of pull to learn, grow and achieve remarkable things - even while the push economy, and all it’s structures, fade fast.
Their advice (briefly) can be outlined in the three levels of pull:
- Access flows of knowledge (mutually reciprocated) online and face-to-face (twitter is perfect for this);
- Play in the edge where there are spikes of talent and creative culture. Hang out where there is diversity and innovation. Shape circumstances so they favour serendipitous experiences and attract opportunity. “Fortune favours the prepared mind.”
- Develop “creation spaces” and platforms that support a rapid rate of performance improvement (not just learning) to allow you to achieve.
As cheesy as it may sound, The Power of Pull was literally the answer to my prayers. These guys were speaking right to me, and the advice they gave on how to navigate this brave new connected, value-driven, post-industrial world, has well-informed the choices I’ve made. These have led to a string of serendipitous conversations, life-changing experiences, amazing new friendships and exciting new opportunities.
As Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com puts it: “The Power of Pull is a roadmap of how to get from where you are now to where you really want to be. Read it and be inspired. (You’ll probably want to surf too.)”
If you enjoyed books like The Cluetrain Manifesto, or the writings of Seth Godin or Clay Shirky, I recommend you grab yourself a copy of The Power of Pull. You can download 6 booklets exploring themes from the book if you sign up for the newsletter on their website and if you're on twitter, I also recommend you follow John Hagel.
John Hagel will be in Australia for the AMPlify Festival in June this year - let’s see if I can utilise the power of pull well enough to meet him. ;)
- Feb 02, 11
The last 10 months have been pretty incredible. I've travelled overseas, left my job, moved from Sydney to Melbourne and found myself in an amazing new world. In that time I've learned a lot - about change, technology, communications, social impact and above all what's possible. I've also learned a lot about myself and what drives me (but that's another post).
I find myself in a fairly reflective mood at the start of 2011 - grateful for where I am and wanting to make the most of the opportunities ahead of me. This year my goal is to lay down foundations and plant seeds for the years to come. I'll be getting stuck in to the development of Doing Something Good as part of the School for Social Entrepreneurs program and I'm excited about the potential of the Social Change Collaboratory.
I'm also keen to document and share my thoughts and experiences. I'm hoping this will help me to learn and grow, and also benefit others who find themselves exploring a similar path. Quite often I've experienced and seen deep learning come not only from a post someone has written, but also in the comments as a conversation emerges beneath. This means blogging more regularly - and better.
Today is the first day of National Blog Posting Month. I'm taking up the challenge as recommended by Kate Carruthers in order to improve my blog writing. I'd like to identify 'my style', improve my grammar and get in to the rhythm of writing regularly. I want to be able to get my thoughts out more easily and communicate them more succinctly.
So for the month of February I'll be posting something on here every day. Anyone who knows me will tell you'll I'm never short of anything to talk about, so I'm sure the same will go for writing over the next four weeks. I'll be throwing in some of my favourite TEDTalks, articles and post of others exploring topics like social change, philosophy, psychology, technology, social networks, innovation and collaboration. The kind of stuff you'll find in my tweets.
As always, I'm most grateful for your time and attention, and would appreciate your comments and feedback. Thanks for stopping by. :)
