I spent my morning learning more about modern tribes by watching videos of TED talks from around 2 years ago. This was part of going through some old RSS posts I had yet again put off, and a reaction to yet another architectural disappointment. But let's not go there. My gut says this tribe thing deserves a try.
Recently I was asked "what do you like to do?" The question was not about the kind of architecture I like to do, or the project types I like to work on, or even what role do I like playing at a firm. It was simply what do I like to do. The broadness of the question shocked me as if I'd never been asked before. So I decided to do a diagram of all the things I like to do broken down professionally and personally, and in the end what I like to do can be summed up as solving problems and helping people with a nod toward doing no harm toward the environment. There are lots of specific things that point toward these three boxes, but generally that's what I like to do.
Recently I was asked "what do you like to do?" The question was not about the kind of architecture I like to do, or the project types I like to work on, or even what role do I like playing at a firm. It was simply what do I like to do. The broadness of the question shocked me as if I'd never been asked before. So I decided to do a diagram of all the things I like to do broken down professionally and personally, and in the end what I like to do can be summed up as solving problems and helping people with a nod toward doing no harm toward the environment. There are lots of specific things that point toward these three boxes, but generally that's what I like to do.
Diagram of Likes
Ok go ahead and criticize. I'm not in Haiti helping earthquake victims. I'm not spending every waking minute volunteering in soup kitchens in the city. I'm not out on the highway picking up trash. But everybody views "helping people" differently, and I would argue that making connections is a good way to help people.
For example, some years ago I was becoming good friends with an aspiring dj. At the same time I was paying a fair amount of attention to the local techno scene around these parts. One day I saw that somebody in the techno community was looking to unload some big speakers, and I simply forwarded the info to my friend. He was elated. I had helped him out BIG TIME, and it was just by paying attention to his needs and making a connection. This story warms my heart when I think of it - and so this kind of helping people seems to mean something to me. Maybe that is why I'm not too afraid to comment on others' blogs and such.
Also, I've kinda made it a mission to show people other ways of using their space. Generally this means promoting different sustainable gardening techniques, and hopefully at some point this will expand into building techniques too. Though the latter seems to be taking its sweet time.
So after some thought and exploration, and a lot of fence-sitting and self-doubt, I guess its time to find my tribe and start nudging. While architecture is a great overall direction, perhaps this addition can help create true purpose.
For example, some years ago I was becoming good friends with an aspiring dj. At the same time I was paying a fair amount of attention to the local techno scene around these parts. One day I saw that somebody in the techno community was looking to unload some big speakers, and I simply forwarded the info to my friend. He was elated. I had helped him out BIG TIME, and it was just by paying attention to his needs and making a connection. This story warms my heart when I think of it - and so this kind of helping people seems to mean something to me. Maybe that is why I'm not too afraid to comment on others' blogs and such.
Also, I've kinda made it a mission to show people other ways of using their space. Generally this means promoting different sustainable gardening techniques, and hopefully at some point this will expand into building techniques too. Though the latter seems to be taking its sweet time.
So after some thought and exploration, and a lot of fence-sitting and self-doubt, I guess its time to find my tribe and start nudging. While architecture is a great overall direction, perhaps this addition can help create true purpose.
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