I'm remembering that time in 2019 when Jessica Hulter and I learned of a mass forced migration of Portuguese man o' wars onto the East side of Oahu due to winds. The odd little blobs were being beached by the thousands, by the millions, so of course we went to welcome them. We had only just arrived … Continue reading Beautiful Blobs, Enabling Constraints, Assemblages…
Category: complexity
The Opening Words to a Book I Probably Won’t Write
Enough people have suggested I write a book at this point that I have now found myself wondering what such a book might look like. I don't consider myself expert enough in anything to say something genuinely unique in the world that isn't just storytelling about my life, but I do think there aren't enough … Continue reading The Opening Words to a Book I Probably Won’t Write
It Gets Dark
I often take away messages from music that I don't believe the artist originally intended. Music is part of what I'll call my system for sense-making and synthesis, in that I actively engage in ritual practices like listening to songs from artists I've never heard before as a way of shaking up my perspective and … Continue reading It Gets Dark
Sweeping: A Metaphor
Your metaphor of the day is sweeping the floor with a broom, inspired by some thoughts that crept into my head as I was sweeping the kitchen and living-room--a task now abandoned so that I can get some of these ideas down... Brooms are actually a very weird type of technology if you think about … Continue reading Sweeping: A Metaphor
Sharing & Learning & Interfaces, Such as Maps
When I was really little, like maybe 10 years old, I remember making the conscious choice to start using new words before I was quite sure what they meant. I would encounter a word in a book somewhere and, knowing it might just immediately evaporate from my memory, as most information does, I would drop … Continue reading Sharing & Learning & Interfaces, Such as Maps
Bureaucracy: Machines & Pilots
Bureaucracy, as described by the sociologist Max Weber, is rational. Bureaucracy is how we logically create standardized and efficient systems of exchange, of competition, of distribution of labor at scale. It is rational in an abstract sense, when you abstract it away from the human, when you average people out and line them up and … Continue reading Bureaucracy: Machines & Pilots
On Actually Embracing Actual Failure
Do not attempt to tackle complex, wicked problems without amply anticipating and preparing for the very real possibility of failure: On every attempt and at every stage. I'm talking about actual failure- not safe, fun, exciting failure or even safe failure, because it might not ever be emotionally 100% safe. I'm talking about the real stuff. The painful, uncomfortable, embarrassing type of failure. The kind you look in the eye and learn from... that looks back and tells you things you didn't know or care to admit...
On the Debate Around Critical Race Theory
I like a lot of the points the author made in this NYT opinion piece about the dubious purpose and primary trends in the debate over Critical Race Theory. I, for one, have been quite guilty of being what she refers to as "anti-anti-CRT", because of how often I've seen tribally-aligned opponents use what I … Continue reading On the Debate Around Critical Race Theory
Mapping Organizational Ecosystems: Artifacts & Rituals; Tribes & Institutions
This is an excerpt (Part 3) of an essay in progress to describe developing perspectives and practices for mapping organizational ecosystems. I recently facilitated a workshop with Agitare, the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, and the Federal Innovation Network to explore how we view, create, and use maps of our massive, interconnected community, and how co-created and inter-subjective approaches … Continue reading Mapping Organizational Ecosystems: Artifacts & Rituals; Tribes & Institutions
Mapping Organizational Ecosystems: Introduction
This is an excerpt (part 1) from an essay I'm working on to describe developing perspectives and practices for mapping organizational ecosystems. I recently facilitated a workshop with Agitare, the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, and the Federal Innovation Network to explore how we view, create, and use maps of our massive, interconnected community, and how co-created and inter-subjective … Continue reading Mapping Organizational Ecosystems: Introduction
Sounding Slightly Off 