If you ask me to analyze a problem and propose a solution, I will present to you an alternative process. If you ask the same of my former business partner, he will tell you to get new leadership. If you ask the same of my graduate advisor, he will deconstruct the meanings of terms such as problem and solution.
I asked Doc Searls what he does to build community, and he reminds me that it is not about building community but communication.
I try to learn at least three things every time I have a conversation with really smart people. I have had a day to reflect and here is my takeaway so far (this is a post I will continue to reflect upon because it seems as if there is more here for me to learn).
Takeaway number one - Splotz of Glue can be snowballs, narrative points from which we begin a conversation on improving neighborhoods or the process of community building. It is not about the collecting and cataloging of glue, but of the contemplating and discussing. This is new to me. In my old career I needed to understand in depth and breadth so as to anticipate unintended consequences. Now I can do the snowball thing and enjoy the emerging consequences, intended or not.
Takeaway number two - “community” and “community building” are very loaded terms and I need to be more aware of that. In this context I use “community” to describe geographically bound neighborhoods and “community building” as the process to increase or enhance social capital.
Takeaway number three - which is an incomplete thought - is there something I am supposed to burn? Is it my process-centric thinking? Can someone help me with this part?
deconstruct doc searls weblogs
Posted on March 3rd, 2007 by Lloyd Y. Asato
Filed under: The Ask
[…] then responds to Takeaway number three where I ask if “there something I am supposed to burn? Is it my process-centric thinking? Can […]