it’s my island

Finding a Path In Chaos

// May 27th, 2008 // Comments Off // On the Radar

Summer fever is striking at people around me. Even myself trying to stay sane, accomplish a mountain of tasks, and still find time to play as well tough.

Charlotte Art

Recently published Justin Abraham’s post and video interview. It was way past its due and getting it out felt so very good. I hope you all can enjoy it as well.

Flying the Friendly Skies

[Skyfest](http://www.skyfestboogie.com/content/view/2/1/) is coming, Skyfest is coming. One reason I’m trying to work so hard is to get ahead of a break I’d like to take. Some people wouldn’t consider taking a break streaking across the skies at 130-180mph a break but it is a wonderful thing for my psychology.

If you are looking for some fun June 4th-9th come visit. [Skydive Carolina](http://skydivecarolina.com) is going to be flying 200-400 people over the duration of the Skyfest / Rodrigez Boogie. Even as a non-flyer it will be a spectacular event to come and see.

Lost Loves

Recently we lost one of our beloved establishments. Cupps Cafe was a shining oasis fending back mediocrity and conformity in food service. Its life was cut short and many people still do not understand the reality of what went wrong. Only that something did.

When something is hemorrhaging that you love, please try and and communicate the issues at hand. If you are good and have a following amazing things can happen if you want to fight.

Facebook Playoffs

Jeff and I have been working with a lot of small businesses these days and helping them to find a path in the maelstrom that is the internet. We’re going to be working on a educational package that everyone can benefit from. To start the party we’re using [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1014737225) to teach small businesses the value of, and how to utilize it as a platform. If you are small business, or a person who works with small businesses perhaps our group can help you too.

Pathfinding is a Sport

While I might be in a long duration run I can say I’m having a blast.

Every day I am faced with new challenges, helping myself, or others, and on topics that I enjoy covering. There are a lot of amazing people around me and I am enjoying spinning the creation wheel to make new things where there wasn’t before.

If you want to see some crazy fun new video stuff I’ve been playing with run over to IMI Photography and check out the Mud Volleyball video. It was a great event, and the production is pretty cool too.

As usual, and I don’t know if it’s good or not, most of those around me are whirling dervishes as well. If you are reading this check in with me, write a comment or throw me some Facebook Wall message letting me know you are doing ok.

Leaving the Fluorescent Halls

// June 2nd, 2007 // Comments Off // Career, Points In Time

We live in a moment of [impermanence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impermanence). If we live in such a moment why aren’t we making the most of it. Why give energy into anything other than enjoying the experience by maximizing it?

I have (with great consultation of my wife) resigned from my former employ. That is to say I have left that which was comfortable for the vibrant dynamic life of an entrepreneur. Jeff’s [talking](http://blog.nuancelabs.com/2007/06/02/when-is-it-time-to-take-the-plunge/) about it.

We’re jumping all the way in to our passion—making us all [rock](http://liquidminded.com).

I got my first technology gig when I was 15 selling the first internet service in Charlotte. I remember going to business meetings and PC groups preaching what online connectivity would do for you. Can you believe how fast we’ve assimilated?

For the last 10 years I’ve honed myself into someone who just solves problems—people, graphical, engineering, environmental, and in between. There are questions that don’t have answers, but most of the world is run by a lot of things that _have_ answers. You just have to find the organization, association, peer group, blogs, usenet, irc, [continue list of sources] and filter the history or provoke a current discussion. It’s amazing.

Like [Scoble](http://scobleizer.com/) has mentioned for his work, you have to learn how to filter the inputs to gain relevance to find what you want, quickly. Know the problem, scope out the domain, find existing solutions or connect dots and develop new solutions, gather resources, implement.

The human filter needs help.

In this domain full of partial productivity (application) solutions the only people I see giving deep thought is the [OSAF](http://www.osafoundation.org/) [Chandler Project](http://chandlerproject.org/Product/ChandlerProjectHome). After a foundation of GTD going through Chandler made for some interesting synergies.

Unfortunately the complexity grew way out of line. If you can’t refactor something complex then you need to be worried. It only takes a few of those to make a solution [clunky](http://blogs.salon.com/0002007/2007/05/29.html) and once you give in to one you can easily give in to others. It’s better to table the idea if you stall and come back to it.

Later you’ll figure out what you really wanted to say, but couldn’t find it, have another solution, or you’ll realize what you wanted wasn’t really needed after all. As [Jeff](http://blog.nuancelabs.com/jeff) can attest, sometimes getting there can peel the paint. Taking a break can give you critical insight that you might miss in the moment.

The application we’re honing takes into account everything that has pissed us off about solutions since we first tried to live GTD lifestyles years ago. I really don’t like paper, but I put up with it. I put up with the best solution of the moment and that can flux depending on how angry I am at one vs another.

I want to live more in rhythm. Not only for myself, but with my network, my friends—my family. Why can’t we all help each other out and find a better rhythm for it all? That’s the itch I scratch. Personal communication, interaction, responsibility, with the ability to reflect on my history and work towards my future.

[David Allen](http://davidco.com) lays a compelling [framework](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_things_done) we’ve enjoyed immensely. We took a hard (amazingly hard) look at what tenets [bear weight](http://www.43folders.com/2005/12/07/ethan-hacks-gtd/) and those that are personal choices and turning that into a flexible, shareable, easy to use, access/input near anywhere solution. Piece of cake. I stayed at a [Holiday Inn Express](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BDW/is_22_42/ai_75286757 “Humorous Ad Campaign”), you have no idea what I can do now. haha!

For Real?

No! It has taken a lot of hard work (is fun hard work really hard?) just to get to this point. Eight months working towards a solution before it was decided that we would seek outside help, four more months to know we were solidly on-track and needed funds, three months to realize our brains we’re exploding with split resourcing. Today finds me working hard on a capital campaign to see this vision manifest.

Expect the unexpected or you won’t find it.
—Heraclitus

I am so psyched it’s hard to sleep. Thanks for all your emails of encouragement and great thoughts along the way (my support network rocks!). This new book we’re all cracking open is going to be one helluva journey.

-a

SCAA Quickie

// April 8th, 2006 // 1 Comment » // Interests, On the Radar

I’ve got to bolt in a few minutes to get back down to the convention center to start a day of classes so I’ll make this brief.

It was a mad house yesterday. Yesterday being Friday for those not local. Friday at SCAA consisted of intensives and workshops. I was a porter in espresso beginner and intermediate level classes. Working beside [Matt Milletto](http://www.espresso101.com/) in the morning and [Mike Lanz](http://www.esiespresso.com) in the afternoon. These two gave everyone a sweeping understanding of what they need to do, to hit those proper extraction times and care for there hardware. It was lots of fun to work for these individuals and all the trainers who gave it their all to bridge the knowledge divide.

Afterwards Robin joined me onsite for the keynote which was delivered by Wade Davis (think Serpent and the Rainbow). This guy blew our lids. I mean, I think we knew going in to it that we were going to be globalized, but I don’t think anyone could have guessed how well. He delivered a stirring speech on defining global cultures (anthropologically) and how we are losing part of our culturesphere through ugly means at a much faster rate than the ecosphere. One of his many points was how when we were born there were 6,000 languages spoken and how now there are only half of that. He really nailed home the point well that we are all people. While the West has looked towards industrial and technological growth, other peoples have been using the same intellectual potential to look elsewhere (inversion/nature/harmony/etc). I’ve got a whole article that needs to evolve from him and I hope to be able to give it some time in the future. Least to say if you ever have a chance to see Wade talk I highly encourage you to go out of your way to see him. He will make your head expand.

Then we exited for quite a feast of little foods. Grabbing a beer eased my aching joints we mingled and saw so many online and offline entities it was fantastic.

Getting late.. gotta run. Good people, good fun!

-a

Worktime Observation

// January 5th, 2006 // Comments Off // Skull Sessions

As arguments around a secretaries desk get more heated, the more m&m’s are consumed. Thus the health of the company is inversely proportionate to the rate at which M&Ms are being consumed…

Thank’s to [Jeff](http://www.wheeledone.com) for helping bring the illumination full circle.

Hello.. Goodbye.. Buongiorno

// May 27th, 2005 // 1 Comment » // On the Radar

I have been so busy.. so very very very busy.. My day jobs office is moving. If moving weren’t a difficult enough thing we’ve decided to cut out our infrastructure and really go lean. Not a bad thing at all, but I’m going on vacation and coming back right when our move occurs. I think my corner of the world is tight. We have a lot to do on my return, last minute data tosses and a whole lot of shutting down. Be on the lookout if your local for a [craigslist](http://charlotte.craigslist.org/) bonanza.

That’s taking day and night cycles. Overlapping that is Italy, which I must say I think we’ve done a great job. We have the hotels, trains, museums, and tour all booked. I’ve hopefully cracked open my Treo from the grip of AT&T and have purchased a Italy TIM card.

We will be staying at the following:
* Milan, [Hotel Baveria Mokinba](http://www.venere.com/hotel/?lg=en&ref=2960&htid=98&action=photo_gallery)

* Monterosso, [Hotel 5 Terre](http://www.arbaspaa.com/Hotel_5T_ing.htm)

* Florence, [Hotel Aprile](http://www.karenbrown.com/italy/detail.lasso?RecID=10526)

* Venice, [Pensione La Calcina](http://www.karenbrown.com/italy/detail.lasso?RecID=10686)

We’ve spec’d out a number of restaurant’s from resources in print, web, and referral. I think our palate will be sufficiently overwhelmed. We are also planning a day trip to San Gimignano which I hear has the worlds best chocolate gelato. Ah the many wonderful things to run around at.

In tow will be a bag of clothes and a backpack full of technology, books, and maps. Boy are we styling. If you are around one of these area’s when we are (May 31-June 9), drop me an email and lets grab a cappa o del vino.

A lot of people helped pay for this trip. It’s part honeymoon, part vacation, and part business research. Thanks to all those who are making it possible.

-a