We are creating so much work. We are overloaded with so much information. We live in a land of plenty yet continually crave more each new day.
Have we stopped to consider the consequences of our actions?
Collectively we can climb a wall. Separately we just build them.
52 Profiles (by Sam Soffes)
These thought are buzzing around my brain right now and I wanted to jot them down before they’re gone. I have really been feeling the need lately to get my self in order. And by self I mean all the ways that I am portrayed online. This online presence is really important, the way I see it, for the future. Not that I’m trying to secure my future, I know that’s a foolish thing to attempt, but I want people to know when they’re looking at something I did. I want whatever I touch to leave my fingerprint behind. Yeah, I like that analogy. So why this sudden pull? Well, first off, it’s not so sudden. This pull to make everything “seamless” has been the goal since day one. But, as in all of life, we have to make mistakes and learn from those before we can see where we want to go. I know I don’t roll out of bed each morning with the next big idea that will change the world and save humanity. Do you? So over the past few years I’ve been working and re-working my website and trying to find my place on the web. But what I’m coming to find is that I don’t want to live on the web. It’s a nice place to visit, but I want to live in the real world. I want to touch the earth and feel the warmth of another. I want to drink a pint of Guinness and eat dark chocolate. But somehow I feel like I need to bring all those things that make me who I am to the web.
Am I making sense? God, I hope so. I don’t want to rant, so I’ll wrap this up quick. I am carefully observing and dissecting a few select websites of people I admire online. I am looking at how they’ve managed to tie all of what they do in to one seamless experience online. But I’m afraid that even in this observation I could easily get lost in trying to become them, instead of just being myself. And that’s the last thing I want. So I am freeing myself to continue to make mistakes and not get things perfect. I am free to be who I am, as clumsily and weird as that may be. Thank you.
One of the greatest things I've learned about myself is that I really enjoy people. Not only getting to meet people, but getting to connect people also. My friend Tim Coons was telling me about this book The Tipping Point that describes the main factor in any new trend, people. The author places people into three basic categories: connectors mavens and salesmen. Now I won't attempt to delve into the explanations of each type, you can read for yourself if interested, but I am most certainly a maven. However, I think there is a little connector inside me as well. Because as much as I enjoy the sacredness of a few personal relationships, I also enjoy connecting people with other people on a much larger scale. This connector part of me really came to light last weekend at my art show. Seeing the response I got from people who turned out for the evening was overwhelming. I can't put into words how much it means to me to have the support of family and friends and even people I've never met before. But what I really thought was cool was seeing all these people getting introduced to other people who they've never met, and I believe that was the real success of the evening. My art, more or less, acted as a conduit for people to flow in and out of the coffee shop and bump into one another and make connections. Those connections are priceless because of the people. That's why I believe people are the greatest investment we can make.
The Indigo Experiment
Make it Better
You are invited to experience the entire collection of my 52 profiles project I completed last year. The opening "art show extravaganza" will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at 7 PM at Crooked Tree Coffee House here in Dallas, Texas. If you'd like to come early around 6 PM there will be wine and finger food.
My friend Sean Springer, of Springer Design Studios, is building custom frames for the show, so you don't want to miss that, his work is amazing. My friend Tim Coons will also be there providing the listening experience for the evening. You won't want to miss this.
This is my greatest collection of work to date. I am very proud of it. I hope you can make it to the opening, or at the very least make it during the couple months it will be up. See you there.
