Change. It's what's for dinner.

Once more, into the great wide open.

It's been entirely too long since I've posted here. 2013 was a rough year, and one I'm (mostly) happy to see in the rearview mirror.  One of the highlights though is that I'm happy happy happy in my role back as a full-time employee. Yes, I've taken down the consulting shingle and have settled in with one, just one, company.  And if that sounds a bit like marriage, well, then it's not a surprise to hear that I had to really think about it before taking the plunge, cause I"m a bit of a committment phobe. I'd like to blame it on my type (ENTP in the Myers Briggs universe, Orange/Green in True Colors), but that may not be all of it.  The Great Recession was hard on types like me who grew organizations, only to shrink them back down again. I did it 4 times in a row, in the span of 3 years, before I said "Enough!" and started consulting.

So, it's really about being confident that the happy is really here, and that I can trust it.  It is, and I do.  I love my company (Rocket Fuel), the work I get to do, and the team I get to do it with. Life is good.  So, Cheers to fresh starts, and to good times, and to welcoming in the happy.  Here's to more of it, for all of us!

Cooler Than A Cup Of Joe

I interrupt my irregularly scheduled blog entries to bring you an update on BioCurious.  What the heck is that, you may ask?  BioCurious is a group of individuals I'm proud to call friends as well as colleagues (co-conspirators?), starting up a DIY Bio hackerspace down in Mt. View.


The Kickstarter campaign ends TODAY, and we'd really like to get the funding as high as possible.  Pledges as low as $3 will be a great help.  So brew your next cup o'joe at home and give them the money instead.  You get the idea.
 
Community support for local people doing cool things and making their dreams come true is important.  In fact, isn't that what it's all about? 
If you'd like to help, here's the place:
biocurious.org/kickstarter
 
Here's more info on the way cool things they are into:
http://www.biocurious.org
 
Now back to your regular blog programming.....

Stem Cells to stimulate growth of common sense?

Interestingly enough, I happened upon an encouraging article about the use of patient skin cells to grow liver cells.  Quite a promising development indeed, and to be celebrated.  But why is one of the first comments about this technology's promise that it can avoid the controversial human stem cell debate in the US? Breakthroughs can, should, and will come from a variety of sources - and IMHO one of those sources should be stem cells.

If you disagree with the use of stem cells, don't have a procedure using them.  But for heaven's sake (pun intended) don't stop others from keeping innovation, and better health moving forward.

Doing What You Love

As I read the article, "Six Secrets Toward Creating A Culture of Innovation" on-line this morning, I was reminded of some of the reasons I do what I do.  Really, it boils down to one thing - I love it.  And for me, when I'm doing something I love, it simply doesn't feel much like work. Ok sure, it's as nice as sipping a cup of coffee in parisien cafe on a spring afternoon, but it's good. It feeds the soul, it matters, and it's good.  Really good.


For me, it's about inspiring creativity and innovation in myself and others. I love new things, sharing insights (or rather, helping people see their OWN insights), and serving as a catalyst toward the bigger, better, shinier, faster, cheaper, disruptive, and world-changing.  It's like a secret superpower of sorts, as getting credit for the innovation is not nearly as important as helping it evolve.  


Am I lucky?  No, not really.  It's not rocket science, doesn't require decades of graduate school, or fancy equipment.  What it requires is finding out what really inspires you, and creating your work around that.  With some introspection, a truthful eye turned inward, and the courage to try something new, even if it seems outside your comfort zone, it's completely in your grasp.  Trust me. And if you want some help, I know *just* the person.  She loves this type of work, you see.