Note: This is a post about political discourse not about political ideologies.
I’ve always been interested it in politics. I’m sure a lot of that stems from all the great time that I spent with my dad growing up, when he worked for various politicians within the Michigan legislature. I remember, when I was as young as 8, going door to door to pass out fliers for a political candidate.
I remember when I came to Washington, DC when I was in 8th grade for a Promise Keepers conference. I remember being in awe of all the austere buildings and the powerful men and woman that worked in them to make our country as great as it is.
It’s kind of ironic that I now live inside the Beltway, inside Washington DC, and a stones throw from the Capitol Building. (Well maybe it’s a bit more than a stones throw but I can see the Capitol Building out the window of my apartment.) Plus I don’t work in politics, like I would have originally thought when I was a youngin’. I work in technology.
While I’m still very interested in politics, I grow exceedingly frustrated with the level of political discourse that I hear day in and day out coming out of the hallowed halls and from the political mainstream and even Internet media. At times, it feels akin to baboons throwing feces or baboons thumping their chests, while they wait for the rest of the animals in the jungle to acknowledge how they are the greatest in all the land.
Instead of hearing true discussion of the ideas, with the goal of coming to the outcome to best serve the American people, politics is more how can someone craft a strategy which will allow them to best their opponents and ride back to their districts on white horses so that they can preserve their powerful positions for as long as humanly possible. It seems like politicians only really care about listening when it comes time for them to get re-elected.
Granted, I realize that I’m making broad generalizations. I’m sure there are politicians across the country whom really care about actual governing and whom thrive on the what their constituents have to say. These are just my general feelings after 25 years of life.
Tonight, I went a bookstore in Northern Washington, DC to see Joe & Mika from MSNBC’s morning television news show Morning Joe. Mika was out promoting her new book. I’m drawn so much to their show because I feel like it’s the only political show that doesn’t make me feel stupider for having watched it. I don’t feel like it’s trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator. There are smart guests and thoughtful discussion from all the parties. While there may be heated discussions over times, it’s always in the spirit of wanting to work together and flesh out the best way to look at the issue.
It was interesting at the talk/book signing that Joe and Mika were doing. You’d think that with Joe taking more of the “first chair” on the show and him being a Conservative Republican that the bookstore would have been teeming with Republicans. It was actually almost the opposite. My buddy Shaun and I were some of the only Republicans in the room. I think the popularity of the show amongst both sides of the aisle shows that the desire for thoughtful discourse is something that transcends political party.
My only beef with the television show Morning Joe is, what am I supposed to do after the show is over at 9am? Television is great but it’s only a one way medium. I can’t have that conversation back with the people on the set of Morning Joe.
There needs to be some type of grassroots organization that’s built to help extend and promote these type of thoughtful conversations between people that want to see progress in this country. I guess maybe it’s why I ultimately moved away from a career in politics to that of technology, entrepreneurship, and working at a start-up. Entrepreneurs look to how they can work together and solve problems.
The thoughtful and intellectual conversations that I had around the tables of coffeehouses and out in the quad, while I was at university, were amazing and some of the best experiences of my life. Now that I’m out in the world, working, and trying to find my way, where and how can I find the community that wants to find and discuss ways to move forward and then actually go out and pursue them?
So, it’s the beginning of 2010. In the past, I’ve done a lot of thinking about setting goals for myself for what I want to do for the year ahead. It’s something that I thought I’d give a whirl again this year. It forces me to think about where I’ve been, where I am now, and where I want to be over the course of the next year.
Here are some of the things that I resolve to do in 2010.
1. Run at least 5 times per week.
One of the most important things that I did in 2009 was getting in the habit of running regularly (Thanks Kat!). I’ve always been interested in sports and physical activity but, until this point, I’d never found something that fit for me. In 2009, I ran two 5k’s and a 10k.
I’d love to say that in 2010 that I’ll run the New York Marathon but I don’t want to set goals that I’m not going to accomplish. Heh. My goal is to run at least 5 times per week. I also want to run a lot of races. I’ve entered in the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Race in April. I want to do a couple more 10 mile races in 2010.
Did you know that you can follow my running?
2. Get a book deal.
Over the last few years, I’ve gotten a front row seat to see how the role of a Community Manager within an organization can help improve how well the organization is able to get its message out and better serve its customers. Recently, I’ve gotten comments from a few people I trust that I should write a book that shares my insights and experiences as being a community manager, as well as taps into some of the insights of some of my brothers-in-arms. This is something that I’d like to pursue or figure out.
3. Cook a large meal at least twice per month.
I read about cooking. I write about cooking. I eat other people’s cooking. I do some cooking but this year I want to do A LOT more. I’ve picked up and been given a couple of great cookbooks that I really want to work my way through. I figure it’d be a great opportunity to bring friends over to my home. If you want to read about my culinary adventures, check out my food blog, Justin Loves Food.
4. Write every week in each of my blogs, Oatmeal Stout (this one) and Justin Loves Food.
All too often, life can get away from me. I find that it’s been a long time since I’ve written in either of my two blogs. I can’t let this happen in 2010. For me, blogging and writing in general is when I slow down to reflect and think about what’s going on. The act of putting my thoughts down helps me to articulate what’s going on in my head. When I don’t write, I find that I’m less clear about what I want to do.
5. Drop 30 pounds.
Isn’t this everyone’s favorite New Year’s resolution that they never do? I really need to do this. It’s not that I don’t exercise. (See resolution #1.) It’s more that I don’t eat healthy enough. I have a subscription to the online version of Weight Watchers with the point system. I really need to use it. I’d love to be in the position where the next time I go to the doctors that he’s like “daaaang”, in a good way.
6. Go on at least one trip every month.
Traveling is such a part of who I am. I don’t want to move away from Washington, DC. I love Washington, DC but I love seeing different parts of the country and I’d love to see other parts of the world. Whether it’s for work or it’s personal, I want to go on at least one trip every month. I especially wanna focus on places that I’ve never been before or that I haven’t spent a lot of time. It was really fun last year to go to the Pacific Northwest (Portland and Seattle.)
7. Take a one week vacation, where I am completely disconnected from the world.
I wanna go on a trip this year where I’m completely cut off from the Web. I want to have our ops guys forward all of my e-mail to someone else. I wanna go study the art of pasta sauce making in Italy or go crush grapes in Bordeaux, France. I need to re-energize so that I’m ready for this new decade. It’d probably good to do this sooner rather then later. It’s been too long since I’ve given myself some serious time off.
8. Become a better writer.
Writing is SUCH a part of who I am and what I do everyday. It’s something that I really want to excel at. I think I do okay now but I could get a lot better, especially since I aspire to write a book. (See resolution #2.) I need to firm this goal up some more so that it’s more measurable. There has to be a way to tell if I was successful at it. Like I need to find someone who can help me become a better writer.
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What are your resolutions for 2010?
This weekend, a friend of mine invited me to her Halloween party that her and all of her housemates were throwing. Parties are always a blast. For me it’s always fun when you get to hang out with cool folks in a relaxed setting but I think there is always a certain slight level of nervousness when you go to a party and you only know one person really well.
At this party, I got to spend time with my friend, which was great, but I also got to spend some time with her roommates and her roommates friends, which was great too. They were all super chill and welcomed me into the group like I was a member of the family.
This was a huge blessing for me, partially because of the fact that it had been a long week and it was good to have some time to just relax with cool folks but it was also a reminder to myself that as I walk through life that I don’t walk so fast that I miss out on all the great people who are around me. There are so many great opportunities to show real unconditional love and be a blessing to the folks that you interact with.
A lot of my day-to-day is interacting with customers or planning how we’re going to do so. This notion of unconditional love or treating customers like they’re a part of your company… part of your family is an important part of being successful. As my friend Mike McDerment put it, customer service is an opportunity not just a cost center. When you approach your customers in this way, that’s when you create the experience that makes them want to come back. That’s when the customer wants to tell their friends. That’s when your customers will go out-of-the-way to help you however they can.
I travel a lot for work. I’ve become very familiar with a lot of hotels and airports across the country. I’ve already been quite outspoken about how much The Kimpton Hotel chain has gone out of their way to show that as a customer I’m very important to them.
But this isn’t just something that you do in the office and then you give up in every other aspect of your life. Love should be something that permeates every aspect of your lifestyle.
Speaking of my travel, similar circumstances to the Halloween party story, when I travel I’ll often only know one person where I’m going or not even know anyone. There’s a certain level of scariness or uncertainty to that.
But I’ve been amazed that as I’ve traveled to places like for example San Francisco, Austin, or Seattle that I’ve been greeted so warmly by people who are total strangers. The various tech folks in the tech communities have just included me as a part of the gang. They’ll invite me to hang out, like I’m someone who’s been living in that town for the last 10-15 years.
You can’t help but leave that town with a sense of excitement and happiness. You leave with a new set of close friends that you didn’t have when you came.
Can you relate to what I’m saying? When it happens to you, it has a pretty profound impact. I guess when it doesn’t happen, when you don’t know anyone at the party and everyone’s a jerk that would have a pretty profound impact on you as well. I’ve definitely had those experiences as well.
What do you think? Have stories to share?
Over the weekend, I attended Public Media Camp and really learned about all the things that public media groups like NPR and PBS offer. For whatever reason, despite the fact that I have a lot of friends that are die-hard NPR fan, it’s really never anything that I got into.
I’ve dabbled with “This American Life” but that’s it.
So… what shows would you recommend to a NPR newbie?
My dad is a communicator. He’s been everything from a speech writer to a journalist and worked in a lot of different situations where he’s had to get a message across. One of our favorite things to do, usually while drinking many cups of coffee and beer now that I’m older, is talk about the good practices in communicating a message.
One consistent thing that’s always come up, whether it’s been talking about a good article or the sermon we heard on Sunday, is whether they included what we’d call a “so what.” There needs to be some application. You need to tell people why what you’re saying or doing is applicable to their lives otherwise they’ll feel really disconnected and not pay attention.
It’s definitely something that I think a lot about and try to do as I communicate the various messages that I’m trying to get across.
Maybe this is a function of the place that I’m at in my life but I’ve also been thinking a lot about my “so what.” Why am what I doing that is important, applicable, and of interest to the rest of man kind? How am I making a contribution to our collective well being? I want to be doing something that matters.
I work in the world of technology, specifically things like online communities and social networks, which seem like they can all too often get pigeon-holed as frivolous or banal. People have this perception of social networks as this place where people waste time by sharing videos of cats. Yes, that does happen but there’s so much more to it.
We’re helping people use technology to be more transparent about what’s going on in their lives with the hope that this will help them connect, form relationships, and communities that encourage development and advancement of these ideas and each other.
I know you’re thinking to yourself. ”Yes Justin. That’s nice but how does that play out in a practical way?”
Let’s take my running as example. By using to technology to help to start to be more transparent about my struggle with my physical fitness and my running, I’ve been able to connect with all kinds of people who’re at different stages of the process who’ve been a HUGE blessing to me or I’ve been able to be a blessing to. We’ve been able to form this community.
In America, well maybe just in Washington DC, we’re having this huge dialog about the state of health care. Preventive care and how you can keep yourself from getting sick is a big part of this. What would happen if were open about our physical and mental health, looked out for each other, and encouraged each other, like my experiences with running? Maybe we’d be healthier and not be having the same problems, which cost so much money later in our lives.
Yes you can take it too far but I do feel like there is this great tremendous benefit from the connections you make by putting yourself and what you’re doing out there.
I feel like a big part of my “so what” is helping to facilitate that. It’s helping to connect people together so that they can share the enjoyed benefit of living life together.
I’ve been really blessed to find a job where not only the position is about helping to foster community and building relationships but the product is about helping people to share and connect together over the things that they find interesting.
Have you had that “aha” moment about your purpose or your “so what”? If so, what has it been for you and how are you playing it out?
About a month ago, my really good friend Kat asked if I wanted to join her and some friends in running the Army 10 mile race here in Washington, DC. I laughed because it feels like the last time that I ran was in middle school when I ran the mile for the President’s Physical Fitness Award challenge.
We talked and agreed that a 5k might be more my speed considering that I am such the running nube. So… I signed up for a 5k that’s at the end of October.
All of a sudden it hit me. I actually had to start running. Hahaha…
After going out a couple of times, I realized that I wanted something that’d help me track my progress. I had heard about the iPhone app RunKeeper. There was a free version so I thought I’d give it a try.
RunKeeper uses the iPhone’s GPS to track your route on a map, your speed, minutes per mile, and all kinds of other data goodies. When you’re done with your run, you just hit “Save Trip” and it will upload all of the data to the Web and you can check out all the details on their Web site. It’s great.
For me, the best feature by far has been that you can share your run with your friends. They use Facebook Connect and Twitter Connect so that the run can be automatically posted to these sites. They use AddThis for sharing to everywhere else. :-) (Disclosure: I work on AddThis.)
By sharing my runs with my friends, I ended up finding myself amidst a number of different communities, all of which were SUPER supportive of what I was doing…
One was existing runners. All of a sudden, all of my friends who actively run came out and were talking with me about techniques, tips, and tricks. It’s awesome.
Secondly, I’ve met all kinds of folks who like me may not be at their peak of physical fitness and had thought about running but had never had the encouragement to do it. By sharing my journey with running with the world, I’ve been able to be an encouragement to those who wouldn’t have otherwise run. It’s pretty cool.
As demonstrated by the movie We Live In Public, putting your life online can go too far and be detrimental. I think my experiences with putting my running journey online shows the positives of living in public. It helps us to connect and form community with like minded people. That community been a source of great encouragement and motivation for me and I’ve been able to help be an encouragement and motivation for others.
I definitely believe that part of being human is that you live in community with others. How much better would the world be if we were honest with those in our community about where we struggle. It would show us all the great opportunities we have to lift each other up.
So… we have all these great tools like blogs, Twitter, and Facebook at our disposal. They allow us to build these large communities around our thoughts and ideas which is amazing.
What’s the best book that shows you how to use these tools to build that community?
We have plenty of books on the phenomenon of social media and what it brings to the table. We have lots of books on how to use social media. What are the best books on how to use the books to build community?
I want it to talk about things like…
- being a community manager/should i hire one
- finding your community members or ideal community members
- getting to know your community members
- loving your community
- growing your community
- measuring the effects of your community
Is there a book that covers these topics?
I’ve been having these amazing conversations with all these friends who aren’t in tech. They are filmmakers, pastors, authors, and musicians. They want to use these tools to build community and I want to hand them something which is going to help point them in the right direction.
Part of my brain says, “Justin, you should write this book.”
Feels like I’ve been cruising through a lot of books lately. I’m reading The Waiter Rant right now. Prior to that, I was reading As We Forgive, Ignore Everybody, and The Last Best Hope.
Every time, by the end of the book, I’d leave with the same feeling. I was pumped. The book got me feeling passionate about some issue. Inevitably, I’d ask myself, “now what?”
Media, especially books, have this ability to catalyze people to action. Every time someone puts down a book, walks out of a movie theater, listens to a CD, or reads a blog post, there is an opportunity. If people like what they saw, they’ll be like “give me some more of where that came from” or “how do I continue the conversation?”
All too often there’s nothing.
I don’t know where you all stand politicly but I conservatively minded when it comes to politics and have been incredibly frustrated with the current state of the Republican party. When I read Joe Scarborough’s book The Last Best Hope, I was pumped. I wanted to find other people who espoused these same values so that we could come together and get something done. But there was nothing.
I’ve been a long time fan of the band Iron & Wine. I’ve bought just about every CD they’ve produced. If they came to the DC area in concert, I’d probably be there front row. Here’s the kicker. They did come to the DC area and I didn’t know about. After the many CDs that I’ve purchased, there has never been a way to tap in for more.
I don’t know about everyone else but when I find media I like, I don’t just want this singular experience. I want some more. I wanna connect with people who are just as excited as I am.
Everyone makes it so stinking hard.
“Shake the Dust” is a pretty outstanding poem by Anis Mojgani. Watch it right now…
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about shaking the dust. Feels too often we just settle. We get excited by the “shiny objects” and we forget what we’re really here to do. (This is definitely a topic that I want to write about more.)
How have you been shaking the dust?
