Sunday Open Thread – May 13, 2007

Just about the same as last week’s list — got sidetracked last week on some heavy metaphysical and epistemological internal dialogue. Needed to think out loud, and thanks to all for your forbearance and guidance on that. Still feeling that something big is about to happen in my life — many synchronicities happening all last week and the week before. Have to slow down and enjoy the ride, or as Siona advised — breathe. Here’s what’s coming up:

Good Working Models of Social Networking: I mentioned last week that what’s missing in Web 2.0 are good working models, ‘templates’, forms, stories that we can use to sell the concept and to illustrate to the unfamiliar what is possible with these tools and methods. I’ve done some research on this, because I may be doing a presentation on this now in the fall, or perhaps even an ‘unconference’. I realize that such models and templates are very context-specific, but they’re still valuable, even to those who don’t share the context. We are capable of replicating success by analogy if we have a good story to work from. But when it comes to good working models of wikis and blogs in organizations, I’ve found very few good success stories, and some of the ones I’ve investigated are suspect. Maybe we need to get together and co-design some for each other?

Staying Well: Lately I’ve been asserting that we don’t do anything unless and until we must, even if it’s good for us. Need that scare to get religion, and all that. Since I’m doing some work in emergency preparedness these days, this is a problematic point of view. It’s a challenge as well when you have a chronic disease you’re trying to determine the cause of and cure for, and are otherwise telling yourself and others of the importance of staying well because of all the important work we have to do (among other reasons). How do we take the steps needed to stay healthy (physically and mentally) when it’s not in our nature to be preemptive?

Blog-Hosted Conversations: Still planning on making my first few podcasts really focused on the subjects that intersect on this blog, and planning the way forward with readers who are where I am:

• Let-Self-Change: Acquiring the skills, capacities and resilience we need as individuals to be able to contribute effectively to making the world a better place
• Finding People: Instead of trying to do important things alone, finding the people whose passions and gifts complement our own, and who share our sense of purpose.
• What Do We Do?: Deciding what’s possible, how we can contribute, how and when to act instead of just writing and thinking, to show instead of telling, to be a model for others.
• Creating Natural Enterprise versus Walking Away: The role of work in a world where work seems to be part of the problem.

As I think about it, most of the important conversations I’ve had in the last few years have really been about these subjects.

I’ve received some great suggestions on BHC’s over the past week, and I’m still looking for more, including the best editing tool for sound recordings. What have your important conversations been about thesedays?