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65 Days till Mindcamp XI! Thursday to Sunday August 22-25, 2013
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First time here? Mindcamp is an annual creativity conference. This front page is a blog, so if you feel like you’re missing something, check out What is Mindcamp? to find out what the heck this is all about. Come here often? Add your email to “Read the Blog” (look in the right sidebar) to get an email every time we add a new blog entry, or Like us on Facebook to get updates in your feed.
Why are lions and tigers seen as separate species given that they have the ability of mating with each other and producing healthy offspring? Because they will only mate in a zoo, not in nature. The scientific explanation for this is referred to as ecological and behavioral reproductive isolation.* Knowing this has helped me understand why creative solutions to world-wide problems have yet to emerge: it’s because humans have evolved into different species that live, work and play in different sectors. New expressions of creativity are like healthy offspring and for this offspring to emerge diverse species of humans need to break out of their isolation. I recently facilitated such an experiment. Not at a zoo, but at the Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto. A group of feminist disability activists were joined by a group of corporate ideators. Their overall objective: To make a difference. The sparks in the air were visible long after the meeting had ended. Outside of the zoo-like setting I have seen expressions of distrust and disrespect between activists and corporate-minded people. The first see the corporate world as selfish, individualistic and immoral; and the second see the activists as idealists, old-fashioned commies or whiners. But when given the chance to interact with each other in an open-minded environment, the opportunities for creative thinking are quadrupled. However, open-mindedness is not easy to come by, neither is the kind of creativity that can change the world. Conclusion: if you are a lion, go play with some tigers and if you are a tiger, find some lions to challenge your thinking habits (mating optional). If you are ready to break the isolation in the human world then get in touch with Ginny Santos or check out her session at Mindcamp.
*Reproductive Isolation is the inability to exchange genetic information. Two types of organisms are reproductively isolated if they lack the ability to mate and produce healthy fertile offspring under natural conditions. Ecological isolation occurs when two species live in the same area but do not encounter each other because they exploit different portions of the same habitat. Behavioral isolation occurs when two species live in the same area but do not recognize each other as mates because of behavioral differences. — Evolution III: The Origin of Species.
“The seed cannot know what is going to happen, the seed has never known the flower. And the seed cannot even believe that he has the potentiality to become a beautiful flower. Long is the journey, and it is always safer not to go on that journey because unknown is the path, nothing is guaranteed. “Nothing can be guaranteed. Thousand and one are the hazards of the journey, many are the pitfalls — and the seed is secure, hidden inside a hard core. But the seed tries, it makes an effort; it drops the hard shell which is its security, it starts moving. Immediately the fight starts: the struggle with the soil, with the stones, with the rocks. And the seed was very hard and the sprout will be very, very soft and dangers will be many. “There was no danger for the seed, the seed could have survived for millennia, but for the sprout many are the dangers. But the sprout starts towards the unknown, towards the sun, towards the source of light, not knowing where, not knowing why. Great is the cross to be carried, but a dream possesses the seed and the seed moves. “The same is the path for man. It is arduous. Much courage will be needed.” Allie Middleton will offer Yoga & Meditation every morning at Mindcamp for early risers, as well as co-teaching SOAR: How to Sustain Outstanding & Articulate Resonance, as worlds collide, inside & out.
Of course Mindcamp is a great deal. Most conferences cost more, because they usually have paid staff to take care of participants and presenters. At Mindcamp, we just take care of one another (with Banana help of course). We like that model, and think it works well. However even our meagre prices are a hurdle for some. Thus we have established a Bursary Fund, and we raise money for it every year — you may have noticed the “ask” registration form. Money raised in this way goes toward registration subsidies for other Mindcampers. Over the years we have been able to welcome dozens of registrants who would not otherwise have been able to come: registrants who do not necessarily fit the socioeconomic profile of the “typical” Mindcamper. We think — no, we know — that the Bursary Fund helps us increase our social and economic diversity, and that an increase in diversity is an increase in value for everyone. This year we have had many subsidy applications, and would very much like to be able to cover them with donations. Please, if you haven’t yet given to the Bursary Fund, consider doing so. Even $25 will help. And even if you have given, consider giving a little more. by Tony Esteves Unexpected connections are happening around us at all times. I find this very exciting because to me it means that we are constantly surrounded with opportunities. What is an unexpected connection? I define it as an interaction with a person or group of people who unexpectedly give you a message, idea or contact that could be, or lead to an opportunity. Far too often we don’t take notice of these connections, or play with them to our benefit. But it is easy to do so if we take the time to be present, slow down a little and see what’s going on around us. The scary thing for some, is that this involves actually (gasp!) talking to real, live people!
Koch and Lockwood explain that there can be great power in actively connecting with these weak links to move your personal or professional life forward. Stating that, when you engage with a weak link you gain access to their entire world of resources and contacts. Their world might be totally different than yours and could therefore be bountiful with opportunity. Have you ever landed a job through a friend or an acquaintance that you did not know very well? It turns out that most of us have. Who are the weak links in your life? With today’s technology, the chances are good that you have hundreds of them. Old colleagues or classmates; that person who you spoke with while in line, or someone who you surprisingly felt comfortable speaking with at the mandatory office ‘social night’. I recently tested this while on a flight back from a conference last month in Florida with great results. I put down my book and started a conversation with the person who was sitting next to me. I had the intention of finding how this stranger and I could possibly help move each others lives forward. She is now a client of mine and is excited to help me build my career. Fantastic! Now that is the power of weak links! I’m not advocating stuffing your business card into every person’s hand that you meet. But I do recommend being more open to conversations with those people in your life who you wouldn’t normally take the time to speak with. Share your ideas and goals and ask questions. Listen. If you hear the statement, “Hey I know a person who…” when talking about what you do (or want to do), dig deeper. You might be amazed at what you learn.
Happy connecting. Tony Esteves is presenting Lead from Within: Serving up collaboration at Mindcamp 2013. |
 What Real World? with Steven Shama |
by 
Ginny Santos presents 
Submitted by 
At Mindcamp we want more: more kinds of people, that is. We want to be able to welcome people of a range of ages, backgrounds, professions, and from all walks of life, including those with little or no disposable income. 
The book Superconnect, by Richard Koch and Greg Lockwood, is about how networks operate and how we use them in our lives. They identify, “weak links” as the people on the periphery of our experience as opposed to, “strong links” – the people who know us very closely such partners, family members or immediate colleagues.
Invite these unexpected connections into your life by being courageous enough to make a human connection and see what happens. Such events have already shaped your life in many more ways than you know. Now that you are aware of them, why not see what opportunities you can help create?