Comments on: Synergies do matter

By: Synergy - an undervalued idea « flowing motion

Synergy - an undervalued idea « flowing motion — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:23:00 +0000

[...] I like but do we have a better word for describing productive interaction between people? Alex from alwaysnewmistakes writes on how essential synergy is to doing well. Yeah. What a great post contrasting Venice in the [...]

By: Hope and the great chasm « flowing motion

Hope and the great chasm « flowing motion — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:49:18 +0000

[...] 2008 in coaching, hope, poetry, positive psychology Tags: boids, David Whyte, Sun Tzu Alex from alwaysnewmistakes asks whether hope is responsible to achieving more than we think we are [...]

By: Danielle

Danielle — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:16:20 +0000

I was thinking about this post again the other day, and I remembered what you said about how the music we make isn’t as complicated or of as much quality anymore. I wanted to point out that it may seem that previous siglos had, on the whole, better quality music. However, I’m sure that even the 1600s had their share of Britney Spearses and bar and pub jingles, but the only stuff that survived was the good stuff. Does that make sense? In 200 years, no one’s going to care about the people today that don’t actually have talent.

By: Alex Barrera

Alex Barrera — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:40:12 +0000

Don’t worry, I’m sure my writings have a lot more

Very nice analysis of the Bay Area. You are right about the pompous and snob attitude some people have in the Valley. That’s a reason I said the Bay Area isn’t the best place in the world. But as you point out, synergies there make it worth it (at least for me ).

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:36:29 +0000

There are typos in my comment and now I can’t change them. P

By: Danielle

Danielle — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:32:02 +0000

Oh, the Bay Area. I believe we’ve had this conversation before; you’re absolutely right that an environment of intelligent people promotes intelligence. There are plenty of people in smaller towns and less productive areas that have people with the potential to be smart and inventive but without the supportive environment. I really believe that our desire for approval is at a very local level, and also that people often feel threatened with someone around them is getting “too big for his britches,” as my grandmother would say.
However, you do point out that this synergy is hard to attain, and after being away from the Bay Area for a while, what I miss the least is the self-righteousness. My god, some of those people up there can be so pompous! They’re smart, and environmentally advanced, and often the state’s leader in both technology and progressive lawmaking, and boy, do they know it. I don’t miss hearing the judgmental “What? You didn’t buy the organic, free-range chicken breast? Don’t you know that factory chickens are a part of the evil corporate farming system?” as one small, mostly-unrelated example.
But I do miss the way this strange subculture accepts any crazy idea you have and runs with it. You’re free to have the most unrealistic, idealistic, boundless conversations with people, expressing your deep-down ideas and emotions, and people listen. And share. And the world needs more of that.

By: Alex Barrera

Alex Barrera — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:49:51 +0000

Hi Jonás!
I’m very glad you liked the post Didn’t know you had been in Palo Alto. Nice! We should hook up sometime this week to talk. Coming to the Beers&Blogs on Wednesday?

By: Jonas Andradas

Jonas Andradas — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:45:11 +0000

I am glad you wrote this post, since the biggest synergy I have felt has been while I lived in Palo Alto and visited Stanford a lot, about 10 years ago.

I would love to have the opportunity to go back there and try to regain those links and conversations.

Moreover, I wouldn’t have explained so well how talking and being surrounded with people with much higher views and, as you say, smarter, boosts your own capacity.