Comments on: What Do You Spend Your Time On?

By: Brian Driggs

Brian Driggs — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:42:54 +0000

I think it comes down to your beliefs. You have to be doing something in which you truly believe. Your passion for the work to be done will translate and spread as a result.

We should focus on doing things right and communicating the importance of why we do what we do. In this way, we offer opportunities for others to understand where we’re coming from and maybe light the fire for them to help us. To have growth and numbers as the main concern is counter productive. We have to be the changes we want to see in our communities.

By: Bully

Bully — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:26:34 +0000

Aside from the touching, your endeavors and example have helped create the projects I work on today in Central Phoenix. My sincere hope is to facilitate people producing work that they can be proud of and educating others to do the same.

The word ‘community’ is thrown around a lot with the connotation that connectedness is the goal. Knowing who your peers and compatriots are is only the first step. Finding the ways that you can work together and make differences in your lives is the next one.

The non-poetic way to say it is that I hope we can come together to teach a few; to teach a hundred; to teach thousands; that we are responsible for the world we live in and the others who inhabit it.

By: Derek Neighbors

Derek Neighbors — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:17:10 +0000

I think that it’s important that we realize the size of the creative class because it means when united we have a voice to make a real impact. Here I am saying that trying to address the largest audience all at once, isn’t the greatest way to make change, but rather impacting people in a way that encourages them to impact people. No I did not swear much or at all when I was representing various churches.

By: Ben Atkin

Ben Atkin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:11:44 +0000

I think it helps if there’s something in it for the person who helps others besides a good feeling, gratitude, and social capital. How about solving a problem?

People (including myself) complain about people doing a certain thing not being in their area. I’m going to ask them (including myself) two questions:

1) If they moved to a place that had people who were doing X, would these people hang out with them?

Maybe they’re not really as interested in X as they claim to be, or they’re using not having people who are also interested in X around as an excuse. I am guilty of this.

2) Are they really trying to get people interested in doing X?

Of course they might not have time, and if so, I understand. But perhaps if they looked for people who are interested in something different, but related (e. g. JRuby for Ruby), offering one-on-one or small-group help might help get people interested in X.

By: Brandon Franklin

Brandon Franklin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:46:34 +0000

To me, the view you espouse here runs somewhat counter to the earlier post(s?) about growing/expanding reach into more of the “creative class”. I honestly view that effort as somewhat pointless, for the same reasons you’ve identified here: Rather than focusing on “growing the reach” and “including more people” I think it’d be more valuable to focus on just doing really awesome stuff, and the “reach” will take care of itself as a result.

Did you curse as much back when you were a pastor?

By: Ben Sweaney

Ben Sweaney — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:43:56 +0000

Props for looking at things with some perspective.