New Things.
A little over a month ago, I left my full time job to explore new projects in the world of live experience --> an event or occasion in which a person is transformed by something not online, but in real life. That’s my definition, anyway. My career has been built around this idea, and there has been a lot of research lately that assigns experiences over things as the basis for a happy life.
People have called me an experience designer, a producer, a programmer, a “fixer”. However you describe it, the programs I create are based on how someone will feel during the event, whatever it is; and who they will be when it’s over. Because it’s a lot to ask of someone - come spend an evening, a day, three days with me. Life is short, time is valuable, so the experience needs to be meaningful and rich.
My new thing is the Lean Startup conference. I’ve taken on the role of editorial director for the 2015 event, and the job is to program the speakers and sessions for the conference. Suddenly I’m surrounded by a world of smart, brave people who are changing business, government, education, and healthcare. The Lean Startup community has a unique, buzzy energy that makes the work feel more like programming a rock concert than, well... a conference. It’s humbling, energizing, and transformative.
A pretty good place from which to start something new.
