Collaboration Enables Revolution

Although our guest speaker, Yong Lee couldn't make it today (he was sick!), Andi and Mr. Howard Rheingold (via TED) did a great job covering. Andi actually has worked with Mr. Lee on a few occasions, so she had a good idea about what Mr. Yong wanted us to learn--collaboration!

Rheingold stressed that succeeding has gone from situations with "winners and losers" to situations where "everyone's a winner!" There is a new rise of cooperation going on in societies today. Companies, entrepreneurs, and even every-day people are beginning to see the benefits of collaboration and of certain kinds of sharing (whether it be ideas, techniques)--even if it also benefits their competitors! Apparently, Toyota is training their factory workers in their manufacturing factories to be better, even though those workers also make parts for competing businesses. What surprised me was that people and nature have the tendency to cooperate and collaborate; self-interest is not always the dominant drive in life! People are starting to act in ways that benefit not only themselves but people around them too! With this collaborative outlook on life, I can only imagine the ripple effect on society--so many more people can benefit from great ideas and, hopefully, the positive effects of these ideas. Rheingold pointed out the many social, religious, political, and scientific revolutions that came about after printing press provided everyone (even the commoners) access to the written language and the ideas expressed through it. According to Rheingold, an individual's PC is today's printing press spreading ideas to the masses and a springboard for revolutions.

In addition to great ideas being spread all around society, collaboration often results in better ideas. Andi made a great point when she said that we block so many other brilliant ideas when we don't share our ideas with others--two heads are better than one, so millions of heads have to be better than two, right? In order to do this, however, we need to learn to trust. We have to believe in the good in people. Although this may sound a little utopian-esque, it's true. We shouldn't stunt the potential magnitude of the idea just because we are scared someone else is going to take credit for it! With the internet, infinite numbers of people can have access to your thoughts and ideas, but so what?! Take advantage of those millions of people for fresh ideas and perspectives that you would never think of! That's what social networking is all about-- meeting people and exchanging ideas faster than ever before.

Andi and Rheingold (and probably Mr. Lee too) are strong advocates of this new collaborative communication that is emerging with the rise of the internet and social networks. Andi gave some helpful sites to help with some collaborations. Just a few examples: Facebook (using threads and status), LinkedIn (where you can ask questions and have professional answer them), and IDEO (where you can post and respond using videos). They are available for your use; you might as well use it! Who knows? You might just start the next revolution!