Podcast Summary
Paul Wheaton's presentation sparks growth for CRFG and local permaculture community: A single educational event can lead to significant growth and collaborations within the permaculture community
Attending a permaculture presentation by Paul Wheaton in North County San Diego in 2012 was a pivotal moment for the local CRFG chapter and the permaculture community. This event marked the beginning of Paul's introduction to the area, leading to a friendship and future collaborations. The presentation inspired the CRFG chapter to explore bringing in bigger names for events and eventually led to the organization of a hugel culture workshop at Joey Delia's farm. This chain of events demonstrates the impact of a single educational event and the importance of building relationships within the permaculture community.
Considering needs and aspirations in collaboration: Collaborating by offering value beyond initial proposition can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. Consider the needs and aspirations of the other party for a successful and fulfilling collaboration.
Collaboration and offering value beyond the initial proposition can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes. In my case, I wanted to bring Paul Wheaton, a permaculture expert, to conduct a workshop. However, I was hesitant due to the travel costs and potential lost work. Instead, I proposed that Paul be the keynote speaker at a permaculture convergence, which provided him with a resume-boosting opportunity and additional value. This idea was a win-win situation as Paul agreed to do both the workshop and the keynote. This experience taught me the importance of considering the needs and aspirations of the other party in a collaboration, leading to a more successful and fulfilling outcome.
Encouragement from someone else can spark an idea: An endorsement can provide the motivation to bring an idea to life, but following through requires determination and action.
Sometimes, all it takes to bring an idea to life is a simple encouragement from someone else. However, following through on that idea requires determination and action. In this case, the speaker's immediate endorsement of the idea to put on a big conference was all the motivation needed to get started. But despite his enthusiasm, the organizer initially did nothing, until he was pressed for an update. Eventually, he took the risk and self-funded the event, securing high-profile speakers and making it a reality. Despite skepticism from others, he proved that it was possible to put on a successful event without external funding.
Personal growth and relationships from a loss-making event: Despite a financial loss, the event led to valuable lessons, new relationships, and a positive impact on others, making it worthwhile
While the event didn't yield a financial return, it led to significant personal growth, the formation of valuable relationships, and a positive impact on others. The speaker learned valuable lessons and built social capital, which proved to be worthwhile despite the financial loss and personal investment. Although the speaker won't be taking on another large-scale event with uncertain payoff, they are grateful for the experience and the opportunities it brought. Paul's email encouraging the speaker to use the momentum from the event to do "epic shit" served as a reminder to make the most of the situation and not let it go to waste.
Encountering a Mentor who Cared about Making a Difference: Unexpected mentors can inspire and support us in making a positive impact on people's lives, regardless of financial compensation.
Having the opportunity to make a significant impact on people's lives is an invaluable experience. This can come from unexpected sources and may not always come with financial compensation. The speaker's encounter with Paul served as a catalyst for influencing a large number of people in a positive way. Paul's belief in the cause and unwavering support, despite not being motivated by monetary gain, played a crucial role in the speaker's success. The speaker expresses gratitude for Paul's influence and mentorship, which helped him take risks and achieve something meaningful. In a world where many prioritize financial gain above all else, Paul stood out as someone who cared deeply about making a difference.
The power of a mentor's support and encouragement: A mentor's belief and guidance can ignite personal passions and drive us towards achieving great things.
The support and encouragement of others can be instrumental in igniting our own passions and driving us towards achieving great things. Four years ago today, on September 7, 2012, I had the rare opportunity to begin an epic journey, thanks to the guidance and belief of a mentor named Paul. His care for the long-term impact of his work and faith in my abilities gave me the push I needed to start the engine inside of me. Today, that engine is running full speed, and I wouldn't be here sharing my story without him. I am deeply grateful for his role in helping me get started, and I likely wouldn't be having this conversation with you if it weren't for him. So, I'd like to take a moment to express my thanks to Paul for his invaluable support and encouragement. Remember, be nice, be thankful, and do the work.
