Tuesday, October 29, 2013

I Want to Live in That World

Fachapatoto posted a photograph on facebook of a man done up as Frida Kahlo.  His beauty startled me – a perfect blend of masculine and feminine.  ‘I want to walk down streets with the likes of him walking towards me,’ I thought. ‘I want to live in that world.’  And as soon as I had that thought, I realized I AM living in that world. I am seeing something different and inspiring everywhere I go.  I’m aware of so many people breaking free from the herd.  Incredible changes in identity, ideas coming quickly into manifestation, the old order of things falling away.  Interestingly, where I’m seeing a lot of this is through my adventure in crowdfunding.  For anyone new to the concept, crowdfunding is where a large amount of people contribute small amounts of money in return for ‘perks’ and the opportunity to participate in the manifestation of an idea. 

When crowdfunding was suggested to me as a way to publish the Steps, I dismissed it out of hand.  I didn’t know much about it.  I’d heard Kickstarter referred to as a virtual begging bowl and maybe that image stuck with me.  I didn’t give it too much thought.  Then two women, one from New York and the other in New Zealand, sent me a link to Amanda Palmer’s TED talk – The Art of Asking.  It compelled me to investigate crowdfunding.  And I have to say, it’s been pleasantly surprising. Apart from creating an opportunity for my own project, it’s opened up a whole new world of ideas and people taking action that I didn’t even know existed.  It levels the playing field, so people aren’t hampered by the need to prove ROI or sign away their life to compound interest in order to get a vision from an idea to a physical reality. It’s a place where people support each other to try new things, where one is allowed to fail without having to feel indebted. 

Anything you can think of, someone is trying to get it funded on one of the many online crowdfunding platforms.  I love these sandalwood watches a young woman in Florida has been able to make.  I’ve seen amazing innovations in education and just plain heartfelt campaigns to fund medical bills or a mother’s funeral.  There are mind-boggling innovators, like these young engineers in Missoula, Montana developing an affordable 3D printer.  I even found funk legend Bootsy Collins looking to fund his iGiveAFunk Tour.  It’s a whole new way of doing business.  I recommend cruising around some crowdfunding sites to see what’s possible when we all share our resources.  This could be the new world. xox