Saturday, July 28, 2012

What's Working



One of my writing and researching interests at the moment is to seek out what is working in the world. What I would like to do is find the small business ideas, emerging paradigms, changing mores, educational opportunities, that are already here and effective. My personal cosmology is that our intentions and focus create reality. I also believe that when we are doing what we are meant to do, our true purpose for being here, energy organizes and things begin to happen faster and faster. Sychronicities are more apparent, people enter our lives, doors open, life becomes magical.

Enter the newest social constructs to emerge - renting resources. Nightline did a segment on how people are realizing that they do not need to have things all to themselves. They are renting their cars, extra rooms, even clothes. At least two of the people interviewed in the segment, when asked why they would want to rent out such things, answered by saying that people no longer feel they have to be judged by what they own - therefore, ownership has lost some of its cache. They would rather rent a house than buy it - even if they are qualified and able for ownership. It is just not a big deal for them to own things outright. Whole businesses have been created around this concept. One company is estimated to be worth over a billion dollars. Someone recognized an emerging paradigm and ran with it.

Our friends were telling us about an app that allows you to get a ride anywhere in the San Francisco metro area for $8. It works the old fashioned way - trusting people. The drivers are everyday people that have been vetted by the company. The closest one to where you are calling will come pick you up. You are expected to pay $8. The driver rates you to the company - so if you do not pay, then the next time you call everyone will be too busy to pick you up. Pretty simple, really.

These new entrepreneurs are the wayshowers for the rest of us. Follow your passion, your innate abilities, let go of fear, have some fun! Above all, it is time to have some fun. What's working is us - we are working. We are finding ways to make lemonade out of lemons. We're evolving. Hand us a bad economy, and a banking/mega corporate system determined in their greed to own everything, and we will no longer want what they have to sell. Instead, we will follow a more sustainable path - we'll share!

And we'll make a living while we're doing it.

12 comments:

Brian Miller said...

this is really cool conceptually...esp with people working together to overcome...i wonder how long on the rides before the auto makers and insurance companies figure out a way to bust that up...

Nancy said...

Brian - Or find a way to capitalize on the idea themselves. But we have the ultimate power - we simply find another way around them.

Rob-bear said...

Creative people can think small and create something big. You don't need a million dollars, or even a bank loan. Just a useable idea, and some people who will share the vision.

Thanks for giving us the stories, Nancy.

Nancy said...

Rob-bear - Absolutely! And people are proving your theory works.

Leah J. Utas said...

I had no idea this was happening. Cool.

ds said...

Not so sure about the clothes renting (i'd rather donate mine), but the rest is wonderful. A challenge, a little imagination, and zoom, a new idea takes off.
Thanks for sharing this, nancy!

Linda Myers said...

We do home exchanging, and hosting overnighters. Then, when we travel, we see the world, meet the locals and spend much, much less than we would otherwise.

Amanda Summer said...

wonderful points, nancy. i am just re-reading lynne mctaggart's the field - similar sensibilities explored.

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Great post. It's fascinating to see how things are evolving, how these new paradigms are being born.

karen said...

I find this pretty amazing...also amazing is that the younger generation is already so in-tune with this idea. My son (24) used airbnb for his first 6 months living in San Francisco, as a way to both save money and find the best part of the city for him in which to at last land. He also used uber.com for the occasional need to be picked up taxi style, and zipcar.com for the occasional car rental he needed to drive to Palo Alto. You just drop in the cash/credit card and the key pops into your hand in the parking lot, and you drive away. I must admit that the west coast seems much farther ahead in these types of alternatives than here in the Midwest.
I like your thinking on this one...focusing on what is right...and moving us forward. Great post!

Nancy said...

Leah - I'm thrilled with the new "sharing economy."

ds - You're welcome. I agree with donating items to share. Someone gets a great price and the charity gets the donation. Win/win.

Linda - Wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing.

Amanda - She is a leader in the field of consciousness.

T&R- It really is happening!

Karen - The ingenuity and the desire for sustainable living by our young will change the world. One business at a time.

karen said...

Also wanted to mention ourgoods.org...for barter and exchange in more than just material goods. It's trying to make its way across the US...so far it's big in NY.