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#SXSWi pt 2: People Are Human

By on April 1, 2010 in Events and Adventures

This post started out as a post-sxsw rant. Against how some people got big as a result of being in the right place at the right time but are not really going anywhere, so now they have that defensive “look how cool I am and how many big A-lister names I can drop” thing going on. Ick.

And then it changed into a post-sxsw worry. About how people are lonely. Left out of the VIP room. Buried in their iPhone instead of engaging. About how people are wandering the halls looking for connection and instead just finding pitches and panels and Zone bars.

And then it changed into a post-sxsw love fest. Rejoicing in how the profound parts of sxsw don’t happen in the seminar room, they happen in coffee houses and margarita bars and vege wrap restaurants. Sitting on the floor of the hallway sharing a powerstrip or hanging out with someone on the corner of 8th and Congress.

But now, two weeks after sxsw, I realized what is post is about. What sxsw is about. What my business is about.

People are terrible. They are full of bullsh*t and fear and think they need to cut others down to keep themselves from going backwards.

People are lonely. They are full of worry and stress and think they might be the only one who feels this way.

People are amazing. They are full of joy and sharing and think that we are capable of changing the world if we just all come together and help each other fulfill our purposes.

Bottom line – people are human.

We are capable of anything. Of causing great pain to others and ourselves. Of withdrawing and hiding our brilliance from the world. Of caring and courage and deep, intimate connections to each other and the beyond.

And that is why I started my business.

Why I have not quit. Why I’m going to keep doing this, maybe for as long as I’m on this earth with you.

Because I can never be finished with people.

There are six billion of us, chaotic and mysterious and changing every day. And unlike all of the other things that I have studied – mathematics, chemistry, environmental studies, law, finance – people (which is what business & marketing is all about), well, I’ll never be done. I’ll never have mastered how people work.

So instead of a rant, or a worry, or a love fest … I forgive those who are being lame out of fear. I’m developing new programs & events to help those who have lost faith. And, I’m so freaking excited to come together with those who want to make a difference with each other, and the world.

So perhaps instead of concluding how terrible, helpless, or awesome people are, instead of concluding anything, let’s rejoice in how infinitely complicated we are. How we are capable of everything.

And … let’s get started on the awesome parts of everything, shall we?

(photo of me, @unmarketing, @nummiesbras & @couchsurfingori at Techkaraoke, courtesy of Pinqued)

Related posts:

  1. #SXSWi pt 1: Unconsummated Fangirl Stalking of @gapingvoid
  2. The “Tell Me More” Project: How to Make Human Connections in a Digital World
  3. The Three People You Meet in the Woods
  4. People Don’t Buy Stuff From Videos. They Buy You.
  5. Yet More Evidence That People Are Awesome.

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  • http://rawfoodswitch.com Nathalie Lussier

    Aww… I felt all of those same emotions during “post-SXSW” return home. I still can't get over how much it feels like you're writing for me, and nobody else. ;) I guess that's what happens when you write for yourself, it really resonates.

    I couldn't agree more. We're human. Not robots, not saints, and not soulless. We're all on this journey together, and sometimes we do silly things, sometimes we're on target, and we're all figuring it out as we go.

    Love love love this post Elizabeth, you rock! :)

  • Alison Kramer

    I love that we are all complicated and combinations of many different things. No one is just this, or just that. In fact, it is that collection of stuff that makes us all unique and amazing.
    I also think that people are mirrors. And how we perceive others is also about who we are and how these individuals make us feel about ourselves.
    i don't see a lot of absolutes. Even in the greatest worry, harshest rant, or blissful love fest, there are still other things at work. The best stuff is often less obvious.
    Great post

  • http://monicahamburg.wordpress.com/ Monica Hamburg

    Well put. I wasn't at SXSW but I certainly understand your points. I love people – overall… But. yes, we are fallible and act (“predictably”) irrationally and some are… difficult.

    And, yes, we are lonely as a society. And loneliness is a terrible, unnecessary thing when there are so many of us around. And yet so few times that people really engage and make an effort to connect.

    But, again, when we do… So beautiful…

  • http://themarketingmark.blogspot.com MarkSherrick

    Definitely. Everyone is awesome in their own way. A lot of us just don't know that yet, that's all.

  • http://www.taru.com Taru Fisher

    Elizabeth – this is one of my favorite posts of all times. Bravo! Power to the people, all of them, the good, the bad, and the ugly–and all the rest of us non-separate human beings who are all in this together.

  • http://lisamariemary.com/blog/ lisamariemary

    Yep – I am all those things! And I've alternately been all of them at different conferences – or any gathering, really. A dear friend added me to her 'worldchangers' list and told me about it just yesterday. That really soothed the terrible, lonely part of me and helped to nurture the amazing part of me. And this post soothes and nurtures, as well – as it just faces the what of what we are. Such a refreshing way to look at what was experienced in Austin. Totally refreshing.

  • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

    I agree. When I'm being critical of someone, many times it's my worst fear about myself that I'm finding in that person.

  • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

    And as an introvert, social media was the thing that connected me to people. It's so hard for me to make initial intimate connections in real life … but by figuring out who I resonate w/ virtually, then when I make an in real life connection w/ that person, I trust them enough to let it get real much faster. :)

  • JackiYo

    “So perhaps instead of concluding how terrible, helpless, or awesome people are, instead of concluding anything, let’s rejoice in how infinitely complicated we are. How we are capable of everything.”

    LOVE that. We do tend to label someone as an ass or awesome, don't we? We're all both. We all rock and we all suck.

    Keep up the awesome, Elizabeth. :)

  • lipdesign

    Simply. Brilliant. #thatisall

  • http://www.sheilasguide.com/ Sheila Scarborough

    Awww, man, I missed meeting @couchsurfingori there? :)

  • http://www.taru.com Taru Fisher

    Elizabeth – this is one of my favorite posts of all times. Bravo! Power to the people, all of them, the good, the bad, and the ugly–and all the rest of us non-separate human beings who are all in this together.

  • randomshelly

    Great picture and post. Think you hit on all the points… people do suck and people are awesome. Key is to get rid of those that suck and keep those that make us be who we want to be :)