Being an non-native speaker I did not not know the word “abundance” when I first came across The Abundance League. Human resources as opposed to natural resources, which we keep on exploiting day by day, are indeed abundant. They are just not very well distributed. In social network analysis, we talk about and are able to observe an interesting phenomenon,“homophily” (i.e. love of the same).
With regards to the exchange of resources, this means that people that already stick together are less likely to offer each other something they lack. This means that people in our immediate environment often share the same passions and interests, possess similar talents and convictions, and have access to the very same resources. A phenomena which is very much supported and reinforced by web 2.0 technologies. This morning I just had a discussion with Harald (Harold) Katzmair over breakfast in D.C. how web 2.0 applications very much combat what they wish to offer. Other than linking us with people who could enrich each other and bring something new and exiting to the table, stir creativeness and allow for diverse views these technologies guide us towards reinforcement of our ego and echo-chambers effects.
Abundance as I envisioned the word is bright, multicolored, overcooking with ideas and action, bouncing up and down with energy. A crazy lively marketplace in constant transition and motion, because everything is a valuable input for something else creating a new output, allowing for new needs and offers. Such a match is less likely to be found with the friend but exponentially more likely with the friend of a friend, or even a step beyond.
I hope for the Abundance League to bring together the friends’ of the friends’ of the friend’s talents, resources and ideas. Lets figure out how we can use the blog to exploit this very idea. There are enough blogs out there written for an audience met at work or dinner anyway. Lets find a way to expand it beyond our delicate circle and build a league, an army bigger than the one in Iraq.
Awesome post Doris. I love your description of abundance and the energy and vibrancy that goes with it. And for the bold vision, yes!
Great point!
How do we get those elusive friends of friends, whom we have often never met, to join us? It can simply start with each person bringing a friend, because each of our friends is the friend of a friend to (most) other people at our gatherings (both virtual and physical).
Luckily we are not so tightly-knit that we all know each other’s friends already. This is a tremendous strength!