I’m not going to lie: It’s hard for me to do new stuff, and it always has been. It’s hard to learn and get good at things. It’s hard to communicate my vision when the vision is strange and foreign to other people. It’s hard to invest time and resources in a cause that does not have an immediate payoff, and a cause that even offends some people. It’s hard to justify behaviors and priorities when people around you don’t understand them.
Entrepreneurs of all stripes (including social entrepreneurs–among whom I count myself) have these kinds of doubts all the time. What if they were to just stop doing what they are doing? Would anyone even notice?
An alternative concern; the big world may contain other people doing exactly what I’m doing, and maybe I just don’t know about it. Will they beat me to the punch? Will someone else realize my vision before me? Are my efforts duplicated and will my pride be hurt?
Today is an important day because a group of data workers and data scientists will assemble over a zoom call to start building LOT. After a year of thinking about it, It’s the first time I am actually asking others to help me fulfill the LOT vision.
I can’t give them much in return for their help. I can’t pay them for their time and effort. LOT does not even exist formally, and may not yet exist for several months. Even if it did exist, we haven’t raised any funds–and what funds we raise would probably go first towards paying for infrastructure–cloud hosting, website subscriptions, and so on.
On the other hand, I can give them plenty, and I think a lot of the things I describe in this post can apply to other kinds of people down the line, not just data scientists. These people will become board members, project volunteers, specialists and employees. Or they will be organizations with an itch to scratch, like governments, ngos, companies, and even celebrities. I’ll ask them for time, money, land, legislation, influence and commitment.
Again, what can I give them in return for their effort? Here are my thoughts, The “Four Reasons” in an order that varies depending on the category and participant.
Relevance
On close scrutiny, LOT’s mission is unassailable. It will help individuals reduce their carbon footprint and participate in offsetting projects. This micro-mission bears out on the macro-level as well: The behavior of millions of individuals will make a real difference in the world.
I’m surprised how hard it is to come up with a unifying, unambiguously good cause these days. A good cause for one person sometimes leads to a perceived bad for others. LOT’s mission seems to be a predominant good.
In recent weeks I’ve been surprised by how many people are hungry for a good cause to throw their efforts into. They want something impactful and global, and which leverages their skills and resources. They also want something they believe they can influence and make a meaningful impact. I believe LOT’s mission allows its contributors to feel highly relevant.
Carbon Offsets
If you’ve read any of the other posts here you know I’ve been fascinated with the idea of carbon currency, or more specifically, carbon dioxide gas measurably and additionally added to, or removed from the environment. Right now, LOT is bankrupt, but could go into virtual carbon debt to compensate people for their work.
Over time, as LOT measurably generates reputational and economic carbon offsets, some volunteer work could be paid in the form of reputational carbon offsets, and corporations/governments could be paid in the form of economic carbon offsets.
The primary payment of reputational carbon currency will be to people participating in offset projects. However, and in addition, reputational carbon currency can be paid to LOT volunteers and employees. Careful management and accounting for this currency will ensure it maintains its value.
Reputation
Individuals are motivated to build their brand, and LOT is a perfect opportunity to do so. Perhaps most importantly, LOT’s not for profit structure allows individuals to publicize their work for LOT, without threatening their full-time employment status. And LOT’s radical candor supports this endeavor.
Among our early data scientists, the team value the opportunity to build a personal brand, by assembling a portfolio of data science work they can lay claim to. LOT will not only allow this, but also support and encourage it.
This kind of personal brand and portfolio expansion applies to different contributors in different ways. Portfolios for web-designers, writers, experience designers, financial managers, and foresters are no less useful and no less profound.
Relationships
People are looking to build personal and professional relationships. These can take many forms and be useful in many ways. Among data scientists for example, it can mean a potential future employment opportunity or affinity group focused on an advanced data analytics technique. There are lots of opportunities.
Relationships can be more personal as well. For volunteers participating in a hands-on sequestration project, the opportunity to talk while doing something rivals a long walk with a friend, or going camping together. Families, church groups, company and industry retreats, vacationers, and daters could all benefit.
So, LOT is poor, but LOT is also very rich. We need help, but we also have much to offer. Join us!
