An essential idea for the 140 character world
Happiness
Lost & Found: The Power of Community
Oct 10th
- Sunset the night of the burn during Burning Man 2012 )’(
It finally made it back to me.
Four weeks had passed since it was dropped into the alkaline dust of Nevada’s Black Rock Desert, aka the Playa.
Holding it in my hand once again, feelings of astonishment and belief mixed around in my head; then a grin, almost a smirk stuck on my face.
Community. Karma. The Universe. Whatever you call it, once again proved its existence as it has done over and over again at Burning Man during my seven trips home to that magical place. It is one of the most amazing parts of the annual gathering. Even with 54,000 this year, it held true. #beautiful
So when I lost my camera the final night, just a couple hours before the man burned, that’s what I told myself: It has to come back to you. I just needed to believe it would. Things literally manifest themselves there when you need them. It happens so frequently and so consistently; it’s impossible to deny its existence.
Though, one of the greatest lessons I’ve taken from the unforgiving elements of the Playa is to let things go. And at that moment when I realized I had dropped the camera, I had to come to peace that I’d lost all the photos I’d shot during the week and to now just have fun. Quite painful, since I had purchased a new camera specifically to take night shots of the spectacular, light show rollercoaster that is a night at Burning Man.
But they were all gone. Even as we made the trek back to San Francisco, I said how hard it was to let go. I just had to believe there was a chance someone in the community would find all these wonderful memories and try and get them back to the owner.
Of course.
Within a few days of returning, a kind soul from Washington DC had finally made it back to the default world and posted a photo on his camp’s Facebook page, Distrikt. Lost & Found 2011. Within hours someone had identified me and tagged the photo.
Lost & Found Facebook Post
It took another couple weeks until my camera made it back to SF and into my hands, until the kind soul returned for a visit to the city (just before leaving for his sixth tour in Iraq). #hero
Thank you Paul, Josh, Benjamin, Brian, Ferd, Derek and everyone who carries the community of Burning Man with them. You made this possible.
The man burns in 327 days )’(
- Inside Another Door Project. Looking Hopeful.
My Seven Days to End AIDS #AIDS/Lifecycle
Jun 16th
California's Central Valley on Day 2 of the 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle
It’s only days ago, but now back connected with all my devices and plugged into the goals running mojo it feels like a world away. Nothing quite disconnects you like a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
Talk about being present, focused on a goal, and tapping the best physical and mental you. #happiness
I’m thankful to everyone who volunteers and supports the AIDS/Lifecycle because you truly do create a life changing event.
Captured these Facebook thoughts from each day on the ride:
DAY ONE
AIDS/Lifecycle Superhero Rest Stop 2
Blog Addition: Beginning with a 4am alarm, opening ceremonies and 90 miles into Santa Cruz, this is a long, exhilarating day.
AIDS/Lifecycle Day One
DAY TWO
Amigo Ferd Garcia being interviewed on Action 8 news in Salinas about his 13 years doing the California AIDS Ride.
Ferd Garcia Salinas Interview
Done! 108 miles through California’s Central Valley (where they grow everything) on Day 2 of the 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle … Smells of strawberries, artichokes, cabbage, and two fields of cactus (not sure how that’s used). Gorgeous day with awesome tailwinds pushing us to King City.
Rider through California's Central Valley
DAY THREE
67 miles today over the infamous Quad Buster!
Rode through the blazing sun into Bradley (population 120) where the school has a BBQ = hamburger instead of ham and swiss box lunch the AIDS/Lifecycle provides today … this is their biggest fundraiser by far and provides essential $$ for their sports and arts program. Money from last year went to a road trip to LA to visit the museums.
It’s hard to top a line of kids slapping your hands as you enter town.
As we rode into camp at Paso Robles we were each given a letter from one of the students. This is the letter I received ♥
From Bradley, California
DAY FOUR
Day 4: 98 miles including climbing the Evil Twins which tops out at 1,700 feet in elevation and marks the HALF WAY!! mark on of the AIDS/Lifecycle.
What was terrifying was dropping those 1,700 feet to sea level over 8 miles in the cold fog, hitting nearly 38 mph. I could feel my bike wobbling as the semis barreled past me. (everyone survived)
My back tire wasn’t so lucky after smacking into the giant pothole on the road leaving lunch from San Luis Obispo.
Bike repair
Angry Birds dropped some eggs on us at Rest Stop 4 yesterday as we closed out Day 4. Definitely my favorite themed rest stop so far.
Angry Birds at Rest Stop 4
DAY FIVE
Despite the fun around the relatively short 44-mile wear red day (aka red dress day), AIDS/Lifecycle Day 5 is climbing, climbing and more climbing; and I love to conquer each peak.
My upper hamstring, however, isn’t so eager and is beginning to really show signs of strain from all the saddle time.
Icing ever hour. Hoping it can hold two more days. Wish me luck!
Icing the hamstring
DAY SIX
Hamstring held up for 88 miles but kept reminding me to take it easy. No racing today 
Feels incredible riding to Ventura Beach knowing only one more day remains. Ended our night with a beachside candlelight vigil.
#thankful
Candlelight Vigil on Venture Beach
DAY SEVEN
Woke up for the last 65 miles on Day 7 and the clip that holds my shoe together had fallen off.
No way was I going to allow that to keep me from riding every one of the 545 miles of the AIDS/Lifecycle.
So happy to be done and to have slept in a bed last night.
Thanks to everyone who offered support and followed along during the last week. It really helped motivate me through the mental and physical exhaustion. Thanks again to all my donors who helped me raise $6k. This turned out to be the largest AIDS fundraiser of all time at over $14 million!
Taped up my shoe for the last few miles
MOJO CONGRATS
From Mojo Interactive’s Facebook page: Congrats Glen Lubbert for completing your 3rd AIDS/LifeCycle ride. They raised an amazing $13 MILLION. Mojo Orlando couldn’t be more proud of you!
Blog Addition: Mojo helped sponsor six riders on this year’s lifecycle including these awesome jerseys. Watch my twitter feed or mojo’s youtube feed for videos from each of the riders.
Mojo helps Sponsor AIDS/Lifecycle Riders
TED Notebook: My Favorite Talks from 2010
Feb 22nd
The beauty and power of clean energy surrounds Palm Springs home of TEDActive
With less than a week away before the start of TED 2011: The Rediscovery of Wonder and after spending a few hours Sunday with several of the Bay Area TEDActivators including my co-host Leigh Rowan, my excitement for the week compelled me to share my favorite talks from TED 2010.
Just three topped my list which I wrote about last year:
1. Behavioral Economist Daniel Kahneman on Happiness
2. Jake Shimabukuro’s Ukulele Performance
3. Bill Gates’ Most Important Wish
Looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday in Palm Springs. Those unable to attend can follow along at home with the TEDActive Bay Area Twitter list.
glen.
An Affordable Gift of Substance, Meaning, and Generosity
Dec 20th
Antonia - Kiva.org loan recipient
Scratching your head for a good gift idea, not wanting to buy something just to buy, but yet wanting to show your appreciation for the time given to a friendship or a colleague?
I find this challenge especially difficult each year. Being sensitive to economic conditions, it’s nearly impossible to find something of substance, meaning, and generosity at an appropriate price point. For most, daunting beyond hope may be an understatement to describe this challenge.
My solution is an amazing service called Kiva – loans that change lives. Kiva is a micro-lending service that provides capital to help entrepreneurs in developing countries build their business in a part of the world where access to even the simplest financial tools aren’t available.
A few months ago I lent to Antonia, a 48-year-old mother of three in Peru who needed money to purchase more merchandise for her general store before an upcoming opportunity of increased demand. Her story and request was detailed in her own words and translated on the site.
Her first loan payment has already been made, and when all is paid back, I have the option to re-lend to another borrower and continue this powerful experience, donate the funds to Kiva’s operating expenses, or withdraw the funds to my PayPal account.
All the benefits of a gift certificate packaged with the priceless power of karma…
This year, consider giving Kiva.org gift certificates to say thank you to your friends and colleagues and in the process give an experience that has substance, meaning, and generosity well beyond its relatively minimal expense.
Happy Holidays everyone, and best wishes for a 2011 filled with growth and opportunity!
–glen.
Where to think? Googleplex – Mountain View, California
May 18th
Googleplex
This shot is actually taken down the street from the main Googleplex at their new campus where we gathered for the third day of the Wisdom 2.0 Conference. It was the unconference day — a vibrant, creative day of sharing and learning with 200 fascinating people who were able to make this last-minute additional day (arguably the best day of the conference).
After lunch at one of the famous Google cafeterias, I sat on this bench and dangled my feet over the edge. Swinging back and forth over the water, my legs kept the time as I soaked up some sun — a perfect thinking bench for reflection after the weekend’s journey.
Where to think? Computer History Museum – Mountain View, California
May 12th
Computer History Museum
Found this spot outside in the sunshine during one of the breaks at the Wisdom 2.0 Conference held at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.
After hours of considering the flow of information in our always now, instant feedback 140 character world, and the authenticity of each of us within this reality, soaking up the sun and taking a moment for mindfulness seemed perfect.
I sat on the corner of this garden area right out in front of the museum and played with the rocks. #contentment
Wisdom 2.0 Notebook: Managing the Stream
May 6th
The Babbage Machine. "Another Age Must Be the Judge." - Charles Babbage 1837
Balancing. Breathing. Listening.
It was the closing circle to a weekend of presence and focus, both being in the moment as well as being in the flow of ambiguous focus. We were considering the confluence of mindfulness and the always now, instant feedback, data streaming 140 character world.
Describing the weekend of the inaugural Wisdom 2.0 Conference is a little like trying to understand the focus one needs to study multiple realities & string theory while equally contemplating the existence of the creator itself… basically not usual casual conversation.
At least it led to the most attentive audience, something Chris Sacca acknowledged during the #Wisdom2Conf opening panel at the Computer History Museum. Having done so many tech conferences with fellow panelists Greg Pass (Twitter) and Bradley Horowitz (Google), he laughed at himself – clearly he was a stand-up comic in one of those multiple realities – b/c most conferences had everyone’s head stuck in a device giving him only a few fragmented moments to make an impact.
He captured the stream of this conference as good as anyone.
“Life is not a race to he or she who answers the most email,” Gopi Kallayil, Google Marketing Manager, said after giving us his three goals for each day:
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Take time for mindfulness practice, which for him is his non-negotiable commitment to yoga. For me it’s my morning affirmation of thanks to my friends and family as well as the opportunities the day will bring. He suggested to start by keeping the bar low and doing a one minute meditation — a moment to close your eyes and take a few conscious breaths (easy and helpful).
- Engage in a physical activity — good for your body and your mind.
Rashi Joan Halifax gave a great quote: “Every stick has two ends.” She was describing all the benefits of our hyperconnectivity while highlighting the sense of false connectivity. I like this quote because its wisdom application is universal.
My closing circle summation… In our hyperconnected 140 character world, what if authenticity — on both ends of the stick — ultimately is our non-negotiable pursuit?
TED Notebook: Happiness with my favorite TED talk
Mar 1st
I wrote my first TED Notebook — the reflections on the notes I took throughout the TEDActive experience in Palm Springs — blog entry about Daniel Kahneman. It started with this…
Happiness talks are a crowd favorite at TED, which is probably why Daniel Kahneman, the founder of behavioral economics kicked off the event with his questions:
“Are you happy in your life?” or “Are you happy with your life?”
You can read the full post here, and as of today, TED has made the talk available to watch. Highly recommended. Definitely a Top 5 and probably my favorite TED 2010 talk.
TED Notebook: Happiness with You and Me
Feb 17th
The TEDActive Experience
Grabbed a blanket and went to Dolores Park on our day off Monday for President’s Day. Along with me came my TED notebook. Time to reflect and digest the powerful week I shared with some amazing people during the TEDActive experience in Palm Springs.
After scribbling on a pad for 2 hours, I realized there are simply too many outstanding insights to share in one entry, so I am breaking it up into a few morsels of intellectual nourishment…
Jake Shimabukuro really set the tone for me for the week. His amazing ukulele performance redefined what I knew about this tiny but powerful instrument. Check out his performance of George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
Happiness talks are a crowd favorite at TED, which is probably why Daniel Kahneman, the founder of behavioral economics kicked off the event with his questions:
“Are you happy in your life?” or “Are you happy with your life?”
Kahneman outlined two selves:
- Experiencing self = lives in the present
- Remembering self = keeps score and maintains memory
These two selves are often in conflict with one another, and we put so much weight of our happiness on our remembering self when we actually spend most of our time with the experiencing self.
Ultimately, happiness of both selves comes down to spending time with people we like.
My experiencing self couldn’t get enough of the fascinating thinkers and doers at TEDActive. Definitely people I like.
And as I flipped through my notes on Monday, my remembering self couldn’t help but smile.
Another journey has begun…
Update: March 1, 2010
Daniel Kahneman’s talk is now available on TED.com
Jake Shimabukuro’s performance is finally available on TED.com
