Love @ElizabethPW ’s new blog – on being SXSW, on being human – being vulnerable, imperfect, connected, struggling yet on the ball, cool but trying to figure it out, all at the same time.

Sound like anyone you know?

Best line @ElizabethPW: “let’s rejoice in how infinitely complicated we are. How we are capable of everything.”

#SXSWi pt 2: People Are Human

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?

check out @ElizabethPW ’s new website (with or without google analytics) at: [elizabethpottsweinstein.com]