DAVID ALL // The Story Now

Be neighborly in Community. If seen, Pick up. Free Prize, Props...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 23:32:28 -0700

Be neighborly in Community. If seen, Pick up. Free Prize, Props for Your Storied Life.

Build. Replicate. Lead.

The #GivingRug is the magic machine we made together to help the...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:18:44 -0700

The #GivingRug is the magic machine we made together to help the artists within hear the genius.

Arthur, now searching for a band, was the first to come jumping into the magical land. His cover, “Home,” instant memory hit.

The space brought together by community to just be. Expressive and Judge-Less guarantee.

Sierra, fearless poet, raised voices of others through expression. Now piece of the story as Mission.

Bodhi, friend, welcome. We saved you a seat. In the life worth living, not one of defeat.

All of this magic doesn’t just replicate. It takes Builders to Lead. And participants free to create.

This experience to express brought to you by the Good League Crew.

A merry Crew building Authentic Intelligence through true stories of those who Do.

We're Building the Barkless Glass Crew

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:55:32 -0700

Sent a note to the #GiftingRug Crew.

Expressed intention to meet tomorrow at 3 at the Park.

To start the process of our First “Art Kit.”

Inspired by Laurie’s story, a fellow dog owner, who worries about glass cutting their feet. She stepped up inspired to work on an art project. Though, humbly, she said she doesn’t have the “creative bone in her body.” (Good one!)

We’re going to take the bark out of Broken Glass by building a crew.

To participate, meet at the #GiftingRug near the un-sculpted trees at 3.

Bring brown paper bag and gloves. And extra supplies

Audio

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 16:03:53 -0700

I hear the voice of the outsider artist Telling her story of gentrification Tired of the...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:15:51 -0700

I hear the voice of the outsider artist

Telling her story of gentrification

Tired of the bullying

The pushing out

We need a permanent space to express the transformation of Dolores

A place where we can gather at anytime of day or night to create and make or be there for someone who needs our presence

This Mission is to build our community. Then we’ll turn technology into replication. The magic kind that only humans can do.

They are the ones who live life experiencing through sensation

Being with scarcity, guarding intention

The resources lost were not those in commerce but are the true minerals and gems

This is expression in all humility

To be with what is and call it like I see

To be the one who is a vessel for those that strum

And answer their challenges all in the one

By granting permission for them just to be

The artist inside true story that’s me

This is is how it will start

Everyone together, doing their part

Gifting their resources whether knowledge of process or skill of craft

And provide a place for us to contributed directly to the good within our community and always be part

Of their story of transformation

Of the technology replication

To have our songs heard, and expressed in unison

But if not now and for us, all outsiders, one

Then when and why and for whom and how much

This process will be to reverse engineer the virus that taught us to hand someone elses expression to our children and let them consume

We need to let them be whatever they need to be

A space to imagine. Invent. And be free.

This is our mission. Our reason already won. By calling it out. And gathering as one.

We can do it together each person their part. Using their superpowers to transform the world they live in.

But it starts with a Rug a symbol in the park of where to gather

The temporary art handmade by the artisan

But rugs have always been the symbol that pulls communities together

To be artist is to be preent with what is

To see a problem and solve the challenge aesthetically

To simply state what is for others to hear

To inspire the builders and makers to lead

To assemble the crew, this crew blessed with gift of work

And participation through replication the storytellers part

This generation is not one of age or location

It is the song this place has been screaming since the natives left it

Leaving is hard

Especially from land you love

But when you can’t figure out how to keep it up, the Jones’ move on out

Our stand is together, space for all on the rug

The golden gift of sharing our gift will be won

The song of Dolores, her tune the outsider is being sung

By the community that lives here, that has watched its story unfold

That understands its magic, despite its simple call

And now they are coming, paid forward by consumptions trick of scarcity and guard

Buying up land, 15% over market rate

They don’t care because they don’t know the story of how it unfolds

They simply want its magic. It’s ability to let you just be.

To express who you are that is all we ever need.

To be the painter who can have the time to learn the process to finally be.

To create the mediums, of art, society

This is challenge of Good finally called

This is how we make a difference together, each one their part

The vandals broken car windows, repetition just bottled expression bubbling up

This is the energy our youth need to be motivated

To participate in the game by re-defining the rules we followed like sheep

How many windows a night must be broke?

As many as it took for the lesson to inspire the aesthetic needed to get to the root of the problem

That we are all tired of being pushed out

We are sick of feeling our own insides resourced for their gain

Just because they run the banks and make the rules that we never fought
This isn’t about pointing fingers, it’s only calling what is

So that we can band together as one beyond the scripted story

To meet outside of the box. In aesthetics hollowed grounds.

Channeling all those spirits within providing the Rug to be bound

Each community a story. And each artist will do their part.

To silence the bully by inspiring those that the bully respects

To touch the dreamers

The inventors

The one who have experienced magic

And have the courage to share that vision in community

Instead of bottle it up, hidden under dining rooms table rug

But that is the story. At least that’s how I see it.

We start in our community, our home and be part of the solution

Motivation is not what anything other than purpose

To stand up for those who can’t

To express what they need to have said

This is the time

We have stated the vision

Community art projects in public spaces indeed the only mission

And we start in Dolores, that is the first piece

Its story of transformation, rapidly feeds

We’re doing this now together, unified only in our objective

To be proud of our home

To know that we did our part

Today we were alive

And tomorrow we’ll start

The hard work of building. The courage required. The need an enigma trapped in the mystery

This is our culture

To see. Listen. And make.

We are San Franciscans. A culture expression of transformation

That it is okay to transform

To be one with all

That your story is special, that you can be you

We magically transform through learnings inspired by the artistans within

The community projects will replicate authentic culture

Even finding their way to you and your heart

For this is all just happening because enough people have called it

And our listening is tuned to the voices of those geniuses on the rug

A rug is a metaphor. The community decides each monthly project. But a theme to unify us all will inspire collective intention.

And summon those geniuses who are sleeping in our spaces.

To storytell through the narrative of life as written as author

A good use of resources. Sommatic expression of gratitude. Perhaps even motivated for some by an interest in increasing value of space

But America was an idea, manipulated through replication, forefathers intention now lost

The poet of Sierra who expressed her tune in the park, was the clarion call to get to work and don’t stop

She expressed that this place called America is the place where the magic stopped.

That it was sunk to the ocean, seemingly lost

Her story of sadness, the one needed

To unify the cacophony of genius within these walls

Within you

The part of the story where we felt it was true

To fix this mess by realizing that the problem is the replication. The replication of fear that we don’t have enough.

That our collection of ficticious wealth replaces truly valuable

That our idea of space for imagination is a world scripted by others

Our heads in to their games, believing the part

Aldous Huxley I feel you, running through the veins, you want to take over and ride reins

But Garcia’s Hunter and Kerouac’s Cassidy stand near. With the one in the hat, Larry Harvey sitting near. The jazz which inspired the beat which is the story of their son.

This is about empowering you with the rug to create your culture

A framework for purpose, motivation clear

A public piece of art, created by the community for the community

To do the most important work

To replicate the culture which started in Dolores Park

They will call us the names, so we’ll gather in public spaces

Look for the rug in the park. Show leadership. Start organizing.

You can be the one that was part of the solution.

To turn the wheels on collective expression

To let stories be told

That inspire the genius

That speaks the truth

Which motivates the crew

If this then that a melody for the ages

A viral technology spreading through recognition of the Rug as the platform for collective art

So head to your park, bring the artisan rug and offer the seat to the genius who needs to be seen

She is the outsider, the one scared by the bully

It is Sierra. She is the one. This was the space where she quietly sung.

And listened we did. Despite lovely, shared distractions. Because it was then we could listen with feeling, somatic expression

And spirits of those that sat in this space

Deployed safely in The Nest, all together one crowd

The freaks and the weirdos. The fatties and gays. The dog owners and families. The dudes needing to lay. Down on a bed, their belly full through community but spirit restless in a fear motivated by a world of scarcity

Write the book of your life.

Get up right now. Ask your neighbor if they have a rug made by hand that you two could take to the park and start the artisan collective. The Good League using Gifts of Aesthetic to solve the challenges caused by mindless replication

You too have experienced this touch.

I’m merely writing what is running through me. What I have tapped by being open to what is. And a loss of paranoia of the world of scarcity when my superpowers are useful

Go outside. Talk to your neighbor. Ask about the Rug. Tell them the story of how creation of rugs in many “cultures” are experiential storytelling technology to bring us back together. The real deal.

The lesson first learned through visually processing the process of making honey by nature to understand how man too could play a part

This isn’t the end. The beginning is now.

It starts with your expression to answer the how.

Sierra’s the one with genius channeled expressing.

Her voice somatically felt and expressed in a safe zone of love. A place familiar to those aesthetic who see that the rug made by hand will empower us to lead.

To provide the space for the genius to participate

Community centers, in every public space, the global goal

These words are the Gift empowered by those bullied artists who still know what needs to be done

Judge Less. Do More.

The Gift meant given.

Be the Gift you were Given.

It’s time to live a life by your part.

This is real work. Not judging or lounging. No spectators present.

This is not a movement. It is the process of building.

Inspiration channeled in messages collected in the invention of the Gifting Bag at the #GiftingRug, a first step of self-expression.

To encourage the other artist is to recognize her spirit within. All organically produced, signs of the analog experience of truth.

“Believe in yourself.”

“Tell your friend that you love and appreciate them. Share love for more love.”

“You are awesome!”

“You can change the world with the choices you make.”

“Today is just one day. Or is it the only day?”

“Do the dance move you rock at home in public.”

“You are perfect, whole and complete. Everything is all good.”

“Things are good but people are amazing. Love. Share. Be.”

“Yes, just yes. Don’t doubt.”

“Hug the next 3 people you see.”

“You are worthy.”

Indeed.

The spring has been sprung by the story of Sierra

The embodiment of true love. Nurtured by authentic love by both mothers.

And finally given a beautiful space to simply be.

To ask the tough questions of us.

To keep us honest.

To inspire us as community to have children. To stop resource guarding. To recognize and call out the silly game of scarcity which generates bullys.

This passion is your passion. It is your community.

Express it however you are touched. Focus on your block.

We all have our superpowers and gifts. Find first the one with the artisan rug.

In less than one week, http://GiftingRug.org is up and running....

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:32:05 -0700

In less than one week, http://GiftingRug.org is up and running. Incredible work by Gabe Sanchez on the #giftingrug team

The Make Expression Station at #giftingrug (at #GiftingRug)

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:18:49 -0700

The Make Expression Station at #giftingrug (at #GiftingRug)

A new view #giftingrug (at #GiftingRug)

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:10:25 -0700

A new view #giftingrug (at #GiftingRug)

Within it begins (at #GiftingRug)

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:01:19 -0700

Within it begins (at #GiftingRug)

A space where your “magic” can happen #giftingrug ...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:51:46 -0700

A space where your “magic” can happen #giftingrug (at Mission Dolores Park)

Not that you need any direction, but still a sign #giftingrug ...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:45:03 -0700

Not that you need any direction, but still a sign #giftingrug (at Mission Dolores Park)

#GiftingRug Temporary Space for Judge-Less Expression (at...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:32:30 -0700

#GiftingRug Temporary Space for Judge-Less Expression (at Mission Dolores Park)

#GiftingRug: Build. Replicate. Lead.

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:01:11 -0700

Hang on. #GiftingRug now. The work ahead. The community delight. The energy now. Oh, the energy now.

Hang on. They know now the truth that a moment ago wasn’t present. And now everything feels like we are the change inception.

Hold on. All the time now. Feeling it spread from person to person because that is how the story now tells it. Through conversation and touch, somatic expression.

Hold on. We can’t feel the courage love provides through technology. But it springs from each known neighbor and radically welcome the other.

Hold on. Be realistic, and know the work ahead. A principled foundation built by those that channeled this same inspiration. Our task to grab another rung and pull all of us up.

Hold on. It will be fun. And probably over too fast. Abundance virally.

Stand up. Together. The team.

Stand as the core that stepped forward today to do the work of building the stage for expression. Be proud to have empowered others to Build. Replicate. Lead.

Stand as gift for community. Be the one you are now. Seek out those feeling outside. Make space. Be the most welcoming crowd.

“Repeat after me. Build. Replicate. Lead.” Whispered to me tonight on a walk through Dolores with Jackson on lead. Through the sacred spot where the spark for the analog, primitive flame became a story worth telling.

We are the ones banished from the mundane. Awake from the somatic sorrow. Alive in love. Build. Replicate. Lead.

Payment is the expression gifted unconditional. Received in whole. Though returned in the oceans bounty of love. Build. Replicate. Lead.

Together its people will sit around flames of digitals remains. Looking down at their children. Realizing their missed presence and business to blame. Build. Replicate. Lead.

Like ‘59 this artist is present but with a craft for the brevity in the now. Armed to lead the community to provide space for courage. Enough to write the plan to outsmart them by re-writing the script. Build. Replicate. Lead.

To express our gift and be in the community that is present. This is our ritual, purpose inception.

Build. Replicate. Lead.

The Story Now: #GiftingRug Bringing Our Community Together

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:03:37 -0700

Since the idea for #GiftingRug generated this past Saturday, our small band of neighbors who live near Dolores Park have come together three times to have dinner and work on the project.

The input has developed fast, authentic community. A space where we can be vulnerable and safe. Momentum. Friendship. Fun.

Last night, after our final dinner before the event, we made a Story Now podcast to express what #GiftingRug means to each of us.

Community members participating include Chef Wally, Tim, Ali, Gabe, Emi, Cat, Everett, Irene, and Duleesha. Their experience of the #GiftingRug is the Story Now.

This story took place after an amazing meal gifted by Chef Wally Bomgaars at The Nest. Thanks Wally! Thanks Gabe and Ali for helping me clean up.

Something special is happening. Can you feel it?

Truthful Storytelling

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:10:05 -0700

Truthful Storytelling

From Evil to Good: My Story Now

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:19:54 -0700

David All is still learning what it means to be Good and how best to deploy his gift.

A search on Google still references an article written in 2009 which refers to him as the “most dangerous person on the Internet.” The article likens his strategic communication insights and tactical technical executions to that of a Machiavellian “Karl Rove 2.0.”

That is one projection of his creativity. Per usual, David’s motives are still misunderstood.

The truth is that his work was never to garner power through the divisiveness of politics. It was instead the immediacy of being creative with a team to solve complex challenges. And, let’s be honest, Republicans and Big Corporations have interesting reputation challenges.

In 2007 he founded a social media agency to pioneer and evolve an industry. He did that with a great team.

Throughout his six years as Founder and CEO of the agency, he worked with some truly gifted makers, artists and storytellers on interesting work. They had fun and did pioneering work. That was Good.

And fortunately, he also experienced working with those motivated by a fear of scarcity where enough is never enough. That was evil.

Quickly after reaching the top-tier brand as a political operative and strategist, David experienced the first of a series of transformations.

He headed west to San Francisco as so many others have to start anew. To see if he could find a way to use his superpowers to authentically transform the world.

He started by bootstrapping a startup called “Crumbly” to help our loved ones find the places we love through the collection and timely discovery of the digital “Crumbs” placed all over the world. This experience was costly, rewarding and, perhaps, noble. Working with his co-founder on a difficult challenge was his creative outlet and escape.

But ultimately, building a startup is not about the strength of your idea, but about your approach to the process of seeking a business model. He pulled the app out of the store in early 2013.

That was his story then.

This is my story now.

Transmedia storytelling, the use of multiple media to show and tell stories interests me. However, I am likely setting aside the tools of the Internet to develop a new way to tell stories experientially.

I am uninterested in the use of “advertising,” “marketing,” or anything other than truthful communication to tell stories.

I believe Good is something that must be immediately experienced sommatically. A Good within rather than an acceptance of societal Good. I intend to continue thinking through this concept and seeking knowledge and discourse on the topic. Participate.

I am in the process of creating my next company. I am doing the work of thinking through the Mission Statement and the Principles which will generate and inform the Culture.

I need help. Specifically an A-list operations person who lives in San Francisco. If that’s you, be in touch. I respect your gift to pragmatically execute my abstract vision.

I am living in San Francisco near Dolores Park in the Mission District. It is my home. It is my community. I am working to organize it immediately.

The #GiftingRug will provide a safe space for expression. A Judge-Less zone to share your gift in authentic community. The idea generated less than a week ago and will deploy on Saturday at Noon in Dolores Park. We have no expectations.

If you are ever in the area let me know. I often have spontaneous dinner parties and gatherings to experience immediate authentic community.

My transformation will never stop. I am embracing change as my truth within finding ways to express. This is me in the now.

#GiftingRug: A Safe Space to Express Yourself

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:07:00 -0700

Being an artist isn’t easy. We are caught in a rigid game of society where the rules don’t make any sense. Our need to express, may be used in our “day job,” but more likely than not, it’s just something we do when we have time either alone or in community.

We may not even call ourselves an artist. At least not publicly. But we are creative. We live life to make and create. To improve our process and learn. To express. To be present in life so that the creative creature will take hold. To be vulnerable. Even through the difficult times when we only want to escape.

We are individuals though we see and feel those in our community as one when we navigate through the scripted masses. We know that they too shoulder the burden of wearing the mask to avoid the stares and comments. Indeed, weird. All of them.

This past week, a small band of neighbors in the Dolores Park area have come together to help provide a safe, temporary space in the park for expression. We call it the #GiftingRug.

The #GiftingRug is a place to sit. To feel the warmth.

Safe. Happy. Home.

The #GiftingRug is a platform to stand and be seen. To express the gift within.

Hand in hand, heart in heart, dancing together.

If you live in San Francisco, join us on Saturday, April 27 at Noon in Dolores Park near the playground. Look for us. We will be there and we will welcome you to share your gift and be in community.

Here’s the Facebook event. Joining helps spread the word.

For updates, follow us on Twitter at @GiftingRug for updates.

The Story Now: Jeff Kirschner of Litterati.org

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:02:07 -0700

Meet Jeff Kirschner of Litterati.org — the movement to clean up litter one piece at a time by empowering people to participate in the collective, shared experience of picking up after mindless others. I wrote about the brilliant campaign in March.

Jeff is a masterful storyteller who got his start working at big agencies for brands as copywriter and now teaches others the art of storytelling at the SF branch of the Miami Ad School.

When you meet with Jeff, you feel that he speaks truth. And through his actions he is demonstrating using his superpowers to transform the world.

This story took place at a cafe in Berkeley.

Here’s the link to the SoundCloud track.

Channel Your Creative Spirit Through Presence

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 08:31:23 -0700

I love when TED Talks stick around baking in my mind for days, weeks, and months. The lessons processing by showing up at seemingly random moments and in different situations to teach me.

One talk worth processing is Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Your Elusive Creative Genius.”

Gilbert tells the story of her experience as artist authoring a mega-hit, “Eat Pray Love.” Specifically, coping with others inspiring fear in her that her greatest work could be behind her. The truth that creativity is not something we can control. It is an elusive spirit. She can not, for example, guarantee that she will write another hit. This fear is the burden artists must shoulder.

What she can control is her process to be the vessel to channel creativity. She does the hard work of following a routine and being there, present, waiting. Present for the creative spirit or “genius” to take her body over and express through her and help with the work.

All artists feel this fear. We are doing the work of creating out of nothing. Of being vulnerable. This would be easy if we weren’t emotional human beings. Capable of being influenced by the social and emotional risks of being a creative.

To continue her work beyond “Eat Pray Love,” she needed to create a “safe distance” for her creativity to thrive. Space away from fear through presence.

She created this psychological construct by looking back in history to the Greeks and Romans who believed that creativity and genius was a disembodied spirit. As artist, you were not a genius — you had a genius who helped you do your work. “A magical divine entity that could live in the walls of an artist studio and could come out and visibly assist the artist in the work and shape the outcome of that work.”

She relates to this idea of creativity as separate spirit through the experience when her body has been taken over by the spirit. The beautiful moments when she has channeled creativity. I too know this rare sensation. It is when I have done my best work.

This validated assumption influenced her creative process by providing a distance between her as artist and her creativity. At times, even looking over at the corner of the room and talking to the creative genius in the corner.

After watching her talk, my process changed. It helped me realize that creativity is or is not present. I have started setting an intention, talking to my own creative spirit in the corner, escaping the fear of failure. Showing up to do my job as artist by being present for the creative spirit.

The Mission Statement

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:33:50 -0700

I am in the process of building my third company, a Strategic Storytelling Agency for Good.

The first two companies I founded lacked a Mission Statement which I now see as indicative of destined failure.

The Mission Statement defines the purpose and objective for a company or organization. It is its core philosophical statement which acts as both the central informer of the context which generates its culture and the motivator of participants through alignment. It is the truth it must communicate.

It wasn’t that both of the companies I had built weren’t purpose-driven or had goals, but it was never clearly stated and adhered to. Without the written document, it was always abstract and experienced. This leads to ambiguity among business partners, team, et al. which will lead to disaster. For example, if profit is the objective (which it authentically never has been for me), then all attracted to do that work should be aligned. But I never did the work of communicating this philosophy through a Mission Statement.

The realization I’m having now is part of an ongoing transformation to really understand the purpose and objective of work. To be a better Founder. To do my part as CEO now before work on achieving the Mission begins.

Last year I did the work of bringing intention to the culture of the social media group I had founded six years earlier. A little late, but worthwhile. I went back to the foundational documents, like the policies that guided the operations, and re-wrote them to more accurately reflect intended meaning. For example, we re-wrote the “Vacation and Paid Leave” policy to be the “Live A Balanced Life” policy. (The experience of bringing intention to company culture was recorded as stories on this blog.)

What I found through the process was that most of the company documents we used and gave to our team to read were total bullshit. They were all written in a type of code and dialogue which read more like the “Rules” of the company instead of the framework for the culture of the company.

Now I have the unique opportunity to start fresh on building a company with two companies and six years of management and mistakes under my belt. The knowledge is the value. Lessons learned and acted upon through immediate experience.

In other words, we’re doing it now how we should have always done it. But, there’s no manual for entrepreneurs, we just put our head down and do the work of creating. This was how it had to happen for me.

I am writing the Mission Statement for a Strategic Storytelling Agency for Good. This post is part of my process. To really think through what a Mission Statement broadly means to me instead of reading what others say it should mean or worse, imitating what another hopes to achieve. The process sets the framework for my creativity to be free to succeed.

If you want to participate in my process, add a comment with links to Mission Statements that resonate with you. Tell me the story of your personal experience. I would enjoy listening. I bet we all would. We are, after all, in this particular experience together.