Core interests, visualized courtesy bubbl.us.

I’m probably best defined by my interests. I have a lot–last count: 108. I get a thrill every time I discover a new one. But my top five interests are:

1. Social change (social innovation, social entrepreneurship, venture philanthropy)
2. Personal change (personal development, positive psychology)
3. Social psychology
4. Enterprise
5. Ethics

I visualized them above in a slightly simpler way for clarity.

So I love to think. But I also love to do. I’m a “firsts” junkie: by my last count I have recorded 1,000+ firsts in the last 13 years. I’m also an adrenaline and life junkie. I love life fiercely and can’t get enough.

In my heart I’m an explorer and I absolutely thrive on challenge, achievement, and personal growth. But nothing sets me on fire more than creating and growing an enterprise that helps solve a social problem. Enterprise creation is my art. I consider myself an oddball farmer: each enterprise I build starts as a seed that I (try to) nurture to life.

For fun I attend talks, conferences, unconferences, workshops colloquia, brown bag lunches, nerdy dinners, and team meetings. About 90% of my (in person) social life is tied to these events. Noel Coward had it right: “Work is more fun than fun.” But I’m also fond of jumping out of perfectly good airplanes and off cliffs when the mood strikes. Which is often.

I believe in “strategic, disciplined action”. I believe it’s strategic to follow your life purpose and core passions. If you do it with discipline, you will likely achieve great success in life.

If you’re curious, I have a 14-page paper outlining my ethical system and a 11-page paper on my belief system. Short versions: ideal utilitarianism is beautiful(ly demanding) and pragmatic skepticism is a healthy epistemological foundation.