I love questions. I love the “search” in research; not the “publication” in research. (“Publication” must fit in the imaginary space between the letters….)

Searching for answers is fun. Soliciting research grants, conforming your writing to APA standards, waiting a considerable amount of time for journal editors to request a revision, and finally publishing something that is likely only read by very few people is not my idea of fun.

Researchers rock. I have a tremendous amount of respect for researchers of all types. And I love science. I truly do. But traditional research is often too slow for my tastes.

So I gravitate to “quick and dirty” research. Get in there fast, learn enough to frame the question and make some headway, throw something out to add to the melting pot, and then figure out what comes next. For me, “next” does not include answering derivative, unimportant questions.

Below are the questions that have deeply intrigued me, and the work I’ve done in search of answers. In time, I may write summary reports. In the meantime, the latest project or startup best represents my answers.

Core Questions

How can we most efficiently and effectively help people self-actualize?

• Founded Self Spark
• Created Personal Growth Resource Kit
• Founded Austin Personal Development
• Helped build Polymath Project
• Studied psychology, sociology, and philosophy
• Founded Austin Mastermind Group, Houston Mastermind Group, and Polymath Junto
• Worked with Six Seconds
• Founded Personal Catalysts (personal growth partners/catalysts microbusiness)
• Wrote Junto Overview

How can we most efficiently and effectively create self-actualized, polymathic, youth/young adult changemakers?

• Founded Self Spark
• Helped build Polymath Project
• Created Singapore Social Enterprise Starter Kit
• Helped create Toolkit for Social Entrepreneurs
• Founded multiple youth initiatives with American Red Cross of Central Texas
• Helped create and facilitated at H3ROES
• Helped create Syinconnect
• Facilitated at and helped create American Red Cross Leadership Development Conferences & Retreats
• Facilitated at LeaderShape
• Facilitated at Social Change by Children
• Facilitated at SMU Initiatives for Social Enterprise’s Social Innovation eXperience
• Facilitated at Rotary Youth Social Entrepreneurship Competition
• Facilitated at Global Ethics & Conflict Resolution Summer Symposium
• Participated in International Space Settlement Design Competitions
• Active “founding member” of Hub Singapore

How can we most efficiently and effectively create social change hubs in every city on Earth?

• Co-founded Austin Social Innovation Hub (would have become part of The Hub network)
• Studied social change ecosystem in Singapore for two years
• Studied social change ecosystem in Austin, Texas for six months
• Helped build UP Singapore
• Worked at Social Innovation Park
• Co-created alpha SITY/Social Innovation City (global web portal)
• Worked at University of Texas at Austin RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service; helped with inaugural Dell Social Innovation Competition
• Created Singaporean Social Change Ecosystem
• Active “founding member” of Hub Singapore

Secondary Questions

Where’s the best place in the world for a social entrepreneur to live and build a social enterprise?

• Researched and wrote Singapore: Asia’s Social Silicon Valley?

How can we maximize our productivity?

• Created and thoroughly tested Get Stuff Done (GSD) Days

What are the most efficient and effective ways of creating a realistic Utopia on Earth?

• Took Dr. Omer Galle’s Sociology of Intentional Communities class
• All of above in Core Research

Where are you the most and least attractive in the world? [This was done on a whim.]

• Co-created Mate Value Bump

What is a modern day polymath like?

• Co-created Polymath Research Project; screenshot of the instrument

For each I’ve spent months or years of my life studying the question from as many angles as possible. Generally by self-guided study, building enterprises and organizations that attempt to approximate potential answers, taking jobs in related fields, and supporting other people’s initiatives.

One day I will get something published, for (academic) “street cred”. It’s just not high on my to do list. That said, I’ve already helped other researchers with 10 research studies. My role was generally focused on data collection and analysis. I found some of the papers online:

• Origins of a Stereotype: Categorization of Facial Attractiveness by 6-month-old Infants [PDF]
• The Role of Facial Attractiveness and Facial Masculinity/Femininity in Sex Classification of Faces [PDF]
• Stereotype Directionality and Attractiveness Stereotyping: Is Beauty Good or Is Ugly Bad? [PDF]
• Theoretical and Methodological Congruence with Face Perception Research: An Alternate Paradigm for Facial Attractiveness [PDF]