Moving to Austin, Texas

Anything is Possible in ATX, Kendra Scott

It’s hard to believe I arrived in town on August 8, 2019 and now I’ve almost been here for two weeks. In a way it feels like so much has happened and so little at the same time. The story of how my partner and I ended up in Austin is long and short. For several years my family and I have been trying to find a way to live closer to each other so that we can live life together. We were very lucky in that we lived together in the same town for a long time. In the last five years we found ourselves scattered further away from each other. One sister though living in Seattle was across the bridge (and we all know how that can be), my other sister has been hopping around with her husband while she works as a traveling nurse, and my parents after a stint in San Diego landed in Phoenix, AZ (where my grandmother and an uncle relocated to be close to them).

Last fall my family began discussing options for a city where we could possibly live together, though there were many challenges we faced, among them was the fact that my boyfriend owned a restaurant in Ballard, WA. and he was VERY happy with his life and friends there. But in April we all found ourselves in a darling Airbnb celebrating Easter in East Austin with my family.

We all arrived on Friday and were scheduled on flights out of Austin by Sunday/Monday in order to get back to work. We wanted to spend time together and also see the city. Somehow we managed to cram in ping pong at Easy Tiger, partying on sixth street, a day trip to Fredericksburg followed by a jaunt over to San Antonio, homemade meals around the table, canasta (our favorite and highly competitive family game), face masks, coffee shops, darling neighborhood liquor stores and more!

Wow! Looking back its hard to believe everything we crammed into that weekend. The night before we flew back to Seattle, my boyfriend mentioned to me he could see himself living in Austin. I’m pretty sure he had no idea the Pandora’s box he had just opened, but for me after having lived in Seattle for 19 years I was itching for a new adventure and it felt like the stars were aligning. The next day most of the family was talking about living in Austin, Texas as a true possibility that we should all explore.

As soon as we got home to Seattle I got down to business researching career opportunities, neighborhoods, demographics, and more! Long story short within a couple of months my sister had secured a contract job with Facebook and we found ourselves flying down to Austin to help move her and her boyfriend into their apartment. Not long after we found a house in Jollyville, I put in my notice with Seattle Children’s and we hit the road for Austin.

It was an incredible leap of faith, as I have not locked in my next career step (if you know of something please reach out - I’m currently seeking roles that fall anywhere within marketing, events, operations, and project management) and my boyfriend was moving away from a world he had spend 20 years investing in. But we could feel that there was something waiting for us here in Austin. I look forward to sharing more in future posts, but I wanted to bring everyone up to date before I started posting about my Austin job search, Austin Day Trips, etc :)

Today’s Citizens Must Equip Themselves For The Technological Future

Originally posted on Medium on April 20, 2018

Kim Keever, Abstract 27001b, 2016

“If we don’t understand the technologies or other forces at play in changing our world — be they the burgeoning sciences of the early Renaissance or the neural networks or cyberthreats of today — then how can we possibly understand what is to come? ”

— The Great Questions of Tomorrow, David Rothkoopf

Today, data and algorithms have influence over everything from our democracy, to our homes, to our work. We are in an era of seemingly unlimited technological progress and the speed of innovation requires citizens to be engaged in non-partisan learning and discussion. We don’t have to know everything but we need to know enough to think critically and ask questions about the technologies being developed, as well as be able to hold accountable the individuals and organizations creating them.

Our Democracy

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. — Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, №4, 1777

A need for deeper investigation and understanding was made abundantly clear when Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg testified before congress. Too few of the members of congress were equipped with the right questions. As I listened to some of the hearing I could not help but wish that congress had met with Tristan Harris, former ethicist for Google, prior to the session. One of the benefits of the increased reporting around Russia’s interference in our most recent elections, is greater transparency around the role technology plays in our elections whether in the past, the present or the future.

Our Homes

While our culture is all gloss and pace on the outside, within it is too often haunted and lost. The commercial edge of so-called “progress” has cut away a huge region of human tissue and webbing that held us in communion with one another. We have fallen out of belonging. — John O’ Donohue, Bless The Space Between Us

Technology is pervasive in society and we must consciously consider that not all “progress” is progress for the common good. Consider for a moment who do smart homes benefit? Initially we may conclude that they increase efficiency for the purchaser but what about all of the data that is being collected by these smart homes? Perhaps smart homes feel too distant what about Amazon’s Alexa, its estimated that 39 million Americans now own a smart speaker. Recently there has been increased scrutiny over privacy concerns tied to Alexa’s collection of data and what exactly is being done with said data.

Kensuke Koike, No More No Less

Our Work

As machines do more of what was once human, companies and people who thrive will not be those who guess correctly at the next narrow skillsets, but who cultivate the capacity of their workers to learn faster. — Fulfilling The Promise of AI Requires Rethinking the Nature of Work Itself by Cathy Engelbert and John Hagel III

Our current education system, a relic of the industrial revolution, takes a myopic view and does not encourage students in multi-disciplinary learning/systems thinking producing graduates with limited job options. It has been said that “we need to teach artificial intelligence to adopt our values” but how do we do this when schools devalue subjects such as ethics for engineers and when we can’t even agree on our baseline values? Our corporations are not much better, treating employees as cogs in a machine instead of as human capital whose value increases with the acquiring of new skills.

Our Future

A new consciousness is awakening that recognizes our oneness as a global community. — Jalaja Bonheim

All of this is not to cast a hopelessness but to empower us to realize we as engaged citizens play a very important role in the direction that our society heads in. We can no longer count on the fragmented religious, community and political institutions we once did or even the new corporations taking their place. Instead we must move from the role of observers to active participants, in every area:

• Breaking out of partisan siloes and biases which do not serve the common good and cultivating belonging.
• Pro-actively taking control of our personal knowledge framework and the information we are absorbing.
• Encouraging the corporations we work for to become anchor institutionsthat develop wealth in our cities (not just exploiting the talent and resources).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, please comment as this is something I am very passionate about and I am curious to hear your thoughts. I will leave you with this final quote as well as some resources if you are interested in digging into any of these areas in a deeper way.

Technological shifts will be only a part of the cascading disruptions associated with the new era. As history shows, these shifts will, in turn, change human behaviors, open new areas to human understanding, enable new forms of creative expression, empower new means of economic activity, and inspire new thinking about the way lives and governments and businesses should be organized. These changes will empower the reweaving of the fabric of our lives much as the steam-powered looms of the Industrial Revolution did not only with textiles but with the lives of workers, the rise of a new middle class, the empowerment of unions, the recasting of politics, the remaking of the relationships associated with colonialism, the shifting of the power of nation-states, and so many other changes. — The Great Questions of Tomorrow, David Rothkopf

Thought Leaders

• Tristan Harris, Former Google Ethicist, Co-Founder of Humane Tech
• Harold Jarche, Life in Perpetual Beta

Learn More

• If you are wondering what questions you should be asking that you aren’t then check out the thought provoking “The Great Questions of Tomorrow” by David Rothkopf.
• In Braving The Wilderness by Brene Brown, Brene Brown identifies the dehumanization that is happening in today’s culture and how it’s the breeding ground for hate, nationalism and us vs them thinking. There is an urgent need for us as citizens to break out of our siloes and engage in the uncomfortable conversations.
• Harold Jarche’s blog and e-books provides brilliant information around developing a Personal Knowledge Mastery system.
• Last but not least, if all of this feels a little bit overwhelming consider starting with Micromastery: Learn Small, Learn Fast, and Unlock Your Potential to Achieve Anything: Robert Twigger.

Tool(s)

• Diigo — Not only can you filter your online resources in this social bookmark system but you can also annotate PDF’s, import Kindle highlights, and create outlines. I actually created the outline for this post in this app.
• Google Alerts — Set alerts for topics you are interested in or even better ones that you know you need to learn more about.

Book Review: Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden

Ever since reading Dan Barber's book The Third Plate I have been passionately exploring the world beyond merely eating organic. Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden is absolutely perfect for Pacific Northwest readers who want to take the next step beyond eating organically to consuming food that is geographically and seasonally based. Did I mention that Joshua McFadden actually worked for Dan Barber's Blue Hill restaurant prior to becoming Chef/Owner at Ava Gene's in Portland? No wonder I loved this book so much!

I have tested out several of the recipes from the book and my family and friends thoroughly enjoyed them. While I initially received a galley in order to review the book,  I just purchased it because I am planning to cook from it tonight. Tonight I will either be making the Pan-Roasted Carrots with Carrot Top Salsa Verde, Avocado, and Seared Squid or the Cream of Celery Soup. The ultimate sign of a great cookbook to me is one that you know you will keep returning to season after season. 

Also, if you feel like you might need a little inspiration before delving into a cookbook like this, I would highly recommend the movie Haute Cuisine about a feisty Chef who prepares geographically based meals for a French President.

Case Study: Special Event Keys

We have been working with Madeleine of Special Event Keys for two months now, and have had an awesome time helping to take the brand's social media to the next level. Keep an eye on Special Event Keys as their new website is launching soon!  

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SOCIAL MEDIA

As a business owner it can be challenging to juggle all of the demands of a brand from product creation, business development, administration to more! That is why Uncommon Cartography considers it a privilege to help bring a client's vision and products to life through their social media. We realize that social media is only one touch point along the customer journey but its an important one!

We audited Special Event Keys existing social media content, made recommendations, then developed a content strategy which would enable them to reach their target audiences. After identifying our strategy we partnered with local photographer, Danny Owens, to produce a variety of custom images from product flatlays to lifestyle photography. 

BEFORE

View fullsize

Social Media Feed - Before UC Audit

AFTER 

Social Media Feed - After UC Audit + Content Strategy Development

INFLUENCER OUTREACH

At Uncommon Cartography we pride ourselves on the relationships we have with influencers, edge players, and tastemakers across a variety of industries. We work with clients to identify mutually beneficial relationships for their campaigns. As the gig or freelance economy continues to evolve it is important to stay connected and understand these dynamics. We help provide our clients with the latest information, ex. just because an "influencer" may have a large following, this does not necessarily mean their posts will convert to engagement or sales. Our goal is to identify the right individuals and build lasting relationships that lead to brand growth for our clients.

INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN RESULTS

While our campaign is currently running we wanted to show you a preview of our results. Below are the results of just two influencer posts.

SERVICES

• Social Media Audit
• Social Media Content Strategy
• Creative Producer of New Product Photography 
• Content Creation
• Audience Engagement 
• Influencer Outreach
• Blogging (Website launching soon!)

As we mentioned social media is one touch point in a customer's buying cycle. We work with clients to identify their marketing needs and create custom packages that integrate and amplify all efforts taking place.

Let us help you take your social media or marketing to the next level, schedule a consultation with us by emailing info@uncommoncartography.com.

Why Should You Consider Eating Seasonally And Locally?

“As we transform our lifestyles, we transform ourselves.”

— Juliet B. Schor, Boston University

I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be a conscious consumer in a fast fashion, fast paced, fast everything society. While it can be easy to identify a single area we are passionate about, it can be more challenging to put all of our habits and patterns under the microscope of examination. Honestly, it can be downright uncomfortable. We live in a "you be you" society of individualism and seem to think if we keep pretending everything isn't interconnected then maybe just maybe the illusion will hold for a bit longer.

Let's be real. Something needs to change, a lot of things need to change. But change can be overwhelming. Where do we start when we live in a city and not everyone has access to a farm? I recently had a client incorporate a living wall into their restaurant which can be a great place to start, this blog features some ideas which are inspiring me to take action. #babysteps

Celebrated chef, dedicated farmer and food industry revolutionary Dan Barber is leading a fight to change the way we think about, and grow, our food.

“In the industrial era, humans lost touch with much of what they knew about how to tap nature’s bounty without destroying it. Moreover, we failed to make much progress in generating sophisticated new ecological knowledge, in comparison with the pace of discovery in other fields.”

— Juliet B. Schor, True Wealth

The above Exxon commercial is a prime example of what is possible when the pace of discovery in ecological fields catches up to the innovation which is happening in other areas (better later than never). The only way that corporations will be encouraged to invest in this areas is if there is a consumer demand. This is where eating seasonally and locally comes in. The reality is being a conscious consumer is not easy and more often than not the process can be overwhelming, disappointing and frustrating.

I recently brought a group of friends with me to visit 21 Acres in Woodinville and while I absolutely love the concept, I was saddened by the limited products and uninspired or out of touch merchandising of the farmers/vendors that were represented. Let's be real the options for eating seasonally and locally more often than not leave something to be desired when it comes to selection and pricing. Not everyone who wants to eat healthy and fresh is going to be interested in a garbanzo bean brownie. Tasty options that tap into seasonal and local products need to be provided to engage consumers.

This is where you and I can put our creative skills to work. If we begin using our purchase power to show producers that this is an area we are interested in, then just maybe innovation and competition will increase. I think we can all agree that micro solutions can contribute to large-scale change. We have seen it happen time and time again. 

I would love to hear from you if this is an area you are passionate about or interested in learning more about. I am trying to find my tribe - because I can't be the only one out there that is interested in this topic but also doesn't necessarily want to go full on vegan :) I believe there is a place for us who enjoy meat but also want to live more in rhythm with the seasons and closer to the land.

Resources For Further Reading

• Six Seasons By Joshua McFadden: I am currently reviewing this book for NetGalley and feel it is very timely. The author of the book Joshua McFadden actually came from Dan Barber's Blue Hill prior to moving to Portland to become the chef and owner of Ave Genes . I appreciate how the book is broken down by season yet also includes an entire section on brining, in case you like me might be interested in cracking open a jar of sunshine in the winter. 
• Seasonal Cornucopia: I am newly obsessed with this tool! I love how you can put in the month and it tells you everything from veggies to cheeses that are in season. The tool is by Cook Local and was created so that chefs, restaurateurs, home cooks and gardeners in the greater Puget Sound Region of the Pacific Northwest can use to easily identify when local foods are in season.
• The Third Plate By Dan Barber: This guy is a tremendous inspiration! I heard him speak several years ago at a Town Hall in Seattle and it pretty much rocked my world. He speaks of not just eating organic but geographically as well, about the value of farmers who move away from monocropping to polyculture in which crops are rotated to put nutrients back into the soil and how consumers can support those efforts. 
• True Wealth By Juliet B. Schor: I just recently discovered Juliet B. Schor, I know I know, where have I been? Now that I have found her writing, she seems to synchronistically be popping up everywhere. If you watched the documentary Minimalism on Netflix then her name will be familiar to you.

Photography By: Josiah Michael