The 30 minute discussion is as multi-dimensional as my days: we talk about Indy Hall & coworking, my work at Wildbit on Beanstalk and Postmark, and of course the topic of my ETE talk: my work at Pro World in giving their number one cost center – their e-commerce website and infrastructure – a fundamental makeover.

I tried not to give away too many goodies about that talk. So even if you’re coming to ETE, get that podcast episode synced to your favorite podcast-listening-device. And if you’re not coming to the conference on April 10th – maybe you should. Tickets are $375 until February 15th then $450 until the event, and from what I hear are likely to sell out!

Doers see something they don’t like, and do something to change it. Talkers see something they don’t like and tell everyone how much they don’t like it, but never do anything about it. Wishers see something they don’t like and tell themselves in the head over and over how much they wished things were different.

Doers attract doers. Talkers attract wishers.

Doers like to be around other doers. Being around people who not only want to change things, but actually change things helps the doers keep doing. Meanwhile, talkers tend to hang out with other talkers and surround themselves with wishers who will listen to the talkers talk about how they would change everything if they were in charge. This makes the talkers feel important and makes the wishers feel like someone else might actually change things for them.

I think one of the main reasons that Indy Hall is a nexus of doers is because it was started by doers – and I’m not talking about myself.

I’m talking about some of the most fantastic people in Philadelphia who chose to do it with me.

JFDI.

Indyhall has also provided Hillman with a fresh sense of belonging in his longtime home. “There is no identity within citizenship for me,” he explains. “The old way was to pick up trash, vote, pay your taxes. I think there’s a level of involvement that people crave, that’s why things like Indyhall work.”

Those efforts radiate out into the larger community. “[Members] want to be good citizens of Indyhall,” says Hillman. “The sneak attack is that Indyhall is a good citizen of Philadelphia because we’re helping bring people together, helping new businesses form and helping produce things. By being a good citizen of Indyhall they’re being a good citizen of Philadelphia.”

Well look at that. Indy Hall and our cohousing collaboration with Postgreen Homes & DIGSAU is one of the features in this month’s Philadelphia Magazine titled, “The Indy Hall Experiment“.

Too many people to thank for this. Thank you to everyone at Indy Hall who has inspired me, and for who has given me the opportunity to inspire them. Without the people at Indy Hall, there would be no story worth telling.

Meet BioCurious.

We believe that innovations in biology should be accessible, affordable, and open to everyone. We’re building a community biology lab for amateurs, inventors, entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to experiment with friends.

Holy crap. If I was anywhere near this place I’d be hanging out here. It sounds like an incredible petri dish of science-y goodness. (See what I did there?).

I’m hopeful that this is successful and sustainable. Having seen first hand what happens when you put  scientists, artists, engineers, business people, and more in a room and just let things happen – this place sounds like it’s going to produce some really unique results.

And it goes without saying that I have to think something like this could do EXTREMELY well in Philadelphia, given the BioTech roots of this city. I think accessibility and a strong community orientation is the defining attribute in this initiative compared to anything that I know about already existing in Philly.

P.s. It looks like they’re looking for administrative help. If you’re not sure what to do with your life but think it might have something to do with science, check the bottom of this post out. And then go at it headfirst like Parker did at Indy Hall.