Welcome to Valley Zen – Share Your Story

32 Comments so far

1. Howard Rheingold 01.30.08 at 11:51 am

   Congratulations on your brand new blog! I look forward to following it. For some reason, Bloglines doesn’t see an RSS feed here.

2. Diane von Rivenburgh 01.30.08 at 11:58 am

   Dear Dru – thank you for including me in this wonderful and enlightening method of sharing our experiences here in our wonderful community. I have lived here for 54+ years and have many experiences I will mull over before I share the more interesting ones. I look forward to reading all of the contributor’s revelations and gaining an even better appreciation of our lives here.
   Sincerely,
   Diane

3. Drue 01.30.08 at 12:01 pm

   In the Zen tradition, Bill and I start our blog with a question.

   Here’s my Valley Zen Answer.

   My recent project took a simple idea. One brush stroke, the Zen circle known as the Enso.

   The project’s simplicity allowed people to fill the Enso with their own experiences and perspectives.

   This made it both personal and powerful.

   I think the same holds for technological products like the austere home page of Google or the clean design of the iPod.

   What do you think?

4. Mary Ames 01.30.08 at 4:10 pm

   Thank you for sharing the launch of your new blog. I look forward to enlightening visits.

5. Christine 01.30.08 at 6:55 pm

   A Chinese proverb reads ‘“To talk too much and arrive nowhere is the same as climbing a tree to catch a fish” – may I respectfully disagree! In Ireland there is a tradition of storytelling. Blogging (in my humble opinion) has brought storytelling to the 21st century. Congratulations Drue and Bill, storytelling is an age-old tradition that should be preserved from generation to generation. As you provide me with plenty of food for thought and as I adopt a Zen tradition I will start with a question…”Is the journey really the reward”? I should add, my entire life has been spent focused on the technology tradition!

6. PHIL ZIMBARDO 01.30.08 at 7:11 pm

   Drue,
   glad to see your talents that were so evident in my psychology courses at Stanford move you in this new direction. You are an ever evolving butterfly playing a golden flute to make the world filled with harmony and love.

   Please also check out my new web site, www,luciferEffect.com,
   it does more than promote my new book, it raises interesting issues about theology and psychology, about the nature of everyday heroes, how to resist unwanted influences, and many other curiosities about human nature.

   Ciao Bella,
   Dr.Z.

7. Drue 01.30.08 at 7:38 pm

   *Howard, aka Mr. SmartMobs you are always first on the web. You are the historic first Valley Zen commenter.

   *Diane, great you are joining us on the Valley Zen journey.

   *Mary—I too look forward to moments of enlightenment and satori from our distinguished community of readers and subscribers.

   *Christine, —Your thoughtful response brings alive the vibrant narrative thread–weaving back and forth from ancient traditions to the now-ness of Silicon Valley.

   *Prof. Zimbardo, the expert on good and evil himself—–the mind of man and the mind of the machine.

8. Martin 01.30.08 at 8:17 pm

   Unique and full of beautiful thoughts as you are so often, Drue.

   I wonder if Bill would convey my regards to Hank West with whom I had dealings at Ampex in Redwood City decades ago.

9. Sam Gordon 01.30.08 at 8:50 pm

   Bill- As I said on the phone this afternoon, what a wonderful idea. Zen and technology; Why is Silicon Valley so full of anxiety? The lack of any one to accept what is and to sit back and enjoy . In my mind, much of it is about the black swan. Relax, one can’t know when a black swan will upset your plans. Once I came to that realization, rest (not the) was easy.

10. Jason F. 01.30.08 at 11:20 pm

    Looking forward to the stories that will come from this fountain!

11. Dhaval 01.31.08 at 12:25 am

    This is an exciting blog. Looking forward to further updates.

12. Caroline Simard 01.31.08 at 7:53 am

    When I heard about Valley Zen through Drue, I came to the site and became intrigued. To me, the notions of “Silicon Valley” and “Zen” seemed like oxymorons.

    Zen evokes calm and simplicity, while Silicon Valley evokes multitasking, long work hours and a 24/7 online presence (and with globalization, many of my friends are on the phone with India at all hours of the night!)

    I look forward immensely to be challenged on this blog to reconcile Valley and Zen, and read about all of your Zen experiences in the Valley!

    Caroline

13. Blerina 01.31.08 at 10:06 am

    I am very excited to be included in this Blog! My work day has already been grealy inspired. I look forward to a great journey together.

14. Kris Harikrishnan 01.31.08 at 10:46 am

    Congratulations on starting the blog! While Silicon Valley cuts through the clutter and bureaucracy which is found in other regions, the people who run these companies in Silicon Valley can make use of Zen principles to simplify life. I am sure Valley Zen will explore this further.

15. Amanda 01.31.08 at 12:47 pm

    What a unique concept! Though coming from a unique woman I am not at all surprised. I look forward to reading more!

16. Lauren Flanagan 01.31.08 at 2:22 pm

    Like the concept, Drue. LOVE the image. Please keep adding them–your imagery is extraordinary! I recently saw a calligraphy exhibit at the Shanghai Museum. Many of the artists used a red stamp similar to yours above. It will be interesting to watch you two flip the coin on these opposite and complementary topics.

    For a few laughs along the way, check out one of my new portfolio companies, ComicWonder.com. They are restoring the art of audio joke telling over the web–it’s not a joke until it’s told. As part of my due diligence, I posted one you might enjoy about Socrates, called “Shag that Dog.”

    Cheers

17. Tristan Naramore 01.31.08 at 2:31 pm

    Drue, your question is something of koan, is it not? As Caroline points out, the values of Zen and those of the hyper-entrepreneurial Valley don’t seem all that aligned.

    I work as a user experience designer for many Silicon Valley startups, including ebay (“the world’s biggest startup” they call themselves). My job is to find the path of least resistance for a software user trying to accomplish his or her goals. This involves a fairly rigorous analysis of all the factors at play, including understanding the people who will be using the software, the business goals of the enterprise making the software, and the limits of the technology. Most businesses are beginning to “get” the idea of User Centered Design, which is supposed to make any product simpler and easier to use (i.e., more usable).

    So what do users really want? With the exception of hardcore geeks, people want instant gratification without having to figure out how to use something complex. They want to be commanders of their virtual worlds. (I think of Captain Picard at the bridge of the Enterprise intoning, “Make it so!” and it just happens.) This is the promise of all technology: Less effort for more gain.

    Ok, so as I understand Zen (and I’d count myself as a Theravada Buddhist, so I am by no means a Zen authority nor adherent), the goal is “non-self” attained through hard work. This is exactly opposite to technology’s aims (unless you consider Zen itself a class of “technology”).

    I’ll come back to this later, but real life is calling me away to my fatherly duties. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this discussion unfolds.

18. Thomas Han 01.31.08 at 3:30 pm

    looking forward to the Zen related posts

19. Ashley 01.31.08 at 8:01 pm

    Looks like you are doing wonderful work. I look forward to watching this site progress! Best, Ashley

20. cynthia cannady 01.31.08 at 10:35 pm

    Anything Bill does will be creative and serious, so I am looking forward to this. I want to hear from him and from Drue the relationship between these two topics.

21. Drue 01.31.08 at 11:18 pm

    Tristan, I agree that a goal of Zen is non-self through hard work. This is exactly what Silicon Valley entrepreneurs do day in and day out, working around the clock in service of their users and technological progress. Like in Zen, the ultimate expression of technologists’ hard work is something that looks very simple to the user, although it has many layers of meaning, (so in a way Google’s home page has parallels to a Basho haiku). Also great technologists and entrepreneurs work in the name of great ideas, not for money (See John Doerr on missionaries vs. mercenaries).

    Finally, the fact that one who is not fully versed in every aspect of Zen can enjoy a Basho haiku, and that one who has no background in information retrieval can use Google’s searchbox is a testament to the greatness of this poetry and technology. It does not imply that the searchbox or the haiku are somehow inferior or utilitarian. Easy for the user does not mean easy to create.

22. Sanford 02.01.08 at 4:07 am

    Drue – continue your vision and growth my dear. I look forward to your paths…

23. Merredith 02.01.08 at 8:32 am

    Bill Fenwick is one of my favorite people in the Valley, with that ability to gently cut through to the heart of the matter without aggression or chest-beating — that must be the Zen of it.

    I am totally looking forward to this blog, and to Drue’s contributions as well — to this intersection. Well done!

24. John Dunstan 02.01.08 at 12:09 pm

    Congratulations Drue and Bill

    Simplicity is indeed the key

    As someone with parallel careers in music and event marketing, I can tell you that, on the long road of preparation toward a major industry event, or the search for just the right R&B groove, what begins as a mass of wandering parts somehow comes together into a simple singular perfect form.

    And it’s always such an amazing journey getting there

    JD

25. Mauro Magnani 02.01.08 at 12:48 pm

    Drue,

    thanks & “Cyberly”!
    –
    MM

26. Taylor Barcroft 02.02.08 at 4:28 am

    Congrats. Noticed your copywrite footer says 2007 instead of 2008. Typo?
    Taylor

27. John Hargraves 02.04.08 at 12:05 pm

    Thank you for sharing. I am touched by the concept and I wish you much success.

28. Bill Fenwick 02.04.08 at 12:14 pm

    Martin

    I will indeed past on your greetings to Hank. He is retired now living in San Diego but I see him once or twice a year.

    Thank you for your comment

    Merredith

    We will try not to disappoint you.

    Cynthia

    There is a large intersection. The biggest challenge is in deciding how to communicate exciting thoughts without increasing anxiety. There is such demand for content by the exploded media that I need to caution my interest to better restrain the selection so that I concentrate on information about things I can affect and avoid those things I cannot.

    Sam

    Age and failures have a lot to teach. Instinct in the end is the best guide as long as it does not cause you to question if what you say was a black swan.

    Christine

    Children and grandchildren will keep the story tradition alive. Those questions like: “When you were little did you …? When daddy/momma was my age did they really do/see/say/know/…?

29. Deepika Bajaj 02.07.08 at 2:32 pm

    Hello Drue

    Congratulations! This is very exciting.
    Here is my zen entrepreneurial experience:

    “Working on a memorable (WOW) project. If the project is not WOW, you know thyself, you look at the world so differently… and make it WOW…or bust trying!”

    Looking forward to your interview on Invincibelle.

    All the best,
    Deepika

30. Erryn 02.07.08 at 6:22 pm

    This blog is fabulous, Drue! I look forward to reading all your posts and everyone’s comments. How exciting!

31. Ron Gutman 02.17.08 at 4:32 pm

    Congratulations Drue,
    this is a WONDERFUL blog!
    Simplicity, preferring action over theory, staying clear and clean, being intuitive…how easy it sounds to follow, and how often we find ourselves stirring away from these fine guidelines before we even realize it…
    Thanks for sharing your thought, your feelings and your art with everyone – they are beautiful and inspiring…

32. Durga 02.22.08 at 10:48 pm

    Thank You for sharing your Blog Drue. Kris has talked a lot about you. Zen and Valley seem very relevant in the increasingly complex world. It is good to see a blog devoted to discuss topics such as calmness and compusure on the same level as technology.

    I certainly believe in the Zenness of things…and as a parent appreciate the value of Zen in as complex a task as raising children in the Silicon valley. Look forward to discussions and thoughts on this topic and many more…

    Durga

Leave a Comment

©2008 Drue Kataoka and Bill Fenwick. All Rights Reserved
No Paintings can be used without express permission of Drue.