The Power of an Expedition; Seattle Part 1. Farnam Street

Last week (22nd October 2019), I journeyed to Seattle to attend Farnam Street's amazing workshop Re:Think Innovation. Hosts Shane, Alex, Neil, and Vicky did a special thing; they led with warmth, generosity, and intelligence.

But what happened next really surprised me…

I fell in love with Seattle, and had my heart broken by Vancouver Island.

First to the love story. Wednesday; was my day to explore a city known for its liberal thinking, innovation culture, and rising tech dominance. Seattle did not disappoint, with back to back sunshine I was given the best of a city which faces the Pacific Ocean, receiving deep cold blasts of fresh ocean energy; the salty sea was an ever present reminder of how small us humans are but how big an impact we can have.

My experience of Seattle is a city with two identities. The first is a downtown region with its tree lined avenues and glinting skyscrapers tells the world of its riches and ambition; the trees which share the sidewalk create an autumnal colour display, and are a welcome reminder of nature’s proximity and importance. The second is the up-on-a-hill thriving communities, who have a cool yet low rise aesthetic, which is just dirty and broken enough to be welcoming and relaxing – it’s perfect because it not perfect.

The ever-present threat of rain gives Seattle exactly what it needs; a tempering. My experience of the “Seattleites” was of a people who take life with a pinch of salt; projecting a deep sense of “live and let live”. They were extremely welcoming and engaging, never once did I experience the famed “Seattle Freeze”.

A city with 7 hills…

Surrounding the heart of this city are 7 hills, they give the city a West Coast topography more famed by San Francisco. I chose a BnB called the Gaslight Inn in the Capital Hill area away from the skyscrapers and downtown thrum, hoping to also experience the true community which makes Seattle what it is. I was not disappointed. 

If you decide upon Seattle as a destination, I would strongly recommend staying in the Capital Hill area. Each day you’ll have a chance to descend with the locals from your hilltop retreat skipping with gravity past intriguing shops, chattering homeless souls, and through clouds of heady herbal aromas. It’s a perfect allegory for what is to come. Use the 20-minute descent as a chance to gather your thoughts and reflect on all that assails you.

My top destination…

Given the time we have together I will give you the quick 1 day’s advice. Stay in Capital Hill, and head for Pikes Market, and then just get lost. There are so many things to see and do, Amazon Go shops with their spooky shoplifting-like vibe, coffee shop culture offering a buzzing oasis wherever you turn, axe throwing, donuts, marijuana, fish, food, clothes, art, and books! It’s all here and the choice is yours, listen, learn, enjoy.

Shane Parrish, Farnam Street, The Knowledge Project, Re:Think Innovation…

The catalyst for this entire expedition was the work of the indomitable Shane Parrish. For many, Shane’s work will require no introduction, but for those of you not familiar I’d point you to the Farnam Street blog. In Shane’s own words; “Master the best of what other people have already figured out. Use mental models to think in a multidisciplinary way, avoid problems, and live a meaningful life.” Dear reader, please do sign up to the Farnam Street blog, you will not be disappointed. The work that Shane, Alex, and team create is entirely worth exploring – and I can attest to their sincerity in achieving a positive impact on the world.

Re:Think Innovation – Seattle…

The event took place on the first floor room of the Pan Pacific Hotel, where we were treated to a skyline view of the iconic Seattle Space Needle. The ever present rain was welcoming for this Englishman. And when the sunshine finally broke through on the second day, it was an external manifestation of the internal journey I had experienced.

During the two-day event, we split into small working groups of 5, whose diverse makeup gave our interactions a real edge. But most importantly, each and every person I met was smart and insightful – a very welcome discovery. The lessons were expertly led by Shane and Neil – their Canadian cadence and warmth made me feel very much at home.

We explored innovation models, how to develop ideas, the mental blocks we have when creating, and the mental models that support ideation. Needless to say, I learnt a lot from this workshop. And given that these 50 person experiences sell out in less than 70 minutes (!), you’ll have some sense of the value others receive.

Dinner was shared, coffee was drunk, laughs roared, quiet reflection taken, and friendships started.

And it all ended with a toast!

What more could you want?...

A Farnam Street embroidered Patagonia jumper (Sweater if you’re North American)! What a kind gift, and most appreciated – it’s an identifiable moniker for those who believe in challenging their own mental models, finding new and exciting ideas, and sharing kindness with the world.

I wear mine with pride.

In my next article, I will take you to the beautiful nature of Vancouver Island. Sitting on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, the West Coast facing wilderness is both stunning in its natural treasures, yet devastating due to the environmental crimes being exacted by the logging industry. More to follow…

For now, here are my key reflections from a much appreciated and cherished Seattle expedition.

1. Starting a learning expedition with solitary exploration, and then going into nature and simplifying living conditions. This sequence is an extremely important phase of expeditionary learning, allowing silent time for reflection and adaptation.
2. Open conversations lead to meaningful relationships – find the “reflections that led to the abstraction”. The route to meaningful conversations and thus more in depth understanding is to find out what led to a person’s “abstraction”. Ask what was the moment that created your insight or decision.
3. Outcome over Ego. It’s led me to focus on how important ideas are, and why clinging to ownership is so greedy and wrong.
4. Knowledge is the only true inheritance we can leave to the next generation.
5. Brain storming should be done alone first, then brought to a group; this avoids consensus thinking from emerging. 
6. Further explore Kathleen Eisenhardt’s work on Adaptive Tension state needed from Creative Systems and Control Systems https://profiles.stanford.edu/kathleen-eisenhardt

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the pictures from my trip. For now, keep seeking and thinking.

Be well,

William Laitinen