Blog: Stephanie Smith

By Stephanie Smith | 08.31.10, 3:23pm

I've been writing here on Shareable about how to get neighborhoods organized for sharing, and one big reason to do so is the money neighbors can save when they operate in tandem as a group. Neighbors are de facto groups, connected by proximity, and often with shared goals, values, and experiences. When they're organized with intention, neighbors can start to utilize group economic techniques, and save big.

How to Reinvent the Potluck

By Stephanie Smith | 08.27.10, 4:39pm

There is a powerful social aspect to sharing. It may seem obvious, but it takes two people to share. And sharing works even better with three, five, ten or even 50 people all sharing in group format. Sharing is social. And therefore maintaining healthy social relationships among sharers is a must. Call it trust-building.

Six Ways to Start Sharing

By Stephanie Smith | 08.24.10, 3:03pm

Resource-sharing can be deeply fulfilling, but also frustratingly difficult, especially at the outset.

The Architecture of Sharing

By Stephanie Smith | 08.20.10, 2:06pm

Architecture can both dictate, and facilitate, our behaviors. Christopher Alexander’s influential A Pattern Language illustrates the concept best. His book explores the underlying code, or “pattern,” found in our environments. For example:

Finding the Balance

By Stephanie Smith | 08.17.10, 3:31pm

In response to my first post Vlad Solodovnyk writes:

To share is human.

How's that for a statement? We share a planet, languages, ideas. Individualism in extreme forms is self-deception: nobody can claim their life to be somehow independent from their mother, society, friends, and neither would it have been desirable in any way.

Individualism is self-deception. How true.

Dear Facebook, You Call That Sharing? (Towards a Sharing Manifesto)

By Stephanie Smith | 08.13.10, 12:11pm

The resource-sharing movement is building, but to get it to the next level (where sharing is a natural, easy part of our daily lives) we need more people to dive in and start doing it. The more people do it, the better we’ll get at it, and the more incentive there will be for entrepreneurs to develop products and services to help us do it even better.

Manifestos have a way of crystallizing movements and galvanizing folks into new patterns of behavior. Remember Obama’s Yes We Can? That was a manifesto.

I think it’s time for a sharing manifesto.

Cross-Breeding

By Stephanie Smith | 08.09.10, 2:51pm

I’d say that we’re on the cusp of a cultural/societal shift of great import when Republican David Brooks effectively promotes communitarianism over individualism. His take on finding a life’s purpose (“The Summoned Self”/NYTimes.com) is nothing short of inspiring.