The Age of Soloing Has Begun
I love to solo things. And, that includes climbing. Lot’s people think I’m crazy. But soloing is one of the few times in life that I’m in control. Alive. It’s all up to me. No one else. Right now, I’m sitting here 800 feet above the ground in the middle of the vast sea of rock that is the 1st Flatiron, here in Boulder. With only a pair of climbing shoes to aid my progress. No rope. No protection. Every move becomes critical. It’s an action that has big consequences if not performed properly. There’s no other place I’d rather be. Every time I step up to a rock face to solo I’m scared. Yet, it is this fear that hones my attention and liberates me from the subjectivity of everyday life.
Digital technology has made it possible for us to do almost anything from anywhere. No longer do we need to work in a factory to make something. Look at Rep Rap. Likewise, companies no longer need to aggregate a lot of people in one place to get work done. Crowdsourcing is shifting this paradigm. The very nature of work and even our relationships with each other are changing. We are entering an age of soloing. How will you solo? Will you start a business? Will you create the next Twitter? Will you writing a blog? Will you do what you truly love? In this new age of soloing we all have to step off the ground and start a solo journey, fighting fear yet finding new joy. Are you ready?
