A little validation goes a long way...

So I got a call yesterday from a nice lady who saw our business card in Commodities Natural Foods in the East Village. It didn't result in any work at this point, but a connection was made and she liked the whole premise of DharmaBuilt - that service as path is indeed an important and worthwhile endeavor - particulary when it comes to small business or individuals. The type of work that I perform is readily accessible to larger organizations and there are innumerable agencies that are more than happy to charge a premium for such work. She echoed the idea that the 'little guy' needs such services as well and what better target markets than alternative medicine/healers, wellness, holistic services, yoga teachers, etc.?

It's the type of message that I most need to hear and this will keep me going - keep me trying to make it work.

I also had the 'traditional' telephone interview for a full-time, corporate online marketing job yesterday. After the interview was over, I felt that it's really unfortunate that we as a society condone, support and even create the need for people to assume 'roles' that are not in keeping with their (our) authentic selves. I mean, corporate job interviews are EXACTLY the venues in which we assume a particular role and portray ourselves in such a way so that we appear more pleasing to the interviewer or hiring manager. They set us up to embellish, manipulate, lie or simply censor the truth about ourselves. It's like the interviewer wants us to answer a 'one-size-fits all' script when in fact we are all so very, very different and unique that what possible script would be applicable? How can we measure the true value of individuals based upon such limited measurements? Once again it's the 'black and white' of credentials, experience and accomplishments on a resume - and nothing to do with who we really are - what life means to us, what we love, what inspires us, what makes us sad, what makes us angry, who are our heros, who are our villains, what are our dreams, etc.?

No wonder so many of us are feeling dispossessed and somewhat betrayed by our society and its pervasive and warped materialistic orientation. I find myself contemplating the extremes of the Paris Hiltons and the Osama Bin Ladens of the world - and begin to understand the forces that create both. How do we as a society and the human race find the middle way?

OM Shantih,

~b

Welcome to the launch of DharmaBuilt and The Dharma-Blog

As usual this project grew exponentially and I'm finally getting just the beginnings of DharmaBuilt up. Much, much more is to come over the next few weeks. What started-out as a small project to basically serve as a portfolio/personal Web site for both Dana and me, turned into something that took on its own life. It's certainly ironic that these things take on a whole different meaning and context as we 'step into them' - particularly when they are part of who we REALLY are by nature. I suppose that if it's part of 'right-alignment', that it's a good thing. If not, then it's just another example of my own obsessing over details! I prefer and believe the former.

I've enjoyed (somewhat) my refresher course in HTML/CSS/JavaScript! A great designer I don't claim to be - that's what I've always arranged for others to do - but as a Web Project Manager and Consultant, it's certainly helpful to have some chops to throw down now and then. My thing is that I'm the consumate generalist - I know a little about a LOT of different stuff on the Web. And I've got some great friends and contacts I've developed over the years to help do some amazing things online.

I also hope that this blog finally gets me into the habit of 'journaling' and I'll try to keep it interesting and informative about a wide range of topics.

So, we'll just have to see where this goes. See if it is DharmaBuilt...

OM Shantih,

~b