Author: Sarah K Peck

Let’s Make It Rain. And You’re Invited.

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

How far would you go for clean water?
(All images in this post from Charity:Water’s 2010 Haiti trip.)

Updates to the Birthday Swim Campaign!

I’ve got some pretty good news. So exciting, I can barely stand it.  Six weeks ago we set out to raise $29,000 for my 29th birthday Charity: Water birthday fundraiser. Did I think I could do it? Um, No. I had no idea if I could do it, and I wondered whether we’d be able to raise even raise $290.

It was pretty nerve-wracking. I made a big statement: I said I’d swim naked from Alcatraz to San Francisco–if we raised the sum total of 29 big thousands.

So where are we today, six weeks later? Continue reading “Let’s Make It Rain. And You’re Invited.”

“To those I love.”

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

This post is in memory of my lovely, beautiful grandmother whose memorial party I had the joy of attending this past weekend.

I am blessed to be surrounded by curious, fascinating, lovely family who chatter, chirp, and move like I do. We gathered to celebrate of the life of an amazing woman–my mother’s mother–who brought to life so many of my favorite people: my siblings, my mom, my cousins, my future descendants, my aunt and uncle, my relatives.

In the afternoon we spent with each of her friends and close colleagues, I learned story after story of her life, of things I knew and didn’t know–and above all, was grounded with a sense of how much my grandmother did for others, and for her community: she loved being active, she loved events, she knew how to throw a killer parties, she was crafty and full of ideas, and she couldn’t stop making things and putting things together. Born of another generation, I get so much of who I am from her, and I am grateful. Continue reading ““To those I love.””

Prizes, prizes, and more prizes! Donate to the water adventure and WIN BIG. Oh, and help the world.

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

Magic doesn’t happen without a whole lotta hustle.

With the start of a dream, you put your thoughts to the world, you whisper a promise, you believe that something is possible—and then you get out there and you chase it.

On July 12, I opened my big mouth and made a promise. We made a promise—you all made a promise. In fact, 225 of you have already jumped on board, as well as a whole lot of companies, start-ups and organizations.

Then the Huffington Post even featured it.

Amazing.

But we’re not done yet!

Nope, not even close.

(You don’t stop hustling until you’re done. Quick movie trivia–who said it? “Never stop–Never stop fighting until the fighting is done.” Answer here.) Continue reading “Prizes, prizes, and more prizes! Donate to the water adventure and WIN BIG. Oh, and help the world.”

The Proust Questionnaire

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

On wandering and lost conversations.

Do you have a minute to wander? How about an hour to stop, pause, reflect, and think? Take notebook, some scratch paper, a word-document (if you’re brave, and can trust yourself not to wander over to the vast glorious internet pages in the middle of a thought stream, then do it on some online forum–personally, I, at times, cannot trust myself to navigate the internet-world-of-focus, and thus devote my wanderings strictly to pen-and-paper, humoring myself in a cubby-hole in nature, watching in silence and thinking, speculating, pontificating. But already I digress).

If you don’t have an hour to wander, ask yourself for a few minutes: why not? What are you doing instead, and what is taking up the time? The best part(s) of my week are the four to ten hours I spend analyzing, reflecting, planning, and escaping the manic nature of the “doing” to think and observe on what I’m trying to achieve in the macro. Coupled with action is an ability to wander, explore, and lean into new realms first within your mind, and soon after, with action. Continue reading “The Proust Questionnaire”

“What I Do”

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

Option 1: Landscape Architect, Explorer 

What do I do?

I never know how to answer this question. Do I start with swimming? Architecture? Writing? All of the people and things and quirks I love about San Francisco? My incessant love of traveling? I’m never sure how to answer or what people are really asking. I find the question a confusing one, and I think a lot of people find also it difficult. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. So for a while, I’ve been thinking about precisely this question: What are we really asking? What are we trying to find out about each other? Are the current answers we give and quip satisfactory? And how might we better answer it? (And lastly, what is it that I do, as an example–if you’re curious, I answer in long form, a style I do enjoy).

First: the question. In a previous post I asked whether or not the question, “What do you do?” is a bad question, and it generated several good, thoughtful questions. As I wrote:

“Is ‘what do you do?’ such a bad thing to ask? …I love the topic of this question, and I don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad question. Let’s look at the heart of why we ask it, and also, where it comes from. First, we ask the question because we want some way to find out–to hear–the stories of other people. We want to connect with other people and find common shared experiences that tell us whether or not we can understand them, become friends with them, get along with them, etc. We should pay attention first, to the intent of the question–is the asker curious? Do they want to connect with you?–before we judge them on the semantics or sophistication of their ability to connect. In short, be gracious with people who are inquiring earnestly. 

Second, the reason that we predominantly ask the question “What do you do?” — comes from a century of focusing solely on work and security as our livelihood. For the last several decades (or more specifically, 1930 – 1960) it was very important that you find a stable job, and you keep it. Couple that with a burgeoning corporate structure and a society that was embracing larger and larger businesses (and benefits, and corporate institutions), and the easiest and quickest way to figure out who someone was — was by asking what they did for a living.

We realize — and most people know — that asking “what do you do?” as the only question to probe into someone’s fascinating, interesting, complex set of stories is very superficial. There’s a lot more. And I think each of us can ASK more interesting questions and learn, once again, how to tell our stories to each other in a way that lets us connect. Because we’re human, and we’re curious, and we want to know what the other humans around us are, well, doing.  Continue reading ““What I Do””

You Have to Ask.

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

What happens when you don’t ask? Well, one thing’s for certain: You won’t find out.

So, ask. Say what you want. Often you can’t get what you want until you put yourself out there.

Will you like my Facebook page? How about my new Swimming page? And will you come find me on Twitter, if that’s where you are? 

Sure, that’s easy, you say. Of course I will. (*Whew!* My brain thinks. Man, I didn’t want to ask–what if they said no? Ahh, the lovely fear of rejection.)  

We don’t get what we don’t ask for.

So, what are you asking for? What do you want? What are the questions you have for other people? Here are a few things you can ask: Continue reading “You Have to Ask.”

“Desiderata,” by Max Ehrmann (1927)

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

Wandering through the Presidio National Park in San Francisco, and overlooking the San Francisco National Cemetery. Each and every human, past, present and future: You are all loved. 

Desiderata (Latin: “desired things”), is a 1927 poem by American writer Max Ehrmann (1872–1945). It’s one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Sometimes I can sit and chew on each of these sentences a couple of times, soak them in.

Desiderata.

“Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.”

Much love,

World Domination Summit: Day 2 and Beyond

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

Sometimes I get caught up in the whirlwind of the weeks that it’s hard for me to find time to sit down and write my posts – it’s been about a week and a half since the epic second rendition of WDS concluded, and I went straight back to work,  followed by a  weekend spent with the Bold Academy teaching another storytelling workshop; This week I’m traveling to two of our seven SWA offices to interview the partners in a new project recording the oral histories of a 55 year old firm. But more on all of this later–for now, I’m backtracking and catching up on the part two of an epic weekend itself: a weekend called World Domination.

As Chris says, there’s more than 160 posts out there that have recapped the weekend, so I’ll focus on my take-aways from the sessions that impacted me: World Domination, Day 2 – Sunday

This year, I was picked to lead one of the workshops – an event both terrifying and immensely satisfying; as part of my long-term goals, I want to get more involved in teaching and public speaking again. While I’ve worked for years as a swim coach and teacher, as well as a private instructor, formalizing my experience in the architecture and psychology worlds still feels new to me, and I’m joining toastmasters, taking acting classes and generally nerding up on all things public-speaking in order to continue to get better at it (As with everything I’m doing – I’m sure I’ll have resources coming soon!) For anyone with questions about public speaking or presentations, leave them in the comments – it will help me get better at doing it! But back to last weekend…

WORLD DOMINATION: DAY 2

Chris Guillebeau kicked off the event by reminding everyone that inspiration is nothing without action – everyone who comes to the conference to get inspired must also leave knowing that they are going to do something to make change in the world they see.

Now that a week has passed, I wonder: what are you taking action on this week? Have you taken steps to make shit happen? Have you mapped out a plan to keep yourself accountable? I have one goal for the next three months – and it involves 12 steps (or, once-weekly check-ins every Friday). What about you? Continue reading “World Domination Summit: Day 2 and Beyond”

Reading: Creativity, Talent + Marissa Mayer. Also: Urban Revival and Adults Making New Friends

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

What I’m Reading – July 18, 2012. Here’s a list of a few things I’m skimming and looking at.

  • Why Tech Is Driving More Urban Renewal – by Mark Suster. The shifting trend sees startups–and tech companies, entrepreneurs, colleagues, and VC’s–pushing to locate back into areas of social density where people want to be. From Twitter’s move back to SF to trends across other US cities, will urban migration patterns continue? One VC weighs in.
  • Creativity: “Want to be more creative? Pick a problem you care about and get to work.” Scott Berkun.
  • More Startup Talent Needed in STEM fields:  How American Can Get More Startup Talent – from June 2012. It turns out we still need more people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) jobs, and we’ll have a shortage in 2018, to the tune of about 250,000 people:

“This scarcity of talent has received a lot of attention in connection with high-flying Silicon Valley companies: Google threw around $100 and $50 million offers to keep their top talent from fleeing to Twitter, and some companies pay tens of thousands to recruiters for even junior talent. Startups feel the same pressure: TechCrunch describes a “war for talent” among young firms, and anyone who has chatted with the CEO of a fast-growing tech company knows how much time they devote to identifying and wooing top technical talent.”

  • Marissa Mayer was named CEO of Yahoo, which caused a flurry of attention, again, to the idea of women being at the top and the disparity between men and women in leadership; shortly after her appointment, she revealed she’s also having a baby boy this Fall. What do you think?
  • What about making friends when you’re older? The New York Times talks about the decline in making new friends post-college, post-summer camp, as a straggling adult. Is this true for you? I think it has to do with the sedentary nature of singular jobs and the lack of intermingling, and “networking” is today’s smarmy way of trying to figure out how to connect to other people. My opinion? It’s not just about getting people into the same room or location. We have to figure out ways to let people build trust through shared experiences—not necessarily easy ones, either—and things that change up the context or environment we’re in. Remember summer camp? Where’s summer camp for adults? (Don’t worry – I’m working on it).

100 Gratitudes, One Hundred Dollars, and the $29,000 Birthday Swim

Posted on by Sarah K Peck

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

We live in a world of abundance, and this is the year that I finally became worth nothing. Out of all the things that I worked through and built this year, the entire time I still had a bed to sleep in, a family close by, a job that I went to everyday and plenty of food to eat. A pool to swim in, places to run, a city to call home.

When I returned from WDS this year, I was humbled, quiet, confused, and a bit sad: despite all of the engagement, inspiration, and learning, I still wonder: Am I doing things worthwhile? I’m not sure yet. Is there more to do? Absolutely. Have I reached all of my capabilities? I don’t think so. Can I do more? Yes. There’s so much more I want to do.

But while I sit trying to figure it out, other people walk hundreds of miles trying to find the most precious resource of all – water. A drop of clear liquid, the power of life. Some people, however, don’t have the luxury of $100. Of food, water, or a roof over their head. Of a bed to sleep in at night. Of sanitation.

So today I’d like your help with a few things. Three things, in particular. Continue reading “100 Gratitudes, One Hundred Dollars, and the $29,000 Birthday Swim”