I've often talked about the concept of "golden co-commitments", a type of mutual commitment where you're there for someone and they're there for you. When you're able, when your life is well-balanced and your resources are plentiful, you make it a point to lend a hand to others who need it. It's this philosophy of looking out for one another that I deeply believe in.
I'm driven by the idea of extending this philosophy further, by bringing it into a community setting. My goal is to be part of at least one community where every member maintains a golden co-commitment with each other and the community as a whole. This idea is rooted in the belief that your personal well-being is intimately tied to the well-being of the individual members of your community.
When everything in your life is going well — when you, your family, your work are thriving — you invest that excess capacity back into the community. The premise is that everyone in the community is working towards the same vision: creating a "Golden Age" for humanity. It's about individual progress, yes, but it's also about supporting each other's journeys.
I'm committed to making this idea come to life in the form of a "Golden Age Guild". A guild where we help each other and collaborate to create things that we could not create alone. It could be anything — startups, art, festivals — you name it. I want everyone to feel that their agreement with the group, their commitment to other members, is as serious and meaningful as any other commitment they've made in their lives.
In this envisioned Golden Age Guild, an essential part of our ethos is that everyone is walking their Golden Path. The Golden Path is a path towards not just individual growth but collective advancement as well. It's about understanding one's unique skills, passions, and potentials, and then leveraging them to contribute meaningfully to our shared goal. The aim is not only to help every Guild member reach their fullest potential but also to make strides towards a Golden Age for all of humanity. Learn more about the Golden Path here: The Golden Path
This Golden Age I speak of is a time characterized by universal human flourishing. It's an era where everyone thrives and ecosystems sustainably thrive too. Every member of the Guild walking their Golden Path will be contributing to this grand vision.
I've yet to experience such a community or guild, but it's something I deeply desire to be part of. The idea is to establish a space where the members are fully dedicated to each other's well-being, the collective progress of the guild, and humanity’s future.
The Guild would not just be a network of professionals, but something like a close-knit family. It would be a space where members treat each other with the same care and support as they would their own kin.
- For instance, if a Guild member needs to travel to a location for a valid reason and another Guild member has an empty room available, the latter would offer their spare room. They would house their fellow Guild member for as long as it practically makes sense, treating them like they would a family member. Hospitality would be a fundamental virtue within the Guild.
- When it comes to opportunities such as job openings, we would prioritize our own. Say there are two candidates for a role, and one of them is a Guild member who's just as qualified as the other candidate. Without hesitation, we'd choose the Guild member. This is because we believe in investing in our own community and helping each other progress professionally.
- In times of crisis, the Guild would step up. If a Guild member finds themselves in a difficult situation, the rest of us would rally around to provide support. We would help them navigate their challenges, just as a family would.
This is the kind of Guild I dream of - a space of mutual aid, support, and deep commitment to one another's wellbeing. A Guild where everyone is committed to the same grand vision, but also to each other's individual journeys. It's more than just a community, it's a family moving together towards a golden age for all.