Bijoy Goswami Interview
I read an amazing book recently called the Human Fabric. It
resonated so strongly with me that I just had to find and speak
to the author himself, Bijoy Goswami.
Though it is a rare priviledge to speak to an author that has a
dramatic effect upon your life, it is worth noting the Bijoy is
more than just an author. He's also musician, a playwrite, a
public speaker, an Oxford/Stanford Scholor, a tireless networker
and entrepreneur amongst many other things...
The Interview.
DS: What inspired you to write the Human Fabric?
BG: Interestingly, I had never planned to write a book. When I
started my company, Aviri, my co-founder, Bruce and I started
synthesizing what was to eventually become the 'MRE Framework.'
Our original intent was to alert various thought leaders about
our ideas and have them promote it in their talks and writings.
Instead, I got asked to speak at conferences and gatherings. As
I did this, people would often ask, 'So when is your book coming
out?' to which I would encourage them to read all the other
wonderful books we'd used to develop our ideas. 'But you have a
unique way of presenting them,' I was told time and again. For a
long time I resisted writing because I felt I was not adding
anything new to the conversation and why did the world need yet
another book on a subject known for 5000 years! Eventually, a
conversation with Betty Sue Flowers set me straight. She told me
that my job was to remind people of things that we know, but
forget. This freed me to get started on writing the book.
Really, it was the encouragement of many wonderful folks along
the way that provided the inspiration.
DS: What are three basic core types of people you describe in
the Human Fabric and how can someone tell which type they are?
BG: The three types are: Maven, Relater and Evangelist. Chapters
1-4 describe these three in good detail. J The short way of
saying it is this: Mavens are driven by knowledge, Relaters by
relationships and Evangelists by action. I think of these as
'energies'. People, for some reason, are more connected to one,
maybe two of these energies and this ripples out in many aspects
of their personality, be it communication, relationships,
learning, values, etc.
Discovering your core type is an ongoing process that never
ends. My simplest recommendation is to read each chapter
describing the three types. As you experience the examples, you
will find yourself drawn to one of the three. Ask a friend who
knows you very well to give you their impressions. It's amazing
how quickly you will get to your core! I also work with a
wonderful partner in Austin, Dorsey Cartwright, who helps people
experience the three energies through a Voice Dialogue session.
She has done this in group settings and the results are quite
revealing! While everyone can get in touch with the three
energies, their 'core' energy becomes very clear.
DS: What was the most rewarding thing about writing and
publishing your own book?
BG: It was the collaborations with my co-author, Dave Wolpert,
artist Tina Hudock and the readers of the book. Dave catalyzed
me into action and agreed to embark on the process with me. He
had written his first book on Scoliosis Surgery, and was
experienced in the self-publishing process. Our many
conversations and dialogues literally moved the ideas far beyond
anything I could have imagined. Tina is a dear friend who not
only designed the cover and icons, but also created three
amazing paintings which visually capture the three types and
their environments. Yet another friend, Steve Harper, has
recently written his book, The Ripple Effect, which applies the
ideas in THF to relationships.
The other rewarding aspect was when we received the first
shipment of books, a day before the book release party in
Austin. It's quite a wonderful feeling to touch and feel an
object that you helped create!
DS: What challenges did you have to overcome to get your first
book published?
BG: My own inertia to get the process started. Once we got
going, things flowed in an amazing way. One of the innovations
we developed was to include our readers early in the process.
Most books are written with the author 'going off in a cave' and
emerging with the finished product. We decided instead to engage
the audience during this time. It was a real boon we received
incredible feedback which was incorporated into the final
product. Having a number of paid customers before a single copy
was printed was also a nice side result!
DS: Who are the writers that have inspired you on your journey?
BG: Wow, there are so many! Here's a smattering that come to
mind at the moment: Dr. Seuss, Peter Drucker, Salman Rushdie,
Herman Hesse, Paulo Coehlo, Lao Tzu, Michael Lewis, Malcolm
Gladwell.
DS: What advise would you give to budding authors reading this
interview?
BG: Get started, get your work out there, find co-conspirators
and know that you're on a unique path. There is no one way to
make it happen!
On a more tactical note, consider self-publishing. Finding a
publisher is a laborious process and you will be asked to market
your book with minimal resources and little to no financial
payoff. Self-publishing (a form of bootstrapping!) will put you
in the driver's seat and unlock your creativity. The Internet is
an incredible tool you can use to research, promote and sell
your book.
DS: Could you tell the readers a little more about some of the
other major projects that you are currently working on?
BG: Like you, I am passionate about entrepreneurship. More
specifically, the form of entrepreneurship called
'Bootstrapping'. In fact, one of my talks is on 'How to
Bootstrap Your Company.' There's a myth out there that great
companies need a ton of startup capital to get going. The
reality is that many great companies like Virgin, Microsoft and
Dell, were all started with very little money. A couple of years
ago, I realized that not only was there no voice for
Bootstrapping, there was not much of a community of support. So
I gathered a few of my friends for beers at a local pub in
Austin and thus Bootstrap Austin was started. Serendipitously, I
met an incredible Maven, Darius Mahdjoubi, who studies
Bootstrapping. We use Darius' model to organize the group and
teach bootstrappers the 'rules' of the game. The Bootstrap
Network is now 450-strong in Austin and has expanded to other
cities in the US and India.
Other projects include a 2-man play I co-wrote and acted in with
my friend, Kert Peterson. I also love composing music and have
recorded some of my songs. I think the world of Peter Gabriel
and hope to work with him some day.
DS: How do you 'find the time' to devote energy to so many
different projects?
BG: By working with others and enrolling them in my endeavors!
Every project I've done has involved at least one other key
'Dance partner'. Indeed, this is one of the big discoveries in
The Human Fabric: no one who has achieved anything great did it
alone. The myth of the lone inventor, entrepreneur, author,
musician is just that a myth. They all seek out dance partners
or are lucky enough to recognize them when they show up. And
usually, it is someone whose core energy is opposite to theirs!
Think Bono (Evangelist) and the Edge (Maven) with U2; or Steve
Jobs (Evangelist) and Steve Wozniak (Maven) with Apple Computer.
Something magical happens when we bring others into our game and
we truly get more done in the process.
I have been extremely fortunate in finding amazing dance
partners and seek them out as a matter of course. When I find
them, I keep exploring until we find the project we're meant to
work on. Dave and I were playing music together before we
embarked on writing THF!
DS: What do you think it takes for people to live an inspired
life?
BG: It takes the belief in yourself and the commitment to endure
the inevitable 'Valleys of Death'. Nothing great comes without
trials and tribulations. The Universe likes to make sure that we
are truly committed before giving us what it is that we desire.
We will hear from all quarters how it can't be done. It is up to
us to keep going and cross the valley!
I will add that it also takes a trust in the Universe. We are
all truly part of a great Oneness. Knowing this means that we
don't have to have all the answers, that our dreams are a
co-created and the resources we need will indeed be supplied to
us along the way.