ok, i'm not going to be paranoid about the fact that my comments don't show up in the forum lately (at least to me) but will simply take the opportunity to re-post my thoughts here, fwiw.

i'll preface only by saying that i'm sorta over HR myself; my early enthusiasm has seemingly transferred, in full, from the concept of the place to the people who comprise the colony (and a better lot of creative, good-willed people i can scarcely imagine.) all of which is just to say i'm not really invested in whether the business works or not, but as a human experiment it still stirs my imagination, and i tend to see it as a microcosm of everything currently struggling to express itself in this crazy, wider world, both for good and ill.

forgive me for going slightly off track, therefore, to pop in with commentary on a previously very long thread, where Gaby said, "We don't have to be "yes" person all the time, and we have to understand that sometimes the people who criticize us and tell us the truth are the ones that really cares about us, is hard to listen the bad things but that's exactly what help us to get better!"

to which i say: i love you, woman!

to joe, fwiw, i would add this: when you only trust your "inner circle" you effectively close off so much richness, possibility, and yes, assistance! which is already on offer. being famous is isolating, and try as you might, the wall still does more to deprive you than protect you. the advantage i have over you in this case is that i have a more intimate access to some of these people than you allow yourself, and i tell you without any agenda other than being straight with you, that when people like dusty, gaby, amy - people who are REAL, and honest, and true-hearted - offer their help, you can barely fathom how truly blessed you are.

(i could add the names of so many of you who i've come to know and love, even if our interactions have been occasional. i see who you are, at heart.)

don't waste it, joe. the next level for your company is staring you right in the face! maybe you just have to take a chance and trust...