Recently I attended a conference about 3D printing organs and lab grown meat, which included working prototypes and real, tangible (or even edible) examples.
What struck me immediately was the fact that the CEO cited journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson of all people as his inspiration.
Here was a self-made multi-entrepreneur talking about someone who is normally only known for drug excesses and insanity as portrayed by Johnny Depp in the movie "Fear and Loathing".
But I understood why someone at the forefront of technology would admire Hunter. He was living in a different world than all of us, knew a lot that we do not, and looked towards the future with open arms.
HST is the source of many gems such as:
"Objective journalism is one of the main reasons that American politics has been allowed to be so corrupt for so long."
"Paranoia is another form of ignorance."
"There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment."
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours."
This is a unique form of thinking called Gonzo. Wikipedia defines Gonzo journalism as follows:
"Gonzo journalism is a style of journalism that is written without claims of objectivity, often including the reporter as part of the story via a first-person narrative. [...] it draws its power from a combination of social critique and self-satire [...] and has now become a bona fide style of writing that concerns itself with "telling it like it is".
The moral here is very simple: nobody can ever be objective.
Whether you are creating a start-up or working at an established business - you have to realize - that there is no such thing as objectivity. If you not only admit your biases, but learn to be inspired by them, THEN you begin to reach for the truth.
Every word and every sentence you communicate outward is only a pointer to the mind of others. Only when you admit and surrender to this fact, can you truly capture the essence of the "Other".
A small 'fruit-based' company has built their entire enterprise on this Gonzo philosophy radiating from a single man's zeal and vision... Maybe you have heard of them?
