A good friend recently asked me what the value proposition of The Online Bar is. Anytime a new way of organizing and working is introduced this question comes up. What to me is remarkable is how few of us ask that same question of our broken down institutions and modes of organization. Better the devil you know! 🙂
The Online Bar is primarily a community of trust. Dee Hock (Founder of Visa) gives a practical explanation of community below, which helps me express why The Online Bar is focused on building trust through community.
“The essence of community, it’s very heart and soul, is the nonmonetary exchange of value…. The nonmonetary exchange of value does not arise solely from altruistic motives. It arises from deep, intuitive, understanding that self-interest is inseparably connected with community interest…that all things are simultaneously independent, interdependent, and intradependent. It requires only ordinary, caring people.” Edited from Dee Hock’s book, One From Many: Visa and the Rise of Chaordic Organization.
“Money, markets and measurement have their place. They are important tools indeed. We should honor them and use them. But they don’t deserve deification…..only fools worship their tools.” Dee Hock
I see many lawyers broken and on their knees deifying money and technology. Sadly, they remain on their knees with work, lack of friends and a poor quality of life. No fun, no joy and all hard work describes most lawyers today.
We are certain that a global community of lawyers built on a platform of trust can build anything it desires.
The fastest way to get what you want is to build trust with generosity – without demanding a reward – and collaborate. Anything else is simply a deferred monetary bargain – a transaction. Trust relies on not keeping score. Even if one quietly expects a direct monetary reward, trust will eventually be eroded. Sooner or later that person will demand their just rewards (with spam or a pitch) or feel terribly disappointed. Meanwhile for that person any possibility of doing business at the speed of trust, of designing new and more enjoyable ways of practicing law and organizing is lost.
Don’ be that person. The world will leave you behind in a red ocean of all against all. A world where a bloody triumph will last but seconds before it is snatched by another that is faster and stronger.
Community is a marketplace of trust and generosity. Global collaboration between lawyers requires nothing less than trust and shared values of community. A desire to have fun, meet, listen and learn from others also helps. 🙂 The Online Bar is evolving as do all communities of trust. Everyone in a community is responsible to lead, hence why where we are going is up to all of US.
Can we have some fun now? 🙂
Jorge Colón's Blog 