Rick explains that everyone knows someone who should know someone else. That introverts can become comfortable with being uncomfortable by “collecting the dots” and connecting dots that only willing individuals can see. If we are intentional on our own terms, we can build community by making common sense, common.

Rick has been an active partner of startups in the Portland area for over 20 years, producing content on his tech blog, Silicon Florist. Co-founder and CEO of WiedenKennedy's PIE (Portland Incubator Experiment), Rick advises engineers, makers, doers, bloggers and nerds to create technology-driven cultural disruptions around the world.

Special thanks to the TEDxPortland core organizing team, 70 volunteers and dear partners – without you this experience would not be possible. Our event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com

This talk was delivered at a TEDx event in the TED conference format, but independently organized by a local community. For more information, visit https://www.ted.com/tedx

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