The Lost Beauty of Humankind
The Scheme Vol 1. Ed. 3: Who is Worthy
Disclaimer: The Scheme was initially intended to be a weekly column about building Pyramid. In light of what is happening around us, those sentiments will be delayed until it feels more appropriate to focus on that.
A few years back, during the 45th administration, my husband and I returned home to Minnesota for Christmas. Weed had accidentally been legalized, so when we landed, we picked up some gummies for the stay and made our way south. On Christmas Eve, we decided to attend mass with my in-laws, but I thought it would be a good idea to take an edible beforehand. The church they attend is out in a corn field, a tiny chapel that glows in the abyss.
As a lapsed catholic, and being slightly buzzed, I decided it was best to sit in the last pew behind everyone. I ended up seated behind a very vocal Trump supporter. In between verses of Away in a Manger and Angels We Have Heard on High, I spent most of the service reflecting on whether I could find it in my heart to see this man in front of me as a child of God—whatever that actually means.
I never got there. Instead, I went home and chaotically binged my mother-in-law’s homemade raspberry jam with Cheeze-its—highly ;) recommended!
Minnesota is heavy on our minds. This past Saturday, we went up to The Hill Collection on W. 24th to see Robert Bergman’s Portraits. Bergman was raised in, and still lives in Minnesota. David Levi Strauss curated the show and hung Bergman’s portraits alongside traditional masters.
The Lost Beauty of Humankind emphasizes a shared dignity and humanity through the act of looking.
Strauss argues that since its inception, portraiture has been built upon the questions “Who is worthy of being portrayed?
That phrase, “who is worthy of being portrayed,” feels heavy right now. Who is worthy of dignity? Of being seen as human? Of protection?
I’ve been thinking about that church pew recently. The rage. And now, how the dignity that Alex Pretti extended to so many veterans was never reciprocated.
I’ve been thinking a lot about rules. Where they come from, why we live by them.
I’ve been thinking about what it means for America to be on the cusp of its 250th. 250 years of asking “who is worthy?”
…a shared dignity and humanity through the act of looking.
Looking without vision is an act of voyeurism. And voyeurism is a cheap thrill with reactionary consequences.
So the question I leave you with, today, this year, and for as long as you grace this earth is, what does it mean to look WITH vision—to let what you actually see change the world you build?
REMINDER! Workplace 2.0: The Delta
I’m hosting the first Workplace 2.0: The Delta workshop to help you clarify what you’ll actually measure in 2026. And most importantly, why!
We’ll go beyond the basics (revenue, followers, team size) to align your metrics with your specific purpose, values, and vision. Because if you’re measuring the wrong things, you’re optimizing for someone else’s definition of success.
What we’ll do together:
Audit what you’re currently measuring (explicitly and implicitly)
Identify gaps between what you say matters and what you’re tracking
Design 3-5 personalized metrics that reflect YOUR vision and values
Build accountability structures that support revelation, not perfection
I like to establish clear accountabilities in January and see where I land in December. It’s not about perfection. It’s about revealing what’s actually true.
Location: Zoom
Date: Thursday, January 29th, 12 pm-1 pm ET
What to bring: Whatever metrics you’re currently tracking (revenue, hours, followers—anything) and honesty about what’s really driving your decisions.
RSVP: This is a free event; please email me to register. I will send out the Zoom link WEDNESDAY.