Collisionable Opportunities With Sentient Beings
How Tony Hsieh Inspired My Human Connection Quotient
The late Tony Hsieh, the maverick who turned Zappos into a billion-dollar behemoth, wasn’t just selling shoes; he was peddling the transformative power of human connection.
His radical philosophy of “collisionable hours” — those serendipitous encounters where ideas, collaboration, and creativity flourish — wasn’t just a business strategy. Rather, it was a way of life.
And for me, it’s become my raison d’être, the Taoist thread running through every moment, interaction, and decision I make on a daily basis.
The Human Connection Quotient
Let me tell you a secret: I have a superpower. It’s not invisibility or telekinesis — it’s the ability to create collisionable opportunities with humans wherever I go.
👉🏿 Coffeehouses? My sacred temples.
👉🏿 Grocery stores? Mini TED Talks in the produce aisle.
👉🏿 Conferences? My personal collision factories.
I call all of this my Human Connection Quotient, and it’s the key to both my personal fulfillment and professional success.
Take my motto, “Just Connect and Serve.” That’s not a bumper sticker. It’s my manifesto.
Every conversation, every handshake, every random encounter is a chance to align with the Tao, to flow with the currents of human energy and create something bigger than myself.
Tony Hsieh would’ve called it “maximizing collisions.” The I Ching might say it’s aligning with Hexagram 56: The Wanderer — embracing the unknown and finding meaning through interaction.
The Tao of Collisions
Tony believed in designing environments that made collisions inevitable. He saw them as the lifeblood of innovation and community. Downtown Las Vegas became his experimental canvas, where the coffee shops, coworking spaces, and festivals served as collision points for people from all walks of life.
I’ve taken this philosophy and infused it with Taoist wisdom. The Tao teaches us to follow the path of least resistance, to let things unfold naturally. That’s precisely how I approach my quest for connection.
I don’t force encounters; I invite them. I don’t control conversations; I let them flow. Like water carving a path through rock, I let synchronicity and spontaneity guide me.
The I Ching, with its reverence for the power of small, consistent actions, would applaud this approach.
Perhaps Hexagram 8: Holding Together — the art of building unity — best encapsulates my purpose. It reminds us that human connection isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about showing up, moment by moment, with an open heart and a willingness to serve.
Cultivating Human Connection On Substack (and Beyond)
On Substack, this philosophy becomes a digital experiment in collisions. Every essay I write, every email I send, every comment I respond to is a collision waiting to happen.
For me, it’s not about algorithms or metrics. It’s about creating a space where real human connection can flourish.
Readers don’t just subscribe to my words; they hopefully collide with my ideas, my humor, and my Taoist worldview.
When Tony Hsieh talked about “Return on Collisions” (ROC) instead of Return on Investment, he was ahead of his time. I’ve embraced ROC as my guiding star. The more I connect, the more opportunities arise — not just for me but for everyone in my orbit.
What the I Ching Might Say
The I Ching, that ancient Taoist oracle, would likely celebrate my penchant for collisions.
Perhaps it would evoke Hexagram 5: Waiting — the wisdom of being present and patient, trusting that what needs to happen will happen.
Or maybe even Hexagram 42: Increase, which speaks of abundance flowing from harmonious interactions.
The I Ching would also warn against overreaching. Collisions are powerful but fragile; they thrive in authenticity, not manipulation. It’s a reminder to stay true to my purpose: to connect and serve, not to impress or dominate.
The Hsieh Bump
Tony Hsieh left us a blueprint for how to live, work, and thrive through the power of collisions. I’ve taken his vision and infused it with the Taoist principles of flow, spontaneity, and balance.
Whether I’m at a coffee shop or on Substack, my mission remains the same: to create spaces where people can collide with new ideas, deeper connections, and their truest selves.
So here’s my challenge to you: the next time you’re in line for coffee or scrolling through your inbox, look for a collision. Start a conversation. Share an idea. You never know what might come of it — a friendship, a collaboration, or maybe even a life-changing moment.
After all, as Tony Hsieh and the Tao both teach us, life isn’t about waiting for the right moment; it’s about creating it.
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Much Love,
Diamond Michael Scott — aka The Chocolate Taoist
I dig this a lot, we, collide our words together whenever we contact. I always liked the idea of “The Conjunction of the Spheres” from The Witcher series. And, to layer that to Roshi Uchiyama in, Opening the Hand of Thought, “I bring my own world into existence, live it out, and take it with me when I die.”
"Powerful but fragile." I came to Vegas when he was starting up the Downtown Project. I got to watch both sides of that coin play out. He never found that rootedness that gives tai chi it's ultimate power. Rest in peace Tony.