Cloud Alchemy presents the highest values we can embrace as web citizens. Connecting the great work and great thoughts of our peers, mentors and teachers through the use of new media tools allows us to create active, thinking areas in the global brain.

1. Cloud Alchemy

the ultimate collaboration
a manifesto for the modern online communicator
Suzanna B. Stinnett
corte madera.ca/june 2009

2. Cloud Alchemy
is a new form of
expression.
Since Peter Russell introduced the idea of the “global
brain,” (in 1986 with his video by that name), we
have been growing a collective thinking organism, a
neural net that exists in
“the cloud.”
The neural net is the Internet.
The cloud is where the activity occurs.
The alchemy is you:
What you can do when you recognize value
in the work of others,
and you use your skills to
expose that work to more players.
Done well, you are literally
orchestrating
vital new brain areas
– global brain areas.
>ideas:energy:potential<

3. There is room here for a
very
great
intelligence.
In fact, that is what’s emerging:
the collective intelligence
fed by you.
In this manifesto I encourage you
to work toward that spark.
Be aware of its potential.
Learn cloud alchemy
and participate in the introduction
of one brain area to another.

4. Try this on:
What if…
You are the connection.
You learn to join thoughts effectively.
You benefit from the energy of the connection.
I’d like to tell you more about how it can work.
That’s what this little book is meant to do.
Ready?
(a little hint: collaboration is the holy grail)

5. How to engage cloud alchemy:
1. know that you are the catalyst:
Use a simple blog to build a trusting web family.
2. realize your value:
Know that your audience needs YOUR words. Your
unique neural footprint is valuable. Restate what you
learn for your audience.
3. tell good things:
Be intent upon telling the world good things. Calls to
action are useful. Announcing positive acts are just as
important.
4. make it a high priority:
Make communication a new habit. Connections can be
easy and quick with today’s tools.
5. help lots of people now:
How can you best help the most people right now?
The answer to this question is your north star.
6. live up to your promise:
Revisit, often, the spark that began your online
journey. If your perspective shifts, make that known
in your material.
7. serve your community:
Bring offerings from afar. Dive deep in the extended
community of the web. Bring juice back to your
home.
8. tolerate evolution:
Keep adding skills. Remain open to evolving tools.
Often the new tools will be better than the familiar
ones you’re using.
9. be multi-human:
We still have human bodies. Be inclusively multi-
dimensional. Use audio and video. Be wild-animal
creative.

6. 10. be the bridge:
Offer to create visibility for others. Sometimes it is up
to you. You will know when you see them. They
might not know, but you will. (Ask first.)
11. be intergenerational:
Venture younger and younger and older and older to
make new connections. Older minds + younger minds
= cultural depth, vibrance, & prospering.
12. be sticky:
Stay with connections you foster.
Remain in the conversation as long as it takes for
your vision to emerge.
13. ROI means people:
Relationships first. That’s the investment. The return
is the numbers. Build relationships. This will lead to
meaningful numbers. Did I mention relationships?
14. focus:
Eliminate distraction.
Focus on the step you’re on right now. Your
effectiveness depends upon your ability to work
undistracted at least part of every day. Make rules for
yourself and work by them. (Multitasking is a myth.
Distraction ruins productivity. You knew that, really,
didn’t you?)
15. play hard:
Play is the fuel; the super-charging, starbursting
powerplant of this cultural evolution.
If playing has become unfamiliar or less than
frequent, begin a new habit today. Feel friendly
toward technology.
16. See #14.
Begin today.
Don’t be the unused 78%
of the global brain!

7. A bit of history
a. Cloud
The “cloud” refers to the entire conversation happening
through digital means today. This term’s use is shifting as we find
new ways to communicate within and about modern media.
b. Cloud
The term “cloud” is an industry term for the complex hidden
infrastructure of the Internet.
c. Cloudonomics (a serious thing)
Joe Weinman and Cloudonomics:
http://www.joeweinman.com/Papers.htm
d. Cloud Computing
Basically, those web-based tools you use.
Cool article by Rinat Abdullin http://tinyurl.com/rinatcld
e. See:
www.greatadaptations.com
for samples of my cloud alchemy labs.
f. *Expect other variations on the cloud metaphor. Clouds easily
carry many forms of meaning, while retaining their special cloud-
nature.
Find samples of cloud alchemy and Alchemy Labs on
www.GreatAdaptations.org
This is the TightShorts© version of Cloud Alchemy
(the print version)
See the supershort version on Twitter (#cloudalchemy)
See other versions soon on
cloudalchemy.blogspot.com
Cloud Alchemy© and Alchemy Labs© 2009 Suzanna Stinnett
Creative Commons Copyright / contact for right to distribute
*distribute freely to friends, with attribution to site & author*