Brent Macon, host of “Macon Atlanta”
I have come to believe that if we do not consciously choose how we want to live, capitalist market forces will automatically decide that for us, which will not necessarily serve our highest and best interests.
This dynamic is what makes the age of AI so fascinating. We have a breakthrough technology that has the potential to fundamentally change how we work and relate to one another. What do we actually want AI to do for us? If we don't choose to “live the good life” (whatever that means to us), we're likely just going to spin our hamster wheel faster, working harder rather than happier.
The problem is that at a societal level, it's hard to collectively choose what “the good life” is. There are too many opposing forces for us to determine the rules of the road or widely-beneficial agreed-upon norms. No one really asks how we want to live or what kind of people we want to be.
How can we educate our children better? How can we reverse the trend of loneliness and become more connected? How should we address reparations? What about physician-assisted suicide? These are questions that have dogged me for years.
I decided to launch a writing project called “100 Atlanta Coffees.” I decided to meet with 100 leaders from business, government, nonprofits, the arts, and religion in local coffee shops to learn how they see the challenges and opportunities of our time, and how the age of AI is impacting their work. I typed up summaries and reflections. Each conversation was an effort to deepen understanding.
Through that project, I met Maria Saporta and learned about Atlanta Way 2.0.
The Atlanta Way 2.0 is a rare opportunity for passionate, committed, ordinary Atlantans to ask themselves what they believe to be true for the highest and best of our city, and then commit to making that vision a reality.
We know what happens when we allow modern cultural habits and market forces to automatically dictate how we live our lives. We become obsessed with our phones and buried in our laptops. We lose our sense of place. Algorithms provide us with narratives that accentuate our differences and reinforce what we should fear. Cultures suffer and communities disappear.
I've felt this myself. The previous tech startup I led was fully remote, and there were many days when I never left my home office. Even on days when we were excited to collaborate, there was this strange feeling of displaced and isolated. This was the polar opposite of the sense of community I felt when I biked to brunch at MetroFresh from St. Luke's in Atlanta on Sunday. It felt better to be part of a local community.
It takes will and determination to actually make your ideals a reality. I try to do that through my work as a small business owner, which is intentionally community-oriented. I'm also working on a podcast project where I meet my guests in person. We believe in really getting to know the people around us.
I think the forgotten truth is that we share far more similarities and aspirations than we do differences. Great cities share a common desire to enjoy a good life, where we can:
Gain promising economic opportunities Keep your family safe Feel part of a genuine community Give your children a world-class education Experience the best in arts and culture Become what you want professionally, regardless of the zip code, racial makeup, or ancestral lineage of your birth family
The Atlanta Way 2.0 is a clear articulation and pursuit of what we want in the way we live and relate to one another, guiding us toward our city’s north star: our beloved community. As our population growth continues unabated, The Atlanta Way 2.0 can be the way we know and are known, while honoring the cultural heritage that made this city worth moving to in the first place.
While Atlanta Way 2.0 transcends any particular religion or race, building a truly representative structure for the city requires everyone’s participation and a deep understanding of the cultural and economic past, particularly Atlanta’s history of slavery, interracial leadership, and persistent inequality.
Ultimately, The Atlanta Way 2.0 appeals to a belief in the best of our nature and what our city is capable of, and we believe a beloved community can only come about where we actually know our neighbors and are involved in advancing the communal causes we believe in. That’s only possible in a city where we first care enough about and define the good life, and then have the courage and skill to live in a way that makes it happen.
Plus, it'll be really fun to make together.
Brent Macon is a small business owner, investor, and podcast host. He is the owner of The Little Gym of Dunwoody, opening in September 2024. He hosts the podcast “Macon Atlanta,” where he explores big questions, bold ideas, and better lives with inspiring Atlantans. He is a father to two amazing girls and enjoys running and tennis. He was born in Columbus, Georgia, and grew up mostly in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before moving to Atlanta in 2012 after college.
