Issue #158: Have You Met TED?
Jan 18, 2008
Have You Met TED?Jim Hill, RightBrain/Co-FounderAre you creative? (I bet you are, or you wouldn’t be one of the attractive, intelligent readers of this newsletter). Is creativity a requirement for your career? Do you need to turn it on at will, or make it happen on a deadline? Do you view your creativity as an inherent part of “you”, or is it a muse that drops in from time to time like a long, lost Aunt? In an attempt to better understand (and regulate) my own creative output, I spent some time this week looking into tools and resources that foster inspiration. I started out strong but then the “ooh shiny” moments kicked in and I spent (a little) too much time looking at YouTube videos and Digg stories. Although I find the “ooh shiny” moments a required element of creativity, pulling out of them and getting back on task requires discipline. Once the procrastination passed, I poked around at some old bookmarks from conferences and speakers that have either fueled my imagination or my interest. This led me to google the phrase “creative spark”. Jackpot! Lot of goodies under that phrase, and one in particular that is worth sharing; the TED Conference. TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) began in 1984 as a conference intended to promote the convergence of those three areas. It was the brainchild of Richard Saul Wurman and Harry Marks. Wurman, a visionary graphic designer and architect, coined the term “information architect” and influenced the presentation of just about all of the visual information we see today. Twenty-four years later, TED has grown with the mission of spreading ideas. Conference organizers invite some of the smartest, innovative doers in the world and challenge them to “give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes).” The conference is invitation only, and only open to 1,000 participants. Over four intense days, conference attendees have the chance to hear 50 speakers including Nobel Prize winners, Titans of Industry and Lords of Academia. Not a bad crowd, but not one we’re likely to get into anytime soon. So why am I telling you this? Because thanks to the magic of internet video we can all take part. The TED Conference web site posts the best talks online for viewing and discussion. The site is well organized so that you can search and sort by speaker, topic or theme. Hearing and seeing the presentations will definitely engage your brain and maybe even stimulate some creativity. Two themes in particular caught my eye; The Creative Spark and Design Like You Give a Damn. Seeing talks from the likes of William McDonough (Cradle to Cradle Design), Stefan Sagmeister (Yes, Design Can Make You Happy) and Richard St.John (Secrets of Succcess in 8 Words) have gotten me back on track and my mojo rising. If those themes don’t interest you, take a look at the some of the others. I guarentee you’ll find interesting ideas worth spreading. Let the sparks fly! Related Links TED Conference / themes / Creative Spark Quote of the Week"Creativity is not the finding of a thing, but the making something out of it after it is found." |
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Coaching Quickie: Have You Met TED?What do you do when you hit Creators Block?Follow the link above to vote for your response. While you're there lend us your feedback, or share some goals with fellow readers. Check back next week for results! Last Week's ResultsCoaching Quickie: The Paper Chase If you missed it, you can read last week's newsletter online here. |
