On Wednesday, I attended my first TED event: TEDxDetroit. I've watched dozens, maybe even hundreds of TED videos over the past couple of years, but this was my first live event. From 8AM to 6PM, it was all about expanding knowledge, connecting with like-minded people, and being amazed and getting motivated to go back and make a difference. If you ever have a chance, you need to attend a live event. It is 100-times more effective and powerful than watching the videos online.
I wanted to be sure to take from this event as much back with me as possible, so knew I had to simplify and condense it. I tried to recall from my college days of note-taking, this time in a Moleskin rather than typing away rapidly on a laptop. My goal was to take away at least one key point (or at least a one-line summary) from each speaker.
- LISTEN to the NEEDS of your target audience.
Matt Dibble, film maker
- ASK questions, LISTEN to the answers.
Tara Michener, "Who Am I" books for youth
- Giving back is a reward.
Rob Bliss, social event planner (Status Creative)
- It takes an idea and a community (and/or city government) to do cool stuff.
Julie Clark, Baby Einstein Company
- You can beat the odds, just TRY IT.
Randal Charlton, TechTown
- REBUILD Detroit.
Dr. Claude Prunea, Wayne State University
- Although it takes only one person to make a difference, it takes many more to create change.
Bobby Smith, En Garde Detroit
- "We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled (with information), but as candles to be lit."
Veronika Scott, Empowerment Plan
- Detroit is the Wild West of Creativity; If there isn't a job available, Detroiters make it happen for themself.
Leonard, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- Music plays a larger part in our lives than we give it credit to. Support music in public schools.
Ted Balowski, Hatch Detroit
- There is no better place to be an entrepreneur than in Detroit. Quit talking about it, just freakin' DO IT.
Haley, Detroit Improv
- Decide what kind of day you will have: an "oh, shit" day or a "Hot shit!" day each morning you wake up. Go BOLD. Make a bold choice or no choice at all.
Dr. Anthony DeBenedet, author of The Art of Roughhousing
- Play for your future: empower Detroit by empowering the family.
Bob Sutherland, Cherry Republic
- Selling is not about making the logical argument to buy, it's about selling to the heart (which has brain cells and a stronger electrical pulse than the brain).
His other lessons were: express generosity, immerse customers in beauty, start gradual and become in expert the more you expand, be sincere with clients, work from the heart to touch hearts, and don't take yourself or your work too seriously.
Josh Linkner, ePrize founder
- (1) put passion first, (2) take the less conventional path, (3) aim through the window of the future, (4) let go in order to receive greatness, and (5) never cave to the insecurities or doubts of others.
Allie Merrick, serial idea generator (and member of the Authentivity Group)
- Yay, Allie! She had a great presentation about creative relativity. Her lesson plan discussed e=mc(2) where e = engagement with customers, m = the message, c = the communication, and c = to customers. Her overall message was to use common interests and knowledge between the two parties involved ino order to introduce new concepts.
Jeff Jorge, triathlon athlete
- Share your goals with others, become more efficient, the mind gives up before the body, and do not ask for permission to be extraordinary - just do it.
Charlie Cavell, Pay It Forward
- Build relationships and be on the same team in order to create positive change.
David Leider, Gas Station TV
- Find your inspiration and surround yourself with other hungry people to push you. Don't just talk about, DO IT.
They closed out the event in style with a live performance by the DAAS school choir:
To those who also attended TEDxDetroit: what did you get the most out of the day's sessions and speakers? What did you take from it that we can and should apply to our everyday lives?
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