The TED Spring

63 countries: hundreds of TEDx organizers from around the world. 

It’s one thing to listen to talks and be inspired by different ideas; It’s quite another to be deeply engrossed in “open source” as I have never known it. 

We talk about sharing ideas and learning from one another, but I had no clue. 

I attended three deep dive sessions today with people sharing their best ideas, and I do mean it, their BEST! These incredible individuals are openly telling the rest of the world about their TEDx activities, hard-earned lessons, and any advice they could think of. 

From building a great team, to engaging the audience, down to social media strategies, TEDx organizers are generous. And quite outspoken. For a newbie it was dazzling. 

Coming from a background where you mostly guard your good thoughts to yourself, I was amazed at how giving everyone was. 

But why is that? Aren’t thy worried others would ‘steal’ their good ideas? NO! They want you to! Go… use these ideas…tell us how it works! Tell us any amendments you made. What worked? 

Because the key word here is collaboration, and let’s face it, REAL non-profit. Would a profit-making company be that open? Would we share our best ideas if our ‘competitors’ could take advantage? Even some “non-profit” organizations can get quite competitive! 

I wish we could be this open all the time. I really do wish. Because then the final product would be that much better! With people benefiting on both ends! 

My personal call to action: embrace others fully. Be open with them. Accept the remixing process. After all, we’ve all been inspired by someone at some point.

Let me paraphrase Gandhi for a second: Be the inspiration that you wish to see in the world.

Allow your ideas to spread like drops in a water fountain because that’s the only way they would truly rise! Don’t keep them to yourself…you’re missing half the fun! 

 

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