TED 2009

I’ve just returned from the 25th Anniversary TED Conference (Ideas Worth Spreading) in Long Beach, California.  For the non-cognoscenti, TED stands for “Technology, Entertainment, Design” and involves 4 days of presentations from leaders, and I mean leaders, in those fields.  Presenters this year included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Daniel Liebskin and lots of giants whose qualification is that they are really good at something, they are eloquent in telling stories or describing it, and they are passionate about their topic.  They’re not selling, they’re sharing.  This is the big Daddy of a whole genre of meetings it has spawned: Idea City, Aspen Idea Festival, Business Innovation Factory, PopTech, etc.  The founder of TED is Richard Saul Wurman, an architect by training who now calls himself an “Information Architect” (he’s authored a book of that name along with 100s of others that focus on creating understanding in many different areas Air Jordan 13 Retro.  Google his name).  Wurman called it his personal dinner party.  The audience is more important than the speakers.  And the breaks are nice and long so the participants can really engage.

I’ve gone to quite a few, and the format has changed a bit, but the principle is the same; bringing awesomely knowledgeable, eloquent and passionate people together can stimulate and inspire participants.  It can truly raise the bar new balance 642.  Many leading companies send some executives to attend (it costs 6 grand, there were 1600 people and it’s mostly sold out for next year).  Some innovative companies are creating their own versions internally.

There are some interesting lessons here in this time of great stress and trauma cheap trainers nike air max.  We will solve these problems.  But we will do it with great and innovative collaboration with people who are stimulated and inspired

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About John

“John Abele is a pioneer and leader in the field of less-invasive medicine, For more than four decades, John has devoted himself to innovation in health care, business and solving social problems.” He is retired Founding Chairman of Boston Scientific Corporation. John holds numerous patents and has published and lectured extensively on the technology of various medical devices and on the technical, social, economic, and political trends and issues affecting healthcare. His major interests are science literacy for children, education, and the process by which new technology is invented, developed, and introduced to society. Current activities include Chair of the FIRST Foundation which works with high school kids to make being science-literate cool and fun, and development of The Kingbridge Centre and Institute, a conferencing institution whose mission is to research, develop, and teach improved methods for interactive conferencing: problem solving, conflict resolution, strategic planning, new methods for learning and generally help groups to become “Collectively intelligent.” He lives with his wife and two dogs in Shelburne, Vermont.”

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