Why did you go there?
I spent last week in Knoxville, TN (ok, actually a bit outside of Knoxville...in a town called Sevierville) and I'm back here in Ojai thinking of a few of my experiences while I was there.
The first morning I was there, I shared ideas with the local BNI Chapter called: Sevierville - Smoky Mountains of Referrals.
There are two observations I'd like to share with the readers of the Post:
1) Fascinating things happen when people are free to follow their dreams;
2) A little bit of education will go a long, long way for those who are open to it.
So, now I have an answer to the question:
"Jason, why did you go to Knoxville?"
"To get some ideas and reinforcement...I'd like to see my best get better!"
1) I started my brief presentation after each member introduced themselves and gave a timed "60-second" commercial. After the 4th, then the 10th, and finally the last person gave their commercial, I had an opportunity to share what I do in less than 100 words (about a minute of talking). I tell ya, it was challenging! The common theme to each person's introduction: They thoroughly and demonstrably loved what they do for a living. It would be easy to believe that each one of the people in that room actually looks forward to going to work every day...to be sure, I felt right at home!
2) I shared just four ideas of making "your best just a little bit better." That's the theme of the workshops I'm invited to present these days. Within hours of leaving the presentation that morning, I had heard from people via voice and e-mail saying that they were already implementing the ideas from that morning.
Now, that brings me back to Ojai... I know that the fall months are coming, and that might signal a time to slow down or even stop. (This showed up in a conversation last night with someone I know who said, "I'm looking forward to the down time of not having to do ANYthing about work...")
Look around, see if there's just one dream that you can free yourself up to follow; or, find some learning, check a book out from the library, sign up for a conference, or (if you'd rather watch in iTunes or on your iPod) download some of the TEDTalks or POP!Tech presentations!
POP!Tech
Artist, photographer and inventor Clifford Ross demonstrates some of the magnificent images from his invention, the R2. It’s the highest-resolution 360-degree high-definition camera array ever built. He’s using it to shoot his current project—the vast, undisturbed wetlands ecosystem of Brazil’s famed Pantanal.
TED
In James Howard Kunstler's view, public spaces should be inspired centers of civic life -- the physical manifestation of the common good. Instead, he argues, what we have in America is a nation of places not worth caring about. Reengineering our cities will involve more radical change than we are prepared for, he believes, but our hand will be forced by earth crises stemming from our overconsuming lifestyle. "Life in the mid-21st century," Kunstler says, "is going to be about living locally." Passionate, profane and funny, this talk will make you think about the place where you live.
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