I arrived in California today, ready for TED08 to start this evening. For the next few days I will abandon my regular marketing commentary to provide a bit of insight on the programs and events that make up this amazing event.
As a starting point, I will try to put a bit of background perspective on the event and what it means to me to attend. There are two key components that in my mind make TED such an extraordinary event. The programming, and the participants. The two in combination result in creative magic.
Most conferences are made up several main keynotes, usually presented by a notable or interesting person, followed by conference sessions where presentations are made about different industry specific issues, topics or ideas. At TED there is no headliner, no keynote speaker, no top dog. Every speaker, Knights, Nobel Prize winners, Pop icons, Artists, Scientists and Regular Joe’s get the same amount of time, 18 minutes. They also can speak on anything that interests them. So their talk may be about their area of expertise, but it may also be about their area of passion.
The attendees come from every walk of life. While the cost of entry is a bit steep, TED sets aside a number of passes at each event that are provided free of charge to individuals who show that they can contribute to the community, and have the financial need. The delight comes from sharing dinner, coffee and community with people from fields you might never interface with (in some cases might not even know exist) and discussing the incredible intellectual stimulus that the TED team assembles on the stage.
In years past, I have usually taken a week after the event to reflect on what I heard and to try to make sense of the vast amount of information that I have been exposed to. Each time I go, I make new friends, and my mind makes new creative connections. The creativity that I know develops because of the diversity of thought at this event can not be measured but I have no doubt that the world is filled with (and will continue to be filled with) great ideas that can trace their genesis back to a moment at TED.
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