Unstoppable ideas

By Isabelle Quevilly, March 2012

CREDITS: TRISARAHTOPS ON FLICKR

The goose bumps dayThis Saturday was an amazing day, I couldn’t expect more for my first TEDx attendance!

To be honest with you, I was expecting a pale version of TED talks but not at all. We lived all together a full day of TED talks curated by the Observer. Dancing, laughing, crying all together. It was emotional, exhausting, inspiring, fun, unexpected.

I would attend this more often to reboot my brain, challenge my views and cross my knowledge with multiple disciplines.

Here are my highlights of the day, hope they will inspire more people!

SOURCE: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lo28cmGfC61qd74g2.jpg

Giles Duley. Photographer.When talking about the people on the frontline rushing to him to be pictured: "Somebody has to record their stories, they know you are not a doctor. (...) You learn through others’ stories. Theirs livers are important, and one day, I became part of the story myself."

What’s your tool to change things? Make a difference to the world. You can do anything if you put your ming into it. I have much more things today, after the bomb, that I had before.

Telling stories is my tool.

Tali Sharlot, the optimism biasWe are optimistic about ourselves but not for the guy sitting next to us. The secret to happiness is not low expectations as high expectations make you feel better.

1 => high expectations make you feel you are responsible for it2 => anticipation makes you happy (3days)

Optimism leads to success. If you expect to do well you are more likely to put your energy into it. The more optimist you are the leas you answer to bad news.

Pauline PierceI couldn’t believe the Hackney Heroine was there, with us on starge. Fantastic, incredibly at-ease and so true to herself. I was out of London when the riots happen but her story made it across Europe and in fact, I was referring to her in a pitch presentation recently.

We should all take lessons from her. She shared some beautiful words with us: "If they start again, I do it again. (...) Everyone should reach out to their neighbours, we are all wonderful people (...) We need to get some love out there ".

Kamal Mouzawac.It all started with a statement I would print in bold all over my kitchen: "Miracles happen over a plate of houmous".This foodie, entrepreneur man has built a wonderful project around a very strong insight: "Food is the most sincere expression of your traditions and where you’re from."

Food is a live product that someone has seeded, has taken care of for you to eat one day, we need to show it respect. "Food is someone’s work. (...) Food is not about food. You must do extremely well what you are doing. (...) Every land has its own treasure."

One day, he came to that inspiring conclusion: "If I don’t do it, nobody will, therefore I have to do it."

SOURCE: http://kboo.fm/sites/default/files/nodeimages/Kamal%20Mouzawak_0.jpg

Daniel Kish.Another incredible man you shook up my thoughts when he said we were all blind, one way or another. We all need to find freedom. His click is his thing telling him: 1-where are you 2-what are you.

"What can we do to find our way through darkness? Because there is always a way."

SOURCE: Google images

Robin Dunbar. 150.Yes, I didn’t know that number, and I’m going to use it a lot now as it totally helps me rationalise lots of the things I do in life regarding earned media. He reminded us on the importance of investing time in your friendships. 5 intimate friends represent 25% of your social time in average, if you don’t spend this time with them the quality of the relationship decreases - within 6 months. Being in love costs you 1-2 friends...!

Talking doesn’t impact boys relationships (contrary to girls) but doing stuff together raises the closeness for men. Skype is the best option to maintain long distance relationship. Laugher is a human universal insight key to form relationships. Skype allows for more happiness.

SOURCE: http://www.rtve.es/imagenes/robin-dunbar/1303814967652.jpg

Lianne La Havas.Leave me no room for doubt

"We all make mistakes, we doI learnt from youWe all make mistakes, we doI learnt from you "

Listen to the wonderful lady here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f845_v41YFo

SOURCE: http://alfitude.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/lianne-la-havas.jpg

Miguel Torres.An entrepreneur deciding to change his industry, wine making, after saying Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth.

The progress made in a short period of time are amazing, I can’t wait to see the French on board. It is such a visionary approach and also, so generous. I wish they would promote it as a brand asset soon, something consumers could impact as well.

SOURCE: http://alfitude.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/lianne-la-havas.jpg

Hugh Masekela."If you don’t know where you are coming from, you’re going to be swallowed by your environment."

Ask yourself: where do I come from?

SOURCE: http://www.tikabasamuzik.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/scan-Hugh-Masekela.jpg

Rosemary Nalden & BuskaidThis woman has managed to build a music school in South Africa, the result is impressive. We had the chance to listen to those kids playing and I was so amazed by the life that was coming from the instrument itself.

They were playing a freed up version of violon, where you can dance in circles while playing, where no European Academics forces you to be straight in your playing.

The result was splendid!

SOURCE: http://rps5as.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/dsc03127_r_lo1.jpg

Plan B.His speech was very interesting and here are only a couple of ideas that I took notes of. I agree when he said newspapers are giving you facts about what’s happening but they never give you any context.

CHAV stands for Council Housed And Violent in our perceptions, media have dehumanised the youth. The young men are always shown as a problem which doesn’t help them.

How can we go to a place where each one teaches one?

SOURCE: http://www.absoluteradio.co.uk/

@DigitalPlanner

Crafted by Isabelle Quevilly. London. March 2012

This deck is made to help the advertising community think different. It will hopefully start conversations and sparkle new ideas. It is yours to steal, comment and share!

More information on the Observer’s website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tedx/speakers-2012