TEDx--Reboot

We all have times when we feel a need to reboot. We need a reset, a fresh start, a do-over. Sometimes you need to stop, turn, and take a new path. Sometimes you want to simply find a better way to do something.

My local library hosted a TEDx event back in September A TEDx event is an independently organized TED event. These events take place literally all over the world. This type of program is about community. They spark conversations. A TED talk presents “ideas worth spreading.” The recent one in my community had the theme of “Reboot.” Although the event was last fall, now, with the start of the year, it seems like the perfect time to share this information. Let’s REBOOT! I listened to four live presentations and three prerecorded ones.

These were the speakers:

Mike Lauesen, a self-described “recovered CPA,” co-founded chemical coating company Nicoat at the age of twenty-eight. After building the enterprise into a multi-million dollar international company, he exited as CEO to begin a new career as a professional speaker and life coach. In April 2017 Mike released Getting Off the Treadmill: Escaping the Race to Nowhere. He coaches and mentors business leaders and any other eager and ready student. He is passionate, entertaining, and motivates audience members to take immediate action steps in their work and personal lives. He enjoys his family, cycling, and travel, and is a fanatical Chicago Cubs fan.

Nilly Naseer-Farooqui is a computer scientist, author, philanthropist, Peak Performance speaker, modest fashion stylist, and a social media influencer. She is currently a systems analyst at Northwestern University and a lifestyle blogger whose profile, Words Behind a Smile, caters to an audience of more than 10,000 people across the globe. Mentored by the renowned author Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul), she is certified in teaching his principles for success. She is also an ambassador and prevention education speaker for Shared Hope International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and restoring human trafficking victims.

Emily Petway is a longtime enthusiast of nonprofit organizations, having always been fascinated by stories of giving and the power of volunteerism to change communities. A graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Michigan, she spent 15 years teaching music and currently serves as the education programs manager for the Illinois Music Education Association. As a nonprofit manager, Emily struggled to find items essential to operations, prompting her to found the nonprofit giveNkind in 2012. GiveNkind connects nonprofits in need with donors who have something to give—whether it’s a single, gently used item or pallets of brand new goods. Since October 2018, giveNkind has placed nearly $1 million in donated goods.

Mark Steel is an international speaker, consultant, and founder and host of the “Invincible Success” podcast. In 15 years with Microsoft, he stood out as a high-impact performer with more than $1 billion in sales. He also worked with industry giants including McDonald’s, Abbott, United Airlines, and State Farm, and led regional training programs for hundreds of highly skilled sales experts. Through his engaging programs and workshops, Mark inspires professionals to sell with confidence, lead with purpose, and speak with impact. He is the author of the forthcoming book Invincible Success: Amplify Your Sales, Leadership, Speaking, and Life! Mark is a married father of two and resides in Woodridge, Illinois. He enjoys rock climbing, running, hiking, and reading.

I would like to share just a few of the major points from the talks as well as share links to all of the talks for you to enjoy.

The first speaker was Mark Steel. His talk was titled “Achieving big goals with small steps.” Long story short, he told the audience that the secret to big goals is to do something small. There is power in small steps. He discussed rock climbing in his talk, and this was a good analogy as well. He focused on each small step to accomplish the larger goal of climbing a mountain. Those small steps were key to his success. His first step in this process is to decide on a big goal. Next, figure out something that you can do to move yourself toward that goal. Take a small step. Try something out. If one step does not work or is too big, try something smaller. The perfect first step is the one that you take. Keep this up until it becomes dependable.

To help make behaviors become habits which stick, he recommended “reminder, routine, reward.” It is ok to give yourself a reminder whether this is a post-it note, a notification on your cell phone, a message on the fridge, or anything else. These reminders can help you develop a routine. You want to get into the routine of doing your task at the same time every day. Then enjoy the reward. Celebrate the accomplishments of each step. Celebrate each small success; they count! Once one step has become a dependable step, try a new one. Keep going! The power of small steps makes anything achievable. Big goals can be daunting, but they can be reached when you start small!

As a relatively new blogger, I personally found Mark’s talk to be the extra inspiration that I needed. I am trying to put his advice to use as I become better at this! When I get frustrated, I suppose that I will refer back to my notes and his talk.

“Achieving big goals with small steps”

The second live speaker was Nilly Naseer-Farooqui. Her talk was titled “How to wear your faith with confidence.” “Wearing” was intended to be used literally. Her personal story related to her decision to start wearing a hijab. This information may apply to you if you want to wear, for example, a symbol which has meaning to you such as a kippah or jewelry with a religious symbol. Per Nilly, confidence is key. She shared six points. 1) Set a realistic expectation and intention. Give yourself a realistic time frame for changes you may choose to make. 2) Prepare yourself both mentally and physically. 3) One step at a time. 4) Find bloggers to help you find your style. 5) Make an effort for yourself. You can look for creative solutions to how to make things work for you. 6) Remember that you do not have to be perfect. You will never be able to please everyone. These six points can be a guide to help you feel proud of your own symbol.

“How to wear your faith with confidence”

Mike Lauesen spoke in the second half of the program. His topic was “How to be “Good Tired” in a 24/7 world.” Here is a brief summary of his main points. He shared three main ways to be “good tired.” First, “gratitude.” Gratitude is a choice. Second, “reflection.” You can use focused concentration to create a “peaceful place” right where you are. Finally, “paying attention.” Pay closer attention to what you really have in your life. I know that the information just listed all seems very simplified, but, if you take a moment to think about those three and give it a try, you may find that they really make a difference.

“How to be “Good Tired” in a 24/7 world”

The fourth speaker’s talk was titled, “Enough stuff–How to give better and with purpose.” (As you watch, you will realize that watching is better than me trying to summarize.)

The above are just some “nutshell” summaries of some of the talks. I highly recommend that you take some time to watch the videos and better understand the above listed points. You may find that these talks help you find ways to reboot.

Below are links to the other videos which were part of this TEDx Reboot program.

How you can help save the bees, one hive at a time.