Photo courtesy of TedxDetroit
Ideas. Innovations. Inspiration.
Those are one of the many takeaways from the TEDxDetroit live event held on Wednesday, October 26 at the Music Hall where countless speakers, entertainers, and others gathered on the stage to share with others a piece of brilliance that keeps them going.
TEDxDetroit, the premier gathering of leading thinkers, designers, entertainers, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and students from Detroit and across Michigan, shared their positive ideas for the world from Detroit that hopes to spark deep discussion, connection, and cross-pollination, according to their website.
“TEDxDetroit is always a remarkable day that fills your head with fresh ideas, rekindles the fire in your belly, and adds a spring to your step,” said TEDxDetroit curator Charlie Wollborg in a press release. “It’s a celebration of the creativity, collaboration, and optimism happening right here in Michigan. It’s our mission to get attendees charged up for action.”
TEDxDetroit is one of the oldest and largest TEDx events in the world. Started in 2009, the independently organized event has featured over 250 doctors, filmmakers, educators, engineers, poets, and game changers hailing from Detroit and The Great Lakes State.
The non-profit organization TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design – three fields that inspire and drive innovation across all sectors of the economy. In 2009, TEDx launched in major cities across the country, Detroit becoming one of the first, to shine a light on the entrepreneurs, innovations, and artists creating in the region. Bringing together “charged particles” to make new connections and collaborations, TEDx asks its speakers, “If you had the world’s attention for a few minutes, what would you share?”
The all-day event featured TEDxLabs and TEDxMarketplace, which showcased homegrown technology, art, and small businesses – think part business expo, part art gallery, and part science fair, the website added.
Steve Lowisz, a speaker and trainer on all things talent, personal development, and business leadership, spoke during the event on motivation. He asked the audience, “Why doesn’t motivation last?”
Lowisz said that the answer deals with the struggle of focusing on survival and the idea of being pushed to something greater despite challenges, work, and personal.
“From a corporate perspective quiet quitting is all the rage today – that’s the exact opposite of motivation,” he said adding, “It’s the exact opposite of inspiration.”
Lowisz added that only 24% of employees think that their boss “gives a damn.”
“That’s not inspirational,” he said adding that today’s current generation of children is “less inspired,” “less motivated” and “less creative” than the generation before.
He said the answer is finding the difference between inspiration and manipulation: one’s intent.
“State your intent … to get the best from your team,” he said, adding that today’s children don’t want their parents to solve their problems but guide them to help them solve the problem – similar to employees. “When we focus on actually guiding it grows inspiration.”
Gail Perry-Mason, senior director-Investments at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., spoke during the TEDxDetroit talk about finances.
Perry-Mason, also the founder of Money Matters For Youth, who lost 20 pounds this year, said that losing weight is the same strategy as saving money, and it’s all about shifting one’s “assets” — pun intended.
“I don’t believe in diets. A diet just means, ‘Did I eat today?’ But I do believe in … a lifestyle change,” Perry-Mason said.
Perry-Mason said losing weight and gaining more dollars in the process is crucial and it starts with putting a “GPS” on your money and track it and follow it to see where it goes.
“Make sure it doesn’t cheat on you,” she said adding that one’s money should not be “homeless.”
“There’s so many apps out there (mint.com) that track your money and give you a financial report card every week,” she said, adding that once one figures out where their finances goes, then it is time to become their own chief life officer. Then select their own personal board of directors. “Everyone needs their own personal board of directors. You need somebody for oversight, and insight to encourage you, empower you, and hold you accountable to your goals. Get a financial advisor … relationships are everything. Someone to help you physically. Someone to help you spiritually. … an attorney on your board … People are on my board and they don’t even know they are on my board. I got Warren Buffet on my board. Oprah on my board.”
She added that a lifestyle change is part of a journey everyone is on.
“There is no one size fits all, but we all have to change our mindset — whether we want to lose weight or save money or do both,” she said, adding that everyone should learn to get financially fit by “minding their own business.” “Have a mind your own business day; a mind your own business hour … you cannot plan your life until you know where your money is going.”
Tim Finkel, a teacher, and comedian told the audience that grief is not a linear path, which he discovered after losing his brother.
“None of us are immune, right? You’ve either lost the loved one, you’re currently losing a loved one, or you’re gonna lose a loved one,” Finkel said, adding to not be afraid of death. “Today I would like to invite you to think of grief as something good. I would like to ask the question, ‘Is grief a bad thing? I don’t think it is.”
He said people often try to avoid it, and get through it, but do not always “embrace it,” which they should.
“I would argue that grief is a gift. Something to be cherished; something to be embraced,” he said, adding that through grief he learned how precious life is. “Mark Twain once said that, ‘Humor is nothing more than tragedy plus time.’ And I learned that if you can learn to laugh you can learn to heal.”
For more information, follow TEDxDetroit on Twitter (@TEDxDetroit), Facebook (facebook.com/TEDxDetroit), and LinkedIn.
For more information visit https://www.tedxdetroit.com.
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