I’m a big fan of TED Talks and truly enjoy every moment I can catch of TED Radio Hour. I wrote a TED inspired blog post titled “Are We Too Connected to Connect” a few years ago – and what I’m about to write here reveals a theme…
Try, Learn, Succeed, Repeat…
See, my latest TED Radio experience involved an inspiring talk by Gever Tulley, founder of Tinkering School, where kids go to unplug from technology, play with tools, engage their imaginations and become better problem-solvers. Gever’s talk reminded me the power of truly immersing yourself – no matter your age – in the task at hand. Rarely are problems solved by simply reaching for one thing in the toolbox, but more frequently by trying a few options, building on successes, learning from failures and always driving toward the end goal.
Get In The Moment
At GFM we have an annual tradition of taking the team on an Outward Bound Professional trip. In fact, we just started planning for our 2016 adventure! Every year I gain a new appreciation for our team, and there’s usually one or two team members who shine for their ability to really let go of expectations, get into the moment and solve the problem at hand. One year a colleague expertly unraveled a group of us who were blindfolded, asked not to speak, and holding onto portions of a knotted rope. Talk about getting into the moment… Another year the entire team had to start on one side of a very tall, sheer wall and get every team member up and over the wall in succession. We tried some things, learned a lot, laughed a ton, cheered no matter what, and finally met the goal!
Unplug And See What Happens!
So let’s circle back to the theme I see developing. When we allow ourselves to unplug from the flow of technology that so often drives our days and really focus on the problems we’re trying to solve – dare I suggest connecting with colleagues face-to-face instead of by email or Slack? – it’s amazing what we can accomplish. If you have a few minutes, I strongly suggest watching Gever’s TED Talk to see how it might inspire you.
