I am a self-proclaimed knowledge whore. I call myself a ‘know ho’ for short.
I am willing to spread my mind open for almost any idea in an act of consensual learning. I understand it’s risky. My mind could easily become impregnated with new ideas and possibly a whole new way of thinking.
And because ideas impact behaviors, it’s quite likely I’ll start going through life acting differently. I don’t just wait for them to come in the form of books arriving on my doorstep or through the internet. I am, with some frequency, working the people in the aisles or coming off-stage of various conferences looking for their ideas to imbed in my mind. This can cause some people to be quite uncomfortable because I am, in their view, a bit too old to carry on with unknown ideas in such a promiscuous manner.
But alas, for the second year in a row, I have just returned from the World Domination Summit (#WDS2015) in Portland OR where I have laid myself open to the insemination of deep thinking from a number of penetrating thinkers.
Following is the first of three posts with a sample from the many keynote presentations, academies, and meet-up sessions of some of the climactic offerings in my own interpretation:
Sean Ogle (@seanogle) on becoming a location rebel:
- Uncertainty is the world’s only fear and most people are willing to choose unhappiness over the discomfort of uncertainty.
- If you don’t know what your goals and desires look like, how are you going to pursue them?
- If you’re not happy, how are you going to help someone else achieve happiness?
- How are you going to make the next 10 years look different than the last 10 years?
Jonathan Fields (@jonathanfields) on the art of becoming known:
- People are going to label you in some way that makes sense to them because people are pattern recognition machines. Although they will never capture the total embodiment of your being, you can impact what they think of when they think of you by your positioning of what you do in a way that resonates with them.
- Can you articulate why people should choose you – or your offering – instead of others? How are you not just different, but better?
- What lights you up more, the process of making things or serving others?
Marsha Shandur (@YesYesMarsha) on the effectiveness of better storytelling.
- When you tell a strong visual story, you’re creating a mini-movie in your listeners’ heads.
- Learn to speak in your own voice. If you wouldn’t say something to a friend across the table, don’t say it that way in front of a group.
- Translate your emotions – the way something makes you feel – rather than the actual facts when you tell a story.
Vani Hari (@thefoodbabe) on dealing with obstacles:
- There is something bigger than you in what you’re doing.
- If you’re doing anything worthwhile, you’re going to have ‘haters’. Having haters is evidence of having success.