Why I want to hear your stupid idea

As the TED2010 week passes, I get to thinking again about how important it is that we share our ideas; regardless of how “out there” they may be. I found myself the other day saying I was tired of repeating the story of why Mark Dudlik and I started Dojo Collective; because it keeps me from the actual doing of work and the generation of new ideas. However, it is important to keep repeating this tale from the perspective of furthering the storytelling virus.

I think that, in shortening our communications with eachother and through fear of ridicule for outlandish ideas, we are losing the ability to motivate others to productive thought and action. More importantly, I think we have begun to eschew the storytelling process all together because we have decided we just don’t have time for background and emotional scaffolding.  This is sad.

I get a significantly different (and passionate) response to Dojo’s mission when I take the time to give the who, why, and how, of the venture. I have seen people’s pilot lights spark anew with the realization that they have similar, or even different, ideas about why education and community action are important; and how these things are not that difficult, or initially expensive to improve upon on a micro-level.

I make it a point when meeting someone new to ask them what they do *and* what they are passionate about. I also take the time to listen to the stories. You get a heck of a lot more information when you ask about passions (go figure!).

I want to change my little part of the world. I want you to want to change your little part of the world. I want us to share what is important to us as individuals.

Events like TED, Ignite, and Pecha Kucha Night provide a venue to not just tell me what you are passionate about, but WHY you are passionate about it. I may not learn much from what you are talking about, but I certainly learn a heck of a lot about you.

Why is that important? It tells me if you are a hungry learner, a helpful teacher, a willing resource, or simply an observer of the world around you. I only want the first three in my circle. 

-Bully

What did you learn today, Johnny?

When I engage with people who say “I never use my education in my daily job” I laugh to myself that they don’t consider every part of their lives as their “education”. School taught me to learn.

My vocation as an Operations and Compliance Officer frequently is supplemented by my backgrounds in Healthcare, Education, Communication, and Regulation. Over the course of my career, I have been employed by Lufthansa German Airlines, The Art Institutes International, CB Richard Ellis, Aegis Mortgage, Iasis Healthcare, and the State of Arizona Medicaid Program (AHCCCS).

I hold a degree in Speech Communication, a Bachelor of Arts program based in rhetorical criticism and persuasive communication.

I recently bothered to look up this term, because everyone keeps throwing it around:

Creative Professionals: These professionals are the classic knowledge-based workers and include those working in healthcare, business and finance, the legal sector, and education. They “draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems” using higher degrees of education to do so (2002)

I always considered myself a renaissance man. It sounds more romantic. But whatever, I will be a Creative Professional.

Call it finding yourself or indecision, but trying different things is arguably more valuable than reading hundreds of books.

I wear as many hats as possible to keep myself learning.

The old adage “you can learn something from every person you meet” also applies to every class you take and every job you have over the course of your life. I always append to the end of that statement “…even if what you learn is that you never wanna talk to that loser again.” A lesson is a lesson.

My point is this: Say all you want about not using your degree, but you use your education every day.