TED is a circle of inspiration and genuine energy for me. It is a micro-bomb of energy and inspiration, a place where you can learn a lot in a short amount of time and that you can endlessly relish. The subtitle ‘Ideas worth spreading’ is most appealing to me, it is all about the ideas. We live in an era, where ideas can thrive. And that is great, because ideas only have value if they are shared. I’m inspired by the way TEDxAmsterdam shares intellectual capital. That is the reason I happily joined the advisory board of TEDxAmsterdam. I entered a circle that has always fascinated me and it is an ideal platform to get in touch with people who find inspiration through sharing.

Another source of inspiration for me, is waking up early. It reminds me of puberty, when I had a newspaper route. Starting the day by getting up early and not getting caught up by the day, gives me a sense of much strength, Focus and perseverance. I get up at six am, do my yoga, sometimes take a run and then I am ready for the rest of the day. Getting up early is a universal activity, it can be done everywhere. In the city, in the country, alone or with many, it is an autonomous act. It is a moment for myself, I am in my own world. I do not set my alarm anymore, I seize the day. These are the optimal circumstances for inspiration.

Tip: Let’s try it, do not be afraid to make mistakes

I seek out people and platforms that energize me, and TEDxAmsterdam is such a place. Getting big thinkers of our society together, is purely about bringing together creative energy from creative minds. Seeing what TED has achieved since 1984, inspires me. It’s in the world’s interest to compile ideas that originate from everywhere and TED is doing exactly that. Initially it is all about the ideas and subsequently people get involved and that’s where the beauty lies. Now boundaries can be replaced, resulting in a breakthrough .

Passionate, creative and brave people inspire me. People who have the strength to get their hands dirty while having the guts to dream. I want to call on people to be more courageous, to be more brave, because only then can you achieve a breakthrough. Befriend your fears, do not let them lead you. Talk to people with different cultural backgrounds and agendas and leave your own opinion at the doorstep. Only then will you be challenged to review your own bias. Stick your neck out, listen to others and hear them. The energy is in you, go out and disperse it and create!

TED wishlist
I want to challenge President Barack Obama to talk at TED about leadership and identity. He would be able to convey it in a way, that it would appeal to everyone in the world.

Tip: Be amongst people who think differently

Credits
Interview by Tessa Stolze
Translation by Ferhaan Kajee
Photography by Ivo van der Bent

For TEDxAmsterdam, Woldhek shares his breakthrough in a video interview.

The world has found itself in crisis, but we do not know the extent of it. The financial and ensuing economic crisis is very much alive in many of us, but we are also in the midst of a climate crisis. I view this crisis as a crisis of values. Our values have crumbled away in the past decades, people need new views and new bodies of thought. I see TED as a combined force of ideals and ideas.

This “TED box” offers an outlook on a new paradigm, TED people do not have the desire to score at all costs. TED-people want to tell a great story and they want their story to touch others, make them think and make them act. This gives me a good feeling, because these are people who are made up from a completely different mold.

My favourite TEDTalk is by Barry Schwartz. He makes a passionate call for “practical wisdom” as an antidote to a society gone mad with bureaucracy. Schwartz tells a telling tale of a father whose eleven year-old son has been taken away from him, because he accidentally gave his son a lemonade during a baseball game that contained a small percentage of alcohol. I found the image of powerlessness and the failure of the system, very telling. He shows us that rules often fail us, incentives often backfire such that they make us do things collectively that non of us want individually. Barry demonstrates practical everyday wisdom will help rebuild our world. An excellent example of a new body of thought that is available in the TED box.

Tip: (Re)read philosophy books on ancient arts of living

Credits
Interview by Tessa Stolze
Translation by Ferhaan Kajee
Photography by Ivo van der Bent

Prof. Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf from toscani on Vimeo.

Dijkgraaf graduated under Nobel prize winner Gerard ‘t Hooft. In 2003 he received the prestigious Spinoza-award for his work in the field of string theory (the theory that connects Einsteins theory of relativity with quantum mechanics). Dijkgraaf often promotes science in popular culture. Dijkgraaf is a columnist for Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad and student weekly Folia. Since May 19 2008 Dijkgraaf is the president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Smart Living
Given this spectrum, he has been asked to advice the Dutch government on the matter of FTTH. Recently, he introduced new concepts such as trans-sectoral innovation, “Streetlight” and the Integral City Architecture to enhance and accelerate ictapplications in and across sectors such as healthcare, energy, transport and education. These concepts are realized in a co-operation between KPN, TNO and several Universities, comprising a group of 12 PhD’s, the Dutch Research Delta and TRANS. In the latter, the concept of Smart Living constitutes the dominant research line.

More information
Read a full interview with Nico Baken from the TEDxAmsterdam Book,

The TED theme, “ideas worth spreading”, is my personal motto. Ideas are the driving force behind everything you do and are therefor of vital importance for changing the world. TED facilitates the dissemination of ideas, which I find outstanding. Why would you spend your evening watching “As the world turns”, when you could watch TEDTalks! These videos are food for thought!

Some people believe that ideas are not realistic or woolly, but I think that is nonsense. Ideas are reality and they are not vague. And it’s absolutely great when ideas put things in motion. I greatly admire Willie Smits (TEDTalk Willie Smits restores a rainsforest) and his work with orangoutangs. With simple means he gets things done, and in doing so he reaches areas beyond the scope of the apes. He helps an entire region and as a result a personal initiative becomes a global movement.

My favourite TEDTalk is the story of William Kamkwamba from Malawi (TEDTalk William Kamkwamba on building a windmill). William is a born inventor. When he was 14, he built an electricityproducing windmill from spare parts and scrap, working from rough plans he found in a library book called “Using Energy” and modifying them to fit his needs. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home. This illiterate boy showed enormous grandeur when he built a windmill, just by looking at illustrations in a book. That’s what I call “Ideas worth spreading”!

Tip: Get enthused about something and then execute it!

Volgens Ernst Fuld denken we teveel in oorzaak gevolg, terwijl het de moeite loont om eens andersom te denken.