Dr. CK Lin | Productivity. Innovation. Entrepreneur Profiles

The WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: TED and Innovation a silver lining?

The World Economic Forum (WEF) saw top business leaders, politicians, thinkers and journalists come together to discuss the current global economic situation. They all tried their best Nostradamus impressions and as a result the relative theme of this year’s event was a real downer; something to the effect of– problem-based problems for the world’s catastrophic economic calamity.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure I saw a few PBPWCEC t-shirts and beanies in the audience.

Though the overall discussion was fairly gloomy there were a few bright spots… Read the rest of this entry »

Conference Warriors: Rules for Networking the Right Way

In a few days I will be traveling out to Palm Springs for the TED Conference, which is the satellite offshoot not the “real deal“, but TED is TED.  As I’m starting to game plan for the event, I’m reminded of the times I’ve been asked for advice on how to network successfully at one of these conferences.

So I’ve put together a list of rules that I follow and have helped many of my friends become Conference Warriors. The rules are kind of like the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants…only without the sisterhood or the pants.

The first step, which is also the most important, is to set an intention. Ask yourself: Why am I here? It seems simple enough, but if you’re vision is not perfectly clear you will not do well. How can you find helpful connections if you don’t know what you are looking for?

Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail. Yes, I just made this up. John Wooden= Carlos Mencia

Ok. So once you are actually at the conference, you must… Read the rest of this entry »

Telling It Like It Is(Photo: Kev/null)

TED founder and chair, Richard Wurman: Abrasive but Charming

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“I’m not interested in making money, but I’m particularly interested in not losing money.”

The founder and the original chair of the TED Conference (www.ted.com), Richard Wurman, gives an incredibly candid interview about the conference and his own professional journey. He also shares some clear-cut maxims that have guided his career, including:

• The power of truth
• Practical reasoning
• Do good work
• Do not worry about pleasing others

At 73, Richard Wurman, the founder of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference, is a prolific author and a champion of innovation. He has taken the event around the globe from New York City to Kobe, Japan.

Speakers assemble from a wide variety of communities and disciplines and past attendees have included: former U.S. president Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, and Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

He left the conference in 2002, but his work is far from done. He continues to write and is currently spearheading the 19.20.21. project.  Amazing guy.

Website: www.wurman.com, www.192021.org

Read the rest of this entry »

BIG BANK THINK TANK

Bump Top founder, Anand Agarawala: Short and Snappy

“It’s a wild, fun ride.”

Founder of Bump Top (www.bumptop.com), Anand Agarawala, offers his insight about transitioning from the academic world to the corporate world- from conception to company, including:

• The importance of patents and branding
• Starting small and sharing ideas
• Constant adjustments to a changing tech environment
• Maximizing public exposure using social media

As the head of the groundbreaking 3D desktop company, Bump Top, Anand Agarawala is a true champion of innovation. He wants to share his story with fellow innovators-from University student to internet sensation to entrepreneur. Chris Anderson, the curator for the TED (Technology Entertainment Design) conference, stumbled upon Bump Top’s Youtube demo and invited him to speak at the annual event. As it turns out, Chris Anderson is just one of about 3,000,000 Youtubers to check out video. The conference has spring boarded Anand onto the global stage. To date he has stumped for Bump Top across Asia, the United States and Germany and his company has been featured on MTV, BBC, Digg.com, as well as, in the New York Times and PC World.

Website: www.bumptop.com