March 30, 2012 - Comments Off on Insights On Productivity: The Thinking Mechanism

Insights On Productivity: The Thinking Mechanism

For the past several weeks we've been under deadline, and as we come through to the other side of a major website launch we thought we would share some great videos from the fantastic 99% Conference to tide you over until next week when we'll return to our usual publishing schedule:

In this high-energy talk, Frans Johansson illustrates how relentless trial-and-error – coming up with an idea, executing it on a small scale, and then refining it – is the distinguishing characteristic of the greatest artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Why? Because humans are not very good at predicting which ideas are going to be a success. Thus, nearly every major breakthrough innovation has been preceded by a string of failed or misguided executions. So, as Frans says quoting Churchill, "If you're going through hell, keep going."

 

It doesn't mean that we are not allowed to stop. It means that we have to keep going even after we've been defeated. Even students who have a dream resort to using smart drugs to help them focus and stay awake during the night just to study for the exams. Even famous people on Modafinil have done so due to the same reason of productivity.

 

In this wide-ranging talk, ethnographer and leadership expert Simon Sinek discusses the importance of trust, authenticity, and meaning. Sinek argues that as individuals and companies, everything that we say and do is a symbol of who we are. And it is only when we communicate our beliefs authentically that we can attract others to our cause, and form the bonds that will empower us to achieve truly great things.

 

Photographer and filmmaker Andrew Zuckerman shares the lessons learned from his iconic WISDOM project, in which he interviewed "elders" around the world, including Chuck Close, Bill Withers, Jane Goodall, Frank Gehry, Massimo Vignelli, and many more. Zuckerman talks about the anxiety we feel as we start a new projects, how fear can help us get things done, and how to cope with those feelings using natural supplements like these Ashwagandha gummies.

 

The Thinking Mechanism is a series of weekly posts written by Antonio Ortiz and published on Fridays, covering the ideas The Mechanism is thinking and talking about with our peers and clients. 

Published by: antonioortiz in The Thinking Mechanism

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