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Conference on World Affairs - Best Ideas List


This list is the best change your life, perspective, or the world ideas I heard at the 2001 Conference on World Affairs. I probably attended 15 panels, events or social gatherings this week. There were many single ideas that came out during my travels. This list may overlap with my other Common Themes list, since some ideas came up in various forms across multiple panels. The items listed here are put forth by individuals within a panel.
  1. Here is my passion and I am glad to share it. - Patrick Roel
  2. What does it cost? - Jay Harris
  3. A passionate endeavor adds energy - Sally Fay
  4. 90% of life is just showing up. - Paul Andres
  5. It's the removal of impossibility that's important. - Barbara Thompson

  1. Here is my passion and I am glad to share it. - Patrick Roel
    A participant asked what to do about those "passionate" fanatics who seem to want people to incorporate the fanatic's passion. Patrick pointed out the difference between "pointing" at someone and trying to inflict your passion and holding out an open hand and saying, "Here is my passion and I am glad to share it with anyone who is interested. All of the panelists were there to share their passions.
  2. What does it cost? - Jay Harris
    We live in a society that is very affluent. We like to buy things. Often when in the store or looking at some new thing we ask, "Can I afford this?" Often the answer is yes and we buy it. A better question to ask is, "What does it cost?" That will force us to think more about the whole cycle? Buy a new TV and you have to worry about throwing out the old one? How much energy was used to make something? How much packing material will you put in the landfill? What effect will it have on your life? A new eletronic entertainment item means less time for reading or being with your family or friends. Every item you buy has costs besides money. Production, trash, disposal, opportunity, and time are some of the costs besides the money.
  3. A passionate endeavor adds energy - Sally Fay
    It was also expressed as, "You know passion because it moves you." Looks at the roots of the word "motivate," "to set in motion." Passion makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning. If you are living your passion you are excited about each day. You want to jump out of bed and the 8 hour day is not an issue. If you are looking at the clock an dcounting minutes whatever you are doing is not your passion.
  4. 90% of life is just showing up. - Paul Andres
    I have discovered that getting to the gym is the hard part. Once you get there the workout mode tends to kick in by itself. GEtting to a job is probably very much like that. So few jobs task much of our abilities. All you need to do is get there and do what is expected of you. And how many kids would be so much better of if their father was around? Even if he did not do much the kid would benefit from his presence. Of course most of us spend out time trying to figure out where it is we want to show up 90% of the time.
  5. It's the removal of impossibility that's important. - Barbara Thompson
    This was from the panel on "Change the System: Teach Girls Math and Science. I missed this panel, but I heard about the idea. Barbara Thompson had heard that the role of a mentor is the removal of impossibility. The reason Dr. Thompson got where she is is because nobody ever told her she couldn't go there. I think the idea extends itself to leaders and anyone else who wants to succeed. Don't limit your options. Just because the whole country is mumbling that they do not have enough money for their schools does not mean you cannot decide that $4,000 per student is enough and find a way to provide a quality education no matter what the funding level. This goes well with another idea of mine. Don't ask, "Can I do it?" ask instead, "How can I do it?"

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