TEDxDarwin - David Faulkner - Becoming MAD (Make a Difference)
The speaker argues that making a difference requires leveraging seven "C"s learned from Indigenous communities: connection, care, collaboration, communication, contribution, challenge, and the understanding that relationships are the currency for change. The core evidence provided is the anecdote of rebuilding a relationship with a disruptive student named Steven and the philosophical lesson of drawing wisdom from the "mob."
## Speakers & Context
- Speaker: A leader, learner, and educator who has spent the last 10 years in remote Indigenous communities.
- Context: Giving a talk based on insights gleaned from Indigenous Australians.
## Theses & Positions
- To make a difference or become a "mad" (colloquialism for making a difference), one must prioritize building relationships, as these are the "currency for change."
- Pure ideas are insufficient; without genuine connection, change is "destined to fail."
- In matters of importance, one must "choose family" and stick with the community when times are difficult.
- True collaboration requires valuing the "wisdom of the mob," rather than assuming one has all the answers.
- Effective communication is defined as "listen, learn, then lead," emphasizing the value of silence and contemplation.
- Success requires focusing on purpose—contributing and building purpose in others—which is what Indigenous communities value.
- To make a real difference, one must seek out and get comfortable with challenge, as innovation comes from uncomfortable situations.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Currency for change:** Relationships.
- **The wisdom of the mob:** The collective insight of a community, which is superior to an individual's initial plans.
- **Sequential communication:** The principle of listening before speaking, meaning one must "listen, learn, then lead."
- **Contemplating:** The act of slowing down to hear what the world is trying to tell you, rather than rushing to respond.
- **Purpose:** A sole focus on contributing and making a difference, which is what Indigenous people value.
- **Challenge:** Seeking out uncomfortable situations, as great innovations stem from pressure.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Building relationships:** Dedicating time to talk with individuals, learning about their families, and sharing one's own to establish trust.
- **Modeling care:** The strength shown by Indigenous people who remain steadfastly committed to their family unit during hardship.
- **Community critique:** Presenting initial ideas to the group ("the mob") and allowing the community to rework and improve the plan.
- **Communication flow:** The structured process of listening first, which allows for better understanding before leading or acting.
- **Contribution focus:** The consistent effort to provide benefit and build purpose within the community, rather than seeking personal recognition.
## Timeline & Sequence
- **Past 10 years:** Speaker’s experience learning from Indigenous Australian communities.
- **During graduate teaching:** The speaker’s initial attempts to teach 23 boys and 9 girls (ages 11 and 12), with focus on the student named Steven.
- **Moment of change with Steven:** The speaker shifted from classroom instruction to meeting Steven every recess/lunch to build a personal relationship, leading to Steven improving his educational outcomes.
- **Lesson realization:** The speaker's realization that Aboriginal colleagues emphasized the foundational necessity of relationships.
## Named Entities
- **Indigenous Australians:** The source of many life lessons shared by the speaker.
- **Steven:** The specific student in the speaker’s early career who required dedicated relationship-building to improve his performance.
- **The mob:** General term used by the speaker to refer to the wisdom of the community.
## Numbers & Data
- Time period of learning: **10 years**.
- Student age range: **11 and 12 years old**.
- Class composition: **23 boys and 9 girls**.
## Examples & Cases
- **Steven's academic turnaround:** The failure of initial teaching methods was overcome by spending dedicated time talking to Steven about his family, which allowed him to improve his educational outcomes.
- **The young girl's attendance issue:** A 14-year-old girl was kept home by her mother, who was managing the household, illustrating the deep-seated value of "family" over individual opportunity.
- **School transformation failure:** The speaker, initially full of ideas for his first big school, found his initial grand plans were inadequate until he brought them to the "mob," who improved them.
- **Modern computer access:** The example of an individual in the slums of India throwing a computer against a wall to give educational access, showing ingenuity under pressure.
- **Bush mechanics:** A TV show cited as an example of finding innovations using only available resources in harsh, uncomfortable environments.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **Exercise bike:** Used as an analogy for exerting effort without making tangible progress without connection.
## References Cited
- **Aboriginal proverb:** *"We're all visitors to this time this place our purpose here is to learn to observe to grow and to love and then we return home."*
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- The speaker acknowledges that the topic of "communication" is often "taken out of context" in professional settings.
- The speaker admits to being a "little bit of a manic person" and often rushing through tasks.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- **The Seven C's of becoming mad:**
1. Connect: Build relationships; relationships are currency.
2. Care: Choose family in matters of importance.
3. Collaborate: Value the wisdom of the mob.
4. Communicate: Practice listening before leading.
5. Contribute: Focus on purpose and building purpose in others.
6. Challenge: Seek out the uncomfortable to foster innovation.
- Final imperative: If one wants to make a difference, they must show a clear, guiding purpose for being present in a community.
## Implications & Consequences
- The core implication is that sustained, positive social change is not driven by brilliant plans or sheer willpower, but by deep, relational commitment and an active willingness to be challenged.
- If one lacks purpose or connection, their efforts will ultimately fail, regardless of their energy expenditure.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"relationships are the currency for change."*
- *"it's kind of like trying to make a difference and make change without actually um connecting first."*
- *"if you really want to make a difference you have to connect and understand that relationships are the currency for change"*
- *"but sir she's my mom and nothing can change that"*
- *"when a lady once said to me she said have you have you taken it out to the the mob have you let them take it away and make it into something better"*
- *"to listen shows wisdom"*
- *"When you're still you can hear what the world's trying to tell you"*
- *"The first one is connect connect and understand that relationships of the currency for change"*
- *"the second is care and in matters of importance choose family"*
- *"the last thing I have for you that I've got from these communities is to challenge and by challenge what I mean is get comfortable with the uncomfortable"*
- *"We're all visitors to this time this place our purpose here is to learn to observe to grow and to love and then we return home."*