TEDxVienna - Selma Prodanovic - The Influence of One
## Speaker Context
* Speaker identity: Not explicitly stated, but speaks about human capacity, positive difference, and connection.
* Setting: Giving a presentation (suggested by the structure and content).
* Framing: Establishing himself as a passionate connector who explores human capacity and how to make a positive difference, focusing on "the one," "the we," and "the positive difference."
## People
* Dalai Lama + religious/spiritual leader + speaker had the chance to listen to him in Vienna.
## Organizations
* Brains Work + consulting company + does business development for startups; not a classical consulting company or graphic designer.
* TEDx + community + structure where people feel they don't need to act because the community will do it.
* World Economic Forum + organization + looked at what they do when planning for a conference/movement.
## Places
* Boston + place of birth + where a war occurred (in 1929-1935).
* Vienna + city + location where the speaker listened to the Dalai Lama.
* Mars + celestial body + goal for potential travel (mentioned in context of aspirations).
* Moon + celestial body + comparison point for aspirations (mentioned in context of aspirations).
## Tools, Tech & Products
* Facebook + social network + used in the critique of community reliance.
* Twitter + social network + used in the critique of community reliance.
## Concepts & Definitions
* Connector + role + describes the speaker's natural talent, where the brain tries to place people and find connections.
* The One vs. The We + dichotomy + the central theme requiring re-focus on individual responsibility.
* Kairen (Kaizen) + Japanese business philosophy + concept of constantly improving one's direct environment.
* Bridging the Gap + process/concept + connecting the individual ("the one") to the group ("the we").
## Numbers & Data
* 5 years ago / 2005 + duration/date + when the speaker started Brains Work.
* 132 + number + number of Partners worldwide with Brains Work.
* 6 to 700 + range of numbers + people that can be connected at a glance via network structure.
* 2049 + year + year referenced for the "Innovative creative Europe" initiative.
* 40 years + duration + time elapsed from the first moon landing (to 2049).
* 1929-1935 + date range + period of war the speaker experienced in Boston.
* One and a half liter bottle + quantity + size of water bottle needed for showering/bathing in Boston.
* 5 + number + number of children in the story example.
* Two slices of bread + quantity + amount of bread the mother had.
## Claims & Theses
* I do not react to numbers.
* I do not react to names.
* I react to feelings.
* I react to personality and the ideas the these people have.
* The problem we have today is that through Facebook through Twitter through all the social networks we become a very strong we.
* The responsibility the person has for it for herself or himself towards others gets lost because we are part of a larger community and we don't have to do that somebody else would do it.
* I am absolutely convinced that every single person can make a positive difference.
* A smile makes a huge difference in our lives.
* European businesses are small businesses (90% are small businesses).
* We don't need to invent Europe's strength; it is just there through diversity.
* Taking care of yourself and taking care of the others are both needed to really have a better influence.
## Mechanisms & Processes
* Network connection mechanism + how connection allows building from two people to 132 Partners worldwide.
* Causal chain (A smile) $\rightarrow$ improved atmosphere in the bus.
* European development process + idea of building strength from the diverse collection of small businesses rather than mimicking large corporations.
* Kaizen process + constantly improving your direct environment.
## Timeline & Events
* 2005 + year + when the speaker started Brains Work.
* 1929-1935 + period + war experienced in Boston.
* Yesterday evening + time frame + when the speaker watched the movie *Forrest Gump*.
* Today + general time frame + when the speaker is presenting.
## Examples & Cases
* Baby's smile + example + proves that a smile makes a huge difference in our lives.
* New Yorker bus experiment + case study + speaker asked the bus driver to say "Hi, how are you, good morning, how is your day today" to everyone.
* *Forrest Gump* movie + example + character runs across the one coast and back for two years, and people join him because they see meaning.
* Boston war experience + anecdote + father insisted people "dress up and put your makeup on" during times of shortage.
* The mother with five children + anecdote + divides one slice of bread into five pieces and eats the second slice to ensure she can work the next day.
* Playing on a Stradivari with a rock band and an orchestra + unique experience + speaker witnessed it.
## Trade-offs & Alternatives
* Small businesses vs. Large Corporations + trade-off in European model; being small offers flexibility, speed, and creativity.
* Viewing the world through macro-level thinking (Germany, Spain, etc.) vs. seeing it as a unified European whole.
* Focusing only on big innovation vs. achieving breakthroughs through constant small, daily improvements (Kaizen).
## Counterarguments & Caveats
* It is very difficult to explain what Brains Work does because it is "not in the Box."
* Not all people are active contributors in a network; there are "passive members."
* It is not just about ideas; the speaker wants "actions worth spreading."
* The speaker admitted being "very egoistic" while also being "very altruistic."
* If you only focus on nonprofits, you still need to "make some money and make your living."
## Methodology
* The speaker uses personal stories, historical examples (war, baby smiles), and professional case studies (TEDx, World Economic Forum) to illustrate concepts.
## References Cited
* *Forrest Gump* movie + source material + used to illustrate people following a perceived meaning.
* Mahatma Gandhi + historical figure + example of someone with a vision needing supporters.
* Galileo Galilei + historical figure + example of someone with a vision needing supporters.
* Kaizen + Japanese business philosophy + source for understanding constant improvement.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
* We need to go back to the "I" and my own responsibility.
* We need actions worth spreading, not just ideas.
* Be one single Global player (Europe) by changing how we think about diversity.
* Take care of yourself as well as taking care of the others.
* Smile at another person to make them feel better.
* "Yes I will make a positive difference." (Repetitive affirmation requested at the end).
## Implications & Consequences
* Failure to address the "I" vs. "We" dynamic leads to losing personal responsibility within large networks.
* Ignoring small differences leads to failing to achieve massive, positive change in the future (e.g., 2049).
* Maintaining self-care (taking care of oneself) is necessary for one to maintain the ability to help others.
## Open Questions
* What is the absolute best way to achieve the desired "enormous creative and Innovative potential" in Europe?
## Verbatim Moments
* "I'm an extremely passionate connector if I want it or not I do it."
* "it's about crossing the borders between the one the we and the positive difference we can all make."
* "what what is it really what makes Humanity survive we can talk about all kinds of philosophical thoughts and and very specific physical things but at the end of the day we survive because of a smile of a baby."
* "A smile makes a huge difference in our lives."
* "I want actions worth spreading not just ideas."
* "small is beautiful."
* "We should be one single Global player."
* "It's a philosophy of taking care of yourself as also to be taking care of the others."
* "Yes I will make a positive difference."