I’ve read about 40 books this year, and one by Jason Fried is one of my top two favs, Rework (affiliate link below). But the main point of this post is to share his recent TEDx speech. In it, he talks about the two most responsible causes for destroying productivity and creativity:

I love the message on this video. And the notion that meetings and managers are the two major distractions at the workplace are one of the main reasons I work for myself, or have created businesses where I can do my own thing.

Not that doing my own thing isn’t without distraction, or requires major discipline to stay focused and on task.

But they key point I want to convey is the notion to set up and work WHERE EVER you must to do your best creative work, distraction free. I don’t care if that is at a coffee shop, a co-working space, the kitchen table, or some combination of all three.

Whatever your situation, you MUST make finding and establishing your creative space an important priority as you think through your life and work plan for 2011…

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

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Enjoy this fascinating TED video lecture from Simon Sinek. If you ever wanted to understand why Apple is what it is, and how MLK did what he did, watch…

Here at Intrepid, we are about living an intrepid life. The video below features Roz Savage, who was just like us, living a normal life. But as she describes in this video, she changed her “interior dialog” – and opted to live a life of adventure, and to fight for causes important to her.

So, here are your intrepid takeaways:

1. Change your “interior dialog” – and anything will be possible.
2. You will persevere through any challenge.
3. Free will is the greatest gift – USE IT! Choose to do big things!
4. Decide today to change your life story. It can begin…right now.
5. What do you want your obituary to say? And set out to live that life.

As you know, I write a lot about intrepid marketers. I define them this way. If you don’t keep an eye on TED, you are missing out. And if you haven’t watched this video featuring Benjamin Zander, you are missing a treasure. And once you watch it, you too will strive to run an one-buttock company… Enjoy!

One of my favorite lines is “perception is reality” – and I like it because I see – every day – how people often believe what they want to believe, or believe what they see and are told. The video below is a very entertaining presentation about how changing the perceived value can be just as satisfying – and just as powerful – as what we consider “real” value.

Enjoy this TED video by Rory Sutherland!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=audakxABYUc]
[a quote from the presentation --> "Poetry is when you make new things familiar and familiar things new."]

Be Intrepid.

I happened upon this video below, and wanted to share it with my community. It is a fascinating TED lecture from Daniel Pink about motivation and creativity. As you know, we are always examining intrepid ways for people to go-to-market, and watching this presentation will change the way you think about inspiring people – and yourself – to action. Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkrvAUbU9Y]

A special thanks to the Duct Tape Marketing Blog, where I first saw this video!

Five reasons to watch this video:

1. Because all TED videos rock.
2. If you still don’t get the change from one to many, to many to many.
3. To better understand how marketing and communication have changed over time.
4. We are global now.
5. How social media is going to change the world.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_iN_QubRs0]