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The Emperor’s New Idea | Deana Hoover | TEDxCarsonCity


[Applause]

[Applause] we’ve all heard the story the story of

we’ve all heard the story the story of

we’ve all heard the story the story of the Emperor and his new clothes started

the Emperor and his new clothes started

the Emperor and his new clothes started off simple enough he just wanted to get

off simple enough he just wanted to get

off simple enough he just wanted to get himself a fine new outfit he liked

himself a fine new outfit he liked

himself a fine new outfit he liked clothes and it was gonna be so great he

clothes and it was gonna be so great he

clothes and it was gonna be so great he would hire the best tailor and he was

would hire the best tailor and he was

would hire the best tailor and he was gonna look so good he’d throw a parade

gonna look so good he’d throw a parade

gonna look so good he’d throw a parade so everybody could come and see there’s

so everybody could come and see there’s

so everybody could come and see there’s nothing wrong with any of that but as we

nothing wrong with any of that but as we

nothing wrong with any of that but as we well know there was a problem and that

well know there was a problem and that

well know there was a problem and that problem came with his deep-seated ego

problem came with his deep-seated ego

problem came with his deep-seated ego attachment to that idea it put blinders

attachment to that idea it put blinders

attachment to that idea it put blinders on him so it was the only thing he could

on him so it was the only thing he could

on him so it was the only thing he could see that left him right for exploitation

see that left him right for exploitation

see that left him right for exploitation which is exactly what happened because

which is exactly what happened because

which is exactly what happened because Along Came the tailor and he managed to

Along Came the tailor and he managed to

Along Came the tailor and he managed to tap into that ego attachment and he sold

tap into that ego attachment and he sold

tap into that ego attachment and he sold him a very expensive invisible outfit

him a very expensive invisible outfit

him a very expensive invisible outfit but again the emperor was blind to what

but again the emperor was blind to what

but again the emperor was blind to what was the obvious so he put that outfit on

was the obvious so he put that outfit on

was the obvious so he put that outfit on and he went on the parade so he’s going

and he went on the parade so he’s going

and he went on the parade so he’s going along gone along on that parade and it

along gone along on that parade and it

along gone along on that parade and it wasn’t until the moment that someone in

wasn’t until the moment that someone in

wasn’t until the moment that someone in the audience in this case it was a child

the audience in this case it was a child

the audience in this case it was a child a child who didn’t have any preconceived

a child who didn’t have any preconceived

a child who didn’t have any preconceived ideas so therefore he wasn’t wearing any

ideas so therefore he wasn’t wearing any

ideas so therefore he wasn’t wearing any blinders he was able to see the obvious

blinders he was able to see the obvious

blinders he was able to see the obvious and he said so he pointed out to

and he said so he pointed out to

and he said so he pointed out to everyone guys he’s not wearing anything

everyone guys he’s not wearing anything

everyone guys he’s not wearing anything and bam

and bam

and bam then the blinders came off how

then the blinders came off how

then the blinders came off how embarrassing

embarrassing

embarrassing but of course he did a lot worse than

but of course he did a lot worse than

but of course he did a lot worse than just embarrass himself because remember

just embarrass himself because remember

just embarrass himself because remember that was an expensive invisible outfit

that was an expensive invisible outfit

that was an expensive invisible outfit he taxed his people in excess to pay for

he taxed his people in excess to pay for

he taxed his people in excess to pay for it he didn’t set out to do harm he

it he didn’t set out to do harm he

it he didn’t set out to do harm he didn’t mean to harm anyone but he did

didn’t mean to harm anyone but he did

didn’t mean to harm anyone but he did indeed do harm simply because he wasn’t

indeed do harm simply because he wasn’t

indeed do harm simply because he wasn’t open to new ideas we come to events like

open to new ideas we come to events like

open to new ideas we come to events like this specifically because we want new

this specifically because we want new

this specifically because we want new ideas we know we could encounter

ideas we know we could encounter

ideas we know we could encounter something here today that could change

something here today that could change

something here today that could change our lives forever

our lives forever

our lives forever for the better and that is extraordinary

for the better and that is extraordinary

for the better and that is extraordinary but how ready are we any one of us at

but how ready are we any one of us at

but how ready are we any one of us at any moment in our day-to-day lives

any moment in our day-to-day lives

any moment in our day-to-day lives because there is a built-in problem

because there is a built-in problem

because there is a built-in problem we have to rely on our ideas we have a

we have to rely on our ideas we have a

we have to rely on our ideas we have a pretty good idea how to do our job or

pretty good idea how to do our job or

pretty good idea how to do our job or drive our car we have a pretty good idea

drive our car we have a pretty good idea

drive our car we have a pretty good idea how to grocery shop if we questioned

how to grocery shop if we questioned

how to grocery shop if we questioned every single little nuance of every

every single little nuance of every

every single little nuance of every single idea we wouldn’t be able to

single idea we wouldn’t be able to

single idea we wouldn’t be able to function but there’s something more

function but there’s something more

function but there’s something more insidious than that and that is when

insidious than that and that is when

insidious than that and that is when we’re attached to our ideas we get a

we’re attached to our ideas we get a

we’re attached to our ideas we get a nice little reward we get to feel safe

nice little reward we get to feel safe

nice little reward we get to feel safe and we get to feel right that’s kind of

and we get to feel right that’s kind of

and we get to feel right that’s kind of nice well a new understanding of this

nice well a new understanding of this

nice well a new understanding of this came home to me

came home to me

came home to me not too long ago in a way I never would

not too long ago in a way I never would

not too long ago in a way I never would have anticipated you see my husband and

have anticipated you see my husband and

have anticipated you see my husband and I have been married a long time we

I have been married a long time we

I have been married a long time we actually get along we’re BFFs well we’re

actually get along we’re BFFs well we’re

actually get along we’re BFFs well we’re doing the happily ever after thing we’re

doing the happily ever after thing we’re

doing the happily ever after thing we’re cruising along in life mind in our own

cruising along in life mind in our own

cruising along in life mind in our own beeswax and then he got a diagnosis of

beeswax and then he got a diagnosis of

beeswax and then he got a diagnosis of stage four cancer we had ideas about

stage four cancer we had ideas about

stage four cancer we had ideas about cancer before the diagnosis wait really

cancer before the diagnosis wait really

cancer before the diagnosis wait really healthy we were reasonably active pretty

healthy we were reasonably active pretty

healthy we were reasonably active pretty low stress he didn’t have any really bad

low stress he didn’t have any really bad

low stress he didn’t have any really bad habits that would raise any red flags in

habits that would raise any red flags in

habits that would raise any red flags in the pantheon of things to worry about

the pantheon of things to worry about

the pantheon of things to worry about cancer wasn’t real high on our list and

cancer wasn’t real high on our list and

cancer wasn’t real high on our list and we had ideas after the diagnosis as well

we had ideas after the diagnosis as well

we had ideas after the diagnosis as well more ideas about nutrition and health

more ideas about nutrition and health

more ideas about nutrition and health and ideas about treatment and now we had

and ideas about treatment and now we had

and ideas about treatment and now we had to figure out what to do because what

to figure out what to do because what

to figure out what to do because what they say is true cancer sucks

they say is true cancer sucks

they say is true cancer sucks and it is scary it is so scary and it’s

and it is scary it is so scary and it’s

and it is scary it is so scary and it’s not just scary for the person it’s

not just scary for the person it’s

not just scary for the person it’s happening to because they don’t live in

happening to because they don’t live in

happening to because they don’t live in a bubble it’s scary for everyone who

a bubble it’s scary for everyone who

a bubble it’s scary for everyone who loves them everyone who cares about them

loves them everyone who cares about them

loves them everyone who cares about them everyone in their family everyone of

everyone in their family everyone of

everyone in their family everyone of their friends everyone who works with

their friends everyone who works with

their friends everyone who works with them everyone who’s mortal so you

them everyone who’s mortal so you

them everyone who’s mortal so you remember how I said that our ideas our

remember how I said that our ideas our

remember how I said that our ideas our attachment to our ideas can make us feel

attachment to our ideas can make us feel

attachment to our ideas can make us feel safe well hold on to that because there

safe well hold on to that because there

safe well hold on to that because there was a little something I learned a

was a little something I learned a

was a little something I learned a little something I did not know it turns

little something I did not know it turns

little something I did not know it turns out there are a fair number of people

out there are a fair number of people

out there are a fair number of people who know the cure to cancer usually was

who know the cure to cancer usually was

who know the cure to cancer usually was one simple household ingredient you know

one simple household ingredient you know

one simple household ingredient you know how they know

how they know

how they know yeah they saw it on the internet now I’m

yeah they saw it on the internet now I’m

yeah they saw it on the internet now I’m not actually talking about whether they

not actually talking about whether they

not actually talking about whether they were right or whether they were wrong

were right or whether they were wrong

were right or whether they were wrong whether they had any valid points or not

whether they had any valid points or not

whether they had any valid points or not what I am talking about is where the

what I am talking about is where the

what I am talking about is where the problem comes in it’s the same with that

problem comes in it’s the same with that

problem comes in it’s the same with that Emperor

Emperor

Emperor it’s that deep-seated ego attachment to

it’s that deep-seated ego attachment to

it’s that deep-seated ego attachment to that idea because they were scared and

that idea because they were scared and

that idea because they were scared and they wanted to feel safe and in order to

they wanted to feel safe and in order to

they wanted to feel safe and in order to feel safe they had to believe in these

feel safe they had to believe in these

feel safe they had to believe in these ideas they had to be right and you know

ideas they had to be right and you know

ideas they had to be right and you know what when you have to be right there’s a

what when you have to be right there’s a

what when you have to be right there’s a reasonably good chance someone else has

reasonably good chance someone else has

reasonably good chance someone else has to be wrong yeah yeah they let us know

to be wrong yeah yeah they let us know

to be wrong yeah yeah they let us know it he had cancer because of something he

it he had cancer because of something he

it he had cancer because of something he didn’t eat enough of or something he ate

didn’t eat enough of or something he ate

didn’t eat enough of or something he ate too much of or something he did in his

too much of or something he did in his

too much of or something he did in his past or something he didn’t do enough of

past or something he didn’t do enough of

past or something he didn’t do enough of the point is it was a little bit on him

the point is it was a little bit on him

the point is it was a little bit on him and they didn’t have cancer because they

and they didn’t have cancer because they

and they didn’t have cancer because they were too savvy to get it now you can see

were too savvy to get it now you can see

were too savvy to get it now you can see first of all that’s dangerous thinking

first of all that’s dangerous thinking

first of all that’s dangerous thinking but that’s Emperor thinking I am talking

but that’s Emperor thinking I am talking

but that’s Emperor thinking I am talking about people who intended to be helpful

about people who intended to be helpful

about people who intended to be helpful their intention was to help us but

their intention was to help us but

their intention was to help us but instead because of that ego attachment

instead because of that ego attachment

instead because of that ego attachment to that idea what it had what happened

to that idea what it had what happened

to that idea what it had what happened was they tried to micromanage us in

was they tried to micromanage us in

was they tried to micromanage us in order for them to feel a little bit

order for them to feel a little bit

order for them to feel a little bit safer and again this is people who

safer and again this is people who

safer and again this is people who intended to help us but fear not because

intended to help us but fear not because

intended to help us but fear not because we know a lot of people and we know a

we know a lot of people and we know a

we know a lot of people and we know a lot more people who are far more like

lot more people who are far more like

lot more people who are far more like the child and you know how it is you

the child and you know how it is you

the child and you know how it is you know when you are down there are so many

know when you are down there are so many

know when you are down there are so many people that will help you and I could

people that will help you and I could

people that will help you and I could stand up here all day and talk about

stand up here all day and talk about

stand up here all day and talk about amazing people that really made a

amazing people that really made a

amazing people that really made a difference in our lives

difference in our lives

difference in our lives but they won’t let me have the stage all

but they won’t let me have the stage all

but they won’t let me have the stage all day so I’m gonna give you one brief

day so I’m gonna give you one brief

day so I’m gonna give you one brief shining example of some of my friends

shining example of some of my friends

shining example of some of my friends who weren’t like the Emperor they were

who weren’t like the Emperor they were

who weren’t like the Emperor they were much more like the child they didn’t

much more like the child they didn’t

much more like the child they didn’t think they already knew everything and

think they already knew everything and

think they already knew everything and therefore they weren’t wearing blinders

therefore they weren’t wearing blinders

therefore they weren’t wearing blinders and they were able to make a difference

and they were able to make a difference

and they were able to make a difference so the example I’m thinking of it

so the example I’m thinking of it

so the example I’m thinking of it happened when we were heading into the

happened when we were heading into the

happened when we were heading into the worst part of the treatments and again

worst part of the treatments and again

worst part of the treatments and again cancer sucks and the treatments

cancer sucks and the treatments

cancer sucks and the treatments and my husband had gone from living his

and my husband had gone from living his

and my husband had gone from living his day-to-day life to at that point pretty

day-to-day life to at that point pretty

day-to-day life to at that point pretty much living in his recliner and then

much living in his recliner and then

much living in his recliner and then recurrently recliner broke I didn’t need

recurrently recliner broke I didn’t need

recurrently recliner broke I didn’t need somebody to tell me what to do

somebody to tell me what to do

somebody to tell me what to do I knew the solution of this problem but

I knew the solution of this problem but

I knew the solution of this problem but I did need a friend because I was upset

I did need a friend because I was upset

I did need a friend because I was upset I wanted to complain so that’s what I

I wanted to complain so that’s what I

I wanted to complain so that’s what I did

did

did I complained to my friends they knew

I complained to my friends they knew

I complained to my friends they knew that’s what I wanted they listened to me

that’s what I wanted they listened to me

that’s what I wanted they listened to me but they also because they weren’t

but they also because they weren’t

but they also because they weren’t wearing blinders were able to see a very

wearing blinders were able to see a very

wearing blinders were able to see a very obvious problem and that is that

obvious problem and that is that

obvious problem and that is that something that normally would be a minor

something that normally would be a minor

something that normally would be a minor inconvenience at any other time at this

inconvenience at any other time at this

inconvenience at any other time at this stage of the game was kind of a big deal

stage of the game was kind of a big deal

stage of the game was kind of a big deal so you know what they did so they went

so you know what they did so they went

so you know what they did so they went out and found a new recliner

out and found a new recliner

out and found a new recliner they didn’t even presume at this point

they didn’t even presume at this point

they didn’t even presume at this point they asked as if this was okay and it

they asked as if this was okay and it

they asked as if this was okay and it was okay they bought the recliner they

was okay they bought the recliner they

was okay they bought the recliner they brought it to our house they set it up

brought it to our house they set it up

brought it to our house they set it up in the living room they took away the

in the living room they took away the

in the living room they took away the old recliner they solved the problem for

old recliner they solved the problem for

old recliner they solved the problem for us when we were at a moment in our lives

us when we were at a moment in our lives

us when we were at a moment in our lives where we were in a sea of problems they

where we were in a sea of problems they

where we were in a sea of problems they just took one of those problems away and

just took one of those problems away and

just took one of those problems away and then you know what they said they said

then you know what they said they said

then you know what they said they said it was no big deal

it was no big deal

it was no big deal it was a big deal because they weren’t

it was a big deal because they weren’t

it was a big deal because they weren’t wearing blinders they were able to see

wearing blinders they were able to see

wearing blinders they were able to see the obvious and make a difference at

the obvious and make a difference at

the obvious and make a difference at this point I do want to digress for a

this point I do want to digress for a

this point I do want to digress for a minute because I can tell that you are

minute because I can tell that you are

minute because I can tell that you are lovely people and you’re gonna care it

lovely people and you’re gonna care it

lovely people and you’re gonna care it has been a year and a half since my

has been a year and a half since my

has been a year and a half since my husband’s last treatment and he has

husband’s last treatment and he has

husband’s last treatment and he has recovered from those treatments he’s

recovered from those treatments he’s

recovered from those treatments he’s back to work he’s feeling good and

back to work he’s feeling good and

back to work he’s feeling good and here’s the cherry on top there’s no sign

here’s the cherry on top there’s no sign

here’s the cherry on top there’s no sign of the tumor that caused that diagnosis

of the tumor that caused that diagnosis

of the tumor that caused that diagnosis yes thank you thank you that is how I

yes thank you thank you that is how I

yes thank you thank you that is how I feel and the obvious takeaway from all

feel and the obvious takeaway from all

feel and the obvious takeaway from all of this it’s his health he gets to be

of this it’s his health he gets to be

of this it’s his health he gets to be better and we get more happily ever

better and we get more happily ever

better and we get more happily ever after

after

after life has a way of giving you a little

life has a way of giving you a little

life has a way of giving you a little lessons along the journey whether you

lessons along the journey whether you

lessons along the journey whether you feel like it or not so here’s my

feel like it or not so here’s my

feel like it or not so here’s my secondary takeaway this is what I want

secondary takeaway this is what I want

secondary takeaway this is what I want to know when am I being more like the

to know when am I being more like the

to know when am I being more like the Emperor and why am I being more like the

Emperor and why am I being more like the

Emperor and why am I being more like the child it turns out it’s fairly easy to

child it turns out it’s fairly easy to

child it turns out it’s fairly easy to know we do need some introspection and

know we do need some introspection and

know we do need some introspection and we do need to be honest with ourselves

we do need to be honest with ourselves

we do need to be honest with ourselves but we can simply ask am i hearing am i

but we can simply ask am i hearing am i

but we can simply ask am i hearing am i listening and paying attention more than

listening and paying attention more than

listening and paying attention more than I’m telling because new ideas and new

I’m telling because new ideas and new

I’m telling because new ideas and new understanding tend to come better this

understanding tend to come better this

understanding tend to come better this way then this way and what if more of us

way then this way and what if more of us

way then this way and what if more of us were open to the idea that we need new

were open to the idea that we need new

were open to the idea that we need new ideas we can’t solve our problems by

ideas we can’t solve our problems by

ideas we can’t solve our problems by doing the exact same things that got us

doing the exact same things that got us

doing the exact same things that got us into them in the first place we need new

into them in the first place we need new

into them in the first place we need new ideas and when we’re doing this more

ideas and when we’re doing this more

ideas and when we’re doing this more than this we’re able to start to

than this we’re able to start to

than this we’re able to start to understand each other we can understand

understand each other we can understand

understand each other we can understand people of different cultures different

people of different cultures different

people of different cultures different religions different backgrounds

religions different backgrounds

religions different backgrounds different ideas and belief systems

different ideas and belief systems

different ideas and belief systems different politics we need new ideas

different politics we need new ideas

different politics we need new ideas because it is never ever us and then it

because it is never ever us and then it

because it is never ever us and then it is always only ever just us so I propose

is always only ever just us so I propose

is always only ever just us so I propose this then instead of holding on so

this then instead of holding on so

this then instead of holding on so tightly to our own Emperor’s garments

tightly to our own Emperor’s garments

tightly to our own Emperor’s garments which we know are nothing more than our

which we know are nothing more than our

which we know are nothing more than our imagination anyway what if we open up to

imagination anyway what if we open up to

imagination anyway what if we open up to the idea that we need new ideas and this

the idea that we need new ideas and this

the idea that we need new ideas and this is the question I believe we should be

is the question I believe we should be

is the question I believe we should be asking and this is the question that I

asking and this is the question that I

asking and this is the question that I will endeavour to ask from here on out

will endeavour to ask from here on out

will endeavour to ask from here on out what are you saying

what are you saying

what are you saying that I’m not hearing because when our

that I’m not hearing because when our

that I’m not hearing because when our friends are talking they just want to be

friends are talking they just want to be

friends are talking they just want to be heard when protesters are demonstrating

heard when protesters are demonstrating

heard when protesters are demonstrating they want to be heard politicians want

they want to be heard politicians want

they want to be heard politicians want to be heard we don’t have to agree we

to be heard we don’t have to agree we

to be heard we don’t have to agree we don’t have to

don’t have to

don’t have to but what if we understood each other

but what if we understood each other

but what if we understood each other because then we could really be open to

because then we could really be open to

because then we could really be open to new ideas we could be ready to take off

new ideas we could be ready to take off

new ideas we could be ready to take off those blinders and see the ideas that

those blinders and see the ideas that

those blinders and see the ideas that might be right in front of us at this

might be right in front of us at this

might be right in front of us at this very moment so imagine this imagine a

very moment so imagine this imagine a

very moment so imagine this imagine a new kind of Emperor one who isn’t stuck

new kind of Emperor one who isn’t stuck

new kind of Emperor one who isn’t stuck in his ideas but he’s open to new ideas

in his ideas but he’s open to new ideas

in his ideas but he’s open to new ideas this is a man who could look out into

this is a man who could look out into

this is a man who could look out into his kingdom and see what his people

his kingdom and see what his people

his kingdom and see what his people really need is their suffering is their

really need is their suffering is their

really need is their suffering is their hunger as they’re want he could see it

hunger as they’re want he could see it

hunger as they’re want he could see it and he might not have all of the perfect

and he might not have all of the perfect

and he might not have all of the perfect ideas but he certainly would be in a

ideas but he certainly would be in a

ideas but he certainly would be in a better position to come up with them and

better position to come up with them and

better position to come up with them and he’d be in a better position to hear

he’d be in a better position to hear

he’d be in a better position to hear those people around him and who knows

those people around him and who knows

those people around him and who knows where that ripple effect might end

where that ripple effect might end

where that ripple effect might end because when he was stuck in his ego

because when he was stuck in his ego

because when he was stuck in his ego ideas it was all about him but when he

ideas it was all about him but when he

ideas it was all about him but when he opened up to new ideas this is a man who

opened up to new ideas this is a man who

opened up to new ideas this is a man who could change the world and when we open

could change the world and when we open

could change the world and when we open up to new ideas we can remove our

up to new ideas we can remove our

up to new ideas we can remove our blinders and we could change the world

blinders and we could change the world

blinders and we could change the world too so what do you say my friends let’s

too so what do you say my friends let’s

too so what do you say my friends let’s go change the world

go change the world

go change the world [Applause]

”

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