we’re almost there for as long as I can remember ever since I was a kid two
remember ever since I was a kid two
remember ever since I was a kid two things have been said to me over and
things have been said to me over and
things have been said to me over and over number one Laurie where do you get
over number one Laurie where do you get
over number one Laurie where do you get all of your ideas number two Laurie what
all of your ideas number two Laurie what
all of your ideas number two Laurie what are you doing now hearing question one
are you doing now hearing question one
are you doing now hearing question one number one over and over again could
number one over and over again could
number one over and over again could easily give a person a swell head but
easily give a person a swell head but
easily give a person a swell head but question number two keeps me in check
question number two keeps me in check
question number two keeps me in check because it gets asked just as often who
because it gets asked just as often who
because it gets asked just as often who we kidding it gets asked way more often
we kidding it gets asked way more often
we kidding it gets asked way more often the thing is if people understood how
the thing is if people understood how
the thing is if people understood how ideas actually happened they wouldn’t
ideas actually happened they wouldn’t
ideas actually happened they wouldn’t ask either of these questions because
ask either of these questions because
ask either of these questions because they would understand that it’s nearly
they would understand that it’s nearly
they would understand that it’s nearly impossible to explain to somebody where
impossible to explain to somebody where
impossible to explain to somebody where a specific idea came from and that an
a specific idea came from and that an
a specific idea came from and that an idea in progress often looks to another
idea in progress often looks to another
idea in progress often looks to another person like a big mess but most people
person like a big mess but most people
person like a big mess but most people don’t know where ideas come from and I
don’t know where ideas come from and I
don’t know where ideas come from and I think it’s all this guy’s fault maybe
think it’s all this guy’s fault maybe
think it’s all this guy’s fault maybe not him personally but definitely the
not him personally but definitely the
not him personally but definitely the light bulb above his head we all
light bulb above his head we all
light bulb above his head we all recognize that right it’s the universal
recognize that right it’s the universal
recognize that right it’s the universal symbol for a bright idea a brainstorm a
symbol for a bright idea a brainstorm a
symbol for a bright idea a brainstorm a spark of creativity a flash of
spark of creativity a flash of
spark of creativity a flash of inspiration those are some enticing
inspiration those are some enticing
inspiration those are some enticing metaphors but none of them describes
metaphors but none of them describes
metaphors but none of them describes what an idea actually is an idea is a
what an idea actually is an idea is a
what an idea actually is an idea is a process not an isolated aha moment it
process not an isolated aha moment it
process not an isolated aha moment it doesn’t matter though we’re seduced by
doesn’t matter though we’re seduced by
doesn’t matter though we’re seduced by the image of the light bulb and the
the image of the light bulb and the
the image of the light bulb and the sudden brilliance it represents and
sudden brilliance it represents and
sudden brilliance it represents and that’s why people ask me
that’s why people ask me
that’s why people ask me where I get my ideas from they want to
where I get my ideas from they want to
where I get my ideas from they want to hear about that moment lightning struck
hear about that moment lightning struck
hear about that moment lightning struck so they can live vicariously it’s also
so they can live vicariously it’s also
so they can live vicariously it’s also why people are disappointed when they
why people are disappointed when they
why people are disappointed when they find me in the middle of working out an
find me in the middle of working out an
find me in the middle of working out an idea they don’t understand why it
idea they don’t understand why it
idea they don’t understand why it appears to be so unbrella a’n’t let me
appears to be so unbrella a’n’t let me
appears to be so unbrella a’n’t let me give you an example one night my husband
give you an example one night my husband
give you an example one night my husband and I were watching Game of Thrones soon
and I were watching Game of Thrones soon
and I were watching Game of Thrones soon the show was actually over and we were
the show was actually over and we were
the show was actually over and we were waiting for the previews for next week’s
waiting for the previews for next week’s
waiting for the previews for next week’s show as I zoned out watching the credits
show as I zoned out watching the credits
show as I zoned out watching the credits the crisp white type started to kind of
the crisp white type started to kind of
the crisp white type started to kind of blur into patterns there was a different
blur into patterns there was a different
blur into patterns there was a different layout on every screen I loved the way
layout on every screen I loved the way
layout on every screen I loved the way they looked and i decided i was going to
they looked and i decided i was going to
they looked and i decided i was going to paint them with watercolors so what do
paint them with watercolors so what do
paint them with watercolors so what do you think are you dazzled by my big idea
or does it give you a kind of
or does it give you a kind of uncomfortable and certain feeling don’t
uncomfortable and certain feeling don’t
uncomfortable and certain feeling don’t be embarrassed this is the point when
be embarrassed this is the point when
be embarrassed this is the point when people say mari what are you doing so
people say mari what are you doing so
people say mari what are you doing so instead of telling you more about my
instead of telling you more about my
instead of telling you more about my idea let me show you some of the
idea let me show you some of the
idea let me show you some of the watercolors I created
now how do you feel
now how do you feel thank you my hope was that you would
thank you my hope was that you would
thank you my hope was that you would feel better by letting you see a little
feel better by letting you see a little
feel better by letting you see a little bit of my process I want to show you
bit of my process I want to show you
bit of my process I want to show you that ideas are often introduced into the
that ideas are often introduced into the
that ideas are often introduced into the world half-baked more curiosity than
world half-baked more curiosity than
world half-baked more curiosity than insight the lesson is to learn to
insight the lesson is to learn to
insight the lesson is to learn to recognize ideas before they’re fully
recognize ideas before they’re fully
recognize ideas before they’re fully formed so that you can help shape them
formed so that you can help shape them
formed so that you can help shape them into something great ideas are a process
into something great ideas are a process
into something great ideas are a process not a moment even the light bulb wasn’t
not a moment even the light bulb wasn’t
not a moment even the light bulb wasn’t a light bulb moment in 1802 a man you’ve
a light bulb moment in 1802 a man you’ve
a light bulb moment in 1802 a man you’ve never heard of Humphry Davy connected a
never heard of Humphry Davy connected a
never heard of Humphry Davy connected a battery to a piece of platinum and made
battery to a piece of platinum and made
battery to a piece of platinum and made it glow and without that there would be
it glow and without that there would be
it glow and without that there would be no light bulb 40 years later Warren de
no light bulb 40 years later Warren de
no light bulb 40 years later Warren de la roux enclosed that platinum in a
la roux enclosed that platinum in a
la roux enclosed that platinum in a vacuum tube and without that there would
vacuum tube and without that there would
vacuum tube and without that there would be no light bulb 10 years after that
be no light bulb 10 years after that
be no light bulb 10 years after that Joseph Swan swapped out the platinum for
Joseph Swan swapped out the platinum for
Joseph Swan swapped out the platinum for paper inexpensive carbonized paper and
paper inexpensive carbonized paper and
paper inexpensive carbonized paper and without that there would be no light
without that there would be no light
without that there would be no light bulb finally in 1880 Thomas Edison and
bulb finally in 1880 Thomas Edison and
bulb finally in 1880 Thomas Edison and his team carbonized more than 6,000
his team carbonized more than 6,000
his team carbonized more than 6,000 different materials just to try and
different materials just to try and
different materials just to try and figure out which material would burn the
figure out which material would burn the
figure out which material would burn the longest and without that there would be
longest and without that there would be
longest and without that there would be no light bulb but it didn’t stop there
no light bulb but it didn’t stop there
no light bulb but it didn’t stop there Edison’s bulb was improved and that one
Edison’s bulb was improved and that one
Edison’s bulb was improved and that one was improved and that one was improved
was improved and that one was improved
was improved and that one was improved the light bulb has undergone constant
the light bulb has undergone constant
the light bulb has undergone constant innovation for over 200 years and every
innovation for over 200 years and every
innovation for over 200 years and every new design is based on the light bulb
new design is based on the light bulb
new design is based on the light bulb before it none of them was the result of
before it none of them was the result of
before it none of them was the result of an isolated light bulb moment so here’s
an isolated light bulb moment so here’s
an isolated light bulb moment so here’s my idea I think it’s time to retire the
my idea I think it’s time to retire the
my idea I think it’s time to retire the light bulb is the symbol for a good idea
light bulb is the symbol for a good idea
light bulb is the symbol for a good idea instead I’d like to propose a new symbol
the kaleidoscope as you probably know a
the kaleidoscope as you probably know a kaleidoscope is a cylinder with a bunch
kaleidoscope is a cylinder with a bunch
kaleidoscope is a cylinder with a bunch of pieces of colored glass and some
of pieces of colored glass and some
of pieces of colored glass and some mirrors inside every time you twist it
mirrors inside every time you twist it
mirrors inside every time you twist it the colored glass tumbles into a new
the colored glass tumbles into a new
the colored glass tumbles into a new pattern that never existed before ideas
pattern that never existed before ideas
pattern that never existed before ideas like the light bulb are like those
like the light bulb are like those
like the light bulb are like those patterns they’re a new combination of
patterns they’re a new combination of
patterns they’re a new combination of already existing elements a new
already existing elements a new
already existing elements a new combination of already existing elements
combination of already existing elements
combination of already existing elements if you previously believed that ideas
if you previously believed that ideas
if you previously believed that ideas had to come from nowhere this should
had to come from nowhere this should
had to come from nowhere this should come as seriously good news because
come as seriously good news because
come as seriously good news because building on someone else’s idea sounds a
building on someone else’s idea sounds a
building on someone else’s idea sounds a lot easier than creating something from
lot easier than creating something from
lot easier than creating something from scratch doesn’t it almost as easy is
scratch doesn’t it almost as easy is
scratch doesn’t it almost as easy is twisting a kaleidoscope and it is
twisting a kaleidoscope and it is
twisting a kaleidoscope and it is because just like gravity pulls those
because just like gravity pulls those
because just like gravity pulls those colored pieces of glass together ideas
colored pieces of glass together ideas
colored pieces of glass together ideas want to connect with other ideas to
want to connect with other ideas to
want to connect with other ideas to reinvent themselves and move in new
reinvent themselves and move in new
reinvent themselves and move in new directions and ideas or the building
directions and ideas or the building
directions and ideas or the building blocks for ideas are already inside you
blocks for ideas are already inside you
blocks for ideas are already inside you just like the colored glass is already
just like the colored glass is already
just like the colored glass is already inside the kaleidoscope they’re stored
inside the kaleidoscope they’re stored
inside the kaleidoscope they’re stored in a part of your brain called the
in a part of your brain called the
in a part of your brain called the default mode network or more poetically
default mode network or more poetically
default mode network or more poetically the imagination network
while you’re busy living your life the
while you’re busy living your life the imagination network is hard at work
imagination network is hard at work
imagination network is hard at work assessing whether the experiences and
assessing whether the experiences and
assessing whether the experiences and observations you encounter are worth
observations you encounter are worth
observations you encounter are worth remembering if they are they get stored
remembering if they are they get stored
remembering if they are they get stored away if they aren’t they get discarded
away if they aren’t they get discarded
away if they aren’t they get discarded and this explains something that I will
and this explains something that I will
and this explains something that I will bet every single one of you has wondered
bet every single one of you has wondered
bet every single one of you has wondered about before have you ever complained
about before have you ever complained
about before have you ever complained about all the unnecessary things taking
about all the unnecessary things taking
about all the unnecessary things taking up valuable brain space things like the
up valuable brain space things like the
up valuable brain space things like the lyrics to songs that were popular when
lyrics to songs that were popular when
lyrics to songs that were popular when you were in middle school or some
you were in middle school or some
you were in middle school or some childhood friends phone number 704 3643
childhood friends phone number 704 3643
childhood friends phone number 704 3643 258 why do I remember that because my
258 why do I remember that because my
258 why do I remember that because my brain the imagination network has
brain the imagination network has
brain the imagination network has decided it’s worth remembering here’s an
decided it’s worth remembering here’s an
decided it’s worth remembering here’s an example the first apartment I lived in
example the first apartment I lived in
example the first apartment I lived in in New York City almost 25 years ago my
in New York City almost 25 years ago my
in New York City almost 25 years ago my landlords name was Tony Casa Grande
hey you can see where this is going I
hey you can see where this is going I lived in for more apartments after that
lived in for more apartments after that
lived in for more apartments after that and I have no idea what any of those
and I have no idea what any of those
and I have no idea what any of those landlords names are but my brain decided
landlords names are but my brain decided
landlords names are but my brain decided I needed to remember Tony Casa Grande
I needed to remember Tony Casa Grande
I needed to remember Tony Casa Grande and that’s obviously because his name
and that’s obviously because his name
and that’s obviously because his name was Tony Casa Grande it’s like I was
was Tony Casa Grande it’s like I was
was Tony Casa Grande it’s like I was living in the sopranos seven years
living in the sopranos seven years
living in the sopranos seven years before the sopranos even began the
before the sopranos even began the
before the sopranos even began the imagination network takes these memories
imagination network takes these memories
imagination network takes these memories and stores them in a database for future
and stores them in a database for future
and stores them in a database for future recall just like you might save
recall just like you might save
recall just like you might save something in real life empty jars or
something in real life empty jars or
something in real life empty jars or computer cables or an old jean jacket
computer cables or an old jean jacket
computer cables or an old jean jacket just because someday you might find a
just because someday you might find a
just because someday you might find a use for it now here’s the cool part
use for it now here’s the cool part
use for it now here’s the cool part guess what else activates the
guess what else activates the
guess what else activates the imagination network daydreaming when
imagination network daydreaming when
imagination network daydreaming when you’re doing something mindless like
you’re doing something mindless like
you’re doing something mindless like taking a shower or washing dishes or
taking a shower or washing dishes or
taking a shower or washing dishes or exercising have you ever noticed that
exercising have you ever noticed that
exercising have you ever noticed that ideas seem to bubble up more often than
ideas seem to bubble up more often than
ideas seem to bubble up more often than usual you may think your brain is turned
usual you may think your brain is turned
usual you may think your brain is turned off but it’s actually in default mode
your brain is busy sorting through that
your brain is busy sorting through that database trying to find something that
database trying to find something that
database trying to find something that relates to whatever problem you’ve been
relates to whatever problem you’ve been
relates to whatever problem you’ve been chewing on at the moment taking a break
chewing on at the moment taking a break
chewing on at the moment taking a break or daydreaming gives your brain the
or daydreaming gives your brain the
or daydreaming gives your brain the opportunity to synthesize the outside
opportunity to synthesize the outside
opportunity to synthesize the outside world with your inner stream of
world with your inner stream of
world with your inner stream of consciousness the outside world and your
consciousness the outside world and your
consciousness the outside world and your inner stream of consciousness are those
inner stream of consciousness are those
inner stream of consciousness are those already existing elements and this is
already existing elements and this is
already existing elements and this is where they get combined not in the
where they get combined not in the
where they get combined not in the spontaneous flip of a light switch but
spontaneous flip of a light switch but
spontaneous flip of a light switch but in the very deliberate turning and
in the very deliberate turning and
in the very deliberate turning and twisting of a kaleidoscope
twisting of a kaleidoscope
twisting of a kaleidoscope this is where ideas come from so what am
this is where ideas come from so what am
this is where ideas come from so what am I telling you I’m telling you to
I telling you I’m telling you to
I telling you I’m telling you to daydream I’m telling you to let your
daydream I’m telling you to let your
daydream I’m telling you to let your mind wander I’m telling you that ideas
mind wander I’m telling you that ideas
mind wander I’m telling you that ideas don’t spring from nowhere they’re
don’t spring from nowhere they’re
don’t spring from nowhere they’re already inside you in your kaleidoscope
already inside you in your kaleidoscope
already inside you in your kaleidoscope I’m telling you that you are an idea
I’m telling you that you are an idea
I’m telling you that you are an idea person just like this guy thank you
person just like this guy thank you
person just like this guy thank you [Applause]
”
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