How to be a Productive Human | Dave Cameron | TEDxIthacaCollege

Ted seems like a place for big ideas so

Ted seems like a place for big ideas so I have some big ideas I’d like to share

I have some big ideas I’d like to share

I have some big ideas I’d like to share with you

with you

with you I think big ideas start by asking big

I think big ideas start by asking big

I think big ideas start by asking big questions and I happen to be a fan of

questions and I happen to be a fan of

questions and I happen to be a fan of big questions any other fans of big

big questions any other fans of big

big questions any other fans of big questions here excellent I think the

questions here excellent I think the

questions here excellent I think the best big questions start with these

best big questions start with these

best big questions start with these words why what and how why are we here

words why what and how why are we here

words why what and how why are we here that’s a great example of a big question

that’s a great example of a big question

that’s a great example of a big question what is my purpose or how can I find my

what is my purpose or how can I find my

what is my purpose or how can I find my true path in life big questions let’s

true path in life big questions let’s

true path in life big questions let’s have some big answers okay why are we

have some big answers okay why are we

have some big answers okay why are we here what is my purpose here’s my big

here what is my purpose here’s my big

here what is my purpose here’s my big answer I don’t know I’m not you but this

answer I don’t know I’m not you but this

answer I don’t know I’m not you but this question how can I find my true path in

question how can I find my true path in

question how can I find my true path in life I think that’s a good question

life I think that’s a good question

life I think that’s a good question we’re all on a path of some kind and we

we’re all on a path of some kind and we

we’re all on a path of some kind and we can see a certain distance down that

can see a certain distance down that

can see a certain distance down that path we have a sense of where we’re

path we have a sense of where we’re

path we have a sense of where we’re heading

heading

heading but sometimes the path is different

but sometimes the path is different

but sometimes the path is different sometimes it’s a path others have been

sometimes it’s a path others have been

sometimes it’s a path others have been on before sometimes it’s a sheltered

on before sometimes it’s a sheltered

on before sometimes it’s a sheltered path sometimes it’s an open path

path sometimes it’s an open path

path sometimes it’s an open path sometimes it curves we can’t see the

sometimes it curves we can’t see the

sometimes it curves we can’t see the destination what’s around the corner but

destination what’s around the corner but

destination what’s around the corner but we can see the path itself

we can see the path itself

we can see the path itself other times we can very clearly see the

other times we can very clearly see the

other times we can very clearly see the destination but we have no idea what the

destination but we have no idea what the

destination but we have no idea what the path is that gets us there so I think

path is that gets us there so I think

path is that gets us there so I think when we ask how well we’re really

when we ask how well we’re really

when we ask how well we’re really talking about is how do I decide how do

talking about is how do I decide how do

talking about is how do I decide how do I make decisions on the path on the

I make decisions on the path on the

I make decisions on the path on the destination of where I need to go I

destination of where I need to go I

destination of where I need to go I think that is the key to being a

think that is the key to being a

think that is the key to being a productive human now productive I think

productive human now productive I think

productive human now productive I think is a loaded term what do we talk about

is a loaded term what do we talk about

is a loaded term what do we talk about when we actually talk about productivity

when we actually talk about productivity

when we actually talk about productivity I think if you were to do an image

I think if you were to do an image

I think if you were to do an image search say for productive you end up

search say for productive you end up

search say for productive you end up with things like this people doing

with things like this people doing

with things like this people doing things having multiple screens in front

things having multiple screens in front

things having multiple screens in front of them multiple devices we’ve probably

of them multiple devices we’ve probably

of them multiple devices we’ve probably all been kind of this person who’s got

all been kind of this person who’s got

all been kind of this person who’s got lots of things going on once and we feel

lots of things going on once and we feel

lots of things going on once and we feel busy we feel productive because I’m

busy we feel productive because I’m

busy we feel productive because I’m doing things right so

doing things right so

doing things right so Bizzy is not necessarily the same as

Bizzy is not necessarily the same as

Bizzy is not necessarily the same as productive in fact I think being

productive in fact I think being

productive in fact I think being productive really comes down to how we

productive really comes down to how we

productive really comes down to how we think about three major things goals the

think about three major things goals the

think about three major things goals the tools we use to achieve those goals and

tools we use to achieve those goals and

tools we use to achieve those goals and then the habits we develop to combine

then the habits we develop to combine

then the habits we develop to combine those goals and tools so how do we make

those goals and tools so how do we make

those goals and tools so how do we make decisions about the combination of the

decisions about the combination of the

decisions about the combination of the goals and tools and habits we need rules

goals and tools and habits we need rules

goals and tools and habits we need rules right

right

right a basic sense of how we’re going to do

a basic sense of how we’re going to do

a basic sense of how we’re going to do these things that combine the goals

these things that combine the goals

these things that combine the goals tools and habits with our resources of

tools and habits with our resources of

tools and habits with our resources of time and attention which are limited

time and attention which are limited

time and attention which are limited everyday so these rules for making

everyday so these rules for making

everyday so these rules for making decisions are effectively our operating

decisions are effectively our operating

decisions are effectively our operating system right if you think about your

system right if you think about your

system right if you think about your your Mac operating system your Windows

your Mac operating system your Windows

your Mac operating system your Windows PC they have this basic thing that

PC they have this basic thing that

PC they have this basic thing that underlines all the other stuff you do on

underlines all the other stuff you do on

underlines all the other stuff you do on top of it so we have an operating system

top of it so we have an operating system

top of it so we have an operating system as well I call mine my OS you can come

as well I call mine my OS you can come

as well I call mine my OS you can come up with your name for yours I want to

up with your name for yours I want to

up with your name for yours I want to share how I came up with my operating

share how I came up with my operating

share how I came up with my operating system and really helped myself feel

system and really helped myself feel

system and really helped myself feel more productive and answer a lot more of

more productive and answer a lot more of

more productive and answer a lot more of these how questions and basically just

these how questions and basically just

these how questions and basically just learned how to be a better human so

learned how to be a better human so

learned how to be a better human so these are my five roles for productive

these are my five roles for productive

these are my five roles for productive humans now I want you to picture these

humans now I want you to picture these

humans now I want you to picture these roles as kind of a snowball each builds

roles as kind of a snowball each builds

roles as kind of a snowball each builds off of the central core of the one

off of the central core of the one

off of the central core of the one before it and it’s really important to

before it and it’s really important to

before it and it’s really important to think about the central core at the

think about the central core at the

think about the central core at the heart of everything everything if you

heart of everything everything if you

heart of everything everything if you don’t remember anything else from this

don’t remember anything else from this

don’t remember anything else from this talk please just remember this first

talk please just remember this first

talk please just remember this first rule for being productive for being a

rule for being productive for being a

rule for being productive for being a better human is to be honest you have to

better human is to be honest you have to

better human is to be honest you have to start with real honesty when you’re

start with real honesty when you’re

start with real honesty when you’re making decisions when you’re making the

making decisions when you’re making the

making decisions when you’re making the smallest decision to the grandest

smallest decision to the grandest

smallest decision to the grandest decision and there’s two ways to think

decision and there’s two ways to think

decision and there’s two ways to think about honesty there’s objective honesty

about honesty there’s objective honesty

about honesty there’s objective honesty which can be oh I sold five paintings

which can be oh I sold five paintings

which can be oh I sold five paintings there’s a quantity and it’s very clear

there’s a quantity and it’s very clear

there’s a quantity and it’s very clear to see I I did this thing and I have

to see I I did this thing and I have

to see I I did this thing and I have this number there’s also the subjective

this number there’s also the subjective

this number there’s also the subjective honesty and this is where things get

honesty and this is where things get

honesty and this is where things get for humans we have a lot of inner gut

for humans we have a lot of inner gut

for humans we have a lot of inner gut feelings that may not match the

feelings that may not match the

feelings that may not match the objective things that we’re seeing in

objective things that we’re seeing in

objective things that we’re seeing in the world or the things that we’re

the world or the things that we’re

the world or the things that we’re hearing from others we may not like the

hearing from others we may not like the

hearing from others we may not like the way these two come together but it’s the

way these two come together but it’s the

way these two come together but it’s the meshing of the objective and subjective

meshing of the objective and subjective

meshing of the objective and subjective honesty that we really have to look at

honesty that we really have to look at

honesty that we really have to look at together that’s the only way to be

together that’s the only way to be

together that’s the only way to be honest with yourself when you’re honest

honest with yourself when you’re honest

honest with yourself when you’re honest with yourself about how you feel about

with yourself about how you feel about

with yourself about how you feel about your time and attention about the

your time and attention about the

your time and attention about the resources you have available then you

resources you have available then you

resources you have available then you can be more honest with others for being

can be more honest with others for being

can be more honest with others for being honest with others is often tricky in

honest with others is often tricky in

honest with others is often tricky in itself which brings us to the second

itself which brings us to the second

itself which brings us to the second rule be unafraid we have trouble being

rule be unafraid we have trouble being

rule be unafraid we have trouble being honest with people if we’re afraid of

honest with people if we’re afraid of

honest with people if we’re afraid of what it might mean or what it might

what it might mean or what it might

what it might mean or what it might cause them what it might cause us what

cause them what it might cause us what

cause them what it might cause us what we might lose we have a lot of these but

we might lose we have a lot of these but

we might lose we have a lot of these but what if questions that pop into our

what if questions that pop into our

what if questions that pop into our minds about the consequences of being

minds about the consequences of being

minds about the consequences of being honest and trying to follow what we

honest and trying to follow what we

honest and trying to follow what we really feel or wants or the goals we

really feel or wants or the goals we

really feel or wants or the goals we decided on often these are just

decided on often these are just

decided on often these are just irrational and you have to be unafraid

irrational and you have to be unafraid

irrational and you have to be unafraid and be comfortable with the possibility

and be comfortable with the possibility

and be comfortable with the possibility that something might go wrong that you

that something might go wrong that you

that something might go wrong that you might fail that you might have to have a

might fail that you might have to have a

might fail that you might have to have a difficult conversation but that failure

difficult conversation but that failure

difficult conversation but that failure makes you stronger you will learn more

makes you stronger you will learn more

makes you stronger you will learn more from the ways that you fall down then

from the ways that you fall down then

from the ways that you fall down then you do by walking successfully which

you do by walking successfully which

you do by walking successfully which takes us to number three be mindful once

takes us to number three be mindful once

takes us to number three be mindful once you’re more aware of your honest

you’re more aware of your honest

you’re more aware of your honest feelings and you’re unafraid

feelings and you’re unafraid

feelings and you’re unafraid be mindful then of how you implement

be mindful then of how you implement

be mindful then of how you implement those feelings and those decisions in

those feelings and those decisions in

those feelings and those decisions in the actions that you take when you work

the actions that you take when you work

the actions that you take when you work with intent and think about how you’re

with intent and think about how you’re

with intent and think about how you’re using your tools how you’re using your

using your tools how you’re using your

using your tools how you’re using your time and attention you’ll make better

time and attention you’ll make better

time and attention you’ll make better use of both the tool and of yourself

use of both the tool and of yourself

use of both the tool and of yourself tools get in the way though because

tools get in the way though because

tools get in the way though because sometimes the tools will use us we get

sometimes the tools will use us we get

sometimes the tools will use us we get so caught up in the features that

so caught up in the features that

so caught up in the features that somebody else has created from some app

somebody else has created from some app

somebody else has created from some app that we

that we

that we he’s gonna solve our problem but really

he’s gonna solve our problem but really

he’s gonna solve our problem but really we just end up getting caught up in

we just end up getting caught up in

we just end up getting caught up in trying to optimize our work our

trying to optimize our work our

trying to optimize our work our workspace or trying to get this other

workspace or trying to get this other

workspace or trying to get this other new tool that’s gonna solve the problem

new tool that’s gonna solve the problem

new tool that’s gonna solve the problem that the first tool created so don’t let

that the first tool created so don’t let

that the first tool created so don’t let your tools use you often the simplest

your tools use you often the simplest

your tools use you often the simplest tools are all you need to achieve great

tools are all you need to achieve great

tools are all you need to achieve great things you could practically build a

things you could practically build a

things you could practically build a house with some of the tools on that

house with some of the tools on that

house with some of the tools on that slide which then takes us to the fourth

slide which then takes us to the fourth

slide which then takes us to the fourth rule be active once you’ve got this

rule be active once you’ve got this

rule be active once you’ve got this understanding of your relationship with

understanding of your relationship with

understanding of your relationship with your honesty

your honesty

your honesty you’re unafraid to be mindful about and

you’re unafraid to be mindful about and

you’re unafraid to be mindful about and take your time then you can be active in

take your time then you can be active in

take your time then you can be active in how you use your time and attention

how you use your time and attention

how you use your time and attention successfully sometimes if we’re not

successfully sometimes if we’re not

successfully sometimes if we’re not mindful and we’re not active we find

mindful and we’re not active we find

mindful and we’re not active we find ourselves on a path that ends up right

ourselves on a path that ends up right

ourselves on a path that ends up right back just a little bit further from

back just a little bit further from

back just a little bit further from where we started I’ve often felt like

where we started I’ve often felt like

where we started I’ve often felt like this on a Monday maybe that’s just me

this on a Monday maybe that’s just me

this on a Monday maybe that’s just me but that doesn’t mean that we can’t

but that doesn’t mean that we can’t

but that doesn’t mean that we can’t recover if poss tells to be possible to

recover if poss tells to be possible to

recover if poss tells to be possible to stop and be still and still be active be

stop and be still and still be active be

stop and be still and still be active be active and mindful in that stillness and

active and mindful in that stillness and

active and mindful in that stillness and take that opportunity to remember that

take that opportunity to remember that

take that opportunity to remember that you are your best tool and I mean this

you are your best tool and I mean this

you are your best tool and I mean this in the kindest way you have to take care

in the kindest way you have to take care

in the kindest way you have to take care of that tool though right if the tool it

of that tool though right if the tool it

of that tool though right if the tool it doesn’t suit the need then you find a

doesn’t suit the need then you find a

doesn’t suit the need then you find a better tool or you improve the tool you

better tool or you improve the tool you

better tool or you improve the tool you have and if that tool is you how do you

have and if that tool is you how do you

have and if that tool is you how do you improve yourself active growth seek out

improve yourself active growth seek out

improve yourself active growth seek out new challenges learn from them and then

new challenges learn from them and then

new challenges learn from them and then be sure to implement them and test be

be sure to implement them and test be

be sure to implement them and test be honest if it’s working and reject it if

honest if it’s working and reject it if

honest if it’s working and reject it if it’s not working move on to something

it’s not working move on to something

it’s not working move on to something else once you learn that takes us to the

else once you learn that takes us to the

else once you learn that takes us to the fifth and final rule of being nice be

fifth and final rule of being nice be

fifth and final rule of being nice be nice to your fellow humans even if you

nice to your fellow humans even if you

nice to your fellow humans even if you don’t like them but making the most of

don’t like them but making the most of

don’t like them but making the most of what you’ve learned for yourself putting

what you’ve learned for yourself putting

what you’ve learned for yourself putting your skills to the best use you have and

your skills to the best use you have and

your skills to the best use you have and then remember that they’re why what and

then remember that they’re why what and

then remember that they’re why what and how questions may be very different from

how questions may be very different from

how questions may be very different from yours they may be asking why am i sad

yours they may be asking why am i sad

yours they may be asking why am i sad what am I going to eat tonight how am I

what am I going to eat tonight how am I

what am I going to eat tonight how am I going to find a job be sympathetic and

going to find a job be sympathetic and

going to find a job be sympathetic and understanding and when you get help from

understanding and when you get help from

understanding and when you get help from somebody else don’t take that from

somebody else don’t take that from

somebody else don’t take that from granted be nice when you receive as well

granted be nice when you receive as well

granted be nice when you receive as well as when you give and then of course

as when you give and then of course

as when you give and then of course don’t forget to be nice to yourself

don’t forget to be nice to yourself

don’t forget to be nice to yourself treat yourself be good to the tool the

treat yourself be good to the tool the

treat yourself be good to the tool the mind the body of the life you have and

mind the body of the life you have and

mind the body of the life you have and treat yourself and others and the planet

treat yourself and others and the planet

treat yourself and others and the planet the way you would like to be treated

the way you would like to be treated

the way you would like to be treated it’s the golden rule right so here you

it’s the golden rule right so here you

it’s the golden rule right so here you go five rules be honest unafraid mindful

go five rules be honest unafraid mindful

go five rules be honest unafraid mindful active and nice and if you’re really

active and nice and if you’re really

active and nice and if you’re really savvy you may have noticed is it pretty

savvy you may have noticed is it pretty

savvy you may have noticed is it pretty easy to remember be a hundred percent

easy to remember be a hundred percent

easy to remember be a hundred percent human it’s that simple

human it’s that simple

human it’s that simple so there’s a whole question for you

so there’s a whole question for you

so there’s a whole question for you maybe that’s an answer you can use let’s

maybe that’s an answer you can use let’s

maybe that’s an answer you can use let’s come back to why why bother going to

come back to why why bother going to

come back to why why bother going to trying to be the best person you can be

trying to be the best person you can be

trying to be the best person you can be why bother trying to be productive one

why bother trying to be productive one

why bother trying to be productive one word sharing I believe that sharing is

word sharing I believe that sharing is

word sharing I believe that sharing is the reason we are here on this planet we

the reason we are here on this planet we

the reason we are here on this planet we all have part of us inside a primal

all have part of us inside a primal

all have part of us inside a primal thing that wants to let the world know

thing that wants to let the world know

thing that wants to let the world know we were here we want to leave a mark

we were here we want to leave a mark

we were here we want to leave a mark this is a cave painting that’s ten

this is a cave painting that’s ten

this is a cave painting that’s ten thousand years old Indonesia people have

thousand years old Indonesia people have

thousand years old Indonesia people have been needing to leave a sense of their

been needing to leave a sense of their

been needing to leave a sense of their presence here for thousands of years how

presence here for thousands of years how

presence here for thousands of years how is that any different from this we still

is that any different from this we still

is that any different from this we still have this need to leave our mark in the

have this need to leave our mark in the

have this need to leave our mark in the world and say I was here or I feel this

world and say I was here or I feel this

world and say I was here or I feel this way again another cave this is the

way again another cave this is the

way again another cave this is the Lascaux caves in France also about

Lascaux caves in France also about

Lascaux caves in France also about 10,000 years old

10,000 years old

10,000 years old Paleolithic people describing the world

Paleolithic people describing the world

Paleolithic people describing the world sharing stories how is that any

sharing stories how is that any

sharing stories how is that any different from this I don’t know what

different from this I don’t know what

different from this I don’t know what that story might be but others do it

that story might be but others do it

that story might be but others do it speaks to people and it expresses a

speaks to people and it expresses a

speaks to people and it expresses a human need just like this as I

human need just like this as I

human need just like this as I here how’s that any different from this

here how’s that any different from this

here how’s that any different from this the passion the expression the memory

the passion the expression the memory

the passion the expression the memory the point of being here and being human

the point of being here and being human

the point of being here and being human is to share so why not go out and start

is to share so why not go out and start

is to share so why not go out and start shared the art you see share friendship

shared the art you see share friendship

shared the art you see share friendship shared love share your path share your

shared love share your path share your

shared love share your path share your adventure share what you discover around

adventure share what you discover around

adventure share what you discover around the corner down the street share what

the corner down the street share what

the corner down the street share what you find beyond the unknown what lies

you find beyond the unknown what lies

you find beyond the unknown what lies behind this what lies before us are tiny

behind this what lies before us are tiny

behind this what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us

matters compared to what lies within us

matters compared to what lies within us famous quote remember what lies within

famous quote remember what lies within

famous quote remember what lies within you and share your journey along your

you and share your journey along your

you and share your journey along your path so the big question remaining what

path so the big question remaining what

path so the big question remaining what are you going to share as long as you

are you going to share as long as you

are you going to share as long as you share honestly you’re unafraid you’re

share honestly you’re unafraid you’re

share honestly you’re unafraid you’re mindful you’re active and you’re nice

mindful you’re active and you’re nice

mindful you’re active and you’re nice you share human start now be human

you share human start now be human

you share human start now be human Sheraton thank you

Sheraton thank you

Sheraton thank you [Applause]