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Everything must change. Including YOU. | Heidi Musser | TEDxSanAntonio


[Music]

[Music] it was January 1986 I was on my first

it was January 1986 I was on my first

it was January 1986 I was on my first business trip ever to Douglas County

business trip ever to Douglas County

business trip ever to Douglas County Nevada I was a chief product officer in

Nevada I was a chief product officer in

Nevada I was a chief product officer in the entire professional services

the entire professional services

the entire professional services organization for a small start-up

organization for a small start-up

organization for a small start-up software company my mission was to teach

software company my mission was to teach

software company my mission was to teach the county how to close their books

the county how to close their books

the county how to close their books using our new financial management

using our new financial management

using our new financial management system I arrived at the county offices

system I arrived at the county offices

system I arrived at the county offices and I sat down with the treasurer at the

and I sat down with the treasurer at the

and I sat down with the treasurer at the dumb terminal and we began training I

dumb terminal and we began training I

dumb terminal and we began training I instructed her to select option one

instructed her to select option one

instructed her to select option one financial management system letter a

financial management system letter a

financial management system letter a general ledger number six year n clothes

general ledger number six year n clothes

general ledger number six year n clothes and a message popped up on the green

and a message popped up on the green

and a message popped up on the green screen press go to execute year unclose

screen press go to execute year unclose

screen press go to execute year unclose she presco and we enjoyed a cup of

she presco and we enjoyed a cup of

she presco and we enjoyed a cup of coffee while the programs were several

coffee while the programs were several

coffee while the programs were several hours later we returned in there is a

hours later we returned in there is a

hours later we returned in there is a message on the green screen jobs

message on the green screen jobs

message on the green screen jobs executed successfully I was elated and

executed successfully I was elated and

executed successfully I was elated and shouted your books are closed she looked

shouted your books are closed she looked

shouted your books are closed she looked at me with a look of horror on her face

at me with a look of horror on her face

at me with a look of horror on her face and she said to me with her legal pad in

and she said to me with her legal pad in

and she said to me with her legal pad in hand but Heidi you haven’t shown me how

hand but Heidi you haven’t shown me how

hand but Heidi you haven’t shown me how to process all of these journal entries

to process all of these journal entries

to process all of these journal entries she was not elated so I reset the

she was not elated so I reset the

she was not elated so I reset the training environment and I called the

training environment and I called the

training environment and I called the treasurer back and I patiently explained

treasurer back and I patiently explained

treasurer back and I patiently explained to her my four simple instructions she

to her my four simple instructions she

to her my four simple instructions she press go and we went out to lunch

press go and we went out to lunch

press go and we went out to lunch several hours later we returned and the

several hours later we returned and the

several hours later we returned and the jobs had completed successfully again

jobs had completed successfully again

jobs had completed successfully again the treasure was still not elated why

the treasure was still not elated why

the treasure was still not elated why didn’t she understand this amazing new

didn’t she understand this amazing new

didn’t she understand this amazing new software was able to do in hours which

software was able to do in hours which

software was able to do in hours which he had previously slaved over four weeks

he had previously slaved over four weeks

he had previously slaved over four weeks and months sure it seemed much easier to

and months sure it seemed much easier to

and months sure it seemed much easier to me but she didn’t understand the process

me but she didn’t understand the process

me but she didn’t understand the process and she lacked confidence in the results

and she lacked confidence in the results

and she lacked confidence in the results what would you have done well I stayed

what would you have done well I stayed

what would you have done well I stayed up all night and i coded a series of

up all night and i coded a series of

up all night and i coded a series of reports to include all of the journal

reports to include all of the journal

reports to include all of the journal entries that run the treasurer’s legal

entries that run the treasurer’s legal

entries that run the treasurer’s legal pad the following morning I went back to

pad the following morning I went back to

pad the following morning I went back to the county offices

the county offices

the county offices and we sat down at the dumb terminal and

and we sat down at the dumb terminal and

and we sat down at the dumb terminal and we tried it again cheap resco when we

we tried it again cheap resco when we

we tried it again cheap resco when we anxiously awaited for the program’s to

anxiously awaited for the program’s to

anxiously awaited for the program’s to complete execution again but this time

complete execution again but this time

complete execution again but this time we walked over to the printer where

we walked over to the printer where

we walked over to the printer where green bar computer paper was printing

green bar computer paper was printing

green bar computer paper was printing pages or journal entries in the exact

pages or journal entries in the exact

pages or journal entries in the exact order that she had written on her legal

order that she had written on her legal

order that she had written on her legal pad she was elated Douglas County’s

pad she was elated Douglas County’s

pad she was elated Douglas County’s treasurer didn’t necessarily want me to

treasurer didn’t necessarily want me to

treasurer didn’t necessarily want me to teach her how to use a new software what

teach her how to use a new software what

teach her how to use a new software what she wanted me to do was to show her

she wanted me to do was to show her

she wanted me to do was to show her exactly what she had always done

exactly what she had always done

exactly what she had always done manually using the new software it was

manually using the new software it was

manually using the new software it was somehow inconceivable to her that the

somehow inconceivable to her that the

somehow inconceivable to her that the world was changing and that technology

world was changing and that technology

world was changing and that technology could now closed her books in a matter

could now closed her books in a matter

could now closed her books in a matter of hours not weeks she didn’t realize

of hours not weeks she didn’t realize

of hours not weeks she didn’t realize that she would have to change what she

that she would have to change what she

that she would have to change what she was doing this would be the very first

was doing this would be the very first

was doing this would be the very first lesson I learned about technology people

lesson I learned about technology people

lesson I learned about technology people are more important than technology

are more important than technology

are more important than technology because technology is about change and

because technology is about change and

because technology is about change and changes always about people this makes

changes always about people this makes

changes always about people this makes change really really hard digital

change really really hard digital

change really really hard digital disruption has changed everything since

disruption has changed everything since

disruption has changed everything since my encounter with the Douglas County

my encounter with the Douglas County

my encounter with the Douglas County Treasurer smartphones self-driving cars

Treasurer smartphones self-driving cars

Treasurer smartphones self-driving cars Pokemon go none of these existed in 1986

Pokemon go none of these existed in 1986

Pokemon go none of these existed in 1986 or even 20 years ago because everything

or even 20 years ago because everything

or even 20 years ago because everything is changing everything must change

is changing everything must change

is changing everything must change including you well the antidote is agile

including you well the antidote is agile

including you well the antidote is agile in both the technical and a human sense

in both the technical and a human sense

in both the technical and a human sense today I will focus on the human sense

today I will focus on the human sense

today I will focus on the human sense you see at its core agile is about

you see at its core agile is about

you see at its core agile is about change it’s about changing human

change it’s about changing human

change it’s about changing human behavior and how we interact with each

behavior and how we interact with each

behavior and how we interact with each other it’s about uncovering better ways

other it’s about uncovering better ways

other it’s about uncovering better ways of doing things in helping others to do

of doing things in helping others to do

of doing things in helping others to do it it’s a fundamentally different way of

it it’s a fundamentally different way of

it it’s a fundamentally different way of working thinking and being to thrive in

working thinking and being to thrive in

working thinking and being to thrive in a world of digital disruption in

a world of digital disruption in

a world of digital disruption in continuous change we must become agile

continuous change we must become agile

continuous change we must become agile the first step to becoming agile is to

the first step to becoming agile is to

the first step to becoming agile is to embrace the agile mindset of meeting

embrace the agile mindset of meeting

embrace the agile mindset of meeting people where they are I’ve discovered

people where they are I’ve discovered

people where they are I’ve discovered three dimensions of

three dimensions of

three dimensions of this the first dimension is being

this the first dimension is being

this the first dimension is being present so that we can begin to

present so that we can begin to

present so that we can begin to understand what it is people worn out so

understand what it is people worn out so

understand what it is people worn out so good at this we’re pretty good at

good at this we’re pretty good at

good at this we’re pretty good at telling you what we think we’re doing

telling you what we think we’re doing

telling you what we think we’re doing not even what we’re actually doing or

not even what we’re actually doing or

not even what we’re actually doing or more importantly why we’re even doing it

more importantly why we’re even doing it

more importantly why we’re even doing it agile is relentlessly focused the second

agile is relentlessly focused the second

agile is relentlessly focused the second dimension is discovering how we got

dimension is discovering how we got

dimension is discovering how we got where we are or why it is a wise

where we are or why it is a wise

where we are or why it is a wise colleague taught me many years ago that

colleague taught me many years ago that

colleague taught me many years ago that things are the way they are because

things are the way they are because

things are the way they are because those who are in power desire it to be

those who are in power desire it to be

those who are in power desire it to be that way while this may be true it is

that way while this may be true it is

that way while this may be true it is still important to ask why in fact we

still important to ask why in fact we

still important to ask why in fact we have to ask why at least five times

have to ask why at least five times

have to ask why at least five times before we get to the essence of the

before we get to the essence of the

before we get to the essence of the thing and it’s the essence of the thing

thing and it’s the essence of the thing

thing and it’s the essence of the thing that drives us to the understanding of

that drives us to the understanding of

that drives us to the understanding of why it is without this understanding

why it is without this understanding

why it is without this understanding it’s virtually impossible to develop a

it’s virtually impossible to develop a

it’s virtually impossible to develop a positive response to change agile is

positive response to change agile is

positive response to change agile is listening to understand and the third

listening to understand and the third

listening to understand and the third dimension is imagining what is possible

dimension is imagining what is possible

dimension is imagining what is possible or the ability to think really big

or the ability to think really big

or the ability to think really big earlier in my career I began the

earlier in my career I began the

earlier in my career I began the practice of asking a question in

practice of asking a question in

practice of asking a question in rewarding the person with the correct

rewarding the person with the correct

rewarding the person with the correct answer with dinner for two at the

answer with dinner for two at the

answer with dinner for two at the restaurant of your choice I’ve never

restaurant of your choice I’ve never

restaurant of your choice I’ve never offered any limitation as to location or

offered any limitation as to location or

offered any limitation as to location or cost now I have to ask how many of you

cost now I have to ask how many of you

cost now I have to ask how many of you are thinking of a three-star Michelin

are thinking of a three-star Michelin

are thinking of a three-star Michelin restaurant right now I didn’t think so

restaurant right now I didn’t think so

restaurant right now I didn’t think so the winner has never chosen a three-star

the winner has never chosen a three-star

the winner has never chosen a three-star Michelin restaurant in any city the

Michelin restaurant in any city the

Michelin restaurant in any city the winner usually chooses their favorite

winner usually chooses their favorite

winner usually chooses their favorite local lunch spot we don’t think big

local lunch spot we don’t think big

local lunch spot we don’t think big enough we think within our own

enough we think within our own

enough we think within our own experiences we think within our comfort

experiences we think within our comfort

experiences we think within our comfort zones we think small we think safe agile

zones we think small we think safe agile

zones we think small we think safe agile is courageous we are all capable of

is courageous we are all capable of

is courageous we are all capable of adopting this agile mindset of becoming

adopting this agile mindset of becoming

adopting this agile mindset of becoming agile relentlessly thinking listening to

agile relentlessly thinking listening to

agile relentlessly thinking listening to understand acting with courage in

understand acting with courage in

understand acting with courage in embracing this fun

embracing this fun

embracing this fun many different way of thinking and being

many different way of thinking and being

many different way of thinking and being we are not powerless we never really are

we are not powerless we never really are

we are not powerless we never really are with this new agile mindset we have the

with this new agile mindset we have the

with this new agile mindset we have the power to effectively adapt to change if

power to effectively adapt to change if

power to effectively adapt to change if we are willing to embrace these three

we are willing to embrace these three

we are willing to embrace these three simple practices in our daily lives

simple practices in our daily lives

simple practices in our daily lives first are you willing to ask for help

first are you willing to ask for help

first are you willing to ask for help this is a key to humility to be

this is a key to humility to be

this is a key to humility to be successful we don’t have to have all the

successful we don’t have to have all the

successful we don’t have to have all the answers who don’t or to know everything

answers who don’t or to know everything

answers who don’t or to know everything but we must be willing to say these

but we must be willing to say these

but we must be willing to say these three words I don’t know humility that

three words I don’t know humility that

three words I don’t know humility that quality of being teachable it’s the cord

quality of being teachable it’s the cord

quality of being teachable it’s the cord leadership discipline it’s a sign of

leadership discipline it’s a sign of

leadership discipline it’s a sign of strength ironically once we’ve learned

strength ironically once we’ve learned

strength ironically once we’ve learned how to ask for help it becomes much

how to ask for help it becomes much

how to ask for help it becomes much easier to help others agile is both

easier to help others agile is both

easier to help others agile is both humble and selfless second are you will

humble and selfless second are you will

humble and selfless second are you will need to make mistakes and sometimes even

need to make mistakes and sometimes even

need to make mistakes and sometimes even fail this is the key to curiosity

fail this is the key to curiosity

fail this is the key to curiosity Lorraine taught me this in my first

Lorraine taught me this in my first

Lorraine taught me this in my first management job out of college she was

management job out of college she was

management job out of college she was learning how to use our new accounts

learning how to use our new accounts

learning how to use our new accounts payable system at the end of each day

payable system at the end of each day

payable system at the end of each day during the month of parallel processing

during the month of parallel processing

during the month of parallel processing she should gather she would gather all

she should gather she would gather all

she should gather she would gather all the invoices she had entered and she

the invoices she had entered and she

the invoices she had entered and she would circle all the mistakes she had

would circle all the mistakes she had

would circle all the mistakes she had made in red and she’d bring all of this

made in red and she’d bring all of this

made in red and she’d bring all of this into my office to review with me and

into my office to review with me and

into my office to review with me and when she was finished he would probably

when she was finished he would probably

when she was finished he would probably say Heidi at least you know I’m learning

say Heidi at least you know I’m learning

say Heidi at least you know I’m learning I’m making mistakes agile is learning

I’m making mistakes agile is learning

I’m making mistakes agile is learning from our mistakes and then finally are

from our mistakes and then finally are

from our mistakes and then finally are you willing to recognize others this is

you willing to recognize others this is

you willing to recognize others this is a key to compassion several years ago I

a key to compassion several years ago I

a key to compassion several years ago I had the opportunity to visit the Taj

had the opportunity to visit the Taj

had the opportunity to visit the Taj Mahal on a business trip to India it was

Mahal on a business trip to India it was

Mahal on a business trip to India it was an extraordinary experience during this

an extraordinary experience during this

an extraordinary experience during this same visit I was also asked to bless the

same visit I was also asked to bless the

same visit I was also asked to bless the construction of a water supply system at

construction of a water supply system at

construction of a water supply system at the kannagi nag our government school in

the kannagi nag our government school in

the kannagi nag our government school in Chennai it’s basically a community of

Chennai it’s basically a community of

Chennai it’s basically a community of slumlord tenements it’s been this way

slumlord tenements it’s been this way

slumlord tenements it’s been this way since 2004 when over 15,000 fishermen

since 2004 when over 15,000 fishermen

since 2004 when over 15,000 fishermen and their families were relocated there

and their families were relocated there

and their families were relocated there after

after

after do tsunami we arrived at the school yard

do tsunami we arrived at the school yard

do tsunami we arrived at the school yard Dhanalakshmi the head schoolmaster and

Dhanalakshmi the head schoolmaster and

Dhanalakshmi the head schoolmaster and her students they greeted us with a

her students they greeted us with a

her students they greeted us with a performance of traditional Indian dances

performance of traditional Indian dances

performance of traditional Indian dances followed by a display of martial arts

followed by a display of martial arts

followed by a display of martial arts following the program the blessing

following the program the blessing

following the program the blessing ceremony commenced you know the Taj

ceremony commenced you know the Taj

ceremony commenced you know the Taj Mahal it was it was truly a once in a

Mahal it was it was truly a once in a

Mahal it was it was truly a once in a lifetime experience but that visit in

lifetime experience but that visit in

lifetime experience but that visit in the schoolyard that afternoon forever

the schoolyard that afternoon forever

the schoolyard that afternoon forever changed my life Dhanalakshmi and her

changed my life Dhanalakshmi and her

changed my life Dhanalakshmi and her students they were amazing the students

students they were amazing the students

students they were amazing the students they were they were filled with respect

they were they were filled with respect

they were they were filled with respect they were present they were engaged they

they were present they were engaged they

they were present they were engaged they were full of joy they were filled with

were full of joy they were filled with

were full of joy they were filled with an unimaginable amount of curiosity and

an unimaginable amount of curiosity and

an unimaginable amount of curiosity and respect they were so proud to host us in

respect they were so proud to host us in

respect they were so proud to host us in their school yard their red dirt school

their school yard their red dirt school

their school yard their red dirt school yard that had lacked even the most basic

yard that had lacked even the most basic

yard that had lacked even the most basic water supply capability for nearly 10

water supply capability for nearly 10

water supply capability for nearly 10 years and what did we do we met them

years and what did we do we met them

years and what did we do we met them where they were we shared in their

where they were we shared in their

where they were we shared in their ceremonies and we recognize them

ceremonies and we recognize them

ceremonies and we recognize them Dhanalakshmi she’s my hero she taught me

Dhanalakshmi she’s my hero she taught me

Dhanalakshmi she’s my hero she taught me the real value of recognition without

the real value of recognition without

the real value of recognition without recognition there can be no compassion I

have spent my entire life learning

have spent my entire life learning sometimes quickly in sometimes slowly

sometimes quickly in sometimes slowly

sometimes quickly in sometimes slowly the spiritual truth about change it’s

the spiritual truth about change it’s

the spiritual truth about change it’s not what happens to us it’s what we do

not what happens to us it’s what we do

not what happens to us it’s what we do with it as the world changes around us

with it as the world changes around us

with it as the world changes around us it’s imperative that we learn how to

it’s imperative that we learn how to

it’s imperative that we learn how to adapt to respond to that change if we

adapt to respond to that change if we

adapt to respond to that change if we are each committed to adopting this new

are each committed to adopting this new

are each committed to adopting this new agile mindset of meeting people where

agile mindset of meeting people where

agile mindset of meeting people where they are we can optimize our human

they are we can optimize our human

they are we can optimize our human potential and transform our workplaces

potential and transform our workplaces

potential and transform our workplaces in communities into courageous humble

in communities into courageous humble

in communities into courageous humble selfless curious in compassion spaces

selfless curious in compassion spaces

selfless curious in compassion spaces that we can all thrive it thank you

”

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