Natural Selection of Ideas | Julian Wise | TEDxLosAltosHigh

I was never sure whether it was a good

I was never sure whether it was a good idea to ask a girl out walk around like

idea to ask a girl out walk around like

idea to ask a girl out walk around like I go on to the pen my poor friend and

I go on to the pen my poor friend and

I go on to the pen my poor friend and I’d see can I really communicate this

I’d see can I really communicate this

I’d see can I really communicate this idea to them I’d say things like hey

idea to them I’d say things like hey

idea to them I’d say things like hey we’re going hours and you’ll join us for

we’re going hours and you’ll join us for

we’re going hours and you’ll join us for a milkshake and I’d kind of make sure

a milkshake and I’d kind of make sure

a milkshake and I’d kind of make sure that I can communicate it after that I’d

that I can communicate it after that I’d

that I can communicate it after that I’d move on and I kind of get that that

move on and I kind of get that that

move on and I kind of get that that initial feedback from kind of the dating

initial feedback from kind of the dating

initial feedback from kind of the dating expert of my school this was the guy who

expert of my school this was the guy who

expert of my school this was the guy who of all of us really understood women if

of all of us really understood women if

of all of us really understood women if there is such a thing

there is such a thing

there is such a thing after I got his feedback I found out

after I got his feedback I found out

after I got his feedback I found out that pretty much naturally everybody at

that pretty much naturally everybody at

that pretty much naturally everybody at my school knew that I was into this girl

my school knew that I was into this girl

my school knew that I was into this girl my friends had told their friends and

my friends had told their friends and

my friends had told their friends and their friends had told friends of

their friends had told friends of

their friends had told friends of friends and everybody was giving their

friends and everybody was giving their

friends and everybody was giving their feedback on kind of my love interest and

feedback on kind of my love interest and

feedback on kind of my love interest and so it’s funny but by the time when it

so it’s funny but by the time when it

so it’s funny but by the time when it was time to actually ask her out I had

was time to actually ask her out I had

was time to actually ask her out I had already gotten all of this information

already gotten all of this information

already gotten all of this information and so I knew that it was a good idea I

and so I knew that it was a good idea I

and so I knew that it was a good idea I knew that it made sense for me to ask

knew that it made sense for me to ask

knew that it made sense for me to ask her out but I couldn’t just walk up to

her out but I couldn’t just walk up to

her out but I couldn’t just walk up to her and say hey you and me we’re gonna

her and say hey you and me we’re gonna

her and say hey you and me we’re gonna hold hands in the cafeteria make

hold hands in the cafeteria make

hold hands in the cafeteria make smooches you know all that good stuff

smooches you know all that good stuff

smooches you know all that good stuff it’s a bit much

it’s a bit much

it’s a bit much so I let’s say that I noticed that

so I let’s say that I noticed that

so I let’s say that I noticed that there’s a dance coming up I walk up to

there’s a dance coming up I walk up to

there’s a dance coming up I walk up to her and I say hey how about we just go

her and I say hey how about we just go

her and I say hey how about we just go to this dance just this simple thing a

to this dance just this simple thing a

to this dance just this simple thing a little test and if she says yes well

little test and if she says yes well

little test and if she says yes well then it’s time for me to really go all

then it’s time for me to really go all

then it’s time for me to really go all out I know that it’s a good idea that we

out I know that it’s a good idea that we

out I know that it’s a good idea that we go out my friends know that it’s a good

go out my friends know that it’s a good

go out my friends know that it’s a good idea here her friends know that it’s a

idea here her friends know that it’s a

idea here her friends know that it’s a good idea she says yes I’m gonna spend

good idea she says yes I’m gonna spend

good idea she says yes I’m gonna spend not only the dance getting to know her

not only the dance getting to know her

not only the dance getting to know her but the two weeks before going on dates

but the two weeks before going on dates

but the two weeks before going on dates really trying to understand her cuz in

really trying to understand her cuz in

really trying to understand her cuz in dating just like in anything if it’s

dating just like in anything if it’s

dating just like in anything if it’s ever going to succeed

ever going to succeed

ever going to succeed you really have to put a lot of effort

you really have to put a lot of effort

you really have to put a lot of effort into it so that was kind of my my dating

into it so that was kind of my my dating

into it so that was kind of my my dating life in high school and as you’ll notice

life in high school and as you’ll notice

life in high school and as you’ll notice it kind of goes through something of a

it kind of goes through something of a

it kind of goes through something of a process of natural selection where at

process of natural selection where at

process of natural selection where at each step some of the ideas could die so

this kind of brings me to the topic of

this kind of brings me to the topic of natural selection of ideas so I kind of

natural selection of ideas so I kind of

natural selection of ideas so I kind of noticed the idea of natural selection

noticed the idea of natural selection

noticed the idea of natural selection ideas when I was at a monastery in

ideas when I was at a monastery in

ideas when I was at a monastery in Thailand the Buddhists have a lot of

Thailand the Buddhists have a lot of

Thailand the Buddhists have a lot of philosophy about how you relate to your

philosophy about how you relate to your

philosophy about how you relate to your thoughts how you relate to your ideas

thoughts how you relate to your ideas

thoughts how you relate to your ideas that you can choose which ones to accept

that you can choose which ones to accept

that you can choose which ones to accept and which ones to let go so I realized

and which ones to let go so I realized

and which ones to let go so I realized that I really wanted an objective

that I really wanted an objective

that I really wanted an objective framework for being able to determine

framework for being able to determine

framework for being able to determine which one’s I wanted to follow and which

which one’s I wanted to follow and which

which one’s I wanted to follow and which ones I wanted to dismiss cuz back in

ones I wanted to dismiss cuz back in

ones I wanted to dismiss cuz back in high school I had all of these different

high school I had all of these different

high school I had all of these different ideas these were ideas like you know

ideas these were ideas like you know

ideas these were ideas like you know should I join this club or that Club

should I join this club or that Club

should I join this club or that Club should I even apply to college should I

should I even apply to college should I

should I even apply to college should I go to college when I want to go to

go to college when I want to go to

go to college when I want to go to college what should i major in and over

college what should i major in and over

college what should i major in and over time I found that these ideas only

time I found that these ideas only

time I found that these ideas only increased in intensity and difficulty

increased in intensity and difficulty

increased in intensity and difficulty and so it was really tough to be honest

and so it was really tough to be honest

and so it was really tough to be honest I was really afraid I was making a lot

I was really afraid I was making a lot

I was really afraid I was making a lot of big life decisions and it was really

of big life decisions and it was really

of big life decisions and it was really scary so now that I’m an adult I find it

scary so now that I’m an adult I find it

scary so now that I’m an adult I find it really valuable to have a way to

really valuable to have a way to

really valuable to have a way to determine kind of objectively which of

determine kind of objectively which of

determine kind of objectively which of my ideas are good ideas

my ideas are good ideas

my ideas are good ideas and I touched on it naturally with the

and I touched on it naturally with the

and I touched on it naturally with the dating example but here let me walk you

dating example but here let me walk you

dating example but here let me walk you through it now so the first step is kind

through it now so the first step is kind

through it now so the first step is kind of that inner circle and we saw this

of that inner circle and we saw this

of that inner circle and we saw this with dating the real question that I

with dating the real question that I

with dating the real question that I find with my framework is you know at

find with my framework is you know at

find with my framework is you know at the first step doesn’t even sound good

the first step doesn’t even sound good

the first step doesn’t even sound good to me because I have ideas all the time

to me because I have ideas all the time

to me because I have ideas all the time we all do and so that first step is to

we all do and so that first step is to

we all do and so that first step is to talk to people and say hey does this

talk to people and say hey does this

talk to people and say hey does this idea make sense when I say it aloud I

idea make sense when I say it aloud I

idea make sense when I say it aloud I find it really valuable to have a core

find it really valuable to have a core

find it really valuable to have a core group of four or five friends who I can

group of four or five friends who I can

group of four or five friends who I can be silly around who I can say ideas and

be silly around who I can say ideas and

be silly around who I can say ideas and not feel like I’m going to be judged so

not feel like I’m going to be judged so

not feel like I’m going to be judged so I can say ideas that will be crazy

I can say ideas that will be crazy

I can say ideas that will be crazy or offensive or who knows what because

or offensive or who knows what because

or offensive or who knows what because sometimes when you give an idea

sometimes when you give an idea

sometimes when you give an idea structure when you really say it you

structure when you really say it you

structure when you really say it you find out whether it even make sense to

find out whether it even make sense to

find out whether it even make sense to you so that’s the step that I call my

you so that’s the step that I call my

you so that’s the step that I call my inner circle and after an idea passes my

inner circle and after an idea passes my

inner circle and after an idea passes my inner circle if it does I move on and I

inner circle if it does I move on and I

inner circle if it does I move on and I start communicating that idea to a wider

start communicating that idea to a wider

start communicating that idea to a wider group of friends and the goal of this

group of friends and the goal of this

group of friends and the goal of this step is to make sure that I can clearly

step is to make sure that I can clearly

step is to make sure that I can clearly communicate it because later I’m gonna

communicate it because later I’m gonna

communicate it because later I’m gonna want to be getting information on that

want to be getting information on that

want to be getting information on that feedback on my idea and it’s important

feedback on my idea and it’s important

feedback on my idea and it’s important that I’m getting that feedback on the

that I’m getting that feedback on the

that I’m getting that feedback on the idea itself not on things that are say

idea itself not on things that are say

idea itself not on things that are say tangentially related to the idea or

tangentially related to the idea or

tangentially related to the idea or little rabbit holes that aren’t really

little rabbit holes that aren’t really

little rabbit holes that aren’t really core parts so that second step is to

core parts so that second step is to

core parts so that second step is to really pitch it a lot and make sure that

really pitch it a lot and make sure that

really pitch it a lot and make sure that I can communicate the essence of my idea

after I can clearly communicate an idea

after I can clearly communicate an idea I’m now able to get feedback on it and

I’m now able to get feedback on it and

I’m now able to get feedback on it and that feedback that initial feedback I

that feedback that initial feedback I

that feedback that initial feedback I like to get from about ten people who

like to get from about ten people who

like to get from about ten people who are really experts at giving feedback

are really experts at giving feedback

are really experts at giving feedback these don’t even have to be good friends

these don’t even have to be good friends

these don’t even have to be good friends these are just people who I would trust

these are just people who I would trust

these are just people who I would trust their feedback for example in the dating

their feedback for example in the dating

their feedback for example in the dating world this would be my friend who seems

world this would be my friend who seems

world this would be my friend who seems really good with women after that

really good with women after that

really good with women after that initial feedback it’s time to get some

initial feedback it’s time to get some

initial feedback it’s time to get some broad feedback and this naturally

broad feedback and this naturally

broad feedback and this naturally happens in high school dating for me at

happens in high school dating for me at

happens in high school dating for me at least with kind of where everybody knows

least with kind of where everybody knows

least with kind of where everybody knows and everybody’s giving their own input

and everybody’s giving their own input

and everybody’s giving their own input but for other ideas

but for other ideas

but for other ideas I find it valuable too once I know that

I find it valuable too once I know that

I find it valuable too once I know that the idea seems reasonable from that

the idea seems reasonable from that

the idea seems reasonable from that initial feedback to see as many people

initial feedback to see as many people

initial feedback to see as many people as possible this would be pitching the

as possible this would be pitching the

as possible this would be pitching the idea to over drivers when somebody asks

idea to over drivers when somebody asks

idea to over drivers when somebody asks me what I do for a living telling them

me what I do for a living telling them

me what I do for a living telling them hey I have this idea what do you think

hey I have this idea what do you think

hey I have this idea what do you think of this idea and when you get broad

of this idea and when you get broad

of this idea and when you get broad feedback on an idea you can learn not

feedback on an idea you can learn not

feedback on an idea you can learn not only what about it seems reasonable but

only what about it seems reasonable but

only what about it seems reasonable but also who likes that idea so I call that

also who likes that idea so I call that

also who likes that idea so I call that next step getting broad feedback after

next step getting broad feedback after

next step getting broad feedback after I’ve gotten broad feedback on the idea I

I’ve gotten broad feedback on the idea I

I’ve gotten broad feedback on the idea I want to make a prototype of it some

want to make a prototype of it some

want to make a prototype of it some initial first step to really make sure

initial first step to really make sure

initial first step to really make sure that when you have the idea and you say

that when you have the idea and you say

that when you have the idea and you say out in the wild a little bit it still

out in the wild a little bit it still

out in the wild a little bit it still works this could be for example say

works this could be for example say

works this could be for example say writing a blog post on a topic or

writing a blog post on a topic or

writing a blog post on a topic or walking around high school and seeing

walking around high school and seeing

walking around high school and seeing how many people will sign up for the

how many people will sign up for the

how many people will sign up for the club that you’re thinking of starting or

club that you’re thinking of starting or

club that you’re thinking of starting or doing a TEDx on a topic before you

doing a TEDx on a topic before you

doing a TEDx on a topic before you consider writing about it in a book and

consider writing about it in a book and

consider writing about it in a book and after that initial prototype if my idea

after that initial prototype if my idea

after that initial prototype if my idea has been able to pass through all of

has been able to pass through all of

has been able to pass through all of these steps and succeed I know it’s a

these steps and succeed I know it’s a

these steps and succeed I know it’s a good idea and so it’s really time to

good idea and so it’s really time to

good idea and so it’s really time to commit and committing is really

commit and committing is really

commit and committing is really important because at some point you have

important because at some point you have

important because at some point you have to draw on the line and a line in the

to draw on the line and a line in the

to draw on the line and a line in the sand and say I’m going to do this I’m

sand and say I’m going to do this I’m

sand and say I’m going to do this I’m gonna put the effort into it and I am

gonna put the effort into it and I am

gonna put the effort into it and I am going to see this thing through to

going to see this thing through to

going to see this thing through to completion because doing things is tough

completion because doing things is tough

completion because doing things is tough and often an idea will fail many times

and often an idea will fail many times

and often an idea will fail many times before it succeeds or often you’ll have

before it succeeds or often you’ll have

before it succeeds or often you’ll have unforeseen difficulties and so you

unforeseen difficulties and so you

unforeseen difficulties and so you really need to know before you commit to

really need to know before you commit to

really need to know before you commit to an idea before you put a lot of time and

an idea before you put a lot of time and

an idea before you put a lot of time and effort into it that it’s the right one

effort into it that it’s the right one

effort into it that it’s the right one to be committing to but when you do you

to be committing to but when you do you

to be committing to but when you do you got to go all out with it so this is the

got to go all out with it so this is the

got to go all out with it so this is the framework I call natural selection of

framework I call natural selection of

framework I call natural selection of ideas and you saw how it naturally kind

ideas and you saw how it naturally kind

ideas and you saw how it naturally kind of worked in high school dating but it

of worked in high school dating but it

of worked in high school dating but it works in other areas as well for example

works in other areas as well for example

works in other areas as well for example when I graduated college last year I

when I graduated college last year I

when I graduated college last year I knew I wanted to write a book but I had

knew I wanted to write a book but I had

knew I wanted to write a book but I had 30 40 50 ideas for what topic to write

30 40 50 ideas for what topic to write

30 40 50 ideas for what topic to write on so I ran them through this process at

on so I ran them through this process at

on so I ran them through this process at first I was talking my ideas out with

first I was talking my ideas out with

first I was talking my ideas out with friends just to see what they sounded

friends just to see what they sounded

friends just to see what they sounded like to me if they sounded reasonable

like to me if they sounded reasonable

like to me if they sounded reasonable then I moved on and I made sure that I

then I moved on and I made sure that I

then I moved on and I made sure that I could clearly communicate those ideas so

could clearly communicate those ideas so

could clearly communicate those ideas so that when I later got feedback from my

that when I later got feedback from my

that when I later got feedback from my friends a lot of literary friends at

friends a lot of literary friends at

friends a lot of literary friends at first I was able to make sure that I was

first I was able to make sure that I was

first I was able to make sure that I was getting that feedback on the idea itself

getting that feedback on the idea itself

getting that feedback on the idea itself my literary friends kind of the experts

my literary friends kind of the experts

my literary friends kind of the experts in the book world that I know we’re

in the book world that I know we’re

in the book world that I know we’re really helpful for that initial feedback

really helpful for that initial feedback

really helpful for that initial feedback because I was able to find out what they

because I was able to find out what they

because I was able to find out what they liked about it so that then when I got

liked about it so that then when I got

liked about it so that then when I got broad feedback you would have caught me

broad feedback you would have caught me

broad feedback you would have caught me pitching the idea when I was waiting in

pitching the idea when I was waiting in

pitching the idea when I was waiting in line for a concert or whenever an uber

line for a concert or whenever an uber

line for a concert or whenever an uber driver starts up a conversation with me

driver starts up a conversation with me

driver starts up a conversation with me I only had about three ideas that got

I only had about three ideas that got

I only had about three ideas that got past all of those steps and ended up

past all of those steps and ended up

past all of those steps and ended up going to a prototype but when I did make

going to a prototype but when I did make

going to a prototype but when I did make that outline and I started chopping it

that outline and I started chopping it

that outline and I started chopping it around I found that it was incredibly

around I found that it was incredibly

around I found that it was incredibly valuable I was able to get a lot of

valuable I was able to get a lot of

valuable I was able to get a lot of incredible feedback on that prototype

incredible feedback on that prototype

incredible feedback on that prototype and know who likes what about it so that

and know who likes what about it so that

and know who likes what about it so that then when I spent a year of my life

then when I spent a year of my life

then when I spent a year of my life writing a book I was pretty confident

writing a book I was pretty confident

writing a book I was pretty confident and I knew what people liked and what

and I knew what people liked and what

and I knew what people liked and what people wouldn’t like so there’s a lot of

people wouldn’t like so there’s a lot of

people wouldn’t like so there’s a lot of value to going through this kind of

value to going through this kind of

value to going through this kind of objective process and part of that value

objective process and part of that value

objective process and part of that value is because we see pretty often the

is because we see pretty often the

is because we see pretty often the danger of people skipping some of these

danger of people skipping some of these

danger of people skipping some of these steps for example in the creative world

steps for example in the creative world

steps for example in the creative world you see a lot of people who come up with

you see a lot of people who come up with

you see a lot of people who come up with an idea and then they share their idea

an idea and then they share their idea

an idea and then they share their idea with friends maybe kick around it a

with friends maybe kick around it a

with friends maybe kick around it a little bit but then they jump all the

little bit but then they jump all the

little bit but then they jump all the way to the end and they try to write the

way to the end and they try to write the

way to the end and they try to write the entire screenplay only to realize that

entire screenplay only to realize that

entire screenplay only to realize that the audience isn’t as big as they

the audience isn’t as big as they

the audience isn’t as big as they thought it was or for example the idea

thought it was or for example the idea

thought it was or for example the idea is only one that they and their friends

is only one that they and their friends

is only one that they and their friends actually ended up caring about on the

actually ended up caring about on the

actually ended up caring about on the other hand I’ve shared my book with

other hand I’ve shared my book with

other hand I’ve shared my book with about the first two chapters with about

about the first two chapters with about

about the first two chapters with about 50 people and I already know what people

50 people and I already know what people

50 people and I already know what people like about it and what people don’t like

like about it and what people don’t like

like about it and what people don’t like about it I already know what my target

about it I already know what my target

about it I already know what my target audience is I haven’t even gone into the

audience is I haven’t even gone into the

audience is I haven’t even gone into the publishing world yet but I’m gonna be

publishing world yet but I’m gonna be

publishing world yet but I’m gonna be able to talk to publishers and say hey I

able to talk to publishers and say hey I

able to talk to publishers and say hey I already have this data he’ll if I want

already have this data he’ll if I want

already have this data he’ll if I want to I can even just go self publish

to I can even just go self publish

to I can even just go self publish because I know the number of people and

because I know the number of people and

because I know the number of people and the demographics and all of the areas

the demographics and all of the areas

the demographics and all of the areas that people already like about it by

that people already like about it by

that people already like about it by going through kind of an objective

going through kind of an objective

going through kind of an objective system I’m able to build to that success

system I’m able to build to that success

system I’m able to build to that success so this is my system I call it natural

so this is my system I call it natural

so this is my system I call it natural selection of ideas and I like it you’re

selection of ideas and I like it you’re

selection of ideas and I like it you’re welcome to use it too if you’re

welcome to use it too if you’re

welcome to use it too if you’re interested in it maybe try it out but

interested in it maybe try it out but

interested in it maybe try it out but the key if there’s a single key of this

the key if there’s a single key of this

the key if there’s a single key of this talk is not necessarily using my system

talk is not necessarily using my system

talk is not necessarily using my system but having a system having an objective

but having a system having an objective

but having a system having an objective way to test your ideas in order to see

way to test your ideas in order to see

way to test your ideas in order to see which ones end up working and which ones

which ones end up working and which ones

which ones end up working and which ones don’t because we’re constantly being

don’t because we’re constantly being

don’t because we’re constantly being demanded with

demanded with

demanded with ways in order to spend our time and

ways in order to spend our time and

ways in order to spend our time and spend our energy and if you don’t have a

spend our energy and if you don’t have a

spend our energy and if you don’t have a system you’re just gonna end up being

system you’re just gonna end up being

system you’re just gonna end up being buffeted around by ideas from day to day

buffeted around by ideas from day to day

buffeted around by ideas from day to day I remember back in high school I was

I remember back in high school I was

I remember back in high school I was deeply deeply passionately in love

deeply deeply passionately in love

deeply deeply passionately in love writing her name on my notebooks in love

writing her name on my notebooks in love

writing her name on my notebooks in love for about a day and then the next day I

for about a day and then the next day I

for about a day and then the next day I realized that wait that wasn’t actually

realized that wait that wasn’t actually

realized that wait that wasn’t actually a great idea so if you have an objective

a great idea so if you have an objective

a great idea so if you have an objective system then you’re able to measure which

system then you’re able to measure which

system then you’re able to measure which of your ideas succeed in which fail you

of your ideas succeed in which fail you

of your ideas succeed in which fail you can keep track and you can have a

can keep track and you can have a

can keep track and you can have a success rate that is consistent and as

success rate that is consistent and as

success rate that is consistent and as we saw with dating which as we all know

we saw with dating which as we all know

we saw with dating which as we all know is the most important aspect of a life

is the most important aspect of a life

is the most important aspect of a life if you have an objective system and you

if you have an objective system and you

if you have an objective system and you use the steps consistently you can take

use the steps consistently you can take

use the steps consistently you can take the luck out of getting lucky thank you