The Middle is the New Edge | Wendy Guillies | TEDxFargo

I’m dedicating this talk to everyone in

I’m dedicating this talk to everyone in the middle and by middle I mean my

the middle and by middle I mean my

the middle and by middle I mean my fellow Midwesterners as well as anyone

fellow Midwesterners as well as anyone

fellow Midwesterners as well as anyone living anywhere who approaches life from

living anywhere who approaches life from

living anywhere who approaches life from the middle-of-the-road

the middle-of-the-road

the middle-of-the-road rather than from the extremes we all

rather than from the extremes we all

rather than from the extremes we all know those middle stereotypes don’t we

know those middle stereotypes don’t we

know those middle stereotypes don’t we flower country Vennela ordinary well I

flower country Vennela ordinary well I

flower country Vennela ordinary well I don’t believe those words apply any

don’t believe those words apply any

don’t believe those words apply any longer if they ever did in fact I’ll go

longer if they ever did in fact I’ll go

longer if they ever did in fact I’ll go one step further I believe that the

one step further I believe that the

one step further I believe that the middle is the new edge you’re the people

middle is the new edge you’re the people

middle is the new edge you’re the people who can solve today’s big problems and

who can solve today’s big problems and

who can solve today’s big problems and launch tomorrow’s new ideas to move this

launch tomorrow’s new ideas to move this

launch tomorrow’s new ideas to move this society forward there’s evidence this is

society forward there’s evidence this is

society forward there’s evidence this is already happening which I’ll share but

already happening which I’ll share but

already happening which I’ll share but first let me tell you what I know from

first let me tell you what I know from

first let me tell you what I know from my own personal experience sorry about

my own personal experience sorry about

my own personal experience sorry about as middle as they come I was born and

as middle as they come I was born and

as middle as they come I was born and raised in the heartland in Kansas and

raised in the heartland in Kansas and

raised in the heartland in Kansas and Nebraska not far from the geographic

Nebraska not far from the geographic

Nebraska not far from the geographic center of the United States I’m

center of the United States I’m

center of the United States I’m middle-aged I Drive a midsize sedan that

middle-aged I Drive a midsize sedan that

middle-aged I Drive a midsize sedan that I park in front of my mid-sized house

I park in front of my mid-sized house

I park in front of my mid-sized house politically and socially moderate middle

politically and socially moderate middle

politically and socially moderate middle even on my personality assessments I

even on my personality assessments I

even on my personality assessments I score in the middle of the scale halfway

score in the middle of the scale halfway

score in the middle of the scale halfway between extrovert and introvert creative

between extrovert and introvert creative

between extrovert and introvert creative versus analytical flexible versus rigid

versus analytical flexible versus rigid

versus analytical flexible versus rigid I’ve spent my life in the middle and

I’ve spent my life in the middle and

I’ve spent my life in the middle and that’s not just geography it’s a mindset

that’s not just geography it’s a mindset

that’s not just geography it’s a mindset a temperament and a perspective on life

a temperament and a perspective on life

a temperament and a perspective on life so right about now you might be

so right about now you might be

so right about now you might be wondering how did someone like me become

wondering how did someone like me become

wondering how did someone like me become the head of a two billion dollar

the head of a two billion dollar

the head of a two billion dollar organization one of the most innovative

organization one of the most innovative

organization one of the most innovative and influential foundations in the

and influential foundations in the

and influential foundations in the country I mean let’s face it most

country I mean let’s face it most

country I mean let’s face it most leaders and innovators are viewed as

leaders and innovators are viewed as

leaders and innovators are viewed as unusual people with exceptional skills I

unusual people with exceptional skills I

unusual people with exceptional skills I used to think that too

used to think that too

used to think that too after I graduated from the University of

after I graduated from the University of

after I graduated from the University of Nebraska I moved to Southern California

Nebraska I moved to Southern California

Nebraska I moved to Southern California and man I could not wait to leave my

and man I could not wait to leave my

and man I could not wait to leave my Heartland roots behind it was gonna be a

Heartland roots behind it was gonna be a

Heartland roots behind it was gonna be a fresh start for me I was gonna be an LA

fresh start for me I was gonna be an LA

fresh start for me I was gonna be an LA girl people out there would ask me so

girl people out there would ask me so

girl people out there would ask me so where are you from and I’d kind of shrug

where are you from and I’d kind of shrug

where are you from and I’d kind of shrug them off and say I didn’t matter you

them off and say I didn’t matter you

them off and say I didn’t matter you know I’m just from somewhere in the

know I’m just from somewhere in the

know I’m just from somewhere in the middle

middle

middle well my valley girl accent has long

well my valley girl accent has long

well my valley girl accent has long since faded and I’m a lot wiser now and

since faded and I’m a lot wiser now and

since faded and I’m a lot wiser now and I’ve realized that my middle miss is

I’ve realized that my middle miss is

I’ve realized that my middle miss is nothing to be embarrassed about it’s not

nothing to be embarrassed about it’s not

nothing to be embarrassed about it’s not a liability it’s an asset and it can be

a liability it’s an asset and it can be

a liability it’s an asset and it can be for you too so let’s break this down

for you too so let’s break this down

for you too so let’s break this down just what does this middle miss mean to

just what does this middle miss mean to

just what does this middle miss mean to me I’ve got four points first it means

me I’ve got four points first it means

me I’ve got four points first it means being centered we people in the middle

being centered we people in the middle

being centered we people in the middle don’t get too carried away with extreme

don’t get too carried away with extreme

don’t get too carried away with extreme emotions I think it’s the weather in the

emotions I think it’s the weather in the

emotions I think it’s the weather in the Midwest right it’s taught us that when a

Midwest right it’s taught us that when a

Midwest right it’s taught us that when a storm in life hits it’s best to keep a

storm in life hits it’s best to keep a

storm in life hits it’s best to keep a level head second we middle grounders

level head second we middle grounders

level head second we middle grounders tend to be practical rather than buying

tend to be practical rather than buying

tend to be practical rather than buying into some magic bullet philosophy we’re

into some magic bullet philosophy we’re

into some magic bullet philosophy we’re more interested in what works which is

more interested in what works which is

more interested in what works which is usually a combination of a number of

usually a combination of a number of

usually a combination of a number of approaches coming from the middle also

approaches coming from the middle also

approaches coming from the middle also means having a healthy sense of humility

means having a healthy sense of humility

means having a healthy sense of humility of course we have egos we just don’t

of course we have egos we just don’t

of course we have egos we just don’t focus on feeding them rather than doing

focus on feeding them rather than doing

focus on feeding them rather than doing flashy provocative things that draw

flashy provocative things that draw

flashy provocative things that draw attention to ourselves we try to

attention to ourselves we try to

attention to ourselves we try to collaborate and draw others in to create

collaborate and draw others in to create

collaborate and draw others in to create solutions with us in this time of

solutions with us in this time of

solutions with us in this time of extremes in our country that is a very

extremes in our country that is a very

extremes in our country that is a very valuable quality and in fact there’s

valuable quality and in fact there’s

valuable quality and in fact there’s research that backs this up according to

research that backs this up according to

research that backs this up according to the Center for Creative leadership the

the Center for Creative leadership the

the Center for Creative leadership the ideal leaders are people who can foster

ideal leaders are people who can foster

ideal leaders are people who can foster learning and collaboration in changing

learning and collaboration in changing

learning and collaboration in changing times and I think we can all agree in

times and I think we can all agree in

times and I think we can all agree in our country now we need people more than

our country now we need people more than

our country now we need people more than ever who can build that kind of common

ever who can build that kind of common

ever who can build that kind of common ground

ground

ground finally we’re resilient we don’t blame

finally we’re resilient we don’t blame

finally we’re resilient we don’t blame others for our problems or get defeated

others for our problems or get defeated

others for our problems or get defeated by setbacks instead of making excuses we

by setbacks instead of making excuses we

by setbacks instead of making excuses we try to make it better there’s a quote I

try to make it better there’s a quote I

try to make it better there’s a quote I love that comes and I think it kind of

love that comes and I think it kind of

love that comes and I think it kind of describes the essence of this concept

describes the essence of this concept

describes the essence of this concept and it comes from the US president who

and it comes from the US president who

and it comes from the US president who made the Dakotas

made the Dakotas

made the Dakotas at home Teddy Roosevelt he said do what

at home Teddy Roosevelt he said do what

at home Teddy Roosevelt he said do what you can with what you have from where

you can with what you have from where

you can with what you have from where you are there’s evidence that the Spirit

you are there’s evidence that the Spirit

you are there’s evidence that the Spirit has reemerged the Midwest in a new and

has reemerged the Midwest in a new and

has reemerged the Midwest in a new and powerful way at the Kauffman Foundation

powerful way at the Kauffman Foundation

powerful way at the Kauffman Foundation we study and support entrepreneurship

we study and support entrepreneurship

we study and support entrepreneurship and while startup activity in the u.s.

and while startup activity in the u.s.

and while startup activity in the u.s. is half of what it was a generation ago

is half of what it was a generation ago

is half of what it was a generation ago our data show that entrepreneurs are

our data show that entrepreneurs are

our data show that entrepreneurs are making a comeback and the mid country

making a comeback and the mid country

making a comeback and the mid country states are playing the role of the

states are playing the role of the

states are playing the role of the comeback kids so of the ten metro areas

comeback kids so of the ten metro areas

comeback kids so of the ten metro areas with the biggest jumps in

with the biggest jumps in

with the biggest jumps in entrepreneurial activity last year six

entrepreneurial activity last year six

entrepreneurial activity last year six are in the middle of the country here in

are in the middle of the country here in

are in the middle of the country here in Fargo startup activity has increased

Fargo startup activity has increased

Fargo startup activity has increased every year for the past three years

every year for the past three years

every year for the past three years what’s the city with the highest

what’s the city with the highest

what’s the city with the highest percentage of women-owned businesses

percentage of women-owned businesses

percentage of women-owned businesses Denver and the picture is even more

Denver and the picture is even more

Denver and the picture is even more encouraging when you look at the kinds

encouraging when you look at the kinds

encouraging when you look at the kinds of new ventures that are being launched

of new ventures that are being launched

of new ventures that are being launched by people in the middle because not all

by people in the middle because not all

by people in the middle because not all of them are chasing just the hottest

of them are chasing just the hottest

of them are chasing just the hottest trends that cater to the 1% like digital

trends that cater to the 1% like digital

trends that cater to the 1% like digital juice machines or whatever we’re seeing

juice machines or whatever we’re seeing

juice machines or whatever we’re seeing everyday people attacking everyday

everyday people attacking everyday

everyday people attacking everyday problems and turning them into positives

problems and turning them into positives

problems and turning them into positives here’s one of my favorite examples so

here’s one of my favorite examples so

here’s one of my favorite examples so the Mississippi River watershed has a

the Mississippi River watershed has a

the Mississippi River watershed has a problem with an invasive species of fish

problem with an invasive species of fish

problem with an invasive species of fish called Asian carp an Asian carp are

called Asian carp an Asian carp are

called Asian carp an Asian carp are different than common carp and it turns

different than common carp and it turns

different than common carp and it turns out they taste good so Vietnamese

out they taste good so Vietnamese

out they taste good so Vietnamese immigrant lululu started a company in

immigrant lululu started a company in

immigrant lululu started a company in Paducah Kentucky to solve this problem

Paducah Kentucky to solve this problem

Paducah Kentucky to solve this problem fin gourmet contracts with people to

fin gourmet contracts with people to

fin gourmet contracts with people to fish for Asian carp hires unemployed

fish for Asian carp hires unemployed

fish for Asian carp hires unemployed individuals to do the processing and

individuals to do the processing and

individuals to do the processing and then sells a variety of fish products

then sells a variety of fish products

then sells a variety of fish products very creatively branded as Kentucky blue

very creatively branded as Kentucky blue

very creatively branded as Kentucky blue snapper to restaurants and consumers as

snapper to restaurants and consumers as

snapper to restaurants and consumers as a result they’re turning an

a result they’re turning an

a result they’re turning an environmental issue into an industry

environmental issue into an industry

environmental issue into an industry putting people to work and reducing our

putting people to work and reducing our

putting people to work and reducing our reliance on imported foods another

reliance on imported foods another

reliance on imported foods another example is from my hometown in return

example is from my hometown in return

example is from my hometown in return strategies was started by Kansas City

strategies was started by Kansas City

strategies was started by Kansas City businessman Jim Atwater

businessman Jim Atwater

businessman Jim Atwater Jim is hearing-impaired he realized that

Jim is hearing-impaired he realized that

Jim is hearing-impaired he realized that that many of the country’s disabled

that many of the country’s disabled

that many of the country’s disabled workers are higher

workers are higher

workers are higher capable but about 70% of them are

capable but about 70% of them are

capable but about 70% of them are unemployed so his firm places people

unemployed so his firm places people

unemployed so his firm places people with disabilities into jobs where they

with disabilities into jobs where they

with disabilities into jobs where they can thrive and that business is growing

can thrive and that business is growing

can thrive and that business is growing too our country still needs plenty of

too our country still needs plenty of

too our country still needs plenty of high-tech scientific startups and look

high-tech scientific startups and look

high-tech scientific startups and look I’ve got nothing against fancy apps or

I’ve got nothing against fancy apps or

I’ve got nothing against fancy apps or juice machines but at the Kauffman

juice machines but at the Kauffman

juice machines but at the Kauffman Foundation we’re giving increased

Foundation we’re giving increased

Foundation we’re giving increased attention to grassroots startups that

attention to grassroots startups that

attention to grassroots startups that are solving everyday problems we believe

are solving everyday problems we believe

are solving everyday problems we believe our country’s best path forward for the

our country’s best path forward for the

our country’s best path forward for the long term is to produce more new

long term is to produce more new

long term is to produce more new ventures of every kind

ventures of every kind

ventures of every kind studies show that startups punch way

studies show that startups punch way

studies show that startups punch way above their weight when it comes to

above their weight when it comes to

above their weight when it comes to creating jobs innovation and opportunity

creating jobs innovation and opportunity

creating jobs innovation and opportunity in our economy in fact most net job

in our economy in fact most net job

in our economy in fact most net job creation in this country comes from

creation in this country comes from

creation in this country comes from firms that are less than five years old

firms that are less than five years old

firms that are less than five years old the good news is this momentum in the

the good news is this momentum in the

the good news is this momentum in the middle goes beyond starting companies

middle goes beyond starting companies

middle goes beyond starting companies we’re seeing people coming together to

we’re seeing people coming together to

we’re seeing people coming together to solve problems in other interesting ways

solve problems in other interesting ways

solve problems in other interesting ways like in Cedar Rapids Iowa where a high

like in Cedar Rapids Iowa where a high

like in Cedar Rapids Iowa where a high school teacher and a group of citizens

school teacher and a group of citizens

school teacher and a group of citizens decided hey let’s do something about the

decided hey let’s do something about the

decided hey let’s do something about the fact that our education system is a

fact that our education system is a

fact that our education system is a little out of touch with modern reality

little out of touch with modern reality

little out of touch with modern reality so they created the Iowa big school a

so they created the Iowa big school a

so they created the Iowa big school a new public high school built on an

new public high school built on an

new public high school built on an entirely different model big school

entirely different model big school

entirely different model big school students spend a lot of their time

students spend a lot of their time

students spend a lot of their time working on real-world projects like

working on real-world projects like

working on real-world projects like creating a virtual reality display for

creating a virtual reality display for

creating a virtual reality display for History Museum or improving inventory

History Museum or improving inventory

History Museum or improving inventory flow at a local distribution company one

flow at a local distribution company one

flow at a local distribution company one student worked with a mentor in the

student worked with a mentor in the

student worked with a mentor in the garment industry to design clothing for

garment industry to design clothing for

garment industry to design clothing for women who aren’t shaped like fashion

women who aren’t shaped like fashion

women who aren’t shaped like fashion models while other students are working

models while other students are working

models while other students are working with architects and engineers on City

with architects and engineers on City

with architects and engineers on City Planning issues the common theme with

Planning issues the common theme with

Planning issues the common theme with fin gourmet in return strategies in the

fin gourmet in return strategies in the

fin gourmet in return strategies in the big school is that none of them came

big school is that none of them came

big school is that none of them came from certified big thinkers and elite

from certified big thinkers and elite

from certified big thinkers and elite enclaves they came from middle-american

enclaves they came from middle-american

enclaves they came from middle-american proving you don’t have to be extremely

proving you don’t have to be extremely

proving you don’t have to be extremely gifted extremely famous or extremely

gifted extremely famous or extremely

gifted extremely famous or extremely anything

anything

anything make a big difference in the world it’s

make a big difference in the world it’s

make a big difference in the world it’s all matters seeing what is and seeing

all matters seeing what is and seeing

all matters seeing what is and seeing what could be and then doing what you

what could be and then doing what you

what could be and then doing what you can with what you have from where you

can with what you have from where you

can with what you have from where you are at the Kauffman Foundation we draw

are at the Kauffman Foundation we draw

are at the Kauffman Foundation we draw inspiration from our founder Ewing

inspiration from our founder Ewing

inspiration from our founder Ewing Kauffman who is a great entrepreneur in

Kauffman who is a great entrepreneur in

Kauffman who is a great entrepreneur in his own right mr. Kauffman called

his own right mr. Kauffman called

his own right mr. Kauffman called himself a common man who did uncommon

himself a common man who did uncommon

himself a common man who did uncommon things in my role as CEO the foundation

things in my role as CEO the foundation

things in my role as CEO the foundation I strive to be a common person who

I strive to be a common person who

I strive to be a common person who enables uncommon results my minimus is

enables uncommon results my minimus is

enables uncommon results my minimus is the core of Who I am and I know now that

the core of Who I am and I know now that

the core of Who I am and I know now that it is my greatest strength I encourage

it is my greatest strength I encourage

it is my greatest strength I encourage you to embrace your middle self and make

you to embrace your middle self and make

you to embrace your middle self and make it a strength for you to our country

it a strength for you to our country

it a strength for you to our country well thank you because there is no

well thank you because there is no

well thank you because there is no shortage of good work to be done as

shortage of good work to be done as

shortage of good work to be done as great as our society is it is still far

great as our society is it is still far

great as our society is it is still far from what it could be I believe it’ll be

from what it could be I believe it’ll be

from what it could be I believe it’ll be you the grounded practical collaborative

you the grounded practical collaborative

you the grounded practical collaborative people who live and approach life in the

people who live and approach life in the

people who live and approach life in the middle will play a big role in taking us

middle will play a big role in taking us

middle will play a big role in taking us there you are the reason that the middle

there you are the reason that the middle

there you are the reason that the middle is the new edge

is the new edge

is the new edge [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]