people talk about thinking outside the box I’d like to start with thinking
box I’d like to start with thinking
box I’d like to start with thinking outside the galaxy alien invasion yeah
outside the galaxy alien invasion yeah
outside the galaxy alien invasion yeah that’s what I said
that’s what I said
that’s what I said alien invasion I’m a big sci-fi fan and
alien invasion I’m a big sci-fi fan and
alien invasion I’m a big sci-fi fan and one of the scariest books I ever read
one of the scariest books I ever read
one of the scariest books I ever read was a sci-fi novel where an alien race
was a sci-fi novel where an alien race
was a sci-fi novel where an alien race came across the galaxy to take over our
came across the galaxy to take over our
came across the galaxy to take over our planet they found a way to surround the
planet they found a way to surround the
planet they found a way to surround the entire globe with clouds and from these
entire globe with clouds and from these
entire globe with clouds and from these clouds it started to rain and we just
clouds it started to rain and we just
clouds it started to rain and we just thought oh there’s some weather and it
thought oh there’s some weather and it
thought oh there’s some weather and it rained for days and in that rain there
rained for days and in that rain there
rained for days and in that rain there were seeds and these from the seeds grew
were seeds and these from the seeds grew
were seeds and these from the seeds grew plants exotic vines and flowers began to
plants exotic vines and flowers began to
plants exotic vines and flowers began to bloom everywhere and these plants took
bloom everywhere and these plants took
bloom everywhere and these plants took in our oxygen and emitted their
in our oxygen and emitted their
in our oxygen and emitted their environments can you picture it without
environments can you picture it without
environments can you picture it without a single shot fired they’d terraformed
a single shot fired they’d terraformed
a single shot fired they’d terraformed our planet and adapted our environment
our planet and adapted our environment
our planet and adapted our environment so they could thrive now the thing that
so they could thrive now the thing that
so they could thrive now the thing that made it so scary was how logical it was
made it so scary was how logical it was
made it so scary was how logical it was forget all the other scenarios forget
forget all the other scenarios forget
forget all the other scenarios forget every sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen I’m
every sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen I’m
every sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen I’m pretty sure that’s how it would be done
pretty sure that’s how it would be done
pretty sure that’s how it would be done if it ever happened so my idea for you
if it ever happened so my idea for you
if it ever happened so my idea for you is why can’t we take over the planet why
is why can’t we take over the planet why
is why can’t we take over the planet why can’t we adapt our environment so we can
can’t we adapt our environment so we can
can’t we adapt our environment so we can thrive I’m talking about a
thrive I’m talking about a
thrive I’m talking about a no-holds-barred no rules no preconceived
no-holds-barred no rules no preconceived
no-holds-barred no rules no preconceived notions on how things are supposed to be
notions on how things are supposed to be
notions on how things are supposed to be done all-out takeover and why not start
done all-out takeover and why not start
done all-out takeover and why not start with our offices our homes in our city
with our offices our homes in our city
with our offices our homes in our city and adapt our environment so we can fit
and adapt our environment so we can fit
and adapt our environment so we can fit the future now adapting our environment
the future now adapting our environment
the future now adapting our environment isn’t a new idea it
isn’t a new idea it
isn’t a new idea it just a hard one to conceptualize when
just a hard one to conceptualize when
just a hard one to conceptualize when you’re standing in its predecessor I’m
you’re standing in its predecessor I’m
you’re standing in its predecessor I’m talking about challenging our
talking about challenging our
talking about challenging our imaginations to look at the norm and
imaginations to look at the norm and
imaginations to look at the norm and expand its potential an example I’d like
expand its potential an example I’d like
expand its potential an example I’d like to put to you is the formal living room
to put to you is the formal living room
to put to you is the formal living room now how many of you remember the formal
now how many of you remember the formal
now how many of you remember the formal living room oh I do I remember it
living room oh I do I remember it
living room oh I do I remember it because we weren’t allowed to go in
because we weren’t allowed to go in
because we weren’t allowed to go in there and we certainly weren’t allowed
there and we certainly weren’t allowed
there and we certainly weren’t allowed to sit on anything especially at my
to sit on anything especially at my
to sit on anything especially at my grandmother’s house you know my brother
grandmother’s house you know my brother
grandmother’s house you know my brother and I thought her oriental rug was a
and I thought her oriental rug was a
and I thought her oriental rug was a perfect racetrack for our Matchbox cars
perfect racetrack for our Matchbox cars
perfect racetrack for our Matchbox cars but historically the formal living room
but historically the formal living room
but historically the formal living room was a large space located in the front
was a large space located in the front
was a large space located in the front of the house used for formal gatherings
of the house used for formal gatherings
of the house used for formal gatherings most especially funerals and wakes now
most especially funerals and wakes now
most especially funerals and wakes now somewhere along the line somebody
somewhere along the line somebody
somewhere along the line somebody decided that giving all that prime real
decided that giving all that prime real
decided that giving all that prime real estate in the house to a room that
estate in the house to a room that
estate in the house to a room that nobody goes into with furniture nobody
nobody goes into with furniture nobody
nobody goes into with furniture nobody sits on was a really a bad idea
sits on was a really a bad idea
sits on was a really a bad idea and like why it’s that tiny enclosed
and like why it’s that tiny enclosed
and like why it’s that tiny enclosed kitchen in the back of the house where
kitchen in the back of the house where
kitchen in the back of the house where it was originally meant for a hired cook
it was originally meant for a hired cook
it was originally meant for a hired cook or just to be on the outskirts in case
or just to be on the outskirts in case
or just to be on the outskirts in case of fire shouldn’t be the room that mom
of fire shouldn’t be the room that mom
of fire shouldn’t be the room that mom gets banished to to make dinner all by
gets banished to to make dinner all by
gets banished to to make dinner all by herself and there you have it the great
herself and there you have it the great
herself and there you have it the great room was born
room was born
room was born it only took 75 years for us to break
it only took 75 years for us to break
it only took 75 years for us to break with what we were used to and open up
with what we were used to and open up
with what we were used to and open up that room so that young and old male and
that room so that young and old male and
that room so that young and old male and female could hang out in one place and
female could hang out in one place and
female could hang out in one place and go about the business of life humans are
go about the business of life humans are
go about the business of life humans are social animals for all of you addicted
social animals for all of you addicted
social animals for all of you addicted to your phones I’m sure you would agree
to your phones I’m sure you would agree
to your phones I’m sure you would agree but today you’ve got mom and making
but today you’ve got mom and making
but today you’ve got mom and making dinner kids doing homework dad checking
dinner kids doing homework dad checking
dinner kids doing homework dad checking its email all in one great room a great
its email all in one great room a great
its email all in one great room a great example of adapting our environment so
example of adapting our environment so
example of adapting our environment so we can thrive which leads me to an
we can thrive which leads me to an
we can thrive which leads me to an important part of any
important part of any
important part of any invasion the aliens now the Oxford
invasion the aliens now the Oxford
invasion the aliens now the Oxford Dictionary definition of alien is
Dictionary definition of alien is
Dictionary definition of alien is unfamiliar and disturbing
unfamiliar and disturbing
unfamiliar and disturbing now the tone of that sounds a bit
now the tone of that sounds a bit
now the tone of that sounds a bit negative doesn’t it well is it really
negative doesn’t it well is it really
negative doesn’t it well is it really I like unfamiliar and disturbing to who
I like unfamiliar and disturbing to who
I like unfamiliar and disturbing to who I thrive on ‘i’m familiar i seek it out
I thrive on ‘i’m familiar i seek it out
I thrive on ‘i’m familiar i seek it out wherever i go
wherever i go
wherever i go it’s new and different and disturbing
it’s new and different and disturbing
it’s new and different and disturbing well disturbing implies making waves and
well disturbing implies making waves and
well disturbing implies making waves and disrupting the norm I like that too most
disrupting the norm I like that too most
disrupting the norm I like that too most artists do you know who you are
artists do you know who you are
artists do you know who you are I might just love these new aliens how
I might just love these new aliens how
I might just love these new aliens how many of you have heard somebody say they
many of you have heard somebody say they
many of you have heard somebody say they young people today have no attention
young people today have no attention
young people today have no attention span or work ethic have you heard them
span or work ethic have you heard them
span or work ethic have you heard them say that they have the attention span of
say that they have the attention span of
say that they have the attention span of a YouTube video I have I’d like to
a YouTube video I have I’d like to
a YouTube video I have I’d like to introduce you to the possibility that
introduce you to the possibility that
introduce you to the possibility that you are proposing sending them into the
you are proposing sending them into the
you are proposing sending them into the formal living room of the future and
formal living room of the future and
formal living room of the future and they’re just not interested they might
they’re just not interested they might
they’re just not interested they might be unfamiliar and disturbing but young
be unfamiliar and disturbing but young
be unfamiliar and disturbing but young people today are brought up with more
people today are brought up with more
people today are brought up with more knowledge entertainment and news at
knowledge entertainment and news at
knowledge entertainment and news at their fingertips than you or I could
their fingertips than you or I could
their fingertips than you or I could ever have imagined
ever have imagined
ever have imagined at their age they’re sponges in this
at their age they’re sponges in this
at their age they’re sponges in this media driven world we’ve created they
media driven world we’ve created they
media driven world we’ve created they have been exposed to a tremendous amount
have been exposed to a tremendous amount
have been exposed to a tremendous amount of input so much so that maybe it
of input so much so that maybe it
of input so much so that maybe it doesn’t fit right in a cubicle or an
doesn’t fit right in a cubicle or an
doesn’t fit right in a cubicle or an assembly line we might just need to
assembly line we might just need to
assembly line we might just need to adapt our work environment for the new
adapt our work environment for the new
adapt our work environment for the new workforce ahead for the new aliens and
workforce ahead for the new aliens and
workforce ahead for the new aliens and the new alien invasion veneers back I
the new alien invasion veneers back I
the new alien invasion veneers back I remember visiting Boston and spending
remember visiting Boston and spending
remember visiting Boston and spending time with my niece Madison I asked her
time with my niece Madison I asked her
time with my niece Madison I asked her if she was cited about being in her
if she was cited about being in her
if she was cited about being in her final year of elementary school she said
final year of elementary school she said
final year of elementary school she said what do you mean I’m in my first year of
what do you mean I’m in my first year of
what do you mean I’m in my first year of middle school
middle school
middle school I was like wow that’s crazy we finished
I was like wow that’s crazy we finished
I was like wow that’s crazy we finished in the 6th grade with a diploma and a
in the 6th grade with a diploma and a
in the 6th grade with a diploma and a ceremony and everything why did they
ceremony and everything why did they
ceremony and everything why did they change it and she stood up faced me
change it and she stood up faced me
change it and she stood up faced me their hands on her hips and said they
their hands on her hips and said they
their hands on her hips and said they can’t keep us for the little kids we
can’t keep us for the little kids we
can’t keep us for the little kids we know too much very unfamiliar and
know too much very unfamiliar and
know too much very unfamiliar and disturbing but true they they have grown
disturbing but true they they have grown
disturbing but true they they have grown up in a global social atmosphere where
up in a global social atmosphere where
up in a global social atmosphere where everyone has an all-access pass many
everyone has an all-access pass many
everyone has an all-access pass many times we send young people into a work
times we send young people into a work
times we send young people into a work environment that might as well be a
environment that might as well be a
environment that might as well be a scene from a black-and-white movie but
scene from a black-and-white movie but
scene from a black-and-white movie but it’s time to rethink our perception of
it’s time to rethink our perception of
it’s time to rethink our perception of normal it’s time to adapt our
normal it’s time to adapt our
normal it’s time to adapt our environment so we can all thrive we need
environment so we can all thrive we need
environment so we can all thrive we need to evolve to inspire we can’t expect new
to evolve to inspire we can’t expect new
to evolve to inspire we can’t expect new people to fit in an old mold I propose
people to fit in an old mold I propose
people to fit in an old mold I propose stepping outside of our preconceived
stepping outside of our preconceived
stepping outside of our preconceived world and rethinking the architecture
world and rethinking the architecture
world and rethinking the architecture and design of the workplace to inspire
and design of the workplace to inspire
and design of the workplace to inspire creativity productivity and happiness I
creativity productivity and happiness I
creativity productivity and happiness I hate to quote dirty dancing but nobody
hate to quote dirty dancing but nobody
hate to quote dirty dancing but nobody puts Baby in a corner
puts Baby in a corner
puts Baby in a corner it’s irrelevant poised have you ever
it’s irrelevant poised have you ever
it’s irrelevant poised have you ever been asked to sit at a desk facing a
been asked to sit at a desk facing a
been asked to sit at a desk facing a wall I have it’s awful during one office
wall I have it’s awful during one office
wall I have it’s awful during one office redesign when I was in New York a
redesign when I was in New York a
redesign when I was in New York a carpenter built desk surrounding the
carpenter built desk surrounding the
carpenter built desk surrounding the entire perimeter of the room I couldn’t
entire perimeter of the room I couldn’t
entire perimeter of the room I couldn’t take it I can’t create facing a wall
take it I can’t create facing a wall
take it I can’t create facing a wall nobody could the first thing we did was
nobody could the first thing we did was
nobody could the first thing we did was figure out a way to build Peninsula
figure out a way to build Peninsula
figure out a way to build Peninsula desks jutting off the sides so we could
desks jutting off the sides so we could
desks jutting off the sides so we could all face each other and generate a
all face each other and generate a
all face each other and generate a better energy in the room
better energy in the room
better energy in the room the results were phenomenal companies
the results were phenomenal companies
the results were phenomenal companies like Google and Southwest have figured
like Google and Southwest have figured
like Google and Southwest have figured this out
this out
this out they’ve broken boundaries in design
they’ve broken boundaries in design
they’ve broken boundaries in design they’ve created treehouse conference
they’ve created treehouse conference
they’ve created treehouse conference rooms and treadmill think tanks and
rooms and treadmill think tanks and
rooms and treadmill think tanks and prove that the F word fun does have its
prove that the F word fun does have its
prove that the F word fun does have its place in the workplace if we could
place in the workplace if we could
place in the workplace if we could terraform our city with fun what would
terraform our city with fun what would
terraform our city with fun what would it look like would people travel from
it look like would people travel from
it look like would people travel from near and far to see it if we built it
near and far to see it if we built it
near and far to see it if we built it would they come would it bring back the
would they come would it bring back the
would they come would it bring back the days of the great American road trip
days of the great American road trip
days of the great American road trip where people couldn’t wait to get off
where people couldn’t wait to get off
where people couldn’t wait to get off the highway and see what a town had to
the highway and see what a town had to
the highway and see what a town had to offer would we take a picture at a
offer would we take a picture at a
offer would we take a picture at a thirty-foot pair of cowboy boots eat
thirty-foot pair of cowboy boots eat
thirty-foot pair of cowboy boots eat breakfast at the giant donut or spend
breakfast at the giant donut or spend
breakfast at the giant donut or spend our day in a climbing wall in Central
our day in a climbing wall in Central
our day in a climbing wall in Central Park I’m in the process of mounting a
Park I’m in the process of mounting a
Park I’m in the process of mounting a spinning cowboy on the roof of our
spinning cowboy on the roof of our
spinning cowboy on the roof of our building there’s a serious link between
building there’s a serious link between
building there’s a serious link between fun happiness and productivity and I
fun happiness and productivity and I
fun happiness and productivity and I have to agree fun is an amazing
have to agree fun is an amazing
have to agree fun is an amazing motivational tool it’s what gets me out
motivational tool it’s what gets me out
motivational tool it’s what gets me out of bed the morning suddenly an office
of bed the morning suddenly an office
of bed the morning suddenly an office isn’t just an office and a job isn’t
isn’t just an office and a job isn’t
isn’t just an office and a job isn’t just a job and my team aren’t just
just a job and my team aren’t just
just a job and my team aren’t just employees for many years I ran the
employees for many years I ran the
employees for many years I ran the design department at a large fashion
design department at a large fashion
design department at a large fashion house in New York and I always had at
house in New York and I always had at
house in New York and I always had at least five young interns at a time now
least five young interns at a time now
least five young interns at a time now on the other side of the office the
on the other side of the office the
on the other side of the office the sales department had the same amount of
sales department had the same amount of
sales department had the same amount of interns but they never stayed more than
interns but they never stayed more than
interns but they never stayed more than two weeks they constantly asked me how
two weeks they constantly asked me how
two weeks they constantly asked me how do you get your interns to stay all
do you get your interns to stay all
do you get your interns to stay all summer now what I wanted to say was I’m
summer now what I wanted to say was I’m
summer now what I wanted to say was I’m not boring them to tears and I don’t
not boring them to tears and I don’t
not boring them to tears and I don’t treat them like mindless drones created
treat them like mindless drones created
treat them like mindless drones created to do my bidding but in all honesty it
to do my bidding but in all honesty it
to do my bidding but in all honesty it was the simple method of making them
was the simple method of making them
was the simple method of making them part of the entire process letting them
part of the entire process letting them
part of the entire process letting them know what essential part they were
know what essential part they were
know what essential part they were playing in the big picture and why
playing in the big picture and why
playing in the big picture and why whether they were xeroxing learning to
whether they were xeroxing learning to
whether they were xeroxing learning to draw specs creating a repeat for a
draw specs creating a repeat for a
draw specs creating a repeat for a textile design all jobs that could be
textile design all jobs that could be
textile design all jobs that could be really tedious they were involved and
really tedious they were involved and
really tedious they were involved and invested magically when you show them
invested magically when you show them
invested magically when you show them what essential part they play in the big
what essential part they play in the big
what essential part they play in the big picture and let them participate in the
picture and let them participate in the
picture and let them participate in the finish the light bulb goes on and you
finish the light bulb goes on and you
finish the light bulb goes on and you see the pride in their faces my happy
see the pride in their faces my happy
see the pride in their faces my happy aliens being an essential part of the
aliens being an essential part of the
aliens being an essential part of the process changes the importance of the
process changes the importance of the
process changes the importance of the job once I overheard one of my interns
job once I overheard one of my interns
job once I overheard one of my interns on the phone to her folks saying I’m not
on the phone to her folks saying I’m not
on the phone to her folks saying I’m not just an intern I’m involved in what
just an intern I’m involved in what
just an intern I’m involved in what happens here and they were participating
happens here and they were participating
happens here and they were participating in the finish is the icing on the cake
in the finish is the icing on the cake
in the finish is the icing on the cake for them it was the fashion show if you
for them it was the fashion show if you
for them it was the fashion show if you are enjoying yourself you will work
are enjoying yourself you will work
are enjoying yourself you will work harder longer and be a more fulfilled
harder longer and be a more fulfilled
harder longer and be a more fulfilled person it’s the whole story and it
person it’s the whole story and it
person it’s the whole story and it satisfies that all-access pass their
satisfies that all-access pass their
satisfies that all-access pass their minds have grown to expect I still hear
minds have grown to expect I still hear
minds have grown to expect I still hear from some of the interns I worked with
from some of the interns I worked with
from some of the interns I worked with in New York when I took my family to
in New York when I took my family to
in New York when I took my family to visit my old office in New York the
visit my old office in New York the
visit my old office in New York the current design team asked me to
current design team asked me to
current design team asked me to autograph my desk they’d heard so many
autograph my desk they’d heard so many
autograph my desk they’d heard so many stories about the girl who changed the
stories about the girl who changed the
stories about the girl who changed the design room invented the party closet
design room invented the party closet
design room invented the party closet and hung the giant disco ball yeah I’ve
and hung the giant disco ball yeah I’ve
and hung the giant disco ball yeah I’ve always been that’s one of my favorite
always been that’s one of my favorite
always been that’s one of my favorite things that I truly believe is your vibe
things that I truly believe is your vibe
things that I truly believe is your vibe attracts your tribe and I found mine
attracts your tribe and I found mine
attracts your tribe and I found mine I make cowboy boots for a living I am
I make cowboy boots for a living I am
I make cowboy boots for a living I am working in an industry that is
working in an industry that is
working in an industry that is traditionally set in its ways but not in
traditionally set in its ways but not in
traditionally set in its ways but not in my shop with an Orthodox interior design
my shop with an Orthodox interior design
my shop with an Orthodox interior design and organization we continuously adapt
and organization we continuously adapt
and organization we continuously adapt our environment like myself most of the
our environment like myself most of the
our environment like myself most of the young people I work with were asked at
young people I work with were asked at
young people I work with were asked at some point in their education to give up
some point in their education to give up
some point in their education to give up their art and get a real job or switch
their art and get a real job or switch
their art and get a real job or switch to a more mainstream major
to a more mainstream major
to a more mainstream major understandable
today there are more opportunities for
today there are more opportunities for artists than ever before game product
artists than ever before game product
artists than ever before game product web virtual textile advertising fashion
web virtual textile advertising fashion
web virtual textile advertising fashion cinematic you name it there are tons of
cinematic you name it there are tons of
cinematic you name it there are tons of opportunities and their unique talents
opportunities and their unique talents
opportunities and their unique talents make them a commodity not a liability
make them a commodity not a liability
make them a commodity not a liability I’m lucky to work with these brilliant
I’m lucky to work with these brilliant
I’m lucky to work with these brilliant young minds our alien crew doesn’t
young minds our alien crew doesn’t
young minds our alien crew doesn’t really fit the typical mold well you’ve
really fit the typical mold well you’ve
really fit the typical mold well you’ve got a sculptor a costume designer a
got a sculptor a costume designer a
got a sculptor a costume designer a graffiti artist an architect a
graffiti artist an architect a
graffiti artist an architect a mechanical engineer and now a linguist
mechanical engineer and now a linguist
mechanical engineer and now a linguist we’re kind of the Power Rangers of boot
we’re kind of the Power Rangers of boot
we’re kind of the Power Rangers of boot making but what does this menagerie
making but what does this menagerie
making but what does this menagerie prove this cross culture of talent
prove this cross culture of talent
prove this cross culture of talent proves that artists just want to create
proves that artists just want to create
proves that artists just want to create and we’ve all adapted to thrive
and we’ve all adapted to thrive
and we’ve all adapted to thrive we’ve tried something new and we’ve made
we’ve tried something new and we’ve made
we’ve tried something new and we’ve made it work and as long as we’re creating
it work and as long as we’re creating
it work and as long as we’re creating we’re happy crossing the boundaries of
we’re happy crossing the boundaries of
we’re happy crossing the boundaries of your own education can be an
your own education can be an
your own education can be an uncomfortable necessity for your own
uncomfortable necessity for your own
uncomfortable necessity for your own success and happiness breaking out of
success and happiness breaking out of
success and happiness breaking out of that educational living room I know that
that educational living room I know that
that educational living room I know that my stepdaughter the anthropologist
my stepdaughter the anthropologist
my stepdaughter the anthropologist coffee roaster would agree but her new
coffee roaster would agree but her new
coffee roaster would agree but her new life is satisfying her passion it’s okay
life is satisfying her passion it’s okay
life is satisfying her passion it’s okay mashups are cool and trendy and they
mashups are cool and trendy and they
mashups are cool and trendy and they make you sound like a superhero I’m a
make you sound like a superhero I’m a
make you sound like a superhero I’m a fine artist Bootmaker married to a
fine artist Bootmaker married to a
fine artist Bootmaker married to a biologist photographer
biologist photographer
biologist photographer what are you or what should you be these
what are you or what should you be these
what are you or what should you be these new aliens are the movers shakers and
new aliens are the movers shakers and
new aliens are the movers shakers and makers of our future I appeal to
makers of our future I appeal to
makers of our future I appeal to everyone to step outside the
everyone to step outside the
everyone to step outside the preconceived notions of success and
preconceived notions of success and
preconceived notions of success and design because work and workplace go
design because work and workplace go
design because work and workplace go hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in hand I appeal to everyone to embrace change
I appeal to everyone to embrace change
I appeal to everyone to embrace change in their environment and have fun join
in their environment and have fun join
in their environment and have fun join with young minds to explore the
with young minds to explore the
with young minds to explore the possibilities of the future I encourage
possibilities of the future I encourage
possibilities of the future I encourage cities to fight the homogenized sameness
cities to fight the homogenized sameness
cities to fight the homogenized sameness to champion the local and the unique we
to champion the local and the unique we
to champion the local and the unique we can evolve to inspire and terraform our
can evolve to inspire and terraform our
can evolve to inspire and terraform our world that’s all we need for my alien
world that’s all we need for my alien
world that’s all we need for my alien invasion thank you
invasion thank you
invasion thank you [Applause]
”
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