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The Science of Taking Action | Steve Garguilo | TEDxCarthage


[Music]

[Music] Oh shadow lay Post eat

Oh shadow lay Post eat

Oh shadow lay Post eat I love post-it notes I love post-it

I love post-it notes I love post-it

I love post-it notes I love post-it notes so much that if I had one right

notes so much that if I had one right

notes so much that if I had one right now I would say voulez-vous coucher avec

now I would say voulez-vous coucher avec

now I would say voulez-vous coucher avec moi

moi

moi I love post-it notes so much that I

I love post-it notes so much that I

I love post-it notes so much that I bought stock in 3m just to support

bought stock in 3m just to support

bought stock in 3m just to support post-it notes and it turns out they have

post-it notes and it turns out they have

post-it notes and it turns out they have a lot of interesting uses so you can use

a lot of interesting uses so you can use

a lot of interesting uses so you can use them to decorate your office you can use

them to decorate your office you can use

them to decorate your office you can use them for sunscreen you can use them for

them for sunscreen you can use them for

them for sunscreen you can use them for the most awesome winter is coming Game

the most awesome winter is coming Game

the most awesome winter is coming Game of Thrones party you could use them to

of Thrones party you could use them to

of Thrones party you could use them to teach someone a lesson new parks in a

teach someone a lesson new parks in a

teach someone a lesson new parks in a handicapped space they shouldn’t have

handicapped space they shouldn’t have

handicapped space they shouldn’t have parked in and apparently you can even

parked in and apparently you can even

parked in and apparently you can even use them for cheese so a few years ago I

use them for cheese so a few years ago I

use them for cheese so a few years ago I was at South by Southwest in Austin

was at South by Southwest in Austin

was at South by Southwest in Austin Texas in the United States the

Texas in the United States the

Texas in the United States the interactive film and music festival and

interactive film and music festival and

interactive film and music festival and 3m was there and they were giving out

3m was there and they were giving out

3m was there and they were giving out these massive post-it notes these ones

these massive post-it notes these ones

these massive post-it notes these ones are bigger than the size of a human head

are bigger than the size of a human head

are bigger than the size of a human head and I had never seen these before so I

and I had never seen these before so I

and I had never seen these before so I was really excited so I took a lot of

was really excited so I took a lot of

was really excited so I took a lot of them like a lot and I’m with a friend

them like a lot and I’m with a friend

them like a lot and I’m with a friend and we’re carrying them trying to figure

and we’re carrying them trying to figure

and we’re carrying them trying to figure out what we’re going to do with them and

out what we’re going to do with them and

out what we’re going to do with them and we walk over to a bar and we sit down

we walk over to a bar and we sit down

we walk over to a bar and we sit down and we find a great spot that’s looking

and we find a great spot that’s looking

and we find a great spot that’s looking outside on this beautiful day we’re just

outside on this beautiful day we’re just

outside on this beautiful day we’re just sitting outside watching people as they

sitting outside watching people as they

sitting outside watching people as they go across and we’re thinking like what

go across and we’re thinking like what

go across and we’re thinking like what do we want to do with these post-it

do we want to do with these post-it

do we want to do with these post-it notes and almost as a joke we just

notes and almost as a joke we just

notes and almost as a joke we just scribbled on one of them free

scribbled on one of them free

scribbled on one of them free problem-solving hashtag zero problems

problem-solving hashtag zero problems

problem-solving hashtag zero problems put the post-it note out on the table

put the post-it note out on the table

put the post-it note out on the table and then as people are walking down the

and then as people are walking down the

and then as people are walking down the street we’re just yelling at them hey do

street we’re just yelling at them hey do

street we’re just yelling at them hey do you need any problem solves free problem

you need any problem solves free problem

you need any problem solves free problem solving business life horseback riding

solving business life horseback riding

solving business life horseback riding welding you name it we’ll solve your

welding you name it we’ll solve your

welding you name it we’ll solve your problem and so this is us at our free

problem and so this is us at our free

problem and so this is us at our free problem-solving stand and at first is

problem-solving stand and at first is

problem-solving stand and at first is like a guy who’s like asking a question

like a guy who’s like asking a question

like a guy who’s like asking a question about his shirt and then this girl asks

about his shirt and then this girl asks

about his shirt and then this girl asks a question about her relationship but

a question about her relationship but

a question about her relationship but then this is person I’ll never forget

then this is person I’ll never forget

then this is person I’ll never forget this girl in this pink shirt she’s like

this girl in this pink shirt she’s like

this girl in this pink shirt she’s like can I solve problems with you and we’re

can I solve problems with you and we’re

can I solve problems with you and we’re like sure

like sure

like sure so she’s solving problems with us then

so she’s solving problems with us then

so she’s solving problems with us then all of a sudden all these people are

all of a sudden all these people are

all of a sudden all these people are tweeting about us I peer out there’s

tweeting about us I peer out there’s

tweeting about us I peer out there’s like actually a big line now of people

like actually a big line now of people

like actually a big line now of people to get their problems solved we have an

to get their problems solved we have an

to get their problems solved we have an intern who’s like getting us pizza and

intern who’s like getting us pizza and

intern who’s like getting us pizza and directing traffic out

directing traffic out

directing traffic out then this woman from Goodwill so

then this woman from Goodwill so

then this woman from Goodwill so goodwill is a as a secondhand clothing

goodwill is a as a secondhand clothing

goodwill is a as a secondhand clothing franchise in the u.s. she’s like how can

franchise in the u.s. she’s like how can

franchise in the u.s. she’s like how can we grow our brand and I’m like how can

we grow our brand and I’m like how can

we grow our brand and I’m like how can you not grow your brand you have like

you not grow your brand you have like

you not grow your brand you have like 300 stores at one store triple your

300 stores at one store triple your

300 stores at one store triple your prices at once they offer gift wrapping

prices at once they offer gift wrapping

prices at once they offer gift wrapping at one store off for recycling services

at one store off for recycling services

at one store off for recycling services at wants to offer co-working space and

at wants to offer co-working space and

at wants to offer co-working space and she’s furiously scribbling down all

she’s furiously scribbling down all

she’s furiously scribbling down all these notes she’s like can you come do

these notes she’s like can you come do

these notes she’s like can you come do like a workshop with us to help us get

like a workshop with us to help us get

like a workshop with us to help us get more ideas I’m like I just gave you ten

more ideas I’m like I just gave you ten

more ideas I’m like I just gave you ten ideas go do those and then maybe we can

ideas go do those and then maybe we can

ideas go do those and then maybe we can do a workshop and I remember thinking

do a workshop and I remember thinking

do a workshop and I remember thinking how crazy it was that people seemed to

how crazy it was that people seemed to

how crazy it was that people seemed to be much more interested in collecting

be much more interested in collecting

be much more interested in collecting ideas than actually doing anything with

ideas than actually doing anything with

ideas than actually doing anything with them

them

them and so we’re doing this for a few hours

and so we’re doing this for a few hours

and so we’re doing this for a few hours and we decide to leave and then this

and we decide to leave and then this

and we decide to leave and then this crazy thing of like we actually walked

crazy thing of like we actually walked

crazy thing of like we actually walked back two hours later and the

back two hours later and the

back two hours later and the problem-solving stand was still going on

problem-solving stand was still going on

problem-solving stand was still going on with other people and just just kind of

with other people and just just kind of

with other people and just just kind of crazy so that afternoon we could have

crazy so that afternoon we could have

crazy so that afternoon we could have done anything we wanted with those

done anything we wanted with those

done anything we wanted with those post-it notes or we could have just sat

post-it notes or we could have just sat

post-it notes or we could have just sat there and done nothing at all but we

there and done nothing at all but we

there and done nothing at all but we exercised this bias towards action to

exercised this bias towards action to

exercised this bias towards action to say just hey let’s just try something

say just hey let’s just try something

say just hey let’s just try something and see what happens and it ended up

and see what happens and it ended up

and see what happens and it ended up being this pretty cool result so up

being this pretty cool result so up

being this pretty cool result so up until that point in my life I was kind

until that point in my life I was kind

until that point in my life I was kind of this idea magnet I was always talking

of this idea magnet I was always talking

of this idea magnet I was always talking to people about ideas generating ideas

to people about ideas generating ideas

to people about ideas generating ideas also a TEDx organizer so we bring people

also a TEDx organizer so we bring people

also a TEDx organizer so we bring people together to talk about ideas and I would

together to talk about ideas and I would

together to talk about ideas and I would find myself in a lot of rooms like this

find myself in a lot of rooms like this

find myself in a lot of rooms like this right filled with people with big smiles

right filled with people with big smiles

right filled with people with big smiles and lots of post-it notes and as someone

and lots of post-it notes and as someone

and lots of post-it notes and as someone who loves post-it notes you would think

who loves post-it notes you would think

who loves post-it notes you would think I would be happy about this but I

I would be happy about this but I

I would be happy about this but I started to reflect on it and thought you

started to reflect on it and thought you

started to reflect on it and thought you know how many times have I been in one

know how many times have I been in one

know how many times have I been in one of these rooms filled with post-it notes

of these rooms filled with post-it notes

of these rooms filled with post-it notes and then a week later like thinking what

and then a week later like thinking what

and then a week later like thinking what the heck ever happened to any of this

the heck ever happened to any of this

the heck ever happened to any of this stuff and so I started to study the

stuff and so I started to study the

stuff and so I started to study the science of action and what really either

science of action and what really either

science of action and what really either sparks people to act or holds people

sparks people to act or holds people

sparks people to act or holds people back from acting and what we found is

back from acting and what we found is

back from acting and what we found is that most people for most ideas either

that most people for most ideas either

that most people for most ideas either don’t do anything with it or will slowly

don’t do anything with it or will slowly

don’t do anything with it or will slowly make a little bit of progress over time

make a little bit of progress over time

make a little bit of progress over time but people who are incredibly

but people who are incredibly

but people who are incredibly action-oriented they take these massive

action-oriented they take these massive

action-oriented they take these massive surges of action right away where they

surges of action right away where they

surges of action right away where they take a massive amount of action right

take a massive amount of action right

take a massive amount of action right away and surge forward on an idea so I

away and surge forward on an idea so I

away and surge forward on an idea so I wanted to study this a little bit more

wanted to study this a little bit more

wanted to study this a little bit more and started looking at all kinds of

and started looking at all kinds of

and started looking at all kinds of stories I mean if you look at my browser

stories I mean if you look at my browser

stories I mean if you look at my browser history you’ll find a lot of weird stuff

history you’ll find a lot of weird stuff

history you’ll find a lot of weird stuff there everything from a guy who got a

there everything from a guy who got a

there everything from a guy who got a job from a snapchat filter to someone

job from a snapchat filter to someone

job from a snapchat filter to someone who made this Spanish Bible app to

who made this Spanish Bible app to

who made this Spanish Bible app to someone who made a restaurant in China

someone who made a restaurant in China

someone who made a restaurant in China out of an old 737 jet all kinds of stuff

out of an old 737 jet all kinds of stuff

out of an old 737 jet all kinds of stuff but I want to share with you three of

but I want to share with you three of

but I want to share with you three of the primary lessons that we learned in

the primary lessons that we learned in

the primary lessons that we learned in doing this research so one action is a

doing this research so one action is a

doing this research so one action is a muscle so much like some people exercise

muscle so much like some people exercise

muscle so much like some people exercise their biceps right not me but some

their biceps right not me but some

their biceps right not me but some people you can exercise these action

people you can exercise these action

people you can exercise these action muscles so think of it like playing a

muscles so think of it like playing a

muscles so think of it like playing a musical instrument who here plays a

musical instrument who here plays a

musical instrument who here plays a musical instrument so the first time if

musical instrument so the first time if

musical instrument so the first time if you were to sit down and try piano for

you were to sit down and try piano for

you were to sit down and try piano for the first time right it takes a lot of

the first time right it takes a lot of

the first time right it takes a lot of energy and a lot of focus to think about

energy and a lot of focus to think about

energy and a lot of focus to think about what notes you’re playing and make sure

what notes you’re playing and make sure

what notes you’re playing and make sure you’re playing the right notes but the

you’re playing the right notes but the

you’re playing the right notes but the more you practice it and the more you

more you practice it and the more you

more you practice it and the more you get used to it it becomes this muscle

get used to it it becomes this muscle

get used to it it becomes this muscle memory right where you don’t have to

memory right where you don’t have to

memory right where you don’t have to think about it it’s the same thing with

think about it it’s the same thing with

think about it it’s the same thing with action I’ll give you an example of a guy

action I’ll give you an example of a guy

action I’ll give you an example of a guy who has huge action muscles like huge

who has huge action muscles like huge

who has huge action muscles like huge believe me so it’s a guy he’s at this

believe me so it’s a guy he’s at this

believe me so it’s a guy he’s at this pool party right and at this pool party

pool party right and at this pool party

pool party right and at this pool party there’s a bunch of these white dove pool

there’s a bunch of these white dove pool

there’s a bunch of these white dove pool rafts and he’s like oh this is really

rafts and he’s like oh this is really

rafts and he’s like oh this is really cool he’s like I wonder if there’s a

cool he’s like I wonder if there’s a

cool he’s like I wonder if there’s a pink flamingo version of these and so he

pink flamingo version of these and so he

pink flamingo version of these and so he googles it and it doesn’t exist and for

googles it and it doesn’t exist and for

googles it and it doesn’t exist and for most people they would just kind of let

most people they would just kind of let

most people they would just kind of let it be there but he decides you know what

it be there but he decides you know what

it be there but he decides you know what I’m just going to Google China

I’m just going to Google China

I’m just going to Google China manufacturer get on the phone with

manufacturer get on the phone with

manufacturer get on the phone with somebody like hey China can you design

somebody like hey China can you design

somebody like hey China can you design this like pink flamingo raft I want it

this like pink flamingo raft I want it

this like pink flamingo raft I want it to be this big whatever blah blah blah

to be this big whatever blah blah blah

to be this big whatever blah blah blah six weeks later this thing shows up at

six weeks later this thing shows up at

six weeks later this thing shows up at his house he has a pool party with it

his house he has a pool party with it

his house he has a pool party with it everyone falls in love with this thing

everyone falls in love with this thing

everyone falls in love with this thing and he launches giant flamingo calm

and he launches giant flamingo calm

and he launches giant flamingo calm where he’s made absurd amounts of money

where he’s made absurd amounts of money

where he’s made absurd amounts of money selling these pink flamingo rafts

selling these pink flamingo rafts

selling these pink flamingo rafts because he just exercises that muscle so

because he just exercises that muscle so

because he just exercises that muscle so much that it was it was natural for him

much that it was it was natural for him

much that it was it was natural for him to do that so first is it action as a

to do that so first is it action as a

to do that so first is it action as a muscle the second thing is that it tends

muscle the second thing is that it tends

muscle the second thing is that it tends to be when we have an idea we’re really

to be when we have an idea we’re really

to be when we have an idea we’re really passionate about an idea that we think

passionate about an idea that we think

passionate about an idea that we think can be great we always say like oh I

can be great we always say like oh I

can be great we always say like oh I want to set aside time later to sort

want to set aside time later to sort

want to set aside time later to sort that out right like oh I’m going to set

that out right like oh I’m going to set

that out right like oh I’m going to set aside time when the sun is shining and

aside time when the sun is shining and

aside time when the sun is shining and I’d the right energy and Shalala where

I’d the right energy and Shalala where

I’d the right energy and Shalala where I’m going to be able to make this happen

I’m going to be able to make this happen

I’m going to be able to make this happen right but what happens

right but what happens

right but what happens [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] what happens is a week passes a month

what happens is a week passes a month

what happens is a week passes a month passes inshallah inshallah and we don’t

passes inshallah inshallah and we don’t

passes inshallah inshallah and we don’t actually take action on our ideas and so

actually take action on our ideas and so

actually take action on our ideas and so we need to commit to taking action right

we need to commit to taking action right

we need to commit to taking action right away on things so sitting with my friend

away on things so sitting with my friend

away on things so sitting with my friend Matt the one from the free

Matt the one from the free

Matt the one from the free problem-solving stand about a year later

problem-solving stand about a year later

problem-solving stand about a year later and he is saying to me you know someday

and he is saying to me you know someday

and he is saying to me you know someday I want to take over like a summer camp

I want to take over like a summer camp

I want to take over like a summer camp and do some kind of adult summer camp

and do some kind of adult summer camp

and do some kind of adult summer camp and I just said to him okay get out your

and I just said to him okay get out your

and I just said to him okay get out your phone google summer camp pick one and

phone google summer camp pick one and

phone google summer camp pick one and reserve it and within minutes we had

reserve it and within minutes we had

reserve it and within minutes we had booked a camp and it sounds simple

booked a camp and it sounds simple

booked a camp and it sounds simple because it is but we do this to

because it is but we do this to

because it is but we do this to ourselves all the time right when we

ourselves all the time right when we

ourselves all the time right when we make it some bigger thing than it is and

make it some bigger thing than it is and

make it some bigger thing than it is and we wait versus just taking action right

we wait versus just taking action right

we wait versus just taking action right away so we ended up having this cool

away so we ended up having this cool

away so we ended up having this cool camp okay third thing is that it’s

camp okay third thing is that it’s

camp okay third thing is that it’s actually when we have an idea our selves

actually when we have an idea our selves

actually when we have an idea our selves it’s actually really hard to come up

it’s actually really hard to come up

it’s actually really hard to come up with actions for our own ideas but when

with actions for our own ideas but when

with actions for our own ideas but when it’s somebody else’s idea it’s really

it’s somebody else’s idea it’s really

it’s somebody else’s idea it’s really easy to be like you could do this you

easy to be like you could do this you

easy to be like you could do this you could do this you could do this right

could do this you could do this right

could do this you could do this right like think back to that goodwill woman

like think back to that goodwill woman

like think back to that goodwill woman of all the different things uh and so

of all the different things uh and so

of all the different things uh and so the key is setting yourself up to make

the key is setting yourself up to make

the key is setting yourself up to make sure that you’re getting that feedback

sure that you’re getting that feedback

sure that you’re getting that feedback from others so a good example of that

from others so a good example of that

from others so a good example of that was actually at the camp that we ended

was actually at the camp that we ended

was actually at the camp that we ended up organizing we decided to call it

up organizing we decided to call it

up organizing we decided to call it action camp and we brought together a

action camp and we brought together a

action camp and we brought together a bunch of really cool people to learn

bunch of really cool people to learn

bunch of really cool people to learn from each other have fun and take action

from each other have fun and take action

from each other have fun and take action on an idea and so one of our friends at

on an idea and so one of our friends at

on an idea and so one of our friends at camp her name is Kristy she had a great

camp her name is Kristy she had a great

camp her name is Kristy she had a great job at a great company but in that

job at a great company but in that

job at a great company but in that environment she decided to share like

environment she decided to share like

environment she decided to share like yeah maybe someday like long into the

yeah maybe someday like long into the

yeah maybe someday like long into the future I want to start a flower shop and

future I want to start a flower shop and

future I want to start a flower shop and that’s something that I might want to do

that’s something that I might want to do

that’s something that I might want to do and so we did this process which we call

and so we did this process which we call

and so we did this process which we call action storming which is generating

action storming which is generating

action storming which is generating actions for other people’s ideas and

actions for other people’s ideas and

actions for other people’s ideas and through that action storming process

through that action storming process

through that action storming process came up for with some very specific

came up for with some very specific

came up for with some very specific items for her like think about what

items for her like think about what

items for her like think about what venues currently are reserving weddings

venues currently are reserving weddings

venues currently are reserving weddings or document for the next 30 days events

or document for the next 30 days events

or document for the next 30 days events that could be enhanced with flowers

that could be enhanced with flowers

that could be enhanced with flowers whatever they are and she decided that

whatever they are and she decided that

whatever they are and she decided that over the next month she would start

over the next month she would start

over the next month she would start taking action on some of these things

taking action on some of these things

taking action on some of these things and as she did that she was realizing

and as she did that she was realizing

and as she did that she was realizing like wow maybe this flower shop doesn’t

like wow maybe this flower shop doesn’t

like wow maybe this flower shop doesn’t have to be something in you know such a

have to be something in you know such a

have to be something in you know such a far distant future

far distant future

far distant future within a few months she actually had

within a few months she actually had

within a few months she actually had quit her job and started this flower

quit her job and started this flower

quit her job and started this flower shop if you ever find yourself in Fargo

shop if you ever find yourself in Fargo

shop if you ever find yourself in Fargo North Dakota you can check out this

North Dakota you can check out this

North Dakota you can check out this flower shop it’s called love always

flower shop it’s called love always

flower shop it’s called love always floral it’s beautiful place but the

floral it’s beautiful place but the

floral it’s beautiful place but the point of all those is that everything in

point of all those is that everything in

point of all those is that everything in life that’s hard is just a series of

life that’s hard is just a series of

life that’s hard is just a series of things that are easy you just have to

things that are easy you just have to

things that are easy you just have to take that first step right and your idea

take that first step right and your idea

take that first step right and your idea could be the next Nobel Prize or it

could be the next Nobel Prize or it

could be the next Nobel Prize or it could be the next pool toy but the point

could be the next pool toy but the point

could be the next pool toy but the point is taking that responsibility for

is taking that responsibility for

is taking that responsibility for yourself and committing to yourself to

yourself and committing to yourself to

yourself and committing to yourself to say I’m going to take action and I’m

say I’m going to take action and I’m

say I’m going to take action and I’m going to make it happen

going to make it happen

going to make it happen messy

messy

messy [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

”

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