Think Simple, Buy Complex | Adaora Mbelu-Dania | TEDxPortHarcourt

okay good evening everyone my name is

okay good evening everyone my name is adore and Bella Tania and my topic for

adore and Bella Tania and my topic for

adore and Bella Tania and my topic for today is think simple by complex I

today is think simple by complex I

today is think simple by complex I looked at various definitions of

looked at various definitions of

looked at various definitions of complexity and I found that there’s

complexity and I found that there’s

complexity and I found that there’s actually not one particular definition

actually not one particular definition

actually not one particular definition of complexity I saw that complexity as a

of complexity I saw that complexity as a

of complexity I saw that complexity as a definition right is dependent on the

definition right is dependent on the

definition right is dependent on the context in which it is used when I first

context in which it is used when I first

context in which it is used when I first received the information from the

received the information from the

received the information from the organizers and I saw complexity I

organizers and I saw complexity I

organizers and I saw complexity I thought this is easy the opposite of

thought this is easy the opposite of

thought this is easy the opposite of simple is complex or complicated

simple is complex or complicated

simple is complex or complicated complicated as a synonym is complex but

complicated as a synonym is complex but

complicated as a synonym is complex but then I saw the writes up from the

then I saw the writes up from the

then I saw the writes up from the organizers and I was like I am Not sure

organizers and I was like I am Not sure

organizers and I was like I am Not sure I went to the same school as these guys

I went to the same school as these guys

I went to the same school as these guys because really it just seemed really

because really it just seemed really

because really it just seemed really really complicated so for the purpose of

really complicated so for the purpose of

really complicated so for the purpose of this talk anyways I’m going to make it

this talk anyways I’m going to make it

this talk anyways I’m going to make it as simple as possible for us to

as simple as possible for us to

as simple as possible for us to understand this and so I’m going to use

understand this and so I’m going to use

understand this and so I’m going to use colors so just think about simple as the

colors so just think about simple as the

colors so just think about simple as the color whites and think about complex as

color whites and think about complex as

color whites and think about complex as any color other than white so primary

any color other than white so primary

any color other than white so primary colors secondary colors tertiary colors

colors secondary colors tertiary colors

colors secondary colors tertiary colors for this talk I’m going to focus on

for this talk I’m going to focus on

for this talk I’m going to focus on sales as it relates to complexity so I

sales as it relates to complexity so I

sales as it relates to complexity so I think that complexity is largely

think that complexity is largely

think that complexity is largely correlated to sales and I say this

correlated to sales and I say this

correlated to sales and I say this because as human beings we naturally

because as human beings we naturally

because as human beings we naturally think that simple ideas are too easy and

think that simple ideas are too easy and

think that simple ideas are too easy and complex ideas are the best sort of ideas

complex ideas are the best sort of ideas

complex ideas are the best sort of ideas so if somebody came up to you and said I

so if somebody came up to you and said I

so if somebody came up to you and said I have this simple idea that is going to

have this simple idea that is going to

have this simple idea that is going to change the world it’s an amazing idea

change the world it’s an amazing idea

change the world it’s an amazing idea immediately you would think hmmm if it’s

immediately you would think hmmm if it’s

immediately you would think hmmm if it’s so simple why isn’t anyone else done it

so simple why isn’t anyone else done it

so simple why isn’t anyone else done it or why is it so easy I’m not going to

or why is it so easy I’m not going to

or why is it so easy I’m not going to put my money there if that same person

put my money there if that same person

put my money there if that same person came to you with a really really

came to you with a really really

came to you with a really really complicated idea

complicated idea

complicated idea using all this business jargon lingo

using all this business jargon lingo

using all this business jargon lingo you’re more likely to think that it’s a

you’re more likely to think that it’s a

you’re more likely to think that it’s a great idea sometimes we don’t even

great idea sometimes we don’t even

great idea sometimes we don’t even question what they’re saying we just

question what they’re saying we just

question what they’re saying we just thinks ourselves

thinks ourselves

thinks ourselves it just sounds really really really good

it just sounds really really really good

it just sounds really really really good and this is because as human beings were

and this is because as human beings were

and this is because as human beings were conditioned to seek external validation

conditioned to seek external validation

conditioned to seek external validation for our self-worth we believe that

for our self-worth we believe that

for our self-worth we believe that anything other than our inner knowledge

anything other than our inner knowledge

anything other than our inner knowledge and who we are as people is better we

and who we are as people is better we

and who we are as people is better we also believe that better is adding to

also believe that better is adding to

also believe that better is adding to what we already have so learning new

what we already have so learning new

what we already have so learning new things exposing ourselves to new things

things exposing ourselves to new things

things exposing ourselves to new things in fact we even tell ourselves that

in fact we even tell ourselves that

in fact we even tell ourselves that exposure is going upward that’s a

exposure is going upward that’s a

exposure is going upward that’s a conversation for another day but I found

conversation for another day but I found

conversation for another day but I found in my experience in life that better

in my experience in life that better

in my experience in life that better sometimes means stripping ourselves of

sometimes means stripping ourselves of

sometimes means stripping ourselves of layers of things that we’ve learned over

layers of things that we’ve learned over

layers of things that we’ve learned over time so conformity rules teachings

time so conformity rules teachings

time so conformity rules teachings religion philosophies I’ll tell you a

religion philosophies I’ll tell you a

religion philosophies I’ll tell you a little bit of a story to show you where

little bit of a story to show you where

little bit of a story to show you where I’m going with this about four days ago

I’m going with this about four days ago

I’m going with this about four days ago I was in Sri Lanka for those of you who

I was in Sri Lanka for those of you who

I was in Sri Lanka for those of you who don’t know Sri Lanka is an island of the

don’t know Sri Lanka is an island of the

don’t know Sri Lanka is an island of the coast of the Indian Ocean and I was

coast of the Indian Ocean and I was

coast of the Indian Ocean and I was there with an artist friend of mine we

there with an artist friend of mine we

there with an artist friend of mine we were looking at some really beautiful

were looking at some really beautiful

were looking at some really beautiful art that we thought was amazing so I saw

art that we thought was amazing so I saw

art that we thought was amazing so I saw this piece and it was so lovely

this piece and it was so lovely

this piece and it was so lovely beautiful colors vibrant great lines

beautiful colors vibrant great lines

beautiful colors vibrant great lines brilliant artists and I thought to

brilliant artists and I thought to

brilliant artists and I thought to myself I want to buy this this is this

myself I want to buy this this is this

myself I want to buy this this is this is lovely but there was only one problem

is lovely but there was only one problem

is lovely but there was only one problem the problem was that were in Nigeria and

the problem was that were in Nigeria and

the problem was that were in Nigeria and I say that because the picture was of

I say that because the picture was of

I say that because the picture was of snakes

snakes

snakes it was beautiful snakes colorful snakes

it was beautiful snakes colorful snakes

it was beautiful snakes colorful snakes intertwined and I looked at him and I

intertwined and I looked at him and I

intertwined and I looked at him and I said oh boy listen I sneak this picture

said oh boy listen I sneak this picture

said oh boy listen I sneak this picture sure I hope you carry out good night job

sure I hope you carry out good night job

sure I hope you carry out good night job you know because I thought so myself I

you know because I thought so myself I

you know because I thought so myself I take this big to Nigeria I put it on my

take this big to Nigeria I put it on my

take this big to Nigeria I put it on my wall that’s it my family is not coming

wall that’s it my family is not coming

wall that’s it my family is not coming to my house ever again and I think one

to my house ever again and I think one

to my house ever again and I think one of the couples behind us heard me and

of the couples behind us heard me and

of the couples behind us heard me and looked at me like it’s just us why it’s

looked at me like it’s just us why it’s

looked at me like it’s just us why it’s so crazy but here’s the thing

so crazy but here’s the thing

so crazy but here’s the thing I thought to myself at that moment I

I thought to myself at that moment I

I thought to myself at that moment I said you know why is it that we think

said you know why is it that we think

said you know why is it that we think about snakes as evil creatures why don’t

about snakes as evil creatures why don’t

about snakes as evil creatures why don’t we think about them as dangerous animals

we think about them as dangerous animals

we think about them as dangerous animals for animals nonetheless the same way we

for animals nonetheless the same way we

for animals nonetheless the same way we think about fish frogs lions dogs why is

think about fish frogs lions dogs why is

think about fish frogs lions dogs why is the snake a problem and the answer to

the snake a problem and the answer to

the snake a problem and the answer to that question lies in would have just

that question lies in would have just

that question lies in would have just previously said which is layers that

previously said which is layers that

previously said which is layers that have been added over time things that

have been added over time things that

have been added over time things that we’ve learned without questioning things

we’ve learned without questioning things

we’ve learned without questioning things that have been told to us things that

that have been told to us things that

that have been told to us things that we’ve heard from society and we haven’t

we’ve heard from society and we haven’t

we’ve heard from society and we haven’t asked questions about why so we scare

asked questions about why so we scare

asked questions about why so we scare ourselves into believing that certain

ourselves into believing that certain

ourselves into believing that certain things because we’ve been told that this

things because we’ve been told that this

things because we’ve been told that this is what they are they have negative

is what they are they have negative

is what they are they have negative connotations anyway so I’m not going to

connotations anyway so I’m not going to

connotations anyway so I’m not going to spend so much time talking about

spend so much time talking about

spend so much time talking about simplicity vs. complexity because I

simplicity vs. complexity because I

simplicity vs. complexity because I think that that is highly do you I guess

think that that is highly do you I guess

think that that is highly do you I guess I I think more that as a person you’re

I I think more that as a person you’re

I I think more that as a person you’re definite your your need for simplicity

definite your your need for simplicity

definite your your need for simplicity or complexity is depending on your

or complexity is depending on your

or complexity is depending on your personal experience so instead I’m going

personal experience so instead I’m going

personal experience so instead I’m going to talk about how to manage complexity

to talk about how to manage complexity

to talk about how to manage complexity because complexity is not going anywhere

because complexity is not going anywhere

because complexity is not going anywhere the world in itself is complex life is

the world in itself is complex life is

the world in itself is complex life is complex and we have to create the

complex and we have to create the

complex and we have to create the necessary tools to be able to match life

necessary tools to be able to match life

necessary tools to be able to match life every time you buy a new device months

every time you buy a new device months

every time you buy a new device months later there’s an upgrade same with the

later there’s an upgrade same with the

later there’s an upgrade same with the apps same with social media you join a

apps same with social media you join a

apps same with social media you join a social media network and before you know

social media network and before you know

social media network and before you know it there’s a new one just while you’re

it there’s a new one just while you’re

it there’s a new one just while you’re getting used to it there’s a new one

getting used to it there’s a new one

getting used to it there’s a new one that opens up and you tell yourself I

that opens up and you tell yourself I

that opens up and you tell yourself I would never join it I’ve told myself

would never join it I’ve told myself

would never join it I’ve told myself that thing so many times like you know

that thing so many times like you know

that thing so many times like you know it’s like to tacos eyes it was to time I

it’s like to tacos eyes it was to time I

it’s like to tacos eyes it was to time I can never join it I’m good with Facebook

can never join it I’m good with Facebook

can never join it I’m good with Facebook you know and you find yourself having to

you know and you find yourself having to

you know and you find yourself having to join it because your friends move there

join it because your friends move there

join it because your friends move there and that’s life life is complex and it’s

and that’s life life is complex and it’s

and that’s life life is complex and it’s going to only get more complex so we

going to only get more complex so we

going to only get more complex so we have to figure out you know how can i

have to figure out you know how can i

have to figure out you know how can i navigate this world so instead of

navigate this world so instead of

navigate this world so instead of looking at things as breaking down for

looking at things as breaking down for

looking at things as breaking down for instance hashtag denied you’re on the

instance hashtag denied you’re on the

instance hashtag denied you’re on the corner

corner

corner me oh I didn’t say that you know how do

me oh I didn’t say that you know how do

me oh I didn’t say that you know how do we look at it as breaking open so

we look at it as breaking open so

we look at it as breaking open so instead of it’s breaking down how do we

instead of it’s breaking down how do we

instead of it’s breaking down how do we look at it as it’s breaking open there

look at it as it’s breaking open there

look at it as it’s breaking open there couple ways that I think that we need to

couple ways that I think that we need to

couple ways that I think that we need to start thinking to better manage the

start thinking to better manage the

start thinking to better manage the complex world first thing is we need to

complex world first thing is we need to

complex world first thing is we need to be intuitive intuition is essentially

be intuitive intuition is essentially

be intuitive intuition is essentially your gut feeling so it’s that’s not

your gut feeling so it’s that’s not

your gut feeling so it’s that’s not always logical reasoning that comes up

always logical reasoning that comes up

always logical reasoning that comes up and tells you I think you should do this

and tells you I think you should do this

and tells you I think you should do this versus that we tend to ignore it because

versus that we tend to ignore it because

versus that we tend to ignore it because we’re so focused on logic

we’re so focused on logic

we’re so focused on logic I want to sound smart so let me give I

I want to sound smart so let me give I

I want to sound smart so let me give I have something that happened this

have something that happened this

have something that happened this morning okay so this morning I woke up

morning okay so this morning I woke up

morning okay so this morning I woke up and I said I was going to wear black I

and I said I was going to wear black I

and I said I was going to wear black I packed to come to Potok what I packed

packed to come to Potok what I packed

packed to come to Potok what I packed two different colors of what I could

two different colors of what I could

two different colors of what I could potentially wear now black is one of my

potentially wear now black is one of my

potentially wear now black is one of my favorite colors black and white but then

favorite colors black and white but then

favorite colors black and white but then I said my god feeling told me that I

I said my god feeling told me that I

I said my god feeling told me that I just wear black because you’re gonna be

just wear black because you’re gonna be

just wear black because you’re gonna be confident you’re gonna be comfortable

confident you’re gonna be comfortable

confident you’re gonna be comfortable and that’s more important to you but

and that’s more important to you but

and that’s more important to you but then my logic told me that black will

then my logic told me that black will

then my logic told me that black will make me look like really really dark for

make me look like really really dark for

make me look like really really dark for the cameras and stuff so I could’ve gone

the cameras and stuff so I could’ve gone

the cameras and stuff so I could’ve gone with my logic and one red because red

with my logic and one red because red

with my logic and one red because red would be brights but I went with my gut

would be brights but I went with my gut

would be brights but I went with my gut feeling and I’m overly confident

feeling and I’m overly confident

feeling and I’m overly confident standing here I could probably go on for

standing here I could probably go on for

standing here I could probably go on for 30 um so that’s that’s our God instincts

30 um so that’s that’s our God instincts

30 um so that’s that’s our God instincts we need to trust our gods the second

we need to trust our gods the second

we need to trust our gods the second thing is you need to be imaginative and

thing is you need to be imaginative and

thing is you need to be imaginative and I think that’s very self-explanatory be

I think that’s very self-explanatory be

I think that’s very self-explanatory be inventive be original the third one is

inventive be original the third one is

inventive be original the third one is we need to be creative we to come up

we need to be creative we to come up

we need to be creative we to come up with ideas that create value we need to

with ideas that create value we need to

with ideas that create value we need to execute those ideas fourth one for me is

execute those ideas fourth one for me is

execute those ideas fourth one for me is we need to be innovative I’ve found so

we need to be innovative I’ve found so

we need to be innovative I’ve found so many definitions of innovation and what

many definitions of innovation and what

many definitions of innovation and what it means to be innovative but my

it means to be innovative but my

it means to be innovative but my favorite one is innovation equals

favorite one is innovation equals

favorite one is innovation equals positive social change sounds like a

positive social change sounds like a

positive social change sounds like a very off definition but I think it’s the

very off definition but I think it’s the

very off definition but I think it’s the best one we need to impact our

best one we need to impact our

best one we need to impact our communities we need to impact lives we

communities we need to impact lives we

communities we need to impact lives we need to contribute to the world the last

need to contribute to the world the last

need to contribute to the world the last one for me is we need to be flexible

one for me is we need to be flexible

one for me is we need to be flexible because again the world is only going to

because again the world is only going to

because again the world is only going to keep on being more and more complex and

keep on being more and more complex and

keep on being more and more complex and we need to be able to adapt to the world

we need to be able to adapt to the world

we need to be able to adapt to the world as it is so no complaining no telling

as it is so no complaining no telling

as it is so no complaining no telling yourself that I’m going to be a certain

yourself that I’m going to be a certain

yourself that I’m going to be a certain way and I’m not going to move because

way and I’m not going to move because

way and I’m not going to move because you get left behind so we can’t run away

you get left behind so we can’t run away

you get left behind so we can’t run away from complexity life in itself is

from complexity life in itself is

from complexity life in itself is complex so I’ll go back to my the

complex so I’ll go back to my the

complex so I’ll go back to my the beginning of my topic which said think

beginning of my topic which said think

beginning of my topic which said think simple by complex actually there was a

simple by complex actually there was a

simple by complex actually there was a question back there because I was hoping

question back there because I was hoping

question back there because I was hoping at the end of this conversation we’ll be

at the end of this conversation we’ll be

at the end of this conversation we’ll be able to answer that question and the

able to answer that question and the

able to answer that question and the answer for me personally is by complex

answer for me personally is by complex

answer for me personally is by complex things simple so instead of think simple

things simple so instead of think simple

things simple so instead of think simple by complex by complex things simple and

by complex by complex things simple and

by complex by complex things simple and let me just explain that before I leave

let me just explain that before I leave

let me just explain that before I leave the stage I was actually good to end my

the stage I was actually good to end my

the stage I was actually good to end my conversation with with that boy I will

conversation with with that boy I will

conversation with with that boy I will I’ll tell you what I mean by that

I’ll tell you what I mean by that

I’ll tell you what I mean by that because we know that life is already

because we know that life is already

because we know that life is already complex we have to by complexity anyway

complex we have to by complexity anyway

complex we have to by complexity anyway but we need to take that and simplify it

but we need to take that and simplify it

but we need to take that and simplify it to what works for us we need to be

to what works for us we need to be

to what works for us we need to be honest with ourselves and make things as

honest with ourselves and make things as

honest with ourselves and make things as easy as possible for us so that’s really

easy as possible for us so that’s really

easy as possible for us so that’s really what it says it’s things are not as

what it says it’s things are not as

what it says it’s things are not as difficult as it is if you see someone I

difficult as it is if you see someone I

difficult as it is if you see someone I know the number of people that walked up

know the number of people that walked up

know the number of people that walked up to me today and said to me oh hey I like

to me today and said to me oh hey I like

to me today and said to me oh hey I like your hair oh hey you know I follow you

your hair oh hey you know I follow you

your hair oh hey you know I follow you on Instagram and I think that you’re

on Instagram and I think that you’re

on Instagram and I think that you’re cool it’s that simple life is really

cool it’s that simple life is really

cool it’s that simple life is really that simple but a lot of times we stand

that simple but a lot of times we stand

that simple but a lot of times we stand and we think oh I don’t want to walk up

and we think oh I don’t want to walk up

and we think oh I don’t want to walk up to this person because what if they say

to this person because what if they say

to this person because what if they say this and what if they say that or what

this and what if they say that or what

this and what if they say that or what if they pretend like they don’t even

if they pretend like they don’t even

if they pretend like they don’t even know even on Instagram right of what

know even on Instagram right of what

know even on Instagram right of what eventually life is really that simple

eventually life is really that simple

eventually life is really that simple the most Laker says no or yes and that

the most Laker says no or yes and that

the most Laker says no or yes and that is the reality of this entire thoughts

is the reality of this entire thoughts

is the reality of this entire thoughts of complexity so without

of complexity so without

of complexity so without further ado I’m going to say that’s the

further ado I’m going to say that’s the

further ado I’m going to say that’s the end of my talk

end of my talk

end of my talk why ramble on what thank you very much