we often think of philosophy as this stuffy and useless academic subject it’s
stuffy and useless academic subject it’s
stuffy and useless academic subject it’s just a relic of the past but what if I
just a relic of the past but what if I
just a relic of the past but what if I told you that philosophy might be the
told you that philosophy might be the
told you that philosophy might be the most important component of personal and
most important component of personal and
most important component of personal and professional growth in the 21st century
professional growth in the 21st century
professional growth in the 21st century I wouldn’t believe it either few years
I wouldn’t believe it either few years
I wouldn’t believe it either few years ago I started a company called strategy
ago I started a company called strategy
ago I started a company called strategy of mind it’s a leadership development
of mind it’s a leadership development
of mind it’s a leadership development and organizational performance
and organizational performance
and organizational performance organization but a few fun facts about
organization but a few fun facts about
organization but a few fun facts about myself I have never been an executive
myself I have never been an executive
myself I have never been an executive coach I have never been an executive
coach I have never been an executive
coach I have never been an executive I have no leadership experience I do not
I have no leadership experience I do not
I have no leadership experience I do not have an MBA and I have no technical
have an MBA and I have no technical
have an MBA and I have no technical skills really at all so why am I here
skills really at all so why am I here
skills really at all so why am I here and what is a kid with no skills do
and what is a kid with no skills do
and what is a kid with no skills do after he graduates from university he
after he graduates from university he
after he graduates from university he becomes a consultant and tells other
becomes a consultant and tells other
becomes a consultant and tells other people what to do and that’s what I did
people what to do and that’s what I did
people what to do and that’s what I did I became a consultant and one day I was
I became a consultant and one day I was
I became a consultant and one day I was sitting at my desk as a consultant in
sitting at my desk as a consultant in
sitting at my desk as a consultant in what wasn’t the happiest of jobs when a
what wasn’t the happiest of jobs when a
what wasn’t the happiest of jobs when a friend sent me an article in The
friend sent me an article in The
friend sent me an article in The Economist called philosopher kings and
Economist called philosopher kings and
Economist called philosopher kings and the article said that business leaders
the article said that business leaders
the article said that business leaders would benefit from studying great
would benefit from studying great
would benefit from studying great writers I’ve always loved great writers
writers I’ve always loved great writers
writers I’ve always loved great writers in fact when I was in school I thought
in fact when I was in school I thought
in fact when I was in school I thought that I was one I’m not
that I was one I’m not
that I was one I’m not but the article reminded me of a picture
but the article reminded me of a picture
but the article reminded me of a picture that I had taken several years back as a
that I had taken several years back as a
that I had taken several years back as a student
student
student see I love bookstores and that’s
see I love bookstores and that’s
see I love bookstores and that’s probably why I love great writers and on
probably why I love great writers and on
probably why I love great writers and on one of my many frequent visits to our
one of my many frequent visits to our
one of my many frequent visits to our local bookshop I noticed this sign that
local bookshop I noticed this sign that
local bookshop I noticed this sign that they posted during a period of
they posted during a period of
they posted during a period of renovation the sign said mathematics
renovation the sign said mathematics
renovation the sign said mathematics ends philosophy begins
ends philosophy begins
ends philosophy begins I tell people that it really was at that
I tell people that it really was at that
I tell people that it really was at that moment sitting at my desk as a
moment sitting at my desk as a
moment sitting at my desk as a consultant reading the article
consultant reading the article
consultant reading the article philosopher Kings looking at this
philosopher Kings looking at this
philosopher Kings looking at this picture mathematics ends philosophy
picture mathematics ends philosophy
picture mathematics ends philosophy begins that I first had the idea to
begins that I first had the idea to
begins that I first had the idea to launch a philosophy company I studied
launch a philosophy company I studied
launch a philosophy company I studied philosophy in school I studied
philosophy in school I studied
philosophy in school I studied philosophy in graduate school and now
philosophy in graduate school and now
philosophy in graduate school and now you know why I have no skills it reminds
you know why I have no skills it reminds
you know why I have no skills it reminds me of a joke one of my professors told
me of a joke one of my professors told
me of a joke one of my professors told us after class how do you get the
us after class how do you get the
us after class how do you get the philosophy major off of your doorstep
philosophy major off of your doorstep
philosophy major off of your doorstep you pay for the pizza but in reality I
you pay for the pizza but in reality I
you pay for the pizza but in reality I felt as though I had developed a fairly
felt as though I had developed a fairly
felt as though I had developed a fairly comprehensive set of skills and what I
comprehensive set of skills and what I
comprehensive set of skills and what I witness sitting there at my desk
witness sitting there at my desk
witness sitting there at my desk thinking mathematics ends philosophy
thinking mathematics ends philosophy
thinking mathematics ends philosophy begins is that there’s a disconnect
begins is that there’s a disconnect
begins is that there’s a disconnect there’s a skills gap between the
there’s a skills gap between the
there’s a skills gap between the professional world and the philosophical
professional world and the philosophical
professional world and the philosophical world that I was a part of so we think
world that I was a part of so we think
world that I was a part of so we think of philosophy in a professional setting
of philosophy in a professional setting
of philosophy in a professional setting what does mathematics ends philosophy
what does mathematics ends philosophy
what does mathematics ends philosophy begins I’m a manager and I’m looking at
begins I’m a manager and I’m looking at
begins I’m a manager and I’m looking at my 3rd quarter numbers and I’d like to
my 3rd quarter numbers and I’d like to
my 3rd quarter numbers and I’d like to be successful in the third quarter of
be successful in the third quarter of
be successful in the third quarter of next year chances are that I have to ask
next year chances are that I have to ask
next year chances are that I have to ask myself questions that extend beyond
myself questions that extend beyond
myself questions that extend beyond mathematics questions like how can we
mathematics questions like how can we
mathematics questions like how can we think more strategically about the
think more strategically about the
think more strategically about the challenges we face how can we
challenges we face how can we
challenges we face how can we communicate better with our customers
communicate better with our customers
communicate better with our customers and our clients how can we create new
and our clients how can we create new
and our clients how can we create new products and services I had the idea
products and services I had the idea
products and services I had the idea that in order for a business to be
that in order for a business to be
that in order for a business to be successful in the 21st century and
successful in the 21st century and
successful in the 21st century and beyond it really had to apply the
beyond it really had to apply the
beyond it really had to apply the concepts that I had developed throughout
concepts that I had developed throughout
concepts that I had developed throughout the course of my philosophical training
the course of my philosophical training
the course of my philosophical training like the ability to think strategically
like the ability to think strategically
like the ability to think strategically like the ability to communicate like the
like the ability to communicate like the
like the ability to communicate like the ability to be creative and also
ability to be creative and also
ability to be creative and also philosophies more than just that manager
philosophies more than just that manager
philosophies more than just that manager asking questions when I was a consultant
asking questions when I was a consultant
asking questions when I was a consultant I was paid a lot of money to tell people
I was paid a lot of money to tell people
I was paid a lot of money to tell people what to do but I understand that we’ve
what to do but I understand that we’ve
what to do but I understand that we’ve only been together for a few minutes and
only been together for a few minutes and
only been together for a few minutes and I hope in the few minutes thus far
I hope in the few minutes thus far
I hope in the few minutes thus far you’ve learned that I in fact know
you’ve learned that I in fact know
you’ve learned that I in fact know nothing so I should not be telling
nothing so I should not be telling
nothing so I should not be telling anyone what to do but philosophy was a
anyone what to do but philosophy was a
anyone what to do but philosophy was a method it’s a mechanism for change
method it’s a mechanism for change
method it’s a mechanism for change people don’t like being told what to do
people don’t like being told what to do
people don’t like being told what to do or how they should think chances are
or how they should think chances are
or how they should think chances are your parents tell you how to do how to
your parents tell you how to do how to
your parents tell you how to do how to act and how to think and it probably
act and how to think and it probably
act and how to think and it probably drives you crazy just like it drives me
drives you crazy just like it drives me
drives you crazy just like it drives me crazy with my parents do it but the most
crazy with my parents do it but the most
crazy with my parents do it but the most effective method of learning is learning
effective method of learning is learning
effective method of learning is learning through your own collective experience
through your own collective experience
through your own collective experience and philosophy affords that opportunity
and philosophy affords that opportunity
and philosophy affords that opportunity Socrates didn’t engage others in
Socrates didn’t engage others in
Socrates didn’t engage others in dialogue just to tell them how they
dialogue just to tell them how they
dialogue just to tell them how they should act or to tell them how they
should act or to tell them how they
should act or to tell them how they should think
should think
should think he asked open-ended questions questions
he asked open-ended questions questions
he asked open-ended questions questions that were didn’t have binary yes-or-no
that were didn’t have binary yes-or-no
that were didn’t have binary yes-or-no answers to encourage them to think on
answers to encourage them to think on
answers to encourage them to think on their own and that’s a very helpful
their own and that’s a very helpful
their own and that’s a very helpful lesson in business I started thinking
lesson in business I started thinking
lesson in business I started thinking that as a consultant maybe my role
that as a consultant maybe my role
that as a consultant maybe my role wasn’t to tell this manager what to do
wasn’t to tell this manager what to do
wasn’t to tell this manager what to do maybe I should apply the skills of
maybe I should apply the skills of
maybe I should apply the skills of philosophy to help them reach
philosophy to help them reach
philosophy to help them reach intelligent conclusions so I started the
intelligent conclusions so I started the
intelligent conclusions so I started the philosophy company a couple of years ago
philosophy company a couple of years ago
philosophy company a couple of years ago and what happened I saw a lot of the
and what happened I saw a lot of the
and what happened I saw a lot of the faces that I see now in the room people
faces that I see now in the room people
faces that I see now in the room people were skeptical of this people were
were skeptical of this people were
were skeptical of this people were unsure of this I got one message from
unsure of this I got one message from
unsure of this I got one message from somebody that said a philosophy company
somebody that said a philosophy company
somebody that said a philosophy company is an oxymoron started by a moron and
is an oxymoron started by a moron and
is an oxymoron started by a moron and that was from my mother but in reality
that was from my mother but in reality
that was from my mother but in reality it’s difficult I sent over 4,000
it’s difficult I sent over 4,000
it’s difficult I sent over 4,000 personal emails not using HubSpot not
personal emails not using HubSpot not
personal emails not using HubSpot not using Salesforce no not using any CRM I
using Salesforce no not using any CRM I
using Salesforce no not using any CRM I sent 4,000 personal emails before we had
sent 4,000 personal emails before we had
sent 4,000 personal emails before we had our first paying client so for those of
our first paying client so for those of
our first paying client so for those of you in the room who are interested in
you in the room who are interested in
you in the room who are interested in starting a philosophy company don’t
starting a philosophy company don’t
starting a philosophy company don’t I became my own first client here I was
I became my own first client here I was
I became my own first client here I was telling these organizations that they
telling these organizations that they
telling these organizations that they had to be more philosophical but they
had to be more philosophical but they
had to be more philosophical but they had to apply the skills of philosophy in
had to apply the skills of philosophy in
had to apply the skills of philosophy in order to be successful and nobody was
order to be successful and nobody was
order to be successful and nobody was buying it so I was the test case and it
buying it so I was the test case and it
buying it so I was the test case and it was a very helpful lesson for us as a
was a very helpful lesson for us as a
was a very helpful lesson for us as a new business because we had to think
new business because we had to think
new business because we had to think more strategically about the challenges
more strategically about the challenges
more strategically about the challenges we were facing we had to communicate
we were facing we had to communicate
we were facing we had to communicate with one another and we had to innovate
with one another and we had to innovate
with one another and we had to innovate products and services one of the most
products and services one of the most
products and services one of the most common questions that I’m asked now is
common questions that I’m asked now is
common questions that I’m asked now is what book got you interested in
what book got you interested in
what book got you interested in philosophy in the first place what book
philosophy in the first place what book
philosophy in the first place what book started at all and my mature response is
started at all and my mature response is
started at all and my mature response is generally Plato’s Republic it was the
generally Plato’s Republic it was the
generally Plato’s Republic it was the first book that I read as an
first book that I read as an
first book that I read as an undergraduate in my very first
undergraduate in my very first
undergraduate in my very first undergraduate seminar as a philosophy
undergraduate seminar as a philosophy
undergraduate seminar as a philosophy student in university I remember the
student in university I remember the
student in university I remember the professor said to go home read book one
professor said to go home read book one
professor said to go home read book one and highlight what you think was
and highlight what you think was
and highlight what you think was important and I came back with what
important and I came back with what
important and I came back with what looked like a coloring book that’s
looked like a coloring book that’s
looked like a coloring book that’s actually my book
actually my book
actually my book but speaking of coloring book I first
but speaking of coloring book I first
but speaking of coloring book I first fell in love with philosophy as a child
fell in love with philosophy as a child
fell in love with philosophy as a child reading children’s books my favorite
reading children’s books my favorite
reading children’s books my favorite author growing up was a guy named Chris
author growing up was a guy named Chris
author growing up was a guy named Chris Van osburgh he wrote books like the
Van osburgh he wrote books like the
Van osburgh he wrote books like the Polar Express and Jumanji he actually
Polar Express and Jumanji he actually
Polar Express and Jumanji he actually wrote a lot of books and the best way I
wrote a lot of books and the best way I
wrote a lot of books and the best way I can describe him for people who are
can describe him for people who are
can describe him for people who are unfamiliar is that he’s kind of like a
unfamiliar is that he’s kind of like a
unfamiliar is that he’s kind of like a boar has four children and philosophy
boar has four children and philosophy
boar has four children and philosophy begins in wonder and children wonder
begins in wonder and children wonder
begins in wonder and children wonder about a lot of things really really good
about a lot of things really really good
about a lot of things really really good children’s books help kids better
children’s books help kids better
children’s books help kids better understand and better conceptualize the
understand and better conceptualize the
understand and better conceptualize the world around them kids ask really good
world around them kids ask really good
world around them kids ask really good questions and as adults we sometimes
questions and as adults we sometimes
questions and as adults we sometimes unlearn how to ask the good questions
unlearn how to ask the good questions
unlearn how to ask the good questions when businesses ask good questions
when businesses ask good questions
when businesses ask good questions they thrive and they grow when they
they thrive and they grow when they
they thrive and they grow when they don’t they stagnate what I’m trying to
don’t they stagnate what I’m trying to
don’t they stagnate what I’m trying to say is that you don’t need to read
say is that you don’t need to read
say is that you don’t need to read Heidegger’s being in time to engage with
Heidegger’s being in time to engage with
Heidegger’s being in time to engage with philosophy you can save being in time
philosophy you can save being in time
philosophy you can save being in time for later that’s a philosophy joke for
for later that’s a philosophy joke for
for later that’s a philosophy joke for those of you in the
philosophy has become isolated from
philosophy has become isolated from society we’ve become alienated from the
society we’ve become alienated from the
society we’ve become alienated from the subject and that isolation and
subject and that isolation and
subject and that isolation and alienation is is directly contributing
alienation is is directly contributing
alienation is is directly contributing to the subjects demise it’s led to
to the subjects demise it’s led to
to the subjects demise it’s led to missed opportunities for business and
missed opportunities for business and
missed opportunities for business and it’s led to missed opportunities for us
it’s led to missed opportunities for us
it’s led to missed opportunities for us as a society I don’t think I need to
as a society I don’t think I need to
as a society I don’t think I need to take a straw poll in the room but there
take a straw poll in the room but there
take a straw poll in the room but there are times in our global community that
are times in our global community that
are times in our global community that we have an inability to think
we have an inability to think
we have an inability to think strategically we have an inability to
strategically we have an inability to
strategically we have an inability to communicate with one another or we have
communicate with one another or we have
communicate with one another or we have an inability to be creative
an inability to be creative
an inability to be creative I remember reading Chris Van osburgh as
I remember reading Chris Van osburgh as
I remember reading Chris Van osburgh as a kid and thinking things and you know
a kid and thinking things and you know
a kid and thinking things and you know granted my limited vocabulary which is
granted my limited vocabulary which is
granted my limited vocabulary which is still somewhat limited prevented me from
still somewhat limited prevented me from
still somewhat limited prevented me from articulating that activity as philosophy
articulating that activity as philosophy
articulating that activity as philosophy but that’s what I was doing philosophy
but that’s what I was doing philosophy
but that’s what I was doing philosophy is something that begins in wonder and
is something that begins in wonder and
is something that begins in wonder and it’s not something that you have to rely
it’s not something that you have to rely
it’s not something that you have to rely upon an expertise or a PhD in order to
upon an expertise or a PhD in order to
upon an expertise or a PhD in order to be successful in the subject so I’d like
be successful in the subject so I’d like
be successful in the subject so I’d like to leave you with three things that you
to leave you with three things that you
to leave you with three things that you can do today you can do tonight you can
can do today you can do tonight you can
can do today you can do tonight you can do tomorrow to reintroduce philosophy
do tomorrow to reintroduce philosophy
do tomorrow to reintroduce philosophy into your life number one think
into your life number one think
into your life number one think don’t think what your friends tell you
don’t think what your friends tell you
don’t think what your friends tell you don’t think what you read online don’t
don’t think what you read online don’t
don’t think what you read online don’t think what your family tells you just
think what your family tells you just
think what your family tells you just think definitely don’t think what your
think definitely don’t think what your
think definitely don’t think what your spouse tells you think independently and
spouse tells you think independently and
spouse tells you think independently and isolated number two talk if after
isolated number two talk if after
isolated number two talk if after thinking you feel that you have an idea
thinking you feel that you have an idea
thinking you feel that you have an idea that’s worth discussing with somebody
that’s worth discussing with somebody
that’s worth discussing with somebody else share it with somebody it can be a
else share it with somebody it can be a
else share it with somebody it can be a friend it can be a family member it can
friend it can be a family member it can
friend it can be a family member it can be a colleague it can be a stranger it
be a colleague it can be a stranger it
be a colleague it can be a stranger it doesn’t make a difference but just have
doesn’t make a difference but just have
doesn’t make a difference but just have a conversation engage somebody in
a conversation engage somebody in
a conversation engage somebody in dialogue and lastly number three create
dialogue and lastly number three create
dialogue and lastly number three create if after thinking and after talking you
if after thinking and after talking you
if after thinking and after talking you feel this an idea that’s worth bringing
feel this an idea that’s worth bringing
feel this an idea that’s worth bringing to the world write it down it can be a
to the world write it down it can be a
to the world write it down it can be a sentence it can be a paragraph it can be
sentence it can be a paragraph it can be
sentence it can be a paragraph it can be a book it can be a film it can be a TED
a book it can be a film it can be a TED
a book it can be a film it can be a TED talk and I realized that these steps of
talk and I realized that these steps of
talk and I realized that these steps of think talk create aren’t necessarily
think talk create aren’t necessarily
think talk create aren’t necessarily they seem simple but they’re not it’s
they seem simple but they’re not it’s
they seem simple but they’re not it’s actually a unique component of
actually a unique component of
actually a unique component of philosophy that very little is required
philosophy that very little is required
philosophy that very little is required to engage in the subject but the act of
to engage in the subject but the act of
to engage in the subject but the act of doing so is far more complicated and I
doing so is far more complicated and I
doing so is far more complicated and I told you that I started a leadership
told you that I started a leadership
told you that I started a leadership development and organizational growth
development and organizational growth
development and organizational growth company where we focus on executive
company where we focus on executive
company where we focus on executive coaching and sort of leadership
coaching and sort of leadership
coaching and sort of leadership development but all we’re really doing
development but all we’re really doing
development but all we’re really doing is bringing philosophy into these
is bringing philosophy into these
is bringing philosophy into these organizations I realize it’s probably
organizations I realize it’s probably
organizations I realize it’s probably not the smartest thing to stand up here
not the smartest thing to stand up here
not the smartest thing to stand up here and to tell you our recipe for success
and to tell you our recipe for success
and to tell you our recipe for success but the reason why we call ourselves a
but the reason why we call ourselves a
but the reason why we call ourselves a company that focuses on organizational
company that focuses on organizational
company that focuses on organizational growth is because that’s what the
growth is because that’s what the
growth is because that’s what the business world responds to but our
business world responds to but our
business world responds to but our method our approach it’s philosophy we
method our approach it’s philosophy we
method our approach it’s philosophy we help companies think critically
help companies think critically
help companies think critically communicate effectively and create new
communicate effectively and create new
communicate effectively and create new ideas
ideas
ideas that’s all philosophy is it’s those
that’s all philosophy is it’s those
that’s all philosophy is it’s those three things think talk create is the
three things think talk create is the
three things think talk create is the model of the Republic they think about
model of the Republic they think about
model of the Republic they think about they talk about and they create an ideal
they talk about and they create an ideal
they talk about and they create an ideal Republic think talk create is the model
Republic think talk create is the model
Republic think talk create is the model of Ted Ted is philosophy and think talk
of Ted Ted is philosophy and think talk
of Ted Ted is philosophy and think talk create was very helpful to David and I
create was very helpful to David and I
create was very helpful to David and I in starting our business it forced us to
in starting our business it forced us to
in starting our business it forced us to stop spinning our wheels we had to think
stop spinning our wheels we had to think
stop spinning our wheels we had to think strategically about the challenges we
strategically about the challenges we
strategically about the challenges we were facing way to communicate our
were facing way to communicate our
were facing way to communicate our concerns with one another and we had to
concerns with one another and we had to
concerns with one another and we had to innovate the product and services we
innovate the product and services we
innovate the product and services we offer today
offer today
offer today think talk create extends beyond
think talk create extends beyond
think talk create extends beyond business it matters to us as a society
business it matters to us as a society
business it matters to us as a society we need to think more strategically and
we need to think more strategically and
we need to think more strategically and critically we need to communicate better
critically we need to communicate better
critically we need to communicate better with one another and we need to innovate
with one another and we need to innovate
with one another and we need to innovate creative solutions to the problems that
creative solutions to the problems that
creative solutions to the problems that we’re facing today as a global community
so the next time you’re walking through
so the next time you’re walking through your local bookshop and you happen to
your local bookshop and you happen to
your local bookshop and you happen to pass the philosophy section perhaps for
pass the philosophy section perhaps for
pass the philosophy section perhaps for mathematics ends don’t walk past it
mathematics ends don’t walk past it
mathematics ends don’t walk past it maybe it’s even the children’s book
maybe it’s even the children’s book
maybe it’s even the children’s book section it sounds silly but the oldest
section it sounds silly but the oldest
section it sounds silly but the oldest subject in the world however many
subject in the world however many
subject in the world however many thousands of years ago we first looked
thousands of years ago we first looked
thousands of years ago we first looked up with the Stars and thought hmm
up with the Stars and thought hmm
up with the Stars and thought hmm I wonder what that is the oldest subject
I wonder what that is the oldest subject
I wonder what that is the oldest subject in the world might be the most important
in the world might be the most important
in the world might be the most important subject for our future thank you
subject for our future thank you
subject for our future thank you [Applause]
”
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