Here are 10 of my favorite Ted Talks that I've used as inspiration over the years. I wanted to take this opportunity to share my thoughts with you. Thank you for taking the time to read.
MY 2.0 COUNTDOWN – 10 DAYS OF TED TALKS!!!!
(Scroll to bottom to go from day 10 to day 1)
1 MORE DAY!!!
(Sunday, September 20th, 8:30-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
“Human communities depend upon a diversity of talent, not a singular conception of ability”.
“Talents are often buried, you often have to go looking for them, create conditions for them”.
“Your life is created according to the talents you discover or not”.
Thereby life is your talents discovered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLbXrNGVXfE
Tomorrow will be a day where a tribe of my favorite presenters showcase their talents, submit to vulnerability, and courageously rise above.
I believe my role in the process of 2.0 is to be a creative leader. My goal is to provide a platform, a stage if you will, to promote people that know profound principles and that do great things beyond themselves. My goal is to create a culture of sharing, creating, and learning that aims to grow the sensitivity and depth of the community.
By attending, presenting, volunteering, and supporting 2.0 Toronto, you are investing in the community’s positive energy towards a 2.0 way of inter-acting, and inter-being.
Thank you.
2 MORE DAYS!!!! www.julianho.ca/2-0
(Sunday, September 20th, 8:30-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
“People don’t buy what you do they buy why you do it” – Simon Sinek
This Ted Talk was one of my very first lectures. It helped me understand why I do what I do. It lead me to the word INTENTION. Every time I take a class or teach a class, I check in with my intention for the class. To review why I am in attendance helps me dive deeper into the present moment. Intention is purpose and meaning, and it gives life to awareness and one’s surroundings.
When I am in a state of stress, confusion, or fatigue, it is mostly because I am looking for answers and cannot find them. Instead I should be asking questions. Two of the best questions in the world are … are you ready for it?
1. WHY? Notice how children ask this question all the time? When you stop asking why, you’ve come to a point in your life where you have lost touch with that curiosity, that adventure-seeker, that humility, that sense of wonderment, that inner child. Never stop asking why!
2. WHY NOT? Why is a question that holds us in thought, keeps our bodies from taking action before the thought has processed. Why not is a question that gets you moving. It breaks boundaries, helps us take risks, forgoes the brakes of consequences, and allows us to make mistakes, grow, and learn.
I hope you ask yourself these two questions about 2.0 Toronto.
Excited to meet you on Sunday.
Sincerely,
Julian
3 MORE DAYS!!!! www.julianho.ca/2-0
(Sunday, September 20th, 8:30-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
Last night, I took a night off of the countdown write ups to think about my final top 3 Ted Talks to write about. I've been currently thinking on such a high level with this event coming up, my brain is frying as I type! But this is the point of my training in which I call upon all of my resources to summate a big sprint finish. In the last few days leading up to an ultramarathon race, there is always the calm before the storm. I focus not on training physically, i.e., run training, strength training, core conditioning. All of that has been done and practiced so thoroughly in training, it would only do damage at this late stage in the game. Instead, it boils down to MENTAL REHEARSAL, and MOBILITY/FLEXIBILITY.
Mental rehearsal for EXECUTION and ENERGY.
Mobility/Flexibility for CREATIVITY and ACUITY (sharpness).
I am immersing myself in inspirational and insightful Ted Talks as an activity to help me engage with the profoundness of this event as it pertains to MY life. I call this SELF-INSPIRATION. I aim to do these 'epic' things to inspire my current self and keep my future self motivated to continue pushing the boundaries and expanding the mind. Hindsight is 20/20, no regrets, go big then go home, seize the moment, make it count.
I hope that with this mental rehearsal, I will put myself in a place of high energy and smooth execution on Sunday.
As for mobility and flexibility, I prep physically as I would for a race. Every night I am myofascial massaging and decompressing with the foam roller and lacrosse ball. Every morning I commit to a yoga flow 5 minute segment. These rituals put me right back into race mode and thus the physical practice positively affects the mental mindset. On race day/ event day, I will thus be ready for any bumps, twists, unexpected occurrences, and can think on my feet creatively and intuitively with confidence.
Tony Robbins' Ted Talk has so many beautiful topics I could talk on and on about each and every single thing, but I want to keep this short and sweet and to a punch line point. Rewind back to his first comment! Tony dives right into an intro line about IMMERSION. He asks how we learn language. We learn it early on in life by immersing ourselves in it. That is something we take for granted. We can't just learn something by adopting its principles. We have to walk the walk! You've got to immerse yourself in whatever you do in order to make a change sustainable.
Practice doesn't make perfect.
Perfect practice makes perfect.
Also, practice makes permanent.
I hope you take the principles from 2.0 on Sunday as guidelines to keep you practicing with mindfulness. Be sure to keep in touch with the presenters you enjoy. Be proactive about what you learn. Immerse yourself in the material and moments that take your breath away.
*No Countdown write up on 4 days.
Countdown to 2.0 Toronto: 5 days (Sunday, September 20th, 9-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
Register here à www.julianho.ca/2-0
I am fascinated by CONNECTION.
I am inspired by the connections created by people. There are so many ways we can connect. Connection through music. Connection through art. Connection through food.
We can make or break connections, we can manipulate them, or we can ignore them.
But do we really have control over connections? Are we hardwired to be connected and are just now discovering software that can manipulate these connections?
I believe we are all connected to the deepest of our being. Thought there are some that lose connection with themselves and thus cloud the potential for connection with others. We have to help these people.
2.0 is a means to help connect with yourself and with others through movement and education. Registering for this event has already proven that you are connected with yourself because you are hopefully doing this for yourself. Now let’s be open and ready to connect with others and the information our talented presenters will be providing this beautiful Sunday morning.
One of my favorite, short and sweet, demonstrations of connection is not a Ted Talk! It is from the 2009 World Science Festival. Bobby McFerrin is a 10 time Grammy award winner and the artist behind the song “Don’t worry, Be Happy”. Watch his magical performance that connects audience members like you've never seen.
Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsO53ydK-yA
Countdown to 2.0 Toronto: 6 days (Sunday, September 20th, 9-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
Register here à www.julianho.ca/2-0
What if you worked in an environment that was free of distraction?
What if you worked in an environment that made you more productive without increased effort?
What if you worked in an environment that helped you see things more clearly, listen more carefully, and connect more deeply?
Julian Treasure’s Ted Talk on The Sound of Happiness is one that comes to mind when finding interesting coping strategies to address productive work environments. Julian says we need work spaces that provide optimal settings for Collaboration, Concentration, and Contemplation. His tips and advice on small changes to the work environment to optimize how we see, hear, and connect are multi-sensory and multi-disciplinary.
Because I teach and train at Rogers Communications main campus, I absorb the environment within this massive complex. My senses are put on high gear when I enter the building because of how busy the place is. My approach to working in this environment is very complex and multi-faceted.
I am privy to their employee amenities, insiders on their ever-expanding pursuits, and the excitement of their energetic work dynamics. But I am also bound to their rules and restrictions, challenged by their inconsistencies, and drained by the emotional rollercoaster ride of their competitive work dynamic. The corporate fitness world is very different from others in the industry. The sensitivity it has taught me has allowed me to empathize deeply with employees, and forge an ever-evolving brand for myself that is holistic in nature. This diversified and multi-faceted approach to fitness, health, and wellness, is my solution to helping employees cope with the wide array of their stress inducers. The assortment of tools that must be used to defend against the assortment of stresses are always changing. Hence why 2.0 Toronto has always been about showcasing multiple talents and methodologies. The presenters are institutions in their own fields of study, and when brought together to collaborate and share principles, systems of practice, and philosophies, you have a unique opportunity to experience a multi-sensory/disciplinary approach to managing stress inducers and finding happiness. Julian Treasure would probably say that 2.0 Toronto’s efforts “SOUND GOOD!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zap49WLCS-E
Countdown to 2.0 Toronto: 7 days (Sunday, September 20th, 9-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
www.julianho.ca/2-0
I wanted to share with you my latest Instagram post to segue into the Ted Talk I am going to reflect on.
[A shared moment. Connected through nature.
I literally took this shot 10 seconds before the sun went down.
Amazing to feel how fast the earth revolves.
From day to night. From warm to cold. I went from warm momentous love to contemplative philosophical in 10 seconds.
The warmth of the sunset made me feel free and open-hearted.
The cold of the set-sun made me focused and appreciative.
We experience end to end spectrums of #equilibrium on a daily basis. So the word homeostasis is not just one that revolves around human biology but environmental science. Even though #homeostasis is defined as: "The human body's ability to manage a multitude of highly complex interactions to maintain balance or return systems to functioning within a normal range", it pertains to earth and all living things.
If we can understand the profoundness of this principle we can appreciate all of the ups and downs and side to sides that life brings.
#sunset #love #toronto
#deep #thoughts are flowing through my brain ... time to surf this wave!]
The ted talk I wanted to share is Susan Cain’s “The Power of Introverts”.
To connect the theme of ‘Equilibrium’, and my Instagram post above, I thought Susan’s insights on introversion and extroversion are important reminders about valuing what kind of social beings we are and how to express ourselves most effectively and ultimately, in a balanced manner.
Susan says that our relationship with stimulation is what dictates our intro-extro preference. Some of us need a high level of stimulation to be creative, productive, and vital. Some of us need low levels of stimulation instead. And many of us are those who require both high and low levels of stimulation at different times. Carl Jung says there is no such thing as a pure introvert and a pure extrovert, “if one such person existed, you would find him in a lunatic asylum”. But in general, we tend to identify with one more than the other. Although Susan doesn’t go into too much detail about these ‘ambiverts’, I am fascinated by this ability to be an equal amount introvert and extrovert because I believe I am this myself. My inquiries regarding the origin of introversion-extroversion type-casting leans into the nature vs nurture debate. Are we born a certain way, or is it what we do that influences our type? Am I an extrovert because I am a group fitness coach? Or am I an introvert because I am a personal trainer. In my case, I identify with being both types and therefore I like to think I have the best of both worlds.
At the end of the day, knowing what type of person you are will help you make better decisions for yourself. It will get you into ideal opportunities and out of suboptimal situations. And finally, it will help you nurture relationships that will last and forgo those that will fade, providing you with ample energy to be the best version of yourself this world needs.
Countdown to 2.0 Toronto: 8 days (Sunday, September 20th, 9-12pm, 99 Sudbury)
www.julianho.ca/2-0
This countdown to 2.0 idea of sharing my thoughts on Ted Talks has been brewing in me for a while. Clearly, I am a huge fan of this medium of information delivery and processing. Hence, it has had a massive influence on who I am and what I do. I am so happy to write each countdown note and each presenter profile as the act of writing is so very therapeutic for me. I hope you enjoy each of these notes as a means to deliver information about 2.0 in a tasteful yet welcoming approach. Here is a brief summary of one of my favorites on the power of Work/Life Balance.
“The small things matter, being more balanced doesn’t mean dramatic upheaval in your life.
With the smallest investment in the right places, you can radically transform the quality of your relationships and the quality of your life, moreover, I think it can transform society. If enough people can do it, we can change society’s definition of success”, an excerpt from Nigel Marsh’s Ted Talk: How to Make Work-Life Balance Work.
At 2.0, our presenters will be touching upon these ‘smallest investments’ and sharing their ‘right places’ to enact transformative behaviors.
In this Ted Talk, Nigel shares his rules regarding balance (this year’s theme).
1. Set boundaries.
2. Pace the process.
3. Approach balance in a balanced way.
I often describe 2.0 Toronto as a Ted Talks for Fitness. Instead of having people learn by listening to lectures, people learn by moving through activities. Whether ideas are experienced through words and graphics or through yoga and athleticism, they are still ideas worth spreading.
We will be raising money for The Stop: Food Community Center. In the past we have raised money for Sears Kid’s Cancer Foundation, The Humber River Hospital Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, and Rogers Youth Fund. I hope you can join us on Sunday, September 20th for 2.0 Toronto’s 3rd year to share in the education, the positive energy, and the company of like-minded individuals.
9 more days!!!
Have you registered yet???
2.0 is an opportunity to learn. But not from the best. We are not the best. We would be lying to you if we were the best. What is the best anyways??? We are different. We are outside of the box thinkers and doers. We are agents of change hoping to help as many people find themselves as possible. We blend science and art together and create opportunities for people to become self-reflective and self-fulfilling.
We are opportunity makers. We are individuals in fitness that strive to make the fitness industry into a fitness community. We seek holism. We seek collaboration. We seek connection. We seek variety and diversity. As holistic fitness coaches and presenters, we value the importance of mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual harmony. We hope to share our stories and gifts with you on Sunday, September 20th.
This second ted talk that has inspired us over the last few weeks is one by Kare Anderson.
https://www.ted.com/…/kare_anderson_be_an_opportunity_maker…
2.0 is 10 days away. If you haven't registered yet, I have 2 of my favorite questions to ask you.... 1. Why? 2. Why not?
If you are physically unable or if you already have plans, don't sweat it!
But if you are on the fence for any reason at all ....
Here are my two cents:
The only way I cope with uncertainty is with KNOWLEDGE.
To be aware, to be educated, and to be informed are how I cope with the discomfort of uncertainty.
We live in a world of 'wants'....
We all want to know ahead of time what is worthwhile and beneficial to us.
We all want to feel safe and comfortable, and live free from discomfort.
We all want to know the future before it becomes the present ...
2.0 is an experience that will help you gain insight into the things you've always wanted but currently aren't receiving regarding fitness, health, wellness, nutrition, and direction.
2.0 is an experience that will inspire you to try something different, to think in a different way, to act differently but more mindfully.
2.0 is an experience that aims to give you knowledge so that one day, you will be able to look at uncertainty as an OPPORTUNITY.
Brene Brown's ted talk on vulnerability has fueled our motivation to deliver 2.0's most signature event experience yet. We are putting ourselves out there, we hope you will too.
If Brene would describe 2.0, it would probably sound like this ... "2.0 is a chance for you to learn how the courage to be vulnerable may transform the way you live, love, and lead."
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability