I fell in love with creating things as far back as childhood, playing with LEGO. Back then, creativity was merely a toy.
In high school and university, I assumed creativity could be more – a way to develop new skills and show off what I could do.
But then, I saw a commencement address by the late Steve Jobs
“Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.
Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” – Steve Jobs
…and I wasn’t.
I realized that creating things wasn’t just a hobby, a way to learn new skills, or improve my portfolio, it was the only way in which the world changed.
Every charity, table, water bottle, building, company, or jazz festival at one point, didn’t exist. And I (or anyone) could play a part in creating things that form part of the world going forward.
So, to change the world, make things.
to change the world, make things.Click To TweetTo change the world even more, help others make things.
And that’s the master plan.
When the time came to chose a theme for TEDxLeamingtonSpa in 2015, “Courageous Creations” was an obvious choice. I wanted to bring people together that had made things and celebrate their courage. They were the world-changers I wanted in my inner circle.
TEDx gave way to Viral Message Lab, a place to help others craft messages that reach more people (including with books, podcasts, and talks at places like TEDx). Not only is a message a sort of “product”, but a methodology to help anyone craft a more effective message can also be applied to making any sort of product. It’s one thing to figure out how to do something yourself, but the real power comes from testing this methodology with others.
Around the same time, I started The Maker’s Journey, a podcast where I interviewed people that had created all sorts of things. Balloon dresses, fashion shows, tech companies, spoken word poetry, and films in virtual reality. Despite the differences in what they were creating, I began to see patterns in how they thought. When you see a leather bag designer, a tech founder, and a rapper saying similar things, you know you’re on to something.
I also spoke to many people who aspired to create things – they wanted to be a photographer but had never gotten started; they wanted to start a cafe but didn’t know how; they wanted to write a book but were afraid.
I hope to see a world where one day, those that aspire to make things have the tools, mindset, and courage necessary to make the leap, and my goal is to help make that happen as best I can.
Why?
Because that’s how we can change the world together. I hope you’ll join me.
-Ryan