Belief and Evidence: The Two Lanes of Innovation | Alex Lee | TEDxPlano | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Taking risks, making mistakes, and gaining evidence are crucial for innovation and making good decisions in a rapidly evolving world.

Key Insights

• 💄 Making bad decisions and taking risks are essential for gaining valuable experiences and making good decisions in the future.
• 👻 Belief and evidence play crucial roles in decision-making, allowing individuals to have faith or rely on proof depending on the situation.
• 👶 Companies that reject new technologies and fail to innovate risk becoming obsolete in a rapidly evolving world.
• ✊ The story of Walt Disney showcases the power of belief and vision in innovation and creating lasting legacies.
• ❓ Evolution is an ongoing process, not only in technology but also in human development.
• 🥺 The example of Western Union highlights the consequences of failing to adapt and embrace new technologies, leading to the downfall of a once-prominent company.
• ❓ The importance of constantly innovating and evolving to avoid becoming obsolete is emphasized.

Transcript

so I like making good decisions and I think you probably like making good decisions you see these good decisions they come from experience and as Mark Twain told us these experiences they come from making bad decisions and if you take risks you making these perhaps these bad decisions and if you're taking a risk it means you're innovating so my que... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the speaker's personal experience in terms of making bad decisions and gaining experience?

The speaker shares that after starting a company and making mistakes, they gained valuable experience that eventually led to making good decisions.

Q: How did the speaker's wife challenge their decision to become a professional gamer?

The speaker's wife made them realize that by not constantly learning and acquiring new skills, they might become obsolete when competing for jobs against educated individuals.

Q: How does the speaker compare belief and evidence?

The speaker explains that beliefs can be based on faith or intuition, while evidence requires proof. They suggest that people can switch between the two depending on the situation.

Q: What lesson is learned from the story of Walt Disney?

The story of Walt Disney emphasizes the power of belief and vision in innovation, exemplifying how his belief in making people happy led to the creation of Disney World and the Epcot Center.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares personal experiences of taking risks, making mistakes, and gaining experiences, leading to making good decisions.

• The importance of constantly innovating and not becoming obsolete in a changing world is emphasized.

• Examples of companies like Western Union and BlackBerry, who rejected new technologies and eventually faced downfall, highlight the significance of embracing change.