Catapulting TED
Chris Anderson’s plan might make TED 100 times as impactful. From the front row of many TED conferences I have witnessed Chris Anderson, the owner of TED, for 25 years collaboratively guide the evolution and success of TED. At the global announcement of a “Bold New Chapter for TED,” I was headed to take a seat when a TEDster urged me to take a front row seat. It brought back many profound and treasured TED memories of talks, friends and interactions. My support of TED was based on my enjoyment of TED and my belief that Chris Anderson has an uncanny insight and generous spirit committed to generating ideas. Great ideas triumph over massive opposition, prevailing thought and apathy. TED was my perfect playpen. Even bad ideas can generate great ideas. Great ideas get built on. Ideas from hundreds of different experiences and expertise ping off each other creating books, businesses, organizations and initiatives unexpected by the creators. Chris Anderson made the right moves including TED patrons, paying several thousand dollars a day to hear TED talks, would be excited about sharing videos of these talks for free. He created TEDx events generating 100,000 TEDx videos, including my TEDx talk, Homes That Make Us Happy. Now Chris Anderson is going to transfer TED, not to retire but to leverage TED. TED is now a $100mm annual operation with a $25mm reserve. By turning TED over to an institution, organization, individual or group, a potential $2 billion could be invested in TED. This investment could come from one benefactor or five benefactors making $500,000 individual contributions. I have personally met several attendees at TED who could personally make a $2 billion investment or a portion of that amount. With that investment, TED could have 100 times the impact globally as TED leads the way in leveraging and communicating ideas. Chris Anderson, I think is right, that by ceding control he will leverage TED beyond anyone’s imagination. The best news is the entire TED community, staff and Chris Anderson are ready to help the new owners of TED generate and spread ideas. Chris, well done.
*Catapulting TED
@chrisandersonted @ted @TEDx_official #NYC #TED #ChrisAnderson
