It’s nice to meet people at tradeshows, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming ANLA Management Clinic. But, if our interaction doesn’t happen here, or some other site, where it is in the open and archived--it likely won’t push innovation forward. Why?
Have you heard of TED? It’s an organization that has really smart people give talks chock full of “ideas worth spreading.”
I’m not a TED fanatic, but I’ve watched a few talks. They’re good stuff. But I want to share with you a TED video I’ve watched several times. I think it contains a crucial lesson for our industry.
The director of TED, Chris Anderson, has given two talks. The first was titled, “A Vision for TED,” which he made long ago in 2002 prior to taking over TED leadership. His second came this past July: “How web video powers global innovation.” Basically, he says that naturally innovative people will put their talents into overdrive when they have three things: an audeince, an open stage and talented competition.
Watch this video and ask yourself, “When it comes to convincing the world the value of our plants, do we need to step our game up?”
So, what’s the prospect for the Green Industry? Do we have talented innovators in our industry? Do we have the desire?
Anderson says, “The hardest part is the light, because it means you have to open up and show your stuff to the world. It’s by giving away what you think is your deeepest secret that [others] are empowered to improve it.”
What is “light?” Andersen says that light is “comments, links, Facebook, Twitter, number of views.” This is where we stink as an industry. We are absolutley lame. Yeah, I’m calling us out. We think of ourselves as being perhaps the most “open” industry, where we share trade secrets and swap propagation techinques. But, according to TED, that kind of “good-ole-boy” openess is not what drives innovation. It’s light, and as he defines light, we are almost completely in the dark.
OpenHort is a site that wants to be a source of light. The innovators in our industry need (as Anderson lists) commenters, trend-spotters, cheerleaders, skeptics, mavericks and super-spreaders. Which one are you going to be?
You’re more than welcome to do it right here at OpenHort! Leave a comment to let me know that you are willing to do your part. I ask, not to build my ego or to make money off of you, but because for innovation to accelerate we need light!
Awe man, the truth hurts.
sc
So much food for thought. I’ve watched a few TED videos, too, but I think this is the first that I will watch several times. Good stuff. The question is…who is going to do the video work? Is it too difficult for the people in our industry? Has technology finally gotten to the place where the average person can make a video that contributes to the education/learning of the masses? Does it have to look great (logos, editing, etc.) to be effective? I think there is a huge learning curve with making great videos. That’s what I THINK, but is it true?
I’m totally up for this. Let’s make some more videos. As the nursery extension specialist at Kansas State University, I’m thinking along the lines of how to have a nursery (grow plants, test pH, etc.), but as a grower, what are the biggest needs? To have a market for your product? To educate and entice the public to buy your products at local garden centers? Where do we start?
Let’s step up our game. Who’s in?
Cheryl: Yes, making “professional-looking” videos takes a LOT of time, skill and creativity. But so does writing a great article. Everyone has access to a pencil and paper, but the results they get depend on talent and passion. It would be best to have both, but if you could only choose one…I think passion would win every time. The most important thing at this time is that people who love plants use every means they can find to share their love to others. We need to talk about plants more, and video is, I believe, the best medium because it is the most emotional and visual way to tell a story. ~Art