Questioning Assumptions with SHARP

At the TEDxHastingsSt 2019 event on 10 August, we addressed assumptions. One definition for assumption: a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. We all have assumptions about the world and about ourselves. They help us make sense of the world, and they help us make decisions and drive our culture. So, we asked our attendees for answers to: How should we question our assumptions?

Sharp Answers

Adam Meadows and Arno Van Heerden from Sharp NZ in Hastings helped us capture the answers with Sharp’s Interactive Touch Panel.

How should we question our assumptions?

Some interesting answers were offered. Hal Josephson, who spoke at TEDxHastingsSt 2018, suggested the 5 Why’s method of asking why 5 times. Rebecca said that we should question our assumptions often and with an open heart. Alessandra said, “don’t believe always what your mind tells you.” Someone else has drawn a pair of glasses and written ass on one lens and u+me on the other. No doubt, this is a reference to the common pun that to assume is to make an ass of you and me. Other answers were more simple. One person wrote, “carefully and with deliberation.” Another person simply said, “listen.”

Often and with Deliberation

These are all great answers, and I would invite you to read them all and try to decipher them. Think about what the author wanted to say, but also think about the lesson you would want to take from it. For example, someone wrote, “spend a day in Maraenui,” which is an underdeveloped neighborhood in Napier. This answer could have a variety of negative overtones. However, I have spent a great deal of time in both Maraenui and Flaxmere in Hastings. Both neighborhoods have some amazing people in them who are more hospitable and more eager to help than people I have met elsewhere around Hawke’s Bay. Some of those people are gang members. To me, this answer suggests that we should not be quick to judge whole neighborhoods based on social stigmas.

Register

Also, if you are interested in speaking at TEDxHastingsSt, please click https://forms.gle/BAxDWDq5TY5rPV2T7 and register your interest. If someone you know is interested in speaking at TEDxHastingsSt, please send them the link. Thank you!

Radio Kidnappers Interviewed TEDxHastingsSt

Today, I was interviewed as a member of Rotary on Radio Kidnappers about TEDxHastingsSt. Lynne Trafford presents Rotary Wheels every Monday at 10 in the morning on 1431 AM and 104.7 FM here in Hawke’s Bay. Lynne is a charming woman with a pleasant and distinct voice. I, on the other hand, have a voice better suited to silent film.

We had a great chat about how and why I joined Rotary Club of Napier. During that time, I mention Peter Silverforce who also happens to host a radio show on Radio Kidnappers called Special Sounds which is focused on jazz.

After that, we spoke about TEDxHastingsSt. Listeners will learn about the reason Hastings St was chosen for the name of these events. I also speak a little about why we chose the speakers we did for this year.

The episode will broadcast Monday the 29th of July and Monday the 5th of August, both at 10 am. If you are unable to listen at the time, you can still hear the episode online. Once our episode is aired, they will upload it as a podcast, and we will share the link.

We are also talking to Radio Kidnappers about doing more shows on the station that will be specific for TEDxHastingsSt. So, be sure to subscribe to our mailing list below under Follow Us, or you can click through to this link.

If you are ready to buy tickets, you can click through to iTICKET. You can also buy your tickets from Hastings I-SITE, Havelock North I-SITE, and Napier Municipal Theatre. Be quick because our early bird tickets are selling fast.

Theme: Questioning Assumptions

The theme for last year’s event was culture. If you look at the talks from last year, few of them actually address culture directly. A TEDx theme is used like a compass for the event’s organizers and to prepare audiences for the type of talks the speakers will give.

This year’s theme

This year, we will address assumptions. One definition for assumption: a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. We all have assumptions about the world and about ourselves. They help us make sense of the world, and they help us make decisions and drive our culture.

Assumptions help us stay safe and avoid risk, but they can also help us avoid opportunities. We cannot think outside the box and affect change without questioning the assumptions we make. That means we cannot improve our world or ourselves until we question our assumptions. The reason is simple, an assumption that appears true and positive for one person may appear false and negative for another.

An Example

Dieting is a great example. We assume that eating more vegetables and exercising more will help us lose weight. Sometimes this is the case, but the truth is far from simple. Maintaining the motivation to eat a special way and exercise constantly is just unrealistic. As individuals, we have to question our assumptions about dieting.

Not everyone will lose weight the same way because we don’t all gain weight the same way. For some people a low fat diet will work but not for others. For some, a low carb diet will work but not for others. In dieting, we can’t just change our eating and exercise habits to the latest fad diets. We have to address our own personal health needs, and form a diet and exercise routine that will help us lose weight and maintain the motivation to do so. Some people need to do it on their own, but others need a team of friends to help them. Dieting, like anything else, is more complicated than just the assumption that eating veges and running will solve the problem.

Step Two

TEDxHastingsSt is on a journey of development improvement, and we hope you’ll join us. We began by celebrating the cultural diversity of Hawke’s Bay. The next step will be to question our assumptions in order to create positive change. The speakers will present ideas that help do just that.

Soon, we will show off our new logo for the 2019 event. Stay tuned!

The Logo for 2019

If you didn’t see our previous post, the theme for TEDxHastingsSt 2019 is Questioning Assumptions. When it came time to design this year’s logo, we wanted to keep the same designer, Sandra McNair at The Print House in Havelock North. They did all of our printing and most of the design for last year as well. We were so happy with last year’s results, that we could not imagine asking anyone else to design our work this year.

The new logo for 2019

Geometry & Metaphor

We really liked the simplicity of the logo last year. We also liked the geometric metaphors that Sandra used to represent the fluid and interconnected nature of our theme, Culture. If you never saw the logo from last year, you can view it here, http://tedxhastingsst.com/tedxhastingsst-2018/.

This year, we wanted something equally meaningful but still impactful for the theme of Questioning Assumptions. So, we thought about the nature of assumptions. They often act as limits to our thinking. However, we also wanted to think about what happens when we question and correct them.

As human beings, we naturally make assumptions. We put limits around ourselves, our friends, our co-workers, our beliefs, etc. Although these limits are what define our cultures, they often create a box around our thinking that prevent any growth or change. When we question our assumptions, that box begins to grow. Therefore, our understanding of ourselves and the world around us can begin to grow as well. So, our square logo is a visual representation of that mental expansion.

Speakers?

Also, if you or someone you know wants to speak at the event, the final date to express interest has been pushed back by request to 30 Match. Click here: https://goo.gl/forms/snDC1KfUiUPejaVt2.

Also, don’t forget to save the date, 10 August 2019. More information is coming soon.

The Logo for 2019

If you didn’t see our previous post, the theme for TEDxHastingsSt 2019 is Questioning Assumptions. When it came time to design this year’s logo, we wanted to keep the same designer, Sandra McNair at The Print House in Havelock North. They did all of our printing and most of the design for last year.

The new logo for 2019

Geometry & MetaphoR

We really liked the simplicity of the logo last year. We also liked the geometric metaphors that Sandra used to represent the fluid and interconnected nature of our theme, Culture. This year, we wanted something equally meaningful but still impactful for the theme of Questioning Assumptions.

As human beings, we naturally make assumptions. We put limits around ourselves, our friends, our co-workers, our beliefs, etc. These limits often create a box around these things that prevent any growth or change. When we question our assumptions, that box begins to grow. Therefore, our understanding of ourselves and the world around us can begin to grow as well.

So, our square logo is a visual representation of that mental expansion. Also, don’t forget to save the date, 10 August 2019. More information is coming soon.

Speakers?

Also, if you or someone you know wants to speak at the event, the final date to express interest has been pushed back by request to 30 Match. Click here: https://goo.gl/forms/snDC1KfUiUPejaVt2.

THEME: Questioning Assumptions

The theme for last year’s event was culture. If you look at the talks from last year, few of them actually address culture directly. The theme is used more like a compass for the event itself to prepare audiences for the type of talks the speakers will give.

This year’s theme

This year, we will address assumptions. One definition for assumption: a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. We all have assumptions about the world and about ourselves. They help us make sense of the world, and they help us make decisions and drive our culture.

Assumptions help us stay safe and avoid risk, but they can also help us avoid opportunities. We cannot think outside the box and affect change without questioning the assumptions we make. That means we cannot improve our world or ourselves until we question our assumptions. The reason is simple, an assumption that appears true and positive for one person may appear false and negative for another.

An Example

Dieting is a great example. We assume that eating more vegetables and exercising more will help us lose weight. Sometimes this is the case, but the truth is far from simple. Maintaining the motivation to eat a special way and exercise constantly is just unrealistic. As individuals, we have to question our assumptions about dieting.

Not everyone will lose weight the same way because we don’t all gain weight the same way. For some people a low fat diet will work but not for others. For some, a low carb diet will work but not for others. In dieting, we can’t just change our eating and exercise habits to the latest fad diets. We have to address our own personal health needs, and form a diet and exercise routine that will help us lose weight and maintain the motivation to do so. Some people need to do it on their own, but others need a team of friends to help them. Dieting, like anything else, is more complicated than just the assumption that eating veges and running will solve the problem.

Step Two

TEDxHastingsSt is on a journey of development improvement, and we hope you’ll join us. We began by celebrating the cultural diversity of Hawke’s Bay. The next step will be to question our assumptions in order to create positive change. The speakers will present ideas that help do just that.

Soon, we will show off our new logo for the 2019 event. Stay tuned!

Save the Date!

We have finally found the right venue for this year’s event. We can’t share the address because it isn’t finalized yet, but you should save the date, Saturday 10 August 2019. It is nowhere near school holidays. The event will likely happen from 1:00-6:00 pm. So, parents can still get their kids to sport and even have lunch with them.

More information is coming soon such as the new logo, the venue, the theme, and ticket sales. Stay tuned, and watch this space. You might even want to subscribe to the blog!