The Evolution of TED

For almost a decade I've been enjoying the TED conference. For those of you who haven't heard of it, the TED conference is a mind-blowing gathering of deep thinkers from the worlds of Technology, Entertainment and Design (plus any number of fields in and around Technology, Entertainment and Design). Over the years, the audience has become almost as star studded as the speaker lineup -- folks like Matt Groening, Paul Simon, Al Gore, who once graced the stage now show up to listen and be a part of the broader TED community. The result is 4+ days of mental over-stimulation, followed by exhaustion and then a countdown until next year's TED.

This year marked the 25th anniversary of TED. The conference started as a small gathering back in 1984 and has grown over the years in both scale and notoriety. Up until a few years ago, TED grew by virtue of word of mouth. Folks like myself who had the good fortune of finding our way to TED would inevitably return signing its praises and bring a few friends with us the next year and the next year and the next year. That all changed when the TED organization decided to release videos of the TED talks into the World Wide Web. Since that time, TED talks have been viewed over 100 Million times and awareness of the TED conference has skyrocketed, as has demand for the conference.

In response to rising demand and the logistical challenges associated with TED's old venue in Monterey, California, the TED organization moved the conference this year to the Long Beach Convention Center. In many ways, Long Beach could not be further from the quaint, upscale TED tradition in Monterey. For one thing, the old Monterey theater held a mere 500 people, whereas the new Long Beach venue accommodates 1,700 in the orchestra alone. Long Beach is a city. Monterey, a town. For those of us making the transition from the TED of old to the TED of new, the contrasts were great and comparisons near impossible to avoid.

Given all that, it is not surprising that many of the TED old guard expressed deep concern about TED in Long Beach. They felt that it was too large, too impersonal, too lacking in community. They objected to the new, bigger theater. They complained about the impersonal character of the city of Long Beach. And they weren't too fond of the food either.

So why am I not surprised by these complaints? And why do I think that the TED organization should not be too concerned? Those of us in the startup world have seen this play before. When companies succeed, prosper and grow, there inevitably comes a time when they need to move out of their quaint, nostalgic offices and into new, bigger, often less-personal digs. The employees who have been with the company since its inception bemoan the change, pointing to it as evidence that the company has lost its bearing. They are certain that the company will not survive the transition intact. And while some of those early employees may not make the transition themselves, the growing and prospering company usually does.

Those companies that manage to transition best from small, gutsy startups to large, established companies are the ones with the strongest corporate cultures. While growing companies inevitably have to make certain adjustments to their traditions to accommodate their increased scale and trajectory, the heart of their corporate cultures remains vibrant and continues to support the companies' expansion.

So too with TED. The TED culture is a powerful one. Indeed, the culture of TED has continued to grow over the two and a half decades it has been in existence. That powerful culture has been reinforced by the philanthropic bent of Chris Anderson, who has been TED's "curator" for almost a decade now. People attend TED, not only to have their minds expanded, but with high hopes for helping build a better planet. And with that overarching goal, the TED culture remains vibrant.

I suspect that some long-time TEDsters will drift away as a result of the move to Long Beach. But there will be plenty of eager participants ready to take their place. And those of us who remain will continue to be treated to a dizzying mental carnival, surrounded by an eclictic community of friends, old and new alike.

Comments

[https://me.yahoo.com/a/ESsDKpISmfa1ALc6wGdV_qk1QQ--#8570c]

Seems like TED's mission is to spread their ideas as far and as wide as possible. Grousing about taking the venue broader (and maybe down the socioec scale) seems to be a bit elitist. The more people that can consume TED's ideas, the better off everyone is. Even if they don't get to hang in beautiful locales.

[jontrue.wordpress.com]

David
TED was a blowout this year, both in size and in ambition. While the size comparison was frequent and we all felt like we lost a bit of the charm of the old, quirkier TEDs of years past in Monterey, the scope, quality and substance of this year's TED was extraordinary. Chris and his team took a big gamble with Long Beach, but by the end of the second day, I sensed the tide turning (along with the content) to the thoughts of the grand challenges and opportunities ahead. As with all TED conferences, we were left with a grand mission, great hope for the future, and a (now larger) set of talented people and ideas with which to accomplish our collective goals.

TED this year was incredible. Congrats to Chris and his team for taking a big gamble and winning even bigger.
Jon

[Gucci handbags]

Gucci is a famous brand in the world , and is originate from Italy and create by Guccio Gucci. He is a famous designer. His products are popular with most of people . His design are originality and natural. Gucci bags and Gucci outlet are also popular and elegant. You can search for our website : http://www.gucciusaoutlet.com.

[Jordan Hydro]

We do indeed have a no shoes policy.Guests are advised in advance to bring their slippers if they choose.I grew up in Canada where lines of shoes and slippers by the door was the norm.

[buy taobao]

oh that's nice!

[air max 90]

*Love is ever the beginning of knowledge as fire is of light.!@

[china wholesale factory]

live and lend live.

[DEKARONデカロン-RMT]

DEKARONデカロン-RMT of a site.rmt ff11 The cost of a site would be how much it costs to run it. The worth of a site is determined mainly by how much revenue the site is bringing in.信長の野望Online RMT Other factors would include how much traffic the site is bringing in on a monthly basis, email subscribers if any,アラド戦記 rmt rmt ドラゴンネスト メイプルストーリー RMT アラド戦記 rmt rmt アラド rmt ff11 信長の野望Online RMT 大航海時代-RMT DEKARONデカロン-RMT

[UGG Sale]

who once graced the stage now show up to listen and be a part of the broader TED community. The result is 4+ days of mental over-stimulation, followed by exhaustion and then a countdown until next year's TED.

[Replica Lv Bags]

All of the GTA games have been reasonably intense, of course!

[yachtcharter]

i like what ted became meanwhile.. a lot of great conferences there, with guys from many domains. my favorite still remains tony robbins' conference

[Supra Shoes]

I don't feel up to that.

[juicy couture bags]

If we can only encounter each other rather than stay with each other,then I wish we had never encountered .

[Lebron James Shoes]

who once graced the stage now show up to listen and be a part of the broader TED community. The result is 4+ days of mental over-stimulation, followed by exhaustion and then a countdown until next year's TED.

[1045 steel]

You made some clear points there

[New Balance 576]

I sensed the tide turning (along with the content) to the thoughts of the grand challenges and opportunities ahead. As with all TED conferences, we were left with a grand mission, great hope for the future, and a (now larger) set of talented people and ideas with which to accomplish our collective goals.

[MBT Trainers]

Thank you for sharing. Very happy to see your article, I very much to like and agree with your point of view. Have a good time.

[griffey shoes]

Thanks for your great post.I gonna be back definitely to check the new.
It is great that something interesting here could be found.Excellent work!

[red bottom shoes]

Life is a leaf of paper white, there on each of us may write his word or t

[Cheap Beats By Dre]

there on each of us may write his word or t

[griffey shoes]

Thanks for your great post.I gonna be back definitely to check the new.
It is great that something interesting here could be found.Excellent work!

[Herve Leger Dress]

"The temperature is rising and the girls here are looking extra-hot in swimsuits and bikinis: stripes, spots, florals, fringing and cut-out - you name it, they have it!"

[oakley holbrook]

I very agree with your views from here.

[oil expellers]

Show them how much they mean to you and seize this opportunity before life has you in the fast and furious dating lane again.

[Pellet Mill Plant]

.I gonna be back definitely to check the new.
It is great that something interesting here could be found.Excellent work!

[ghd]

I just like reading all the blogs.

[rolex daytona]

Vallarino said that once he learned about Varela's dismissal he spoke with Martinelli to voice his support for Varela.Vallarino, a former banker and businessman, has maintained Panama's economy vigorous during his 26-month tenure, with three international rating agencies putting the country's credit rating on a positive outlook.Martinelli has repeatedly asked Vallarino to remain as finance minister until he finds a replacement to ensure the healthy development of the Central American country's economy, which is projected to grow 9 percent this year.

[Dried Fruits]

I read your post and I found it amazing. Your thought process is wonderful.

[louboutin schaussures]

i went to the same school as patrick. i remeber those girls from my school who wrote in. they were white trash...i always felt so bad for them.

[manolo blahnik shoes]

Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

[ugg]

Borse Gucci un nome ben noto a tutti gli europei.Benvenuto al Gucci Sito Ufficiale!Negozio Borsa di Gucci spedizione gratuita.Nuovi prodotti di Borse Gucci 2011 http://www.gucciborseit.com ,Borsa Tracolla Gucci http://www.gucciborseit.com .Ampia selezione di Gucci Borse http://www.gucciborseit.com , 50% sconto.Garantiaualità di 100%.http://www.gucciborseit.com

[ugg]

Bottes UGG http://www.2011uggbottes.com/,dernière mode de nos jours! Vu lourdes et de style laid, les UGG Pas Cher http://www.2011uggbottes.com/ n’enchante du premier coup personne. Pourtant, grace aux stars, elles deviennent tout de suite à la mode en Europe, aux Etats-Unis, au Japon.même dans le monde entier. En faite, les Chaussures UGG http://www.2011uggbottes.com/ugg-chaussures-c-52.html doivent son origine aux chaudes bottes pour les surfers australiens après surf. Et après, elles sont exportées aux Etats-Unis, s’y répandent progressivement. Actuellement, comme dit le président de UGG France http://www.2011uggbottes.com/, ce sont de bonnes chaussures une fois portées, vous ne voulez plus vous déchausser! Enfin, l’originalité, la crédibilité et la confort de luxe.2011 UGG Bottes http://www.2011uggbottes.com/2011-ugg-bottes-c-47.html, une légende de nos jour!

[Rolex Daytona]

If Enterprise is afoot, wealth accumulates whatever may be happening to Thrift; and if Enterprise is asleep, wealth decays, whatever Thrift may be doing.
Replica Rolex
Rolex Daytona
Replica Omega

[red bottom]

It's great to hear from you and see what you've been up to. In your blog I feel your enthusiasm for life. thank you.

[cheap jordan 11]

Thanks for sharing. This website is to I too have to help. Very good.

[cheap jordan 11]

Thanks for sharing. This website is to I too have to help. Very good.

[bieber supra]

well this blog is great i love reading your articles.

[UGG Kenly]

The blog article very surprised to me! Your writing is good.

[Australia UGG]

Thanks for sharing. This website is to I too have to help. Very good.

[moncler jackets shop]

So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)