Ted Talk #8 Derek Sivers

Derek Sivers had the idea that whatever ideas one has themselves or just hears, the opposite may also be true. He provided several examples, and they were very interesting to listen to. At first, the idea seemed sort of silly. He gave examples about music, where in one country music starts at the 1 count, but in others the 1 is where the number ends. He then continued with an example where a man from Japan asked an American man what the street blocks were called. The man, rather arrogantly explained that only the streets have names, not the blocks. However, when an American man went to Japan and asked a native the streets names, he explained how only the blocks have names, and addresses are based on whichever house was built first, not the order in which they sit. I thought it was interesting how the answer was obvious to the natives when they were in their home, but the opposite answer confused them profusely because they had never thought about it like that before. Both men thought the answers to be extremely obvious. He ended the presentation by saying that "Whatever genius ideas you have or hear, the opposite may also be true." I thought that it related to stereotyping of people. Things that seem obvious to us when observing from the outside, could be completely opposite. I think he was trying to say how we should be open minded and open to other ways of seeing, than most of us are accustomed to. Sivers had a PowerPoint presentation up, and barely looked at it. His presentation was obviously extremely rehearsed, and he seemed less nervous than several Ted Talks i have seen before now. It was easy to relate to this presentation, and it grasped and held my attention for the entire time.