Chicago Ideas Week: Inspiring people with amazing stories making it happen
Any conception existing in the mind as a result of understanding, awareness, and activity; a thought, conception, or notion; an intention.
These are a few of the definitions of “idea.”
We all have ideas - big ones, grand ones, brilliant ones, terrible ones, fleeting ones. No matter the size or importance, about 99% of them never see the light of day, and of the 1% that do, maybe only about 1% of those ever take shape and become reality, or are put into action (please note there is no science behind these numbers). So, what does it take to turn an idea into something? And not just into something, but into something that works? That makes a difference? That changes lives? That’s what we just spent much of the past week learning about.
For those of you who may not be familiar with Chicago Ideas, which “exists to connect and inspire others, so that we can create a more joyous, thriving city,” the only reason we are writing this post this week is to tell you this: look it up, learn more about the organization and its mission, find out when Ideas Week will be held next year, mark your calendars, and go to as many of the sessions as you can once the lineup is announced. For entrepreneurs, start-ups, established organizations, and curious and engaged citizens, this year had something for everybody. Chicago Ideas was founded to “bring together a community that represents all walks of life to listen, learn, share and act in hopes of enacting real change,” and from what we experienced this past week, it’s been a resounding success.
Here’s a little about the sessions we attended and the people who inspired us to keep trying to make it (insert your own purpose here) happen.
How to Perfect Your Pitch
Suzanne Muchin’s talk on perfecting your pitch
Serial entrepreneur Suzanne Muchin, Co-founder and principal of Bonfire, a Chicago-based venture that exists to ignite the power of women to rewrite the rules of the modern workforce, provided the audience with some critical considerations and recommendations to keep in mind when getting your business model off the ground. Before ever setting foot into “the room” where you’ll be pitching your idea to investors, partners, potential clients, she emphasized the importance of being able to articulate and answer those questions that as an entrepreneur should keep you up at night by framing your thought process with a few prompts. Why Us? Why This? Why Now? Or complete the following succinctly: We believe that if…and...then....How about: We are the only...that...for...in an era which...Perfecting your pitch is about perfecting your internal vision and values first.
Entrepreneurs Can Change the World
Karli and I outside the auditorium
In this panel discussion, we heard from three founders and CEOs that are changing the way we understand and address challenges. All three noted that, to be successful, the first thing you need to do is find a problem worth solving. The Kelsey, dedicated to providing inclusive housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is tackling this issue and filling the gaps in affordability, accessibility, and inclusivity by creating a new housing development model that is a mix of market rate, “workforce” rate, affordable housing, and ADA compliant housing. Democracy Works seeks to change the way everyday people navigate the challenges of remaining informed and engaged with the elections process, from the highest levels of government down to the most local. “Process, not apathy” is the biggest reason why voter turnout is at historic lows in the Unites States according to the organization’s founder. And finally, Kinnos is changing the way hospitals and other health agencies can tackle infection prevention.
Resilience is the Key to Success
Yusef Salaam speaking about resiliency in the face of the judicial system
What is there to say about this one, except, the human spirit can achieve anything. This is one of those you had to be there sessions since we can’t communicate the powerful message of the speakers with any real justice. From taking on ALS to becoming the first blind state supreme court justice to turning injustice into empowerment, please take a moment to learn a little bit more for yourself about some of the speakers:
Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya: I AM ALS
As one of the speakers said- “resiliency is all about passion, purpose, and mission. It’s not about getting over it, it’s about getting on with it.”
Architects on the front lines of social change
Whether designing and building hurricane-proof homes, creating a “library of light” in the heart of Austin Texas, reimagining detention centers, or investing in underserved neighborhoods and re-envision what they can become by rebuilding, rehabilitating, and infilling empty lots, architects are changing the way we think about space, its meaning, and how it impacts and improves our lives. You can watch these and other short films at the American Institute of Architects Film Challenge site.
—
It’s hard to process everything that we saw and heard since, honestly, there was so much to be inspired by it sends your mind spinning in a thousand different directions about what you could do better, how you now feel you have no choice but to go out and get more involved, promote kindness and civility, fight for change, for equity, for a better future. But like all big ideas, the big question is, where to start? What now? It will take awhile to settle our minds, take what heard, distill it down, and figure out how we might be able to apply it to our own work to make it better in order to better service our partners and their missions as well. But still sorting it all out is an okay place to be in for now. It means we’re excited and filled with a renewed spirit and energy to keep pushing forward.
What we can say with certainty is that there is no shortage of truly remarkable people in the world; they’re all around us, in front of us, next to us. Everybody possess within themselves the agency to make a difference, whether you know it or believe, or not. We can all make an impact using our unique talents, resilience, and beautiful brains. It’s important to understand that we don’t need to be exactly like the people we saw on stage or the organizations we heard from who are on the front lines of civic, cultural, social, and economic impact to make a difference. That’s the whole point, I think - to listen to and hear from people that are unlike yourself; that found strength in tragedy; that are fighting what we once thought to be impossible fights; that are reshaping the way we see and interact with the world. The whole point of sharing ideas is be inspired to take someone else’s words and figure out how they might be able to help you tell your own story a little bit better.