Lennox Communications

FULL HOUSE: Andrew Hyde, the major driving force behind TedXBoulder, minutes before the event began. (Reporter photo)

A young, enthusaistic crowd packed into Chautauqua Auditorium Saturday afternoon and evening, August 7, for the first TedXBoulder, a local incarnation of the brainy TED Conference phenom.

Some 22 speakers gave short talks on topics ranging from energy efficiency to electric cars to psychotherapy and mobile crowdsourcing in a five-hour talkfest punctuated halfway by an hour or so for a bit of beer and schmoozing, and twice for musical interludes. Nonprofits had set up booths to share their enthusiasm for good causes. Here’s part of what Sarah Welch said on her blog in a review of the event:

There were many talks that followed the theme of finding and loving your true self. There were talks out to save the planet and its people. There was a former professional triathelete, Buddhist monk, school board member, venture capitalist, improv theater owner, astrophysicist, graphics designer, and much more.

Sarah noted that Boulder venture capital investor and all-around tech startup cheerleader Brad Feld had a decidedly un-businessy theme in his remarks:

He spoke candidly about his marriage and all of the things that can get in the way. His solution, or perhaps more accurately, his wife’s solution? A quarterly week off the grid. No phones. No email. No contact with the outside world–just time, solitude, and each other. This is quite a lovely idea, and this idea may have been the most practical of the night. It’s also the one I heard most discussed afterwards.

Yes, it was warm under the Chautauqua big top on an August night (we went and sat on the side, near open doors, and felt a cool breeze and had elbow room). But, all in all, it was an inspiring undertaking by the can-do, inspiringly enthusiastic organizers led by Andrew Hyde and Dan Storch. They merit our admiration and thanks.

A lengthier video featuring the demographic insights of Richard Florida appears later in this blog.

For some of us with more than a few gray hairs, insights into younger people can be extremely useful, both in navigating life and in our marketing and business activities. Rebecca Thorman, writing in the blog modite.com, shares insights in her post, “Generation Y is too quiet, too conservative.” Source of her insight? She is one. Excerpt: “Generation Y is so overly focused on the yin of consensus that we’ve lost its yang of conflict.” Read story.

The Economist penned this very revealing article pointing out that, somewhat counterintuitively, PR is thriving despite the recession. The reasons are many, and the article has major insights about why firms are stepping up their use of PR in a time of turmoil. Read article.

A talk by futurist Gerd Leonhardt at Google, March 13, 2009. Extremely thought-provoking and highly recommended for media professionals.

No, social media isn’t the quick cure to marketing ailments, but it can invite prospective customers and clients to get to know you better, writes Jay Baer in his interesting blog, Convince&Convert. I particularly liked this point:

Social media is the perfect conversion half-step. Not sure whether you’re ready to buy a Toyota? Visit us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter, or read our blog, or watch our videos. Each of them will show you what our brand is REALLY like, and you won’t have to wade through all this pesky navigation and flash movies to get what you need.

You may find value in reading the whole post.

This is an MP3 audio file of a talk by Robert McChesney in Portland, February, 2009, “Journalism and the Future of Democracy.” McChesney is Professor of Communications at University Of indiana. (more…)

Very useful insights into how innovators all rush to live together in about 40 regions worldwide. That’s just one “big idea” from this presentation by author Richard Florida, delivered earlier this year on the Google campus in Silicon Valley.

Richard Florida, “Who’s Your City?” from Bob Wells on Vimeo.