Dealing with Turbulent Times

I’ve been reading a lot lately about how we pamper our kids too much – that in the US we don’t have the problems of scarcity and need that forge the drive and character needed to produce champions. At some point, though, we all experience tough times - whether it is circumstances that hold our feet to the fire or something within ourselves. I know that in launching the Insight Speaker Series, I am putting my own feet to the fire. I’m risking a lot to throw myself into something I believe in. In my case, I’ve made a choice. But rapid changes in the economy, in world affairs, in the environment are driving a lot of us into risk that we hadn’t anticipated. Lost jobs, a threatening world, our resources disappearing – how can we come together to create the innovative solutions we need to not only survive, but to thrive through these tough times?
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was simply a teacher who wanted to live a quiet life with his family. But the revolution against apartheid in South Africa did not allow him that fate. Instead, when faced with violence from all sides, he chose to stand up and make a difference. Isabel Allende was a mother and part time journalist in Chile when her uncle, Salvador Allende, died in the overthrow of his government and she was forced to go into exile. This experience lit the flame that inspired a lifetime of writing about men and women of ideals, adventure and passion that illustrate for us how people of courage face uncertain times.
The speakers of the Insight Series were all chosen because they come from the center of major change. Their stories of courage, of inspiration and of leading edge discovery provide for Denver audiences the opportunity to engage with critical ideas and to create a forum for dialogue with each other.
What causes some people to have the courage and conviction to create positive solutions in difficult situations? For some it is the search for truth. Bob Woodward has been opening our eyes to our government’s critical decision-making processes since he broke the story of Watergate. After over 30 years of writing bestselling books and Pulitzer prize winning articles, he can open our eyes to current movements in the political sphere. A new voice, Reza Aslan, speaks out to audiences with an informed and fresh perspective that we need to hear about the struggle within Islam and our policies in the Middle East. Charles Barkley, celebrated basketball star, says of his idea to run for Republican Governor of Alabama “"I really believe I was put on Earth to do more than play basketball and stockpile money. I really want to help people improve their lives, and what's left is for me to decide how best to do that." Carole Baldwin brings her stories and a multi-media presentation of her explorations and discovery in the deep ocean and talks about changes in the ocean that affect our planet. And we end with Dave Barry because really, in these challenging times, we all need to able to laugh for a bit about ourselves.
By taking one evening each month to learn something new, to hear from speakers of courage and conviction, to discover new ideas from speakers on the leading edge of research, you will gain critical insights on what is going on in our world and be motivated by those who lead the forces of change. As the team at TEDTalks says ““Every so often it makes sense to emerge from the trenches we dig for a living, and ascend to a 30,000 foot view, where we see, to our astonishment, an intricately interconnected whole.”
We all hit times when our feet are held to the fire – when change and uncertainty give us the choice to either stand up and make a difference, to stand to the side and watch the world change in front of you, or to be trampled in its wake. Which group will you be in? As Steve Jobs says in his 12 Rules of Success, “Learn continually. There’s always ‘one more thing’ to learn! Cross-pollinate ideas with others both within and outside your company.” By bringing together corporate, political, and community leaders of Denver for this ongoing cross-pollination of ideas, we are creating an important foundation for all of us to find innovative solutions to the challenges of our rapidly changing world.
To me, being able to create that 30,000 foot view is what inspires me to risk everything. I’m not a media mogul or a large corporation. It’s just me – a single mom with a passion and a team that I’ve gathered around the idea of this Series.
If you share my vision and passion for these ideas, please pass this on to everyone you know who will be interested