Spark KU

I was having lunch with a friend of mine on Friday and she told me about an event later that evening called Spark KU. As soon as she told me I was like this sounds awesome, I want to go.

This event had applied to be an independent TED talk--yeah. It got denied, so called it Spark. And that's essentially what it was--it was like a mini TED conference and it was awesome.

There were 7 speakers and the KU a capella group (Genuine Imitation). I took copious notes and just want to type them up here so I have them elsewhere than my messy notebook.

Dan Deeble--Pastor at Heartland Community Church

• Started with a story of his 6 year old daughter asked a lot of questions about church/God
• To doubt, to ask questions, to grapple is so important
• A great learner begins with doubts
• "If a man will begin with certainties he will end in doubts; but if he is content to begin with doubts, he will end in certainties" -Francis Bacon
• Good doubt v. bad doubt
• Good doubt
• Is humble
• Asks questions
• Is vulnerable
• Is intellectually curious
• Allows for mystery
• Where the spark begins
• Bad doubt
• Is prideful
• Is closed off
• Makes statements
• Is calloused
• Demands certainty
• Is superior
• Is cynical
• "It's okay to be exactly where you are, but not okay to stay there"
• To remove doubt
• Make a doubt list
• Find someone to share your doubts with
• Doubt your doubt
• Practice your doubt

Riddhiman Das--PhD candidate in Biometrics

• Born in 1990 in India
• Wrote his own programming code, started 3 companies, worked at Google, and Facebook
• Technologist of the year
• UMKC--computer science, math, entrepreneurship
• "I had many things taken away from me, I still made it...so can you."

Amy Long--Greek Life, Associate Director

• Moved from Iowa-->Oregon-->KS
• Invest in yourself and experiences
• Build relationships, be vulnerable
• What are the little opportunities I can say yes to in order to grow, shape myself, etc. so that when the big ones come I can say yes to that
• Stretch myself
• What opportunities should I take a risk on?
• "If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you're not sure you can do it, say yes--then learn how to do it later." -Richard Brason
• When someone is willing to take a chance on me, believes in me, I need to be willing to say yes

Dan Low--MFA, current KU Student #THENEWMYTHOLOGY

• Human beings are a special kind of being because we question how to be
• Want to fulfill potential, transform into how we can be
• Social media--digital entity that relies solely on user

Cody Charles--Academic Enrichment Program for OMA, Associate Director 

• Started with "How did I make it?"--grew up poor, southern Baptist, in a shack
• Mom left him when he was 7, was bullied, shamed, wanted to disappear
• "Angels", people who influenced him
• "You can go to college" --Teacher
• "I saw that and it's not okay" --Spoke when he couldn't
• "You belong here", Introduced to staff, helped him become part of a community. --RA

Curtis Marsh--KU Info

• Everyone is a juggler
• Used prop of juggling (switching hands)
• People ask about 300 questions/day to KU Info
• Don't judge people for their questions
• Seek an answer for any and all questions (even the ones that seem ridiculous)
• Take on perspective
• Get people to do what you want them to do because they believe in you and where you are going
• Lead by creative buy in
• Perspective and balance
• Where are you coming from? How did you get here? Where are you going?

Dr. Shane Lopez--Lead Researcher at Gallup

• 70% of Americans hate their jobs (Newspaper heading)
• Reality: hate=not engaged
• Health is worse if you hate your job
• Researched people who loved their jobs
• It is my responsibility to find a job that is a good job for me
• When we make things, we love things more
• Time spent, people engaged, feeling like you matter
• Test drive the future
• Trust your gut
• Play to your strengths
• Craft your job
• Shop for the right boss
• Individualizes to me
• Wants to inspire me
• Sets high standards and doesn't compromise on them