TED Tuesday: How to Overcome Overwhelmed — Terry Brock

"I’m still exploring all the benefits of using LinkedIn. I have taken classes, read books and it’s exciting to decide which aspects I want to explore"

Good Morning Folks,

If you've ever been overwhelmed with technology, you will love this TED Talk. Technology is overwhelming for some people.  They try to learn too many new things at once and they end of giving up the process.  Once we learn how to change “No Way” to “Not Yet” we gain control and give ourselves time to learn new and exciting technologies.  

Terry is a marketing and communication expert who shares ideas on how to use technology to build business relationships. He helps individuals and organizations realize potential they didn't know existed.

Terry Brock is a columnist for Business Journals (43 papers across America), a blogger, and a marketing coach. He has worked with clients like AT&T as Editor in Chief for their award-winning industry blog and with Skype as their Chief Enterprise Blogger.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx


Terry’s approach to his topics are down to earth, entertaining, and easy to grasp. According to Terry, "once we learn that we are in control things calm down. "

We tend to blame others or the circumstances. Asking ourselves…why not?…helps us stop the blame game and look for action and solutions.  Prioritizing which new strategies to learn also helps. " I’m still exploring all the benefits of using LinkedIn. I have taken classes, read books and it’s exciting to decide which aspects I want to explore"…not everything…just the ones that fit for now. 

Embracing technology will drive your future whether in your career or keeping up with your kids. I hope that we shed more light on a topic everyone struggles to keep up with and encourages you to invest in your own growth and development as a way of life, not just a moment in time.

Have a GREAT day!

 Mitch

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“It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't.”

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Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the fourth consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

Ted Tuesday: Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

“You’re imperfect, and you’re wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” Brené Brown studies vulnerability, courage, authenticity, and shame.

Good Morning Folks.

Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She has spent the past decade studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame.

Her 2010 TEDx Houston talk on the power of vulnerability is one of the most watched talks on TED.com, with over 18 million views. She gave the closing talk, Listening to Shame,  at the 2012 TED Conference in Long Beach.

Brené is the author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (2012). She is also the author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller The Gifts of Imperfection (2010), and I Thought It Was Just Me (2007).

Brené is also the founder and CEO of The Daring Way – a teaching and certification program for helping professionals who want to facilitate her work on vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness.

Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

Here’s the thing: Brown: A few years ago she had a nervous breakdown and started to see a therapist. 'The therapist said to me, “You have to embrace your vulnerability,” and I was like, “Screw that.”’

In her new book she writes, 'We are hardwired to connect with others, it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives… Before I knew it, I had been hijacked by my research participants who, when asked to talk about their most important relationships and experiences of connection, kept telling me about heartbreak, betrayal and shame – the fear of not being worthy of real connection.’

As part of her work she tried first to understand why a handful of people believe in their own worthiness; she calls these people 'Wholehearted’. She loses me a bit here. Is Wholehearted another word for happy, I ask her? 'No,’ she says adamantly. 'In fact I think our capacity for Wholeheartedness can never be greater than our willingness to be broken-hearted. It means engaging with the world from a place of vulnerability and worthiness. It’s about being all in, saying, “I’m here and I’m going to love you fully and if you cheat on me you’re going to devastate me and break my heart, but I’m not holding back because this is short.”’

Tears spring to her eyes as she says this. In fact, it was her realization that she herself fell far short of Wholehearted that tipped her over the edge.

Have a look at Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability:

Brené Brown is an absolute legend. This is groundbreaking - not in terms of peoples awareness of these subjects and what they mean... But in these messages enhanced communication made accessible to a wider audience on this level. Really awesome stuff.

Thanks to The Telegraph for inspiring me to watch this talk, and to you for listening.

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

About TEDx 

x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Ted Tuesday: Choose Yourself— The One Secret For Doing A TED Talk (Or Any Talk)

“If you don’t make the choices in your own life, then someone else is going to end up making them for you, and it won’t be good.”

Good Morning Folks,

Today a must watch of James Altucher, an amazing writer at TED talk! James has helped me CHOOSE MYSELF in the past year through his books, blogs and Podcasts.

James is a successful entrepreneur, chess master, investor and writer. He is the author of the WSJ and Amazon Best-Sellers “Choose Yourself” and “The Power Of No” as well as ten other books. He has started and run more than 20 companies, and sold several of those businesses for large exits and failed miserably at all the rest. His book “Choose Yourself” explains how he rose from repeated failure to find success. He has also run venture capital funds, hedge funds, is an active angel investor, and currently sits on the boards of several companies.

Says James, "Giving a talk is the worst thing you can do to your body. First off, you want to pee, crap, and puke right before you go on stage. In other words, your body thinks it's about to die."

His secret: "I've already written that before I give a talk I listen to standup comedy. It triggers the mirror neurons in my brain and helps me to relax, and maybe mimic how they work their voices and bodies, and helps me to connect better with the audience."

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. James Altucher is now considered to be a renowned author and serial entrepreneur, but in this brutally honest talk, injected with outrageous humor, he reveals how at one point failure led him to consider suicide, and how he turned his life around by following five key practices.

Improve your physical health (focus on exercise and diet), improve your emotional health (be around people that you love and trust), improve you spiritual health (always expressing gratitude), capture your brilliance (write down ten ideas every day), and finally, give without expectation (give your ideas away).

“If you don’t make the choices in your own life, then someone else is going to end up making them for you, and it won’t be good.” Have a look:

EXCELLENT job, James. I love the honesty, the vulnerability, the humor, & teachings. Well done. :)

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

About TEDx 

x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

Ted Tuesday: Panti Bliss, (aka Rory O'Neill)-- "All The Little Things"

"This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Ireland's foremost "gender discombobulist", Panti, shares her experience of the little, everyday things that can have a huge impact on the well being of gay people. Panti expresses her thoughts on navigating a world in which the simple act of holding hands can be a political statement in itself."

Good Morning Folks,

While captivating an audience is a skill that takes years to develop, there are some simple ways to instantly improve your speaking and presentation skills. In this awesome TED Talk; not only can you see a great speaker in action… tackling a subject we're all a little uncomfortable with... and you can broaden your knowledge too! 

So just how did a Ballinrobe altar boy grow up to become one of Ireland's most powerful and glamorous women? That's the mystery solved by in today's installment of Ted Tuesday.

Panti Bliss, (aka Rory O'Neill) who made international headlines last February after an impassioned speech against homophobia on stage in Dublin went viral, was invited to do a TED talk on September 12 and the speech, which showcases Panti's wit and speaking talents spectacularly, was posted to YouTube yesterday.

The speech, titled "All The Little Things", concerns the homophobia in society which chips away at a gay person's self worth and well-being:

Bliss: "Everyday I am jealous of straight people because that tiny intimate expression of affection has never once been mine...I am jealous of that because gay people do not get to hold hands in public without first considering the risk...We look around to see where are we, who’s around, what kind of place is it…are there bunches of lads outside a pub? ... I’m 45 years old and I have never once casually, comfortably, carelessly held hands with a partner in public... I’m 45 and I’m fed up of putting up so I’m not anymore. I’m 45 years old and I’m not putting up anymore because I don’t have the energy anymore. Putting up is exhausting. I’m 45 years old and I’m not putting up anymore because I don’t have the patience anymore. I was born 6 months before the Stonewall riots and you have had 45 years to work out that despite appearances, I am just as ordinary, just as unremarkable, and just as human as you are. I’m 45 years old and I’m not asking anymore. I am just being…human being."

Poignant, intimate, and powerful,here's Panti Bliss getting a standing ovation for an unforgettable Ted talk on homophobia: 

I love and hate seeing things like this. I love them because I love to see people talking and standing up for who they are. Panti Bliss is right! It is the small things, and they begin to add up. As a straight man I am very lucky to do those little things carelessly. I'm looking forward to the day everyone cannot do so without a second thought. 

For all those who can't yet feel safe or comfortable, you have my full support and love.

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

Ted Tuesday: Matt Killingsworth Want To Be Happier? Stay In The Moment.

'People want a lot of things out of life, but I think, more than anything else, they want happiness. Aristotle called happiness "the chief good," the end towards which all other things aim. According to this view, the reason we want a big house or a nice car or a good job isn't that these things are intrinsically valuable. It's that we expect them to bring us happiness."

Good Morning Folk,

Today I’ve decided to share a TED that is relevant to what I want this blog to be, and my role in life as the Chief Happiness Officer. This talk hasn't broken the Internet, nor has the popularity of the Grump Cat, but with over 3 million views in its own right, its worth a look.

Everyone on this planet deserves to be happy, nobody deserves sadness. You and you alone have the power to change your thoughts, feelings, actions and everything else about yourself that you want to change. If you want to be happy, the only thing stopping you is you.

I watched an amazing TED Talk a while ago titled Want to be happier? Stay in the moment by a guy called Matt Killingsworth. According to Matt:

"It’s an important question but one that science has yet to fully answer. Yes, people are generally happier if they make more money rather than less, or are married instead of single, but the differences are quite modest." 

My research is driven by the idea that happiness may have more to do with the contents of our moment-to-moment experiences than with the major conditions of our lives. I

A few years ago, I came up with a way to study people’s moment-to-moment happiness in daily life on a massive scale, all over the world, something we’d never been able to do before. This took the form of trackyourhappiness.org, which uses iPhones to monitor people’s happiness in real time. 

My results suggest that happiness is indeed highly sensitive to the contents of our moment-to-moment experience. And one of the most powerful predictors of happiness is something we often do without even realizing it: mind-wandering. 

Among the surprising results: We're often happiest when we're lost in the moment. And the flip side: The more our mind wanders, the less happy we can be. 

Now in the last 50 years, we Americans have gotten a lot of the things that we want. We're richer. We live longer. We have access to technology that would have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago. The paradox of happiness is that even though the objective conditions of our lives have improved dramatically, we haven't actually gotten any happier 

As it turns out, people are substantially less happy when their minds are wandering than when they're not. Now you might look at this result and say, okay, sure, on average people are less happy when they're mind-wandering, but surely when their minds are straying away from something that wasn't very enjoyable to begin with, at least then mind-wandering should be doing something good for us. Nope. As it turns out, people are less happy when they're mind-wandering no matter what they're doing. For example, people don't really like commuting to work very much. It's one of their least enjoyable activities, and yet they are substantially happier when they're focused only on their commute than when their mind is going off to something else. It's amazing.

So how could this be happening? I think part of the reason, a big part of the reason, is that when our minds wander, we often think about unpleasant things, and they are enormously less happy when they do that, our worries, our anxieties, our regrets, and yet even when people are thinking about something neutral, they're still considerably less happy than when they're not mind-wandering at all. Even when they're thinking about something they would describe as pleasant, they're actually just slightly less happy than when they aren't mind-wandering. If mind-wandering were a slot machine, it would be like having the chance to lose 50 dollars, 20 dollars or one dollar. Right? You'd never want to play. 

My hope is that over time, by tracking people's moment-to-moment happiness and their experiences in daily life, we'll be able to uncover a lot of important causes of happiness, and then in the end, a scientific understanding of happiness will help us create a future that's not only richer and healthier, but happier as well."

The lesson here isn’t that we should stop mind-wandering entirely—after all, our capacity to revisit the past and imagine the future is immensely useful, and some degree of mind-wandering is probably unavoidable. But these results do suggest that mind-wandering less often could substantially improve the quality of our lives. If we learn to fully engage in the present, we may be able to cope more effectively with the bad moments and draw even more enjoyment from the good ones.

So.... stop worrying about your future, what will happen will happen and you have little control over it until the moment arrives. Stop dwelling on the past, the past is the past and it’s now over. There is no need to dwell on it because you cannot change it now. Live in the present moment. You won’t regret it.

I want fanatical happiness to be way that YOU can make yourself happier. 

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

Ted Tuesday: An Economist Walks into a Bar: TEDx Talk by Robert Litan

"Business models and structures that have contributed to the success of endeavors such as Cupid.com, Priceline, Google ads, Amazon, and sabermetrics in sports. "I think economists deserve some respect," Litan said.

Good Morning Folks,

In this TEDx talk, Robert Litan, a nonresident senior fellow in Economic Studies, tells the Kansas City audience "how economists and their ideas have contributed to the rise of the entire Internet economy and to some of the iconic companies within it." Litan reviews the contributions economists have made to business models and structures that have contributed to the success of endeavors such as Cupid.com, Priceline, Google ads, Amazon, and sabermetrics in sports. "I think economists deserve some respect," Litan said. Watch below or on tedxtalks.ted.com:



Litan is author, with Ian Hathaway of Ennsyte Economics, of the recent papers, "The Other Aging of America: The Increasing Dominance of Older Firms" and "Declining Business Dynamism in the United States: A Look at States and Metros."

This talk was part of an event titled "Changing the Narrative," held on August 9, 2014.

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

Ted Tuesday: Pixar Storyteller Andrew Stanton ("Toy Story," "WALL-E") on Storytelling

"Whether it is something you want to sell, to make others see your point or just something you want to share. If it comes with a good story, something the listener can relate to, that is true to you as the teller of the story. That is a good story! One that the other will remember and even retell to friends or relatives."

Good Morning Folks,

In today's Ted Talk Filmmaker Andrew Stanton ("Toy Story," "WALL-E") shares what he knows about storytelling — starting at the end and working back to the beginning.

Stories are especially relevant to FSO as, like Hollywood, we start with a blank canvas and a vision and begin (re)imagining for our a clients a future very different from the known and expected.

I love telling stories. I grew up listening to stories at family gatherings and always encouraged my running friends to tell stories during group runs. Even catching up with friends, for me, is about telling stories.

A good story can make a campfire that much eerier. A good story can flip a conversation at a party from completely awkward to wonderful. A good story can glue your nose to a book. And, on screen, a good story can rivet generation after generation.

So, uh, how do you tell one?

In order to tell a good story, though, don't you need to get out and live and have experiences? I mean that is a story right?

A time when...
A place where...
A person who...

Alternatively, I suppose you could just be extremely imaginative and creative and make up a story, but I think the best ones have an element of truth.

The art of making a story about what you want to share with the world.

Storytelling makes life easier for everyone. Without it, every form of communication would be lost in translation. Storytelling turns the most complicated subject into something simple. It makes a boring task enjoyable. With a little exaggeration thrown in, storytelling is the conveyance of ideas into something meaningful. It is a powerful communicator that makes ideas come alive, making room for community sharing, learning and exploration!

The film industry quickly understood that introducing language, via talking, wasn't just about dialogue. You had to tell a story. The rise of the scriptwriter ensued, with films making or breaking based on the script. It is ever so today. Films can be simple or sophisticated, but their success depends on our understanding of the messaging, the story.

Visual messaging -
keep it simple stupid or keep it visual stupid. A picture really does tell 1000 words.  You just have to select a good image that goes with a good story.

Know your Audience -
pitch your message to the audience intended. That means understanding your messaging well enough to change it for each group.

Review your Audience -
ensure you messaging is understood by asking them what you said.

Andrew Stanton, the Pixar writer and director behind both Toy Story and WALL-E, has many ideas, and he shared his expertise in his TED Talk, The clues to a great story.  Andrew Stanton has won two Oscars and is the writer behind Toy Story. His TED talk, Clues to a great story, details seven important topics for every storyteller. The full video is embedded below.



Whether it is something you want to sell, to make others see your point or just something you want to share. If it comes with a good story, something the listener can relate to, that is true to you as the teller of the story. That is a good story! One that the other will remember and even retell to friends or relatives. 

 So tell a good story, it will make an impression that lasts.

Let's all go make things happen today. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 



About FSO Onsite Outsourcing

Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the second consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

Ted Tuesday: Amy Cuddy on The Power of Body Language

"So I think it's more interesting, especially when watching leaders, to look for warmth and trustworthiness nonverbals. Look for natural smiles, for body language that is inviting, positive, and that signals interest in the other person or people. Even a gentle touch -- one that's appropriate, of course -- like when one candidate gently touches the other on the shoulder. ~~Amy Cuddy

Good Morning Folks,

I found a really interesting Ted Talk for you this morning. One that really makes you think about something you never gave much thought to before. But in the service business, as we are, body language speaks volumes in conveying trust and making lasting impressions, good or bad. So take heed,

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Harvard Business School professor Amy Cuddy (#37 if 50 Women Who Are Changing The World), shows how "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

Everyone talks about the importance of "body language," but few people understand how much of an impact it actually has — not just in the way others perceive us, but in terms of how we actually perform.

Photos via Business Insider:

Professor Cuddy studies "body language"--the non-verbal communication 

that can tell us almost everything about what is going on in a given situation.  

Says Cuddy, "So I think it's more interesting, especially when watching leaders, to look for warmth and trustworthiness nonverbals. Look for natural smiles, for body language that is inviting, positive, and that signals interest in the other person or people. Even a gentle touch -- one that's appropriate, of course -- like when one candidate gently touches the other on the shoulder. A nice, relatively recent example is watching Obama when he sings the first little bit of the Al Green song "Let's Stay Together." Not only does he have a surprisingly good voice, but when I watch people watch him break into that big smile, I watch them melt -- I watch them warm up as they're watching him. It's contagious and hard to avoid. Obama has become pretty good nonverbally on both dimensions, although I think his ability to convey warmth has gotten much better as he's become more relaxed. You see more of those natural smiles. He comes across as strong without seeming like an over-aggressive alpha. And I think he knows when it's time to be really powerful nonverbally, and when it's time to play it down a little bit."

Certain "power poses" don't just change how others perceive you, Professor Cuddy says. They immediately change your body chemistry.

And these changes affect the way you do your job and interact with other people.

One thing to note in this talk already seen by five million folks around the world is Professor Cuddy's tips for giving the kind of dynamic presentation you are about to see— fuel your mental engine:

• Dopamine and epinephrine help regulate mental alertness. Both come from tyrosine, an amino acid found in proteins.
• So make sure to include protein in the meal you eat before you need to be at your best. And don’t wait until the last minute. When you’re really nervous the last thing you may want to do is eat. -

Professor Cuddy concluded her talk with a startling revelation about herself, one that led her to choke up momentarily. Then the talk ended in a standing ovation. Have look at a great speech from great speaker:


Thanks to INC, Huffington Post and Business Insider who helped me prepare his post and most of all to you, for watching.

Let's all go make things happen today. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the second consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.

Ted Tuesday: Dan Dennett — Cute, Sexy, Sweet, Funny

"Why are babies cute? Why is cake sweet? Philosopher Dan Dennett has answers you wouldn't expect, as he shares evolution's counterintuitive reasoning on cute, sweet and sexy things."

Good Morning Folks,

Today on MitchWeiner.com I am pleased to share another of the dynamic TedX talks that have been viewed by millions of people worldwide.

We think backwards. As a species we tend to think of cause and effects as reversible: “post hoc ergo propter hoc.” That means “after this, ergo because of this.” This is of course a logical fallacy, because saying that “since something came after this event, it was obviously caused by the event it came after”. Yet it is the way we as human beings think all the time.

Why are babies cute? Why is cake sweet? Philosopher Dan Dennett has answers you wouldn't expect, as he shares evolution's counterintuitive reasoning on cute, sweet and sexy things (plus a new theory from Matthew Hurley on why jokes are funny).

What about funny? What is funny for? It must be important, mustn't it? We spend billions of dollars annually on candy and cookies, sexy advertising and pornography, and the cute mice, bears, dragons, and fish of the animated film industry, but we also spend billions on comedy -- funny movies, funny television, funny books, and comedians. We pay good money, and stand in line, and even take time out from eating and making love to satisfy our voracious appetite for humor. Why do we have the taste at all? What good is a funny bone? Other species don't seem to need one.

And why has it taken so long for someone to realize that this is an important puzzle? 

In this video Dan explains a very similar idea. We think of something a certain way, not because of a quality innate in it’s materials, but because of our brains interpretation of it. As Dan used in his example, Babies in and of themselves are not cute. Cute is just our interpretation in our brain, explaining our need to keep it alive. Humans can sometimes learn this way, as a child we can learn, that things are dangerous, not because they actually are, but because we have mental associations with it (ex: we’re spanked if we steal.) In and of itself, the act of stealing is not negative, but because of our brains, we interpret it as bad.

This video is simple in its approach and well done. It’s definitely with the seven minutes to watch it.

Thanks, Daniel, for continuing to stretch my thinking and approach to this world. Thanks to TedX project and Huffington Post and most of all to you for listening.

Let's all go make things happen today. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Love Life!

Mitchell D. Weiner

Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form.TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE. 

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the second consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.