I've got an idea

There's a lot of problems out there. And a lot of solutions. But it's harder to find them. You have to really make an effort, which is why a lot of people don't bother looking for them. So when you find one on your doorstep, it's really exciting...

Like Minds is an event taking place in Exeter on Friday 16th October. It's a conference, and the theme of this first event is measuring social media. It's the brainchild of Scott Gould (A guest blogger in September) and Andrew Ellis. What interests me about Like Minds isn't the content (which will be really interesting - there's great speakers), but the attitude. I think there is nothing more exciting than people with ideas.

I came across a great explanation of what's so exciting about an idea. I found it at Ted.com, and it's part of their explanation about how TED started:

Core to this goal is a belief that there is no greater force for changing the world than a powerful idea. Consider:
• An idea can be created out of nothing except an inspired imagination.
• An idea weighs nothing.
• It can be transferred across the world at the speed of light for virtually zero cost.
• And yet an idea, when received by a prepared mind, can have extraordinary impact.
• It can reshape that mind's view of the world.
• It can dramatically alter the behavior of the mind's owner.
• It can cause the mind to pass on the idea to others.

And that's what's so exciting; with ideas the possibilities are endless. It's very neatly captured in the recent Christian Aid ad - if people put their mind to something anything is achievable.

As I said, there are plenty of problems out there. But there are solutions too, and we might just find one at Like Minds. Who knows!