Innovation is a fascinating to think about, especially as we head into 2025. There is so much around us, so much technology, so many new devices and programs.
Do they always work? No.
Are they entirely necessary? Sometimes, also no.
But when something new comes along that is truly creative, in a way that you can’t believe no one had ever thought of it before… it’s magic. Pure creativity is watching someone think differently, outside of the confines most of our minds live within. In some cases, it can also be finding creativity and innovation by working *within those same confines.
That is my favourite way to breed creativity for myself - put me in a box, give me some rules, and tell me what needs to be done. That is how I thrive. I think it was something I always did, but didn’t necessarily see it as a strength. In my line of work as a speaker, creativity is key, finding your own voice, your own style, your means of delivery, new material and ways to connect with an audience. I always want things to feel fresh, even if I’m telling the same story.
I recently celebrated 35 years as a speaker and I had an itch to do something different, I wanted to innovate. But how do you do that when your job is telling stories? I wanted to change the way I interact with audiences. It became a thought I couldn’t escape.
Then during a chance conversation with 2 friends that own a software company, that lightening struck. They had a software called “ShowUp” that is used by companies to allow people to give live, anonymous feedback to a presenter during a meeting/presentation. They could ask the question they may be afraid to put their hand up for. It’s a great software and I can see the value for businesses and schools. Then a question occurred to me, so I asked it: “Instead of live feedback, could it be binary questions?” I’m not sure the series of synapse firings that lead me there, but it had something to do with that itch I’d been having to change the way I connect. And there it was… the way that I could work within the confines I’d been given.
About 8 months of collaborative work later and here we are - “RePurpose Live!” My new keynote concept. 35 years worth of my stories, and the audience gets to choose what I talk about, with live voting, in real time, using devices they already have. 3 choices, 4 times throughout the show, each choice leading to a different slide with 3 more choices on it, dozens of possible combinations of stories. It’s “Choose Your Own Adventure” for 2025!
I couldn’t be more excited to put this out in the world and show students and educators how their choices matter and the difference they can make. It all started with an itch to create, asking a simple question and working within the established boundaries to create something new out of the materials you already have - that’s what RePurposing is all about.
What are ways that you and your leadership team can RePurpose at your school? What do have to work with? What can you make with it? It’s time to start thinking outside confines, while working within them.
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Ian Tyson has been a professional motivational speaker since 1989. He performs in front of tens of thousands people every year at businesses, conferences and educational institutions around the world.
An author, passionate home cook and award winning comedian and speaker, Ian brings humour and high energy to all his interactions. He encourages people to shift their Mindset towards Positivity and Resilience, through recognizing the Power of their Choices and the value of Gratitude. Ian took a childhood trauma and turned it into a life of Optimism and wants to share those tools with everyone.
He has been a TEDx speaker, accomplished host, and author of his book, "Hooray For Everything! The Optimist Manifesto." Ian is an avid home cook, and was featured on the Food Network Canada show “Wall of Chefs” in 2020. Visit iantyson.ca for more information.
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