TED Community » Randall Bretz

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Helping others, learning, sharing ideas, collaboration

An idea worth spreading

I believe in 360 degree leadership as outlined by John Maxwell in his book. You can lead from anywhere in an organization, so get busy and start leading.

Talk to me about

Fascinating small towns in the United States and their people.

People don't know that I'm good at

editing video, producing events and programs

My TED Story

When technology and education converge for the betterment of mankind, I get excited. Add to that formula the involvement of dedicated and interested individuals in a community and the outcome can be very positive. TED is leading the way, connecting the latest in technology with people who have informative thoughts to share. After finding TED online, watching and sharing many of the videos then observing how this impacted people in my part of the world, I felt it was time to seek to contribute some of the ideas we have in and around Nebraska. Working with a committee of friends and fellow TED lovers, I coordinated TEDxLincoln in November 2011 and am already looking forward to another in 2012. So, that's what I'm doing.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +2650.00 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +1

  A comment on Conversation: How have we changed so far because of TED??

  Jan 14 2012: One thing that struck me in coordinating TEDxLincoln in 2011 is that there are many positive ideas out there, ideas that can make a difference in a good way. As we take the time to listen to those ideas and incorporate them into our own lives, we can make an impact and in a small way improve our world. This, in contrast to what I've been reading in "In the Garden of Beasts" where fear, threats, and violence can unleash horrible things.

• A comment on Conversation: Put personal finance as a high school requirement

  Dec 10 2011: Junior Achievement has a curriculum that you might want to explore. I suggest you take a look at it: http://www.ja.org/programs/programs_high_personal_finance.shtml

• A reply on Conversation: How has TEDx impacted you

  Nov 9 2011: Yes, Estrella, I used to be the quiet one as well. Watching TED videos and reading some of the materials the speakers have written has helped me become much more comfortable with sharing my ideas.
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: How has TEDx impacted you

  Nov 9 2011: Marlen...perhaps you should gather other students around you and organize a TEDx youth.

• A reply on Conversation: How has TEDx impacted you

  Nov 9 2011: Jamie...love your comparison to TEDx as a nice breeze from a sea of ideas and concepts. Don't you think that now and then a stronger gust of wind comes along and moves you faster and farther? It's been that way for me.
• +3

  A comment on Conversation: What does Lao Tsu mean to you when said: "To lead people, walk behind them"

  Nov 5 2011: I feel to lead you must learn to serve, and to serve you must be able to observe those whom you're serving. You can't do this from the front of the pack.

• A comment on Conversation: Creating a TED Department in Universities

  Nov 5 2011: Interesting thought to create a TED department within higher education, but consider this, TED is education at any time, any place, and without the need to register or formally complete curriculum requirements. It's true adult education at its finest. I'm not sure TED would fit with the confines of higher education institutions.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: What are the top 10 technological inventions that defined the last 100 years?

  Nov 5 2011: 1. Electricity
  2. Jet engines
  3. Internet
  4. Transistor
  5. Telephone

• A comment on Conversation: To create global real time data visualisation screens in every city round the world & on also the web.

  Mar 19 2011: I've watched Rosling's various videos a number of times, but what touches me most deeply are the stories behind the data he presents. I think of the young man who generated electricity in a village in Africa from a windmill he fabricated with old car parts...that story told me more about what's happening in Africa than Rosling's data presentations. I think about the schools that Mortenson has helped build in Afghanistan and Pakistan (read Three Cups of Tea) and those stories touch me deeply.

• A comment on Conversation: What is your response to what is happening in Japan right now?

  Mar 19 2011: I'm a very positive person by nature, but this past week I've felt very down because of what the people of Japan are going through. It's just hard for me to think about what it must be like picking up the pieces of your life, finding a loved one's body in the debris, huddling in a cold dark building not knowing what you'll do next, putting on a protective suit to go battle the crisis at the nuclear plant. I pray for God to help them and to show me what I can do. All I can think of right now is to send some money to help.