Keeping the TEDx Spirit Alive” 99 Balloons is Nothin’

This weekend, we were inspired to save the world, to start penny-pinching for new electric cars (Go, Laura Spanjian, go!), to ponder the absence of nation-building projects and gasp in wonder at the artistic pursuit of prosthetics – all thanks to the series of brilliantly organized speakers at TEDxHouston.

Yet, amidst all of the excitement and irresistible, inspiring talks, our Black Sheep eyes may have occasionally been found gazing away from the stage, toward the ceiling rafters. Why? Because above our heads, thousands of precariously hung red balloons wafted in the air-conditioned breeze, each fitted with paper “idea tags.” Each tag relayed a problem sourced from the crowd’s TEDx applications, and each balloon would drop at the end of the day’s events, encouraging action after a day of inspiration. Yep. Ideas would fall right out of the Wortham Theater sky, hitting TEDsters on the head, giving them a way to take the energy of the day and mix it with the challenges of our community to immediately start a little trend we like to call PROGRESS

As the crowd clapped at the end of each TED talk, our hearts leapt as visions of potential balloon escapees, an unexpected pop or an accidental balloon dump crept into the paranoid corners of our minds. Because, as with any stunt we plan, our goals were bigger than mere entertainment. Our challenge was to orchestrate something that would allow TEDx attendees to walk away with a plan, actionable steps to keep the momentum of the day going while also taking steps toward the issues other attendees brought to light on their applications. Beyond that, it was to design a stunt that would wholly reflect the mission and theme of TEDx – “ideas worth spreading.” Our balloons needed to act as more than just an aesthetic experience, they needed to mean something. And they did just that. They spread around the room, brightening the faces of attendees making them smile. They migrated from one head to another and were hauled off to cars with solution cards still intact. Step one: Check.

Step two? We like to call it, Step “Do.” We charged a huge group of motivated people with a simple task –do something. Taking a single meal to someone who is homeless, sending art supplies to an underserved school, and encouraging tired, stressed co-workers to spend quality time outside of the office might not seem life-altering – but small steps lead to bigger opportunities. And small steps allow people to take immediate action. So let’s get moving, TEDsters! Let’s take action. We’re excited to see how, when and where you incorporate this little part of TEDx Houston into the broader contexts of your lives – and, more importantly, into the lives of others. Isn’t that what this is all about? Let’s make those little ideas balloon into BIG things.

Step three? Share it with the rest of us. Visit the TEDxHouston Facebook page and tell your story. Post videos and photos if your challenge offers the opportunity for that kind of documentation. If not, use your words. After all, if there’s one thing we learned on Saturday, it’s that sharing makes all the difference. Don’t let that feeling of being able to conquer the world – you know, that tingling in your stomach that wouldn’t disappear after last Saturday – wane as you go about your ordinary business. You can make an impact and together, we will see those problems YOU submitted slowly diminish from our community. We can’t wait to hear how you are making it happen.