What if Changing Our Focus Could Transform the World? My Adventures Hosting TEDxBrighton.

As I stepped out of my comfort zone and onto the stage at TEDxBrighton, I was filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation (and fear!) As the host of this incredible event, I had the privilege of guiding the audience through a day filled with inspiration, insight, and a powerful call to action.

From memory, I summed up the four parts as:

• inspiration,

• exploration,

• education,

• and admiration.

This year's theme, on their 10th anniversary  "Got your attention! Let's change the world by changing what we pay attention to," resonated so deeply with me that I said YES to hosting the event.

The wonderful event brought more than 1,300 attendees who gathered to hear from 20 amazing speakers and two or three great art pieces including music and dance to the beautiful Brighton Dome.

A HUGE THANKS TO ALL THE SPEAKERS.

For making my job, so much easier, by being great and being so lovely. As I met them the night before. And even though only for a short time was brought instantly to the feel and vibe of the event. Which seemed to be one big happy family of great people wanting to do great things by the world.

One of the most memorable moments for me was when Amy Polly, the Chief Mindfulness Rebel, who bravely went first, and shared her concept of "funfullness." Her infectious enthusiasm and joy reminded us all of the importance of incorporating fun and playfulness into our mindfulness practices. I've been handing out Funfullness tokens (mentally) ever since!

Another standout speaker was James Dempster, who spoke about the power of storytelling. As a storytelling champion myself, I was deeply moved by his insights and the way he connected with the audience. Mark Blake, Co-founder of Joyfully Different, also left a lasting impact with his talk on creating a "Joyful House" in our lives.

Throughout the day, I was struck by the diverse range of topics and the way each speaker approached the theme of changing what we pay attention to. From Kian Bakhtiari's call to never stop imagining to Tansy Dowman's reminder to appreciate the beauty of nature, every talk offered a unique perspective on how we can shift our focus and create positive change.

As the host, I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and connect with the speakers, curators, and volunteers who made this event possible. Their passion and dedication were truly inspiring, and I am grateful for the hard work they put into creating such a memorable experience.

I was as much a host – as a member of the audience – in awe of the speakers and theme.

HIGHLIGHTS

One of my personal highlights was seeing my instantly good friend Bud Johnston MCIM deliver a powerful and authentic talk about how we are all more than one thing. His message resonated deeply with me and many others in the audience.

Other speakers, like Dean Spears and his mission to save our seas with Sussex Bay, and Gayle Berry's heartfelt reminder that love creates love, left a lasting impact on all of us. Another speaker who left a lasting impression was Mo Kanjilal, Co-Creator at Watch This Sp_ce.

Mo's powerful talk about diversity and inclusivity had the audience on the edge of their seats. As someone who is passionate about building inclusive communities, I found Mo's words to be both inspiring and thought-provoking. Mo's talk continued more deeply about the power of listening and understanding our differences was another powerful moment that encouraged us to recognize our biases and seek out different perspectives. Which inspired me to go on TalkTV Radio and then write this blog…

if you can believe that 😊 True story.

FAMOUS FOR A REASON.

One of the most impactful speakers - and probably the most famous - of the day was Simon Squibb, the founder of HelpBnk and a TikTok-famous entrepreneur. (With over 4.5 million followers on TikTok.)

Simon shared his philosophy of "givewithoutake," challenging us to question the transactional nature of helping others.

And taking 4 – rather than taking 5 – and so taking 4 minutes a day to help the world without a desire for anything in return. His words struck a chord with the audience, and I could see heads nodding in agreement as he spoke.

"When we give without expecting anything in return, we create a ripple effect of positivity that can change the world,"

Simon said, and I couldn't agree more. So much so I then ad-libbed my ending and gave everyone the chance to download my book on the FifthIndustrialRevolution for free!

Throughout the day, I had the opportunity to interact with the audience and witness their reactions to the speakers. During the breaks, I engaged in conversations with attendees who were eager to share their own stories and insights. It was clear that the talks had struck a chord with many people (as had my #ShowYourStripes shirt from Dresscode Shirts) and I was thrilled to see the energy and enthusiasm that filled the room.

As the day progressed, I found myself reflecting on the broader implications of the theme. In a world that is increasingly divided and polarized, the idea of changing what we pay attention to feels more important than ever. By shifting our focus to the things that unite us rather than divide us, we can create a more compassionate and connected society.

This sentiment was echoed by many of the speakers, including Gayle Berry, whose mission is to nurture the future by focusing on the first 1,001 days of life.

"When we invest in the well-being of our children, we invest in the well-being of our world."

Gayle said, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope and possibility. It might be too late for me and my brain – but the next generation and the one after might well be saved.

As the host of TEDxBrighton, I had the unique opportunity to witness the impact of these ideas firsthand. Seeing the audience members connect with the speakers and with each other was a powerful reminder of the importance of community and shared experience. It was a fulfilling experience to be a part of something so meaningful and to know that the ripple effects of this event would continue long after the day had ended.

In the words of Kian Bakhtiari, founder of The People,

"We have the power to create the world we want to see. It starts with the stories we tell ourselves and the stories we tell each other."

As I reflect on the stories shared at TEDxBrighton, I am filled with a sense of optimism and purpose. By changing what we pay attention to, we can change the world – one story, one connection, one moment at a time.

Thank you to everyone who made TEDxBrighton possible – the speakers, the curators, the volunteers, and the attendees. Especially Toby Moore, Kate Moore and Vicki Jakes. Who I was honoured to be able to finally single out for your own attention.

Your passion, creativity, and commitment to making a difference are truly inspiring. Let us carry the insights and inspiration from this day forward and continue to pay attention to the things that matter most. Together, we can change the world.

But one aside, it completely drained me, so NOPE, I aint doing hosting again.

Keynotes on the future of work, AI and technology YES.

But not hosting day long events – NOPE.

I am too old for it. But I loved doing it.

Next time, just in audience please.

Or doing a talk - like last time :)

THE AMAZING SPEAKERS FOR TEDxBrighton

Simon Squibb, the founder of HelpBnk and a TikTok-famous entrepreneur

Mark Blake, Co-founder of Joyfully Different

Nahum, a visionary artist known for his artistic space missions

Mo Kanjilal, Co-Creator at Watch This Sp_ce

Amy Polly, Chief Mindfulness Rebel

Jessica Chapplow, Founder of Heartificial Intelligence

Tom Morphew, Founder of Full Circle Farms and The Garden Army.

James Dempster shared his diverse experiences as a marketer

Bud Johnston MCIM, founder of Boxless, BARCO & Men of Melanin, shared his mission to build a community of happy & effective people.

Hady Milani, the Scientific Director at the European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability

Gayle Berry’s mission to nurture the future by focusing on the first 1001 days of life

Kian Bakhtiari, founder of The People, shared his journey from being a classroom troublemaker to a social entrepreneur.

Oge Ejizu, Leader at Black Girls Hike, shared her passion for hiking and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Woodzy, an award-winning Flo Poet, delivered a spoken word performance.

Tansy Dowman, Founder of Tansy in the Wild,

Dean Spears, Head of Blue Natural Capital, Sussex Bay,

 Natalie Benmayor, from Capsule Eleven Jewellery

A HUGE shout-out to Toby Moore, TEDxBrighton’s director

And my co-hosts Bianca Cefalo, and Sam Zindel, for curating such an amazing lineup.