Want a dose of inspiration?  Check out the TED Conference talks, which you can view online.

Here are some talks from this year’s conference that I found inspiring and fascinating:  “Daniel Kahnman:  The riddle of experience vs. memory“; “Raghava KK:  Five lives of an artist“; “James Cameron:  Before Avatar … a curious boy“; and “Bill Gates on energy:  innovating to zero!” (which you can watch below).

According to its website, Ode Magazine and online community is for intelligent optimists.  The magazine and online community features inspiring stories of people making a difference in the world.

You can experience the current issue of the magazine online.  I say experience because some articles include compelling videos, such as the video below which features Krishnammal Jagannathan speaking about India’s complex caste system, and what it’s like to be labeled an “untouchable.”

Lastly, as you may know, I’m drawn toward anything involving pie.  So, naturally, I was drawn toward an article in the current issue entitled, “Mission Pie teaches city youth about food.”

Karen Heisler, co-founder of Pie Ranch (yes, Pie Ranch!) and Mission Pie, said something I’ve been saying for years:  “Pie is a great vehicle to work with.”

(Thank you, “Downtown” Scotty Brown, for introducing me to Ode.)

As I continue to search for a full-time job, I continue to learn about job searching (lucky me).

I’m finding it challenging to write a cover letter and resume that stands out — and that will get me an interview.

I’m now more tempted than ever to do crazy things (such as the Redbox photo shoot), or write crazy things (see cover letter below), to get noticed.

Perhaps, though, if I just follow Guy Kawasaki’s resume writing advice, I’ll land a big fish.

As a side note, I’m often very tempted to write funny, somewhat crazy cover letters, just to see if I get any response.  As an example, here’s the opening paragraph of the cover letter I wrote for a “beer ambassador” job with Karl Strauss Brewing Company, which is based in San Diego.

Dear Karl Strauss Staff,

I’m trying to stay seated as I type — this is my dream job!  If you have any doubt how PASSIONATE I am about good, micro-brewed beer, ask my good buddy Scotty (847-508-4215) how much crap I give him for drinking Coors Light.  On top of that, I absolutely LOVE Karl Strauss beers (especially the Red Trolley Ale!).

I’m a curious person and love to learn (sometimes doctors remove brain tumors through patients’ noses!), and I found the following article really helpful:  “How to Become a More Effective Learner.”

One of the tips that really resonates with me is “teach what you’ve learned to another person.”

My roommate Randy and I practice this a lot.  For instance, if I notice him reading a book, I’ll ask, “What did you learn?” And I’ll keep asking until he answers.

If he refuses to answer, I’ll begin poking him.  That almost always works, and then everybody learns:  I learn new, interesting things and he deepens his learning by teaching me (even if he does it just to stop me from annoying him).

Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love, which I read this past year and really loved.  It’s funny, touching, deep (at times profound), fascinating and really funny (or did I already say that).  In it Gilbert shares incredibly vulnerably about her journey of emotional and spiritual growth.

Gilbert recently spoke at the TED Conference, an annual conference about ideas.  Her short talk (I think all talks at the TED Conference have to be under twenty minutes) is about a different way to think about creative genius.  It’s funny, fascinating and touching (kind of like Eat, Pray, Love, huh?).  Enjoy!

(Quick side note:  many of the talks from this year’s TED Conference are available online for free.  Some of the smartest, most interesting people from around the world shared their ideas.  Perhaps give yourself a personal development gift by carving out some time to watch one, two or ten talks.)

Joseph Campbell, who died in 1987 at age 83, is perhaps best known for this simple but profound saying: “Follow your bliss.”

Campbell was a scholar, who studied the role of mythology in cultural and human development, especially in the areas of spiritual, psychological and religious development. (Side note: Campbell was a big fan of psychologist Carl Jung, who I’m a big fan of, too.)

I’ve only read snippets of his writings, but I want to read more. His ideas fascinate me, and many resonate with me.

If I understand Campbell correctly, the most important thing you can do for yourself and the world is “follow your bliss” … because that will lead to your own fulfillment and meet the needs of the world.

Yet, according to a blurb on the Joseph Campbell Foundation website, “it is important to note that following one’s bliss, as Campbell saw it, isn’t merely a matter of doing whatever you like, and certainly not doing simply as you are told. It is a matter of identifying that pursuit which you are truly passionate about and attempting to give yourself absolutely to it. In so doing, you will find your fullest potential and serve your community to the greatest possible extent.”

I appreciate what therapist Margaret Paul wrote in reference to Campbell’s saying: “Following your bliss – following what brings you joy – is the way toward your highest good. How wonderful that we have such a direct and profound way of knowing what is in our highest good!”

Now, if only following my bliss was as easy as it sounds! I find it difficult to trust my bliss.

To that, Campbell might say, “… don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.”

If you’re interested in learning more about Campbell’s life and ideas, check out the Joseph Campbell Foundation website and the Joseph Campbell Wikipedia entry.

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, recently gave the commencement address at Harvard’s graduation ceremony. During her address, which is touching, funny and deep, she talked about the benefits of failure.

While sharing about some of her own failures, she said: “… failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was … I was set free, because my greatest fear had already been realized, and I was still alive … rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

I think that’s a pretty good description of the transformational journey from false self to true self.

You can read or watch the entire address on the Harvard Magazine website.

The good folks at Shadow Work recently produced the Clean Talk CD. Alyce Barry (in photo at left), who helped produce the CD, describes the Clean Talk process as “the cleanest, most effective way of making any difficult conversation safe and productive.” I plan to order a copy.

I recently discovered Speaking Circles International, an organization that helps people improve their public speaking (and their capacity to be present and loving in any situation) by helping people develop their ability and capacity to be relationally present.

Hot damn! I love it!

Lee Glickstein is the founder of the organization, and (in my opinion) he’s developed an emotionally and spiritually mature paradigm for public speaking: focus on Relational Presence, not performance.

If you’re interested, check out Lee’s video below (it’s about eight minutes long), but also check out the Introduction to Relational Presence page, which includes a really great exercise.

One of the great things about this public speaking paradigm is that it’s about love. And doing the exercises and training is about emotional and spiritual development — i.e., growing in one’s capacity to give and receive love — as much as it is about public speaking. Brilliant!

Enjoy … and let me know what you think.