From the Desk of Caspar
3 New Ideas that can shape the next decade
Regular readers will know my belief that there is nothing more important to achieving your goals in life than the influences that you allow into your world.
Last week, I had the privilege of spending 4 days with 60 of the sharpest minds on the planet whilst skiing and debating ideas in Courmayeur in Italy.
This global group were from technology, science and the investment community and came together to share ideas and inspiration. Here’s 3 ideas that I learnt that can shape the next decade :
Idea 1 - From NeuroScience
Moran Cerf runs one of only 3 neuroscience labs in the world where they undertake studies using up to 1,000 probes inserted into peoples heads to study brain activity in real time. In research on sleep, they’ve found that at a certain stage in your sleep cycle if you expose a person to certain aroma’s you can dictate what dream a person will have. Literally you can hijack someones dreams using the power of smell. The research into how the brain works and how it can be developed and used is just fascinating. Moran and his research are certainly one to follow.
You can watch more about Moran being interviewed on Impact Theory
Idea 2 - Learning and Education
The amazing ShaoLan has built an incredible service Chineasy teaching people how to write and speak Chinese. It’s incredibly simple and literally within 24 hours, my son was writing out characters on our board at home. His words “it’s so simple and so logical - I love it”. Simplifying complexity and making education available to all is a mission that ShaoLan is on.
Watch ShaoLan explaining the system in her highly watched TED Talk here.
Idea 3 - Medicine and Technology
Perhaps the most impactful talk was from Stefan Roever - an incredibly successful entrepreneur in the field of technology and genetics. Born out of his own experiences to treat his own cancer he is on a mission to use AI to give cancer patients a better shot at living. His sharing of his story and what him and the teams he’s built around him is just mind blowing.
To paraphrase his approach to cancer. If you have a problem with your computer or software, you don’t pour acid on it to fix it (what we currently do with Chemotherapy). With software you work out what software update you need to run in order to fix it. Why shouldn’t it be the same for health?
I’m certain that the advances he and his team are making will have an insanely powerful impact on the world making millions of people live better quality lives.
Here’s a an interview Stefan did with Dr Jack Kreindler (also at the event in Italy)
Tip: Surround yourself with the very sharpest minds you can - you simply cannot help but lift yourself to higher levels.
In the Spotlight
Plenty more podcasts coming up - this one minute clip from Mark Metry’s podcast Humans 2.0 is something I believe many of us (me included) need reminding of regularly)
There is little greater reward for what I do than getting customer feedback - this one’s from Sheona Griffiths - Head of Marketing at WPM Education where I was Keynote Speaker at their Edinburgh Event this Feb.
Caspar's presentation was described by our customers as 'captivating' and 'inspiring' with almost all rating the session as excellent. Caspar was one of the most professional and personable keynote speakers I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Really went the extra mile to understand our audience and then gave up his own time to chat further with our customers in the evening, which they really enjoyed. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Caspar - an incredibly talented and genuinely nice man.
Slow Down
Once in a while I’m reminded to stop by some powerful words.
Whilst at sea with our kids we read and wrote lots of poetry - I first heard this poem from a dear friend Paul Covell as we crossed at Atlantic.
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round, or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight, or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly, when you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed, with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last.
Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow, and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die, 'cause you never had time to call and say hi?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day, it's like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life isn't a race, so take it slower, hear the music before your song is over.
Tip: Slow Down. Be present in the moment.
Leadership tip of the week - Real life Resilience tests.
When you’re on your way to deliver a workshop and a keynote and the train in front of you breaks down and you’ve no idea how long it will take to clear.
What do you do?
The video explains it all.
Upcoming Adventures
March 21 - Keynote London - Wellers Accoutants
March 28 - Keynote London - FY Annual Kick Off Meeting
April 10 - Thrive Workshop, London
April 12-14 - Keynote, South Africa
May 2 - Keynote, Dublin
May 15 - Keynote Barcelona
May 19 - Keynote London
May 20 - Keynote London
“In our conference Caspar helped us find how we become awesome, how to become exceptional. For our group this means daring to change, to take risks, to be bold, to embrace both success and failure.
What a way to end our residential Conference to be enthused and inspired by Caspar Craven, sending us off with a spring in our step and a determination to be the best Leader we can be!”