Complete text from 1997 Apple ‘Think Different’ commercial:

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world… are the ones who do.”

jayparkinsonmd:

Here’s my talk at TEDx Mid-Atlantic a few weeks ago. 

staff:

NY Times Sunday Review cover story on the entrepreneurial generation, Tumblr upper right

jayparkinsonmd:

I made it back from Australia last night. Traveling there is no fun, but once you’re there, it’s really lovely. I was gone for a total of 11 days or so. The conference that invited me to speak put me up in a hotel room for two of the nights. But the rest of the time I used Airbnb. I rented a car and drove from Brisbane to Sydney, about 600 miles. I had no itinerary. If I liked an area, I’d stay there. If I felt the urge to move on, I’d move on. Every morning I’d fire up Airbnb and find a place to stay for that evening. For those who don’t know Airbnb, this is how they describe themselves:

We connect people who have space to spare with those who are looking for a place to stay. Guests can build real connections with their hosts, gain access to distinctive spaces, and immerse themselves in the culture of their destinations. 

I love how the internet enables me to have almost zero plans and, in real time, meet amazing people and find unique, unforgettable experiences. I stayed at three different places and met some really lovely people. In fact, the people I met made my entire vacation. I’d arrive at their homes, they’d cook me dinner and offer me a drink, we’d go out to dinner and drinks, or I’d simply ask them “What’s the best restaurant around?” We’d get to know each other and then I’d ask them what they thought I should do or see. After they got to know me a bit, they surmised what they thought I’d like. And they were right.

I’m a unique person. And I’m attracted to people who are just as unique, who think a bit differently, and have an insatiable curiosity. This seems to be the exact kind of person who puts their place on Airbnb. I met a 50-something year old couple who’ve retired in the Gold Coast who no longer have children living at home but want to connect with interesting travelers. I met a 20-something year old couple who were both doctors about halfway between Byron Bay and Sydney. They took me out for a truly unforgettable night. And then I met a lovely 31 year old woman who moved to Sydney from NYC. Once we got talking, we realized we knew no less than 10 people in common. We spent three days together with her and her friends. She even let me know about a big festival happening in Sydney last Sunday where I got to see The National (my current favorite band), TV on the Radio, Phosphorescent, The Flaming Lips, and Mercury Rev. A good friend of mine is the guitarist in Phosphorescent. As they were setting up, I moved close to the stage and made eye contact with Jesse and he looked shocked and said “Dr. Jay what the hell are you doing here!??” He obviously didn’t expect to see me in Sydney.

All of this happened because I made new friends and had a built in real life social network everywhere I traveled. From now on, it’s the only way to travel. Traveling is all about seeing new places, but even more importantly, meeting new people in those new places. They’re the insiders and they’re in the know. And they’re just as curious about you as you are about them and the area in which they live. Airbnb is different than the vast majority of things on the internet:

• It connects you in person in real life with interesting people
• It’s very personal, considering you’re being invited into their home

Thank you internet.

Photo of the Blue Mountains in Australia. I had no idea there were massive jungles in Australia.

jayparkinsonmd:

I spoke at a conference at Stanford last month and one of the gifts was this new little device called Striiv. It’s one of the many devices all betting that people want to put some little device on their body and measure stuff, like how many steps you took that day. 

I personally believe that body data tracking is just hype for many reasons. The amount of money these companies are raising is way out of proportion to actual benefit to society. 

But I decided to try this thing out just to say I’ve done it.

On Thursday, I visited the doctor, went to the bank, walked to lunch and to the grocery store for dinner— a very typical day living in NYC. I logged 8,476 steps. The national average is 5300! On Saturday, I walked over the Williamsburg Bridge into Soho and the West Village logging 22,005 steps/10.8 miles, typical Saturday walk with my dog.

When I visit my parents or speak at a conference— essentially, when I visit anywhere else where walking is not my primary means of transport— I quickly understand the value of living in NYC. I’m surrounded by an environment that makes being healthy easy. Living in NYC is one of the healthiest decisions I’ve made. 

That being said, I’m glad this device gave me a baseline and confirmed what I already knew. I walk a lot.

jayparkinsonmd:

Philips just released a new iPad 2 app called Vital Signs Camera that uses the camera to measure your heart and breathing rate. It detects subtle beat-to-beat changes in the color of your face to measure your heart rate.

We’re slowly living in the future.

thoughtyoushouldseethis:

Beth Comstock also co-chaired the Design at Scale event, and she gave a 15 minute snapshot presentation on the importance of design to her in her role as CMO of General Electric. Talk about an eloquent advocate for design. Beth is someone who understands the power of design at a…

Tonight in my class “Design as Social Movement” co-taught with Ben Lee we’re going to talk about the meaningfullness of everyday life and experience in a secular age. We’ll discuss the secular epiphany of lacquer ware through Tanizaki, the morning ritual of a mug of coffee with Sean and Kelly. We’ll go over Barthe’ Mythologies as well. Then wind up with the classic—Clifford Geertz on “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight.

Here’s the deal. The whole concept of what is meaningful to people is drastically changing and ending the utility of the idea of “brand.” Not only is control of brand moving away from producer to consumer, its creation is shifting producer/consumers. This we already know, right?

More important is the changing notion of value in American society. What is meaningful to people is radically changing. We need to know the deep meaning of “meaning” today, in life, in our social relationships and certainly in business. 

What is the biggest turn in meaning? “Made in Brooklyn.” I went to the Lincoln Film Center’s new theatre over the weekend to see Herzog’s Cave. It’s a very “Indie” culture. There’s even a small restaurant and food stand called “Indie” there. The hipster guy behind the stand went on about the chocolate he sold—all “Crafted in Brooklyn.”  Or “Imported From Detroit.”  

The Indie movement—pirates, hipsters, outsiders at the edge—embraces “Made in Brooklyn,” “Made in Portland,” “Made in Detroit.” It’s a cultural turn. What is meaningful to people, to consumers, today, Gen Y and their little brothers and sisters, is not “global,” although that’s not so bad. But the preferred is LOCAL. 

And QUALITY. Materiality is back. Fewer, better made, aesthetically beautiful things/experiences. That is what is meaningful.  The secret to Jobs/Ives’ design is the wonderful materiality of it—feels good in the hand. Tanizaki would love his iPhone. It would have great meaning for him as an experience and as something that allowed him to experience. This is not brand.

Just checking.

Just checking.