Le World Forum for a Responsible Economy de Lille #WFRE19 en est à sa 13e édition. Comme tous les ans, c’est une succession de conférenciers tous plus inspirants les uns que les autres. Mais c’est plus que cela. Pour les conférenciers internationaux, c’est aussi l’occasion de passer 3 jours complets ensemble, de tisser des liens, de s’inspirer, de se faire du bien à l’âme. Et aussi de prendre conscience que les dé fis sont parfois très di érents, et parfois très similaires.
I have to admit, talking about technological innovation and Canadian politics over a drink with Bertrand Piccard of the Solar Impulse FoundationFoundation, is off to a great start. His talk this morning was a great moment, how can I put it... an elevation? When he reminded us that innovation is above all about abandoning old beliefs (e.g.: if you have a fuel storage limit to go further, find a way to do without fossil fuel). To innovate, we have to be willing to let go of our dogmas and change altitude, as in a balloon. If the plane can't store energy, we have to reduce its energy requirements. But the plane will fly, that's a certainty. So he and his team went to see those who didn't know it was impossible, the sailboat builders whose hulls are getting lighter and faster all the time. Aircraft manufacturers, on the other hand, knew it was impossible...
Another lesson in ambition: announce the result before you've even started work, burn the bridges behind you, otherwise you'll find a thousand good reasons to stop (he announced his round-the-world trip without even having built a model, he just had a proof of concept).
The worst handicap is over-specialization. Being too specialized means taking a known, straight road. No ability to anticipate if to get around the obstacle. The key lies in unlikely collaborations.
Other speakers gave lessons in impossibility. Rutopia, in Mexico, has created a way to support local communities' environmental projects by hosting tourists (he doesn't like it, but it's a kind of AirB&B of home-stay accommodation).
Originating in Estonia, the World Clean Up Daymovement has seen over 160 countries, with 36 million people taking part in 2019.
In short, wherever you are, you can turn your activism, your energy, into a moment of grace.
Tomorrow, we're talking about empowering employees. I'll be moderating three very different speakers, Imfusio, Alice délices and EDF. Is this a prerequisite or a consequence of your commitment to making the world a better place?
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