How play is the secret to success at work (w/ Maxwell Pearce)
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What is the significance of play in our lives?
You've seen the headlines. Technology is reshaping nearly every part of our daily lives. But have you stopped to consider what it's doing to your body? I'm Elise Hugh, host of TED Talks Daily, and this week we're taking a closer, more personal look at how tech is changing the way we think, feel, and physically experience the world around us. Manoush Zomorodi is taking over as guest host to interview scientists, doctors, artists, parents, and more to explore your body on tech. Learn how to live a healthier, more grounded life in this high-tech era by listening to these talks and special conversations, only on TED Talks Daily, wherever you get your podcasts.
This is How to Be a Better Human. I'm your host, Chris Duffy. I recently had the opportunity to host a day of talks and activities all about play at TED's headquarters in New York City. And I got to rub shoulders with everyone from an internationally acclaimed accordion musician to a high schooler who is an origami master to academics who study just how important play is for our lives. I don't really know anyone who is against play. It's a pretty easy thing to be for. There isn't like a big band-aid lobby pushing for more people to get outside and skin their knees so they can make profits on the bandages. But even though most of us think play is a good thing, I don't think many of us realize just how big a difference play can make in our lives in terms of helping us to make connections with other people, helping us to...
change how we feel in our day to day and the way that we handle the things that get thrown at us that are unexpected and maybe even unpleasant.
How can we redefine success through playfulness?
Today's guest, Maxwell Pierce, is one of the people who I met at Play at Ted. He was giving a talk and Maxwell has achieved huge success in two of the biggest fields where we think about play, sports and art. But what impresses me most about Maxwell isn't just his incredible, very challenging accomplishments. It's the way that he thinks about what a regular person can get from play. How can we experiment with bending the rules? How can we see what happens when we define success just a little bit outside of the box? And how can we become more resilient by having fun? Maxwell has so much to offer, even if, like me, you are so, so, so very far from ever becoming a professional athlete. Here's a clip from Maxwell's talk.
I am a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, a legendary exhibition basketball team that is credited for integrating the NBA, popularizing new moves like the alley-oop and creating so many others. These are the new moves that have advanced the game, but they've also given joy to the people that come and watch us perform. And that right there is precisely how we have lasted for 100 years while also earning a spot in the Hall of Fame. Getting to this point in my career certainly was not a straight line. I've always struggled with high-level sports coaching. There's a certain culture that has excessive cursing, yelling and also a hyper-seriousness that can really stunt your growth.
What role does play have in sports and art?
Although we were playing sports, ironically, we weren't coached not to be very playful. I learned that there was a seriousness in respecting the quality of the game. Whether it was basketball, football, baseball or cross country, all of my coaches emphasized honoring and respecting the essence of their sport. And that meant taking every drill and every exercise seriously and not doing anything that will challenge the traditional way of doing things. This is exactly what led my high school coach to telling me to stop trying to dunk the basketball. But ironically, it was my playfulness that got me to this point in my career.
We're going to play around a lot more with Maxwell right after this break.
And we are back.
Go touch grass. You have probably heard this phrase. Maybe you have even said it. But beneath the sort of lighthearted nature of this meme is something very real and important. A growing sense that staying in touch with our humanity and being present in our bodies matters more than ever in today's digital world.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the significance of play in our lives?
0:00–1:40
2
How can we redefine success through playfulness?
1:40–3:09
3
What role does play have in sports and art?
3:09–4:53
4
How can we embrace mistakes and unexpected outcomes?
4:53–6:23
5
What creative techniques does Maxwell use in his artwork?
6:23–8:02
6
How does Maxwell integrate his athletic and artistic experiences?
8:02–9:31
7
What are some practical tips to incorporate play into daily life?
9:31–11:06
8
How can we challenge societal expectations through creativity?
11:06–44:08
Speakers
5 identifiedMore from How to Be a Better Human
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