NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal business approach to and understanding of movement, emotional regulation, and the nervous system. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfWe've spent decades focusing on mindset, but what about bodyset? This talk introduces a revolutionary practice born during the 2020 pandemic that transforms overwhelm into calm and self-doubt into confidence in minutes. You'll discover why 40,000 nerve endings in your hands hold the key to awakening your truth and unlocking the confidence to make aligned decisions so that you can stand powerfully in what you believe. Jen Aks is a Leadership Coach, Author, and Speaker who empowers individuals to lead with authenticity, clarity, and confidence by trusting the body’s wisdom. With over 30 years of experience as a dance educator, Jen brings a deep understanding of how movement, emotion, and self-awareness creates lasting transformation. At the core of Jen’s work is The Power of Gesture®, her signature bodyset practice using hand gestures to process emotion and access inner truth. Jen’s practice blends somatic awareness with kinesthetic and emotional intelligence. Whether working with executives, teams, or individuals at personal crossroads, Jen guides each person toward emotional mastery and body-based wisdom essential for both personal fulfillment and professional success. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What do a kingfisher, a hazard light and a waffle iron have in common? A creativity technique called Forced Connections, which leads to break through innovations. Brainstorming and coming up with new ideas is easy, we do it every day. Or so we think. The truth is we barely scratch the surface with our ”more of the same ideas”. We fall extremely short with quantity and quality of really good ideas. We miss the mark on really good innovations, because “More of the Same” does not break into big time innovation. Time to shift ideation gears with Dr. Roger Firestien and find out how to use a really simple ideation tool called ‘forced connections’. Not a new technique and certainly not a secret to those who work in the field of creativity, marketing or the business of creating ‘new and different’. However, new to most of us. Game changer. Creativity changer. Innovation changer. Dr. Firestien is an associate professor and senior faculty member at the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State and President of Innovation Resources, Inc. He is the author of six books, including Leading on the Creative Edge and Why didn’t I think of that? His expert views on creativity have been reported in Fast Company, Forbes, Investor’s Business Daily and The New York Times. When Roger is not traveling, he lives in Buffalo, New York, and regularly works cattle on the SK Hereford Ranch near Medina, New York This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx