Dr. Sam Lam » Video Master Series

Video Master Series 4 of 5: JK Rowling on Failure and Imagination

dr. lam — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:00:28 +0000

JK Rowling’s commencement address at Harvard University is at once understated and rousing. It touches upon our fear of failure (nice continuation from yesterday’s video) and how we can use imagination (again nice continuation from yesterday’s video) in amazing ways. Hope you enjoy:

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

Video Master Series 5 of 5: Itay Talgam on Leadership

dr. lam — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000

This wonderful video is lively and enriching. Itay Talgam, former conductor in Israel, uses six 20th-Century conductors to illustrate principles of great leadership. This video is a personal favorite of mine. Enjoy:

Video Master Series 3 of 5: Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity

dr. lam — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:00:09 +0000

Although I have not read Elizabeth Gilbert’s famous Eat, Pray, Love, I really enjoyed her fluid and charming talk on how to nurture creativity. It will challenge everyone out there to unleash their creative genius (as you will see what that means in this video) without fear, prejudice, or self-reprisal.

Video Master Series 2 of 5: Pollan on the Sun Food Agenda

dr. lam — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:12 +0000

As most of you blog followers know, I am consumed with Michael Pollan’s thoughts as I have covered two of his books, Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food. I have also enjoyed Botany of Desire. This video is an amazing encapsulation of his philosophy and espousal of his “Sun Food Agenda”. I also love the slides made by an amazing designer, Nancy Duarte, of Duarte Design. Enjoy:

PopTech 2009: Michael Pollan from PopTech on Vimeo.

Video Master Series 1 of 5: Jobs at Stanford

dr. lam — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:17 +0000

Although this blog is not a vlog, I am turning it into one for a short while because my belief is that the spoken word can be even more brilliantly powerful than the written. Further, rather than continue to interpret the great thinkers through my written word, why don’t I let them just speak for themselves unfiltered by me. I am constantly moved by thinkers and speakers, and the speakers that I will present in this series are the best of the best. We will explore passion, creativity, leadership, failure, and health in surprising and revelatory ways. We will start with Steve Jobs’ commencement address at Stanford in 2005. It is at once touching and inspirational. It will provide you with nourishment for the soul.

If you haven’t heard Steve Jobs’ commencement address at Stanford in 2005, you must. It is one of the most beautiful deliveries out there and is inspirational at a deep level. Read this excerpt:

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

At the end of his speech, he talked about the back cover of The Whole Earth Catalog that featured the line: ”Stay hungry, Stay foolish.” With that line, he exhorted his audience to do the same. As do I. Here is his speech:

Enjoy this whether you have seen it already or you have not.