This story is available exclusively to Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.
In 2017, Nicholas Bloom, an economics professor at Stanford University, was preparing to speak at a local TEDx event. His talk was about the then rare practice of working from home, which most people at the time associated with slackers and the occasional 20-something freelancing from a beach café in Thailand. He had led a study several years back that showed the surprising productivity benefits of the arrangement.
After a dry run, a conference organizer gave Bloom the typical TED advice. You ve got to be exciting for TEDx, Bloom remembered her saying. You re too much of an academic. You ve got to make it so it s pathbreaking. Compare it to something really important.