What do I remember from TED?

Do I remember the gee-whiz drone display, the immaculate, AI-produced slides, the multi-million dollar robots that were featured in a TED talk showcasing their dancing (and fighting) skills?

No. I remember the people. In particular, the people I met in the halls.

One of the many things I love about being at TED is that the people in the halls are just as intriguing as the people on the stage.

I will write next week (I’m on a book deadline this week) about the inspiring Forces For Good I got to spend time with during breaks and at meals.

People making a powerful, positive, proactive difference in the world with their visionary initiatives, writing, speaking, causes, and businesses.

When are we going to learn that spending time with people we admire, respect, enjoy, and love – people who are acting in integrity and adding value to the world – is wealth in what matters.

When it’s all said and done, when we look back at a conference, our work, our art, our life, what will matter is not the latest bot or app that made our life easier, faster, more “efficient at scale.”

What will matter are the human beings we were graced to know, who made life richer and more meaningful.