Affsum Keynote Cory Booker

(c) Shawn Collins on Flickr

The keynote given by Newark, NJ Mayor Cory Booker was great… if you didn’t leave that speech leaving jazzed and excited to get in there and learn, network, and conquer the world – you weren’t listening.  It was a terrific speech; very clear why he’s in demand as a public speaker, in addition to his mayoral duties.  One note that was given by emcee Jim Kukral – 36% of the attendees of the show are affiliates.

Bullet Point Review!

• Knowing who you are is key before doing anything.
• You can always do a little more.
• “Poverty of Imagination” – nice quote from Corey.
• The world you see outside is a reflection of what’s inside.
• A challenge is just a hidden opportunity.
• What are you as an individual doing to improve the world?
• In the tech industry it was all about size…the bigger the better.  Which was a reflection on the world before the mid 1980’s.  Then everything switched from being about size to being about speed – faster is better.
• Newark, NJ is the #1 city in America reducing violent crime over the last 2 years – just in Q1 in 2008 murder has decreased 75%.
• What can we do to show our true selves?
• “You’re on the front line of America” to Newark cops.  Booker actually went out on patrol himself at night that quarter.
• Get involved in changing the spirit of your community if you aim to help.t
• The primary cause of human suffering is forgetfulness.
• Deciding to do something is a cognitive process, not an act.
• Make your life resonate with what you do.
• Live your highest ideals to the most logical extreme.
• Believe in the miraculous.
• If you’re seeking success, find ways to live with resonance – believe in love that’s not just transactional.
• The heroes that we name days after are never the greatest ones.

Overall, everyone should have attended and it was an incredibly motivating talk that actually almost made me cry.  Good choice for keynote!