logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2017
1h 21m

Nilofer Merchant: How to Turn Ideas Into...

Jonathan Fields / Acast
About this episode

Nilofer Merchant is a master at turning seemingly “wild” ideas into powerful new realities and showing the rest of us how we can do the same.

Over the years, this has taken the form of books, her top-ranked TED talk, strategic advising for some of the largest, most-innovative companies in the world and game-changing startups, as well as being a member of organizational teams responsible for global impact and billions in product revenue.

More recently, though, she's focused her fierce ideation and research lens on a bigger question. Nilofer asks, "do we really each have within us the unique capacity to make a substantial impact?"

Her conclusion, indeed we do. And, we're living in times that, maybe for the first time ever, have made it possible for people who've been marginalized, disenfranchised and stripped of power to bring forth and build momentum around ideas that, in her words, are mighty enough to "dent the world." Merchant explores these ideas in her intriguing new book, The Power of Onlyness: Make Your Wild Ideas Mighty Enough to Dent the World.

Big idea: Every single one of us has the ability to contribute. The fact that we don’t is the society’s greatest problem and the greatest opportunity.

You’d never guess: How one woman was able to sway the decision of a group of Pakistani tribal leaders to change the way they create justice.

Current passion project: Educating people about the power of ideas and the power of all people to move ideas to create impact in the world.

Rockstar sponsors:

Get paid online, on-time with Freshbooks! Today's show is supported by FreshBooks, cloud accounting software that makes it insanely easy for freelancers and professionals to get paid online, track expenses and do more of what you love. Get your 1-month free trial, no credit card required, at FreshBooks.com/goodlife (enter The Good Life Project in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section).

Are you hiring? Do you know where to post your job to find the best candidates? Unlike other job sites, ZipRecruiter doesn’t depend on candidates finding you; it finds them. And right now, my listeners can post jobs on ZipRecruiter for FREE, That’s right. FREE! Just go to ZipRecruiter.com/good.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 24
Future of Medicine: Breakthroughs in Heart Health [Ep. 4]
<p>Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing heart disease prevention and treatment with Dr. Ami Bhatt, Chief Innovation Officer at the American College of Cardiology.</p><br><p>From AI-powered early detection tools to personalized risk prediction, learn how new tec ... Show More
58m 56s
Nov 21
Elizabeth Gilbert | The Weekly Practice That Changed Her Life
<p>In this soul-stirring conversation, bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert reveals the transformative practice of "Letters from Love" - a simple yet profound writing ritual that helped her emerge from her darkest moments and has since touched thousands of lives. </p><br><p>Liz s ... Show More
1h 5m
Nov 19
Introducing: No Small Endeavor: Joy Harjo on Poetry and Pursuit of the Common Good
<p>Sharing an episode of the No Small Endeavor podcast.</p><br><p>These days, our culture is marked by political unrest, polarization and anxiety. Beauty and art feel like a luxury, or even a distraction.</p><br><p>In a special series, No Small Endeavor is asking: What if art, be ... Show More
49m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2023
278. Cultivating a CEO Mindset and Debunking Entrepreneurship Myths: A Conversation with Amy Porterfield
<p>Whether we’re at the top of a corporation, running our own business, or working as an employee, we’ll often find a million different ways to outsource our leadership to others. But if we can do the hard work of learning to trust ourselves as the ultimate authority over our own ... Show More
51m 53s
Sep 2021
The Ultimate Path To Financial Freedom For Entrepreneurs - Eric Edmeades
For many, starting a business feels like a gamble. Tremendous sacrifice and hard work are socially accepted fast passes to success. In this episode, Eric Edmeades joins us to show you why this isn’t true. Join us for a powerful episode covering the key principles of starting, dev ... Show More
29m 34s
Mar 2024
Head of TED: INCREASE Your HAPPINESS & ABUNDANCE! Our Simple STRATEGY To Reaching BILLIONS | Chris Anderson
<p>Today, we're diving into a conversation with Chris Anderson, the visionary curator behind TED for over two decades. In this episode, Chris shares his latest endeavor, <a href="https://amzn.to/486rDh2">INFECTIOUS GENEROSITY</a>, a book and a call to action that challenges us to ... Show More
57m 35s
Dec 2023
478: Need Funds for Your Business? How to Get FREE Money Through Business Grants
Are you sitting on an amazing business idea? Knowing how to get money to start a business is a critical first step to getting your concept off the ground. While there are all kinds of funding options, you may be able to get FREE moneywith a grant. That’s exactly what today’s gues ... Show More
41 m
Feb 2020
93: Incurable Entrepreneurs - Heather Thorkelson, Author, Explorer, Entrepreneur
Heather Thorkelson is a Canadian dual business owner living in rural Sweden. She runs a business consulting practice that helps small-to-medium business owners grow their bottom line without adding busy-work. She also runs a bespoke polar expedition company that takes discerning ... Show More
52m 48s
Nov 2021
Developing a Culture of Excellence with Michele Don Durbin, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Evernote
<p>A good company is built with good people and as simple as that sounds, when it comes to finding the right person for the right job, sometimes you have to look beyond what’s written on the reume.. With her decades of experience at companies such as eBay and Skype, <a href="http ... Show More
51m 56s
Sep 2014
139: Ariana Ayu: A Lady Who Can Cast A "Mojo Spell" On All Of Us
Todays guest was destined to live a life of helping people since getting her first job as a nurse way back in 2008.I would guess that we can track this side of her character to an even earlier age too.As since entering the medical profession she has always had the drive not just ... Show More
1h 15m
Jan 2021
The Importance Of Timing For Business Success - Naveen Jain
During Mindvalley University Online, Vishen got the chance to speak with Moon Express Founder Naveen Jain - an entrepreneur, dreamer, and lover of life. His work has profoundly touched every level of Vishen's own life, and we know that he’ll make an impact on you too. Naveen Jain ... Show More
55m 21s