Photo Courtesy of TED Fellows.
Fellows Friday is a weekly series on the TED Blog that profiles one TED Fellow each week. We have asked the Fellows to answer our question below to share their knowledge and advice with other social entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers who are coming up with big ideas that can change the world. Read past Fellows' answers here.
In her public art pieces, Candy Chang uses low-tech tools such as chalk, Post-it notes and stickers to engage people with their communities. Personal tragedy, vacant storefronts and interdisciplinary thinkers inspired Candy in her quest to help people make their cities more user friendly.
Question: There are many aspiring social entrepreneurs out there who are trying to take their passion and ideas to the next level. What is one piece of advice you would give to them based on your own experiences and successes?
Answer: Write the bio that you want, and keep checking on it. On my website, one of the pages I edit the most is my bio page. That’s really for myself. I think it’s a good exercise to write about yourself: your accomplishments, your aspirations, and what is really important to you. I think it’s a great foundation to work off of and continue to tinker with over the years.
I think most of the things that I’ve done for the last five years have come from taking advantage of unexpected opportunities. My written bio helps confirm or challenge these moves, the things I’m doing, or thinking of doing. It keeps me thinking about how I’m spending my short time in the world, and if it’s fulfilling.
Read the rest of Candy Chang's interview here.