When TED was a small conference, the format was Richard getting a conversation going between fascinating people on stage. I remember at an early TED sitting with Walt Mossberg in the seat to my left and Jeff Bezos in the seat to my right.
When I heard Richard was coming to Comic Con to have a conversation with the great musician Kevin Eubanks, I fought the crowds and got Richard to let me call him after the show. I wanted to know what makes for great conversations because of what we're trying to do with Cake.
The show organizer mentioned Richard's new book, Understanding Understanding. I bought it and it astonished me. I'll tell you why when I get a chance to post again.
Two things Richard said on the call which I will always remember (he has said these things publicly):
1. If you're not terrified, you're probably not pushing hard enough. I mentioned to him that I have started companies before and it was terrifying in the beginning, and at times as they grew. He said you have to be confident enough in the idea to handle the terror, but no terror means you aren't trying something hard enough. Significant things are hard.
2. The greatest thing in life is conversation between people. And public conversations are best when they happen between two people with a third acting as the conscience of the conversation. He guessed that's what we should chase for panel conversations on Cake.
He said if I ever got to Florida, I could stop by his home. If I did, what would you have me ask him?