There's a lot to wrap your mind around with the approaching Chicago Ideas Week, the weeklong invasion of super-smart and super-influential folks taking place at venues all over town from Oct. 8 to 14.
We're helping with a series of speaker profiles designed to highlight the speakers who will benefit you, the Chicago entrepreneur. There are just over 100-plus speakers announced so far, and more to come.
In this profile: Brandon Boyd
Accolades: Brandon Boyd is an accomplished artist, singer and writer. He fronts the band Incubus and is currently working on his third book and second solo album.
Why you should care: I know. It seems like a stretch. What does some rock band have to do with entrepreneurship? Well, these days, there's a blurring of lines. Everyone still wants to be a rock star, but nobody really is just a rock star. Everyone diversifies. Whether you're entertaining thousands of people or shipping your product to thousands of people -- is there really a difference?
Boyd will be speaking about the creative process, which Ideas Week has so excellently described as "the essence of turning imaginative ideas into reality; it’s a vital factor of success."
Whether you make widgets or want to do PR for widgets, no one has learned much by burying their head in the sand and only exposing themselves to the traditional channels. Social media and the Internet are great -- but it's also worthwhile to throw yourself into the unexpected to get some unexpected inspiration.
Business
When you can see him: Oct. 14, 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Read more here.
David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a comedy-writing instructor for Second City. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.
