Alicia Thomas-Woolf

Artist, Brainstormer, Connector, Educator/Teacher, Entrepreneur, Global soul, Idea generator, Jewish, World traveler, Writer/Editor

I spend my time singing, writing, consulting on process management and helping others get published. I've had poems selected for and assisted in publishing the National Eisteddford Academy's 10 year anniversary, prescribed works anthology (used by South African schools), sung both at our Constitutional Court and privately for Nelson Mandela for his 90th birthday and helped publish South Africa's first domestic, comprehensive music industry guide for aspiring music artists, producers and other interested parties. I take pride in publishing 'firsts' - subjects that have either rarely or never been written about before.

TED, learning, teaching, innovations, nature, singing, creating, sharing, traveling, all living creatures, upliftment, enlightenment and so on.

Whenever people ask me what my goal or outcome for my life is, I answer that it is to fulfill my potential. I have no idea what that is. So I say yes to whatever appeals to me, often biting off far more than I can chew. As a result, I have done all sorts of wild and crazy things, like a jungle survival course in Malaysia, fulfilled dreams like singing for Nelson Mandela and plunged into creating TEDxJohannesburg, which is set for 15 November this year. The idea worth spreading is this: If it appeals to you, go ahead and fulfill your potential. We all have it. None of us know what we can do until we jump in and keep at it until it happens. You have a life to live. It's not always fun, but having the chuzpah to explore all the things you are interested in and have no idea you can do - that's the adventure of a lifetime.

Publishing

My husband Andrew and I wanted to come to TED for our honeymoon this year. Cost and difficulty of getting invited prevented us. We had planned on starting our own TED-like event sometime in the future, so when I found out about TEDx from my cousin in West Asheville - well, we had to go for the license! Then we GOT IT!!!!!

Neuro Linguistic Programming. I read rather quickly as well :)