The Future of Sabbaticals: Todd Babiak at TEDxEdmonton

Todd Babiak is co-founder of Story Engine, a company that uses story-based strategies to make organizations, governments and leaders better: more focused, more cohesive, more influential, more human. He has published four award-winning novels, three of them bestsellers: Choke Hold, The Garneau Block, The Book of Stanley and Toby: A Man. His fifth novel, Come Barbarians, will be published in September, 2013 by HarperCollins. He writes for film and television and he's on several volunteer boards, including Startup Edmonton and the Alliance Francaise.
About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@MichaelKalmanovitch]

Good talk Todd.Many years ago I took off on a bicycle trip (I was gone for over a year) and my father told me - why don't you settle down and stop roaming. My response was - many people tell me - I wish I could do what you are doing. I didn't want to be one of those people regretting not doing something that is healing, exciting, therapeutic, interesting and rewarding. Those experiences are still with me and help to create who I am. I never thought of it as a sabbatical - more like a gap year.

[@dexndeedee2364]

Todd is really nice in person. As a young T.V student I learned more from him in the first five minutes of talking to him than I did from anyone else the whole evening. Thank you again Todd

[@prabhdeepsingh5642]

This is what a ted talk should be. Straight form heart, honest and inspiring.

[@alina-xc1jd]

Inspiring, I'm about to nosedive in a sabbatical and needed to hear this

[@djnima]

a lina how did that go ?

[@DrDianeThompson]

What a funny yet informative talk. Love it!

[@MikeVardy]

Excellent talk.

[@GreysPaperRecycling]

Another interesting talk....great job Todd!

[@AppleGazin]

Motivating, inspiring and entertaining talk. Worth listening to at least twice!

[@mojofarl]

Brilliant.

[@toddbabiak6318]

Amen.

[@hrushikr]

Pure self-indulgence

[@panaricanreyna9319]

I decided with my husband that I will be taking my sabbatical next year.

[@MistyHarris]

“No one talked about Leonardo da Vinci because he got good sleep.” Very inspiring talk.

[@WarpScanner]

Yeah, but entertaining and interesting self indulgence.

[@bebetheexplorer624]

Thats it I am now selling my place and ill just jump it and travel for. a year.