Work can be a way to provide for yourself and those around you, a journey through the daily nine-to-five, a form of expression and a pursuance of passion.
Speakers gathered Thursday at the Tempe History Museum to discuss the role work plays in society. The event was part of TED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading ideas in the areas of technology, entertainment and design.
“Traditionally people worked to get food on the table,” said Lauren Tassiello, an organizer for the event. “It’s taken a turn to something different nowadays.”
ASU alumnus Phil del Real was the first speaker of the night.
“I work not only to make ends meet but also to achieve immortality,” del Real said.
The path to immortality is through the knowledge you pass onto others, he said.
“I encourage you to go out and make every moment a teaching moment,” he said.
Scottsdale resident Brett Farmiloe, 26, spoke after del Real.
After graduating from college, Farmiloe traveled around the country to interview people about why they are passionate about their jobs.
Farmiloe interviewed Linda Harrison who majored in accounting to become a certified public accountant.
“One day, she wakes up and says, ‘You know what, I’m through with doing these taxes … I want to become a goat farmer,’” Farmiloe said.
Harrison began breeding fainting goats. Farmiloe noticed that the baby goats didn’t faint. Harrison said the baby goats are fearless.
This is a good analogy for way we go after careers, Farmiloe said.
“When we’re 15 years old we have big aspirations, big dreams and passions we want to pursue,” he said. “Unfortunately, a lot of us over our career journey actually do faint.”
Farmiloe also interviewed D’Wayne Edwards. Edwards wanted to go into footwear design. Edwards told a career counselor about his dream.
“The career counselor looks at him and says, ‘You’re a young black kid from Inglewood and a much better choice for you would be to join the military,’” Farmiloe said.
Edwards won a design contest from Reebok but nothing came of it.
“D’Wayne easily could have fainted and gone into something else,” Farmiloe said.
Edwards began working for a temp agency and was sent to LA Gear. There, Edwards saw a suggestion box.
“He rips off a suggestion and designs a shoe, puts ‘hire me’ on the back and underlines it twice and puts it in (the box),” Farmaloe said.
Edwards did this every day for six months, Farmiloe said. One day Edwards is called into the president’s office and offered a job.
“At 19 years old, D’Wayne became a footwear designer at LA Gear,” Farmiloe said.
When Farmiloe interviewed Edwards he was the director of footwear design for the Jordan brand at Nike.
“His story is an example of what happens when you refuse to faint,” Farmiloe said.
Reach the reporter at ryan.mccullough@asu.edu
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