Conferences like TEDx can sometimes be very overwhelming with lots of amazing ideas (TED has rightly been called ‘the ultimate brain spa’). But there are some ideas that stick to your mind for days, even weeks. Here are some of the golden nuggets, which stuck to mine after TEDxPeshawar. And perhaps yours?

‘Problems are opportunities’ – Joudat Ayaz

I think its not just about perception. Its not just being able to see the half full. Its about the irresistible scale, too! If you see a problem anywhere in this country (of 180 million people), it really is a HUGE opportunity. We are talking about a scale of millions if you can come up with a solution to a genuine pain. So the next time you spot a problem, stop whining or pointing fingers, be smart and cash in on it!

‘Create your own job’ – Muhammad Asif

A typical rebellion by an entrepreneur. Why chase people asking for jobs with your CV in hand? Why sell your skills for a tiny fraction of its real worth? Why work for others when you have the capacity to build your own big thing? Carve your self something that you would love to do.

‘Sometimes its more about the image’ – Amir Anzur

Remember the 6 or 9 analogy he made (the same number looks different from opposite sides)? Sometimes its about the image and the way your present yourself, your company, your city. For us, that’s one of the things that drives us at Peshawar 2.0.

‘Don’t kill your heritage’ – Humayun Akhund

This was sad. Why are we so ignorant towards our heritage and the beautiful architecture with centuries of history eroding right before our eyes. And worst of all, hardly any new building has any ‘aesthetic component to it that reflects the history of this beautiful city (remember Peshawar is the oldest city in South Asia!). How can we bring this into peoples attention? Another awareness campaign? School Curriculum? A flickr page? Or another dot com? Remember it’s a problem, ehm, opportunity I mean! And yes the other solid point he made: the architecture we copy whole-sale from elsewhere is not even suited to our climate. Garmi shta?

‘The world of internet is flat’ – Muneeb Khwaja

True! Possibly the best meritocracy. Everyone is equal on the Internet once you get access to it. No need to worry about how rich you or your family is, how many ‘connections’ you or your dad has and whether you will be rewarded with what you really deserve. The Internet is a pretty fair game.

Did I miss anything that stood out for you from any of the talks? Share it with us.