For a seventh consecutive month, on Nov. 29th 2013, the best of Montreal’s creative community got together for a new edition of CreativeMornings/Montréal to talk about Bravery. For the occasion, we invited the founder and CMO of a rising startup, Mamalad.es' Jeff Lee. 

The team and the speaker together explored new possibilities, new boundaries, new creativity. A Tattly – founded by CreativeMornings founder swissmiss – tattoo booth was set up by sponsors Shopify. Other sponsors Plank offered fancy Petit Cake Shop cakeballs. There also was photobooth for the Don't Be Afraid campaign against homophobia (a fitting match for the bravery theme). For the occasion, SidLee’s Bootcamp at 8 Queen was clearly an excellent choice of venue; the modular and visually appealing space lent itself beautifully to the scenographic explorations that have come to define the Montreal chapter. 

Entering the yellow circle on the ground, the emcee and the speaker could address the crowd from a privileged standpoint, much like the storyteller would around a campfire. A very intimate setting despite the 200+ guests. Even Sid Lee’s cofounder and creative chief Philippe Meunier showed up to listen to the keynote. 

Speaking of bravery, what Jeff Lee did was also clearly an innovation in terms of content. A list – a first for MTLCM – entitled 11 ways to be brave everyday – delivered insights on both mainstream and lesser-known examples of people who, following Martin Luther King’s famous quote, "took the first step", even if they could not "see the entire staircase". A reminder of the technique that made Buzzfeed one of the Internet's most visited website, the simplicity, preciseness and cumulative nature of the talk opened many more boxes than it filled some, raised questions rather than answered them, and gave everyone outside the circle an opportunity to maybe think inside of it. 

Eleven ways to be brave everyday, from conversation to action, to "bouncing around like Mr. Kangaroo", "embracing your inner loser" and "riding the elephant in the room" (heehaa!), Jeff Lee’s talk was both intuitive and authentic, ending on a very personal note ; one that struck a chord, on the fear of death and the necessity to leave a small piece of something behind, something significant, something creative, something brave.

The MTLCM07 video will be online soon

Photo: Josias Gob, Photographer