“The overwhelming success of our first fastBREAK event demonstrates that Sydney is home to a burgeoning community of dynamic young creatives and entrepreneurs, people who imagine the unimagined and are hell bent on turning their big ideas into reality. fastBREAK is just what Sydney needs – a forum for exciting new ideas to be shared, for voices to be tested and for like-minds to connect” – Vibewire’s Carmen Bowker.

“fastBREAK was a new event that people were eagerly hanging out for. Every speaker had the attention of each and every person in the sold out audience” – Tristan Ap.

Coffee and pastries for breakfast had never tasted so stimulating. Idea-hungry people flocked into the Powerhouse Museum last Friday morning for the first fastBREAK of the season, to stuff themselves smart with inspiration from other young creatives and entrepreneurs. People crowded around the Mezzanine, overlooking the Museum’s cavernous Boiler Hall half-filled with planes, trains and other great inventions – an appropriate platform for future inventors. Some sat on cardboard, recycled chairs while others huddled on the floor and an excitement buzzed amongst Sydney’s young busy bees before they headed off to work. The guests wolfed down shared experiences, all in the name of youth innovation and collaboration, until they were satisfied or addicted. People queued up to chat with their favourite speaker after the talks and no one started their day without some form of inspiration or aspiration.

Here are a few highlights in case you missed out:

1. Matt Huynh

What Matters? – Creativity.

Huynh, a comic book artist, reminded us that often a young artist can skip the fundamental understanding of their relationship with creativity. It is important to always be able to describe your own style as an artist and know exactly where you get your ideas from. Creativity intrinsically means the artist is coming up with products that did not necessarily exist before, so really they are making something from nothing or re-arranging existing elements. To keep up a high level of freedom, make sure the artist retains a high level of artistic freedom.

2. Michael Fox

What Matters? – Commercialisation

Fox’s team started up their own online ‘design-your-own’ shoe business, Shoes of Prey. Using his own experiences, he outlined what is needed to start up a business. Firstly, put together a founding team of people who work well with one another and who have complementary skills sets. Then work out the funding arrangement for the business. Thirdly, work out who are going to be your best suppliers and/or partners. It’s often handy to have back-up supplier so you never fall short. Last but not least, have a strong marketing scheme. There is no point in creating the world’s greatest product if no one hears about it.

3. Jess Cook

What Matters? –  Community support

Involved in the Fringe Arts, Cook stresses that it is the community that creates nurturing atmosphere for creativity to harvest. Community support along with a physical space to produce generates innovation. Space for an artist enables them to get their ideas off the ground. Artists need autonomy, connection, collaboration and cross-pollination, and most of all community support. After all, if there is no creativity amongst the fringe artists, there can be no creativity for the mainstream.

4. Mark Pollard

What Matters? – People

Pollard reminded us that we can easily disappear into our idea without realising. Instead, fight against marketing conventions like nonsense language and marketing code words. Follow the PIPIS system to help you as a young entrepreneur:

Personas – Maintain a strong understanding of your customers and whether your product corresponds with their goals in life.

Insight – Understand the dynamics of the people you are trying to reach.

Purpose –  Kill the Brand Essence. Focus on how you can help people as personal motivation is connected to business motivation.

Idea: Always keep in mind what is core to this business idea?

Sharing: Compel your customers to talk as people share articles that are inspiring and reveals something about us as humans. Word of mouth is the best form of marketing…

5. Jessica Miller

What Matters? Solving problems

It is important to recognise the power of collaboration. Don’t be afraid to involve others in order to quickly and successfully solve any problems that may come about. Social media is a great way to get people involved, even in it situations that may seem trivial. Miller started up a facebook page to find someone a place to live and the community is proving to be very hospitable. Reach out the square and try other forms of problem solving that you may not have thought of before.