if i invited you to a dinner party with:  jack dorsey, sara blakely, kevin systrom, mike krieger, larry page and sergey brin, many of you may not respond with any level of enthusiasm (unless you’re a fellow stanford alum…4 of the 6 attended my prestigious alma mater). but if i showed you the following images:

and told you that the afore mentioned are the founders of said life-changers, and the topic of conversation would likely focus on how they came up with their big ideas, i’m sure you’d jump at that opportunity…no?

while i wish i were hosting such a dream-team dinner party, sadly it’s just that… a dream. but wouldn’t it be incredible to spend an evening hearing how they got, not only their big ideas, but also the courage to go for them and all the nuances of getting started?!?  i would sit and absorb every detail of their respective stories.

i guess i’m just a sucker for an interesting biography.  i honestly love the biography channel.  i equally enjoy vh1′s behind the music, the E! true hollywood story, and even espn’s 30 for 30.  i’ll read books in this genre as well, not favoring any particular individuals, just anyone with a great story.  i suppose it’s fascinating to me how “ordinary” people, often from humble means, find themselves leading extraordinary lives as a result of their talents, ideas, courage, faith, or combination thereof.  but if i had to pick a group to focus on, i’d probably choose the big-idea-crew.

i deliberately lead this post with individuals whose names i personally had to look up, but obviously if i was putting together such a dream-team dinner party, there are several others i would include. for instance, i would have to invite novelists jk rowling (harry potter), stephanie meyer (the twilight saga), and suzanne collins (hunger games),  all who’ve become household names by getting teenagers (and adults) to read and emotionally invest in their characters (once mere figments of their imaginations).  and surely among the techno-geeks, i might want to add bill gates (microsoft) or  marc zuckerburg (facebook) to the mix.  likewise, in the fashion arena there are countless number of innovators such as: christian louboutin (why a red-bottom?…genius), or lifestyle brand-creators like ralph lauren, martha stewart, kate spade, donna karan, and tory burch or super model turned super mogul kathy ireland (just saw her story on dateline last week).  speaking of moguls, surely media moguls oprah winfrey and tyler perry would need to be in attendance. and, last but not least, the obamas, who have literally changed the face of politics, would have to at least receive an invite. though i would certainly understand that the president and first lady are quite busy at the moment.

this is by no means a comprehensive list.  these are just the people that have occurred to me at the moment, but the key to scoring an invitation to this soiree would be that you’ve had and put into action a big idea that has changed the way people do things or see things.  because, dang it, i’m looking for my big idea and i need some inspiration!  in the immortal words of robert kelly, who would not be invited (i’m just saying), “if i can see it, then i can do it/ If i just believe it, there’s nothing to it…” how could you be in a room full of innovators and not believe that R. was right?

by the way, i guess i could do another full post on how i would prep for such a dynamic event in my home.  after all, i would want to charm the socks off of these movers and shakers.  i’ve been compiling two party boards on pinterest: it’s my party and dinner party.   i’m sure i would start there .  something intimate and outdoorsy might inspire long conversation.  can’t you just imagine it?  no worries, i’d invite you too!