Why TB Still Kills: John Green Explains

Opening: Founders can leverage their platforms to drive social impact and address global challenges. Quote: "

That's why I've been trying to use my megaphone to get attention for tuberculosis is because I think that the social internet does work at scale.

" Takeaway:

• Utilize your influence to raise awareness.
• Engage your audience in meaningful conversations.
• Amplify messages to drive change beyond your product.

Opening: Effective storytelling can mobilize support and drive action for important causes. Quote: "

People become proximal to all kinds of suffering that they weren't proximal to before and that leads to action, it leads to collective action...

" Takeaway:

• Tell compelling stories to engage others.
• Share authentic voices to build empathy.
• Utilize online platforms to reach wider audiences.

Opening: Founders must recognize and navigate market failures to address critical problems that may not be profitable but are impactful. Quote: "

The number one way that markets fail is that it's still from a human health perspective, better to treat tuberculosis than it is to lengthen eyelashes, but from a market perspective, it's better to lengthen eyelashes than it is to treat tuberculosis, and that's a fundamental disconnect.

" Takeaway:

• Identify where markets don't meet societal needs.
• Develop models that prioritize impact over profit.
• Find innovative ways to fund critical solutions.

Opening: Public-private partnerships can accelerate innovation by combining resources and expertise from both sectors. Quote: "

I think some kind of public-private partnership like that is the way forward. That's the way to do it at scale, that's the way to do it to get the kind of better tools we need...

" Takeaway:

• Collaborate across sectors to leverage strengths.
• Use partnerships to address challenges markets can't solve alone.
• Scale innovations with combined resources and expertise.

Opening: Obsession can drive founders to solve critical problems but may come with challenges like tunnel vision. Quote: "

I think the biggest cost is you can lose sight of the rest of the world... There's so many problems in the world. You got to remember that there are many, many problems and just because the one I'm obsessed with happens to be my obsession doesn't mean that it's the only one that matters.

" Takeaway:

• Use obsession to fuel progress but avoid neglecting other areas.
• Maintain humility and recognize other important issues exist.
• Balance focus with broader awareness for informed decisions.

Opening: Small-scale initiatives can drive significant change by providing practical blueprints for larger solutions. Quote: "

We need to see blueprints for how this is actually going to happen...that's not on the scale of billions of dollars, that's on the scale of millions of dollars. That's something that I can help out with, right? That's something that you can do a bake sale that helps out with.

" Takeaway:

• Demonstrate solutions on a small scale to prove effectiveness.
• Encourage collective small contributions to achieve big goals.
• Create scalable models that others can replicate.

Opening: CEOs face the challenge of balancing profit with social responsibility, especially when addressing global issues. Quote: "

They have a fiduciary obligation to their shareholders to do so. And yet, they also have a pretty broad spectrum of goods and services that they provide to the market. And so it benefits Johnson and Johnson to live by their values.

" Takeaway:

• Integrate social values into business strategy.
• Recognize that ethical practices can benefit the bottom line.
• Lead with integrity to build trust and drive success.

Opening: Launching impactful awareness campaigns can shift public perception and garner support for critical issues. Quote: "

I would go on a huge public relations campaign. I would try to make tuberculosis news again. I would try to make tuberculosis the center of our story again.

" Takeaway:

• Use PR strategically to highlight overlooked issues.
• Awareness can attract resources and catalyze change.
• Elevate visibility to prompt action.

Opening: Leveraging social media can scale empathy by connecting people to issues they might not otherwise encounter, driving collective action. Quote: "

People become proximal to all kinds of suffering that they weren't proximal to before, and that leads to action, it leads to collective action, leads to protest, leads to all kinds of social movements.

" Takeaway:

• Utilize social platforms to raise awareness at scale.
• Storytelling online can mobilize communities for a cause.
• Tech can bridge empathy gaps and inspire change.

Opening: Obsessive focus on a problem can be a driving force behind innovation and impact, especially when tackling challenges others overlook. Quote: "

We solve the problems we pay attention to, and if we feel like we're paying attention to a problem that not enough other people are paying attention to, that's really exciting in a lot of ways.

" Takeaway:

• Focus intensely on unsolved problems to create unique solutions.
• Accept that others may not yet see the significance of your focus.
• Harness your obsession to drive innovation.