What does peanut butter and jelly, social network myths, and fire walking have in common? Nothing really; however, these were some of the topics of presentation at the recent first-ever Ignite Phoenix.

Now in case you’re unfamiliar with the O’Reilly’s Ignite concept, here’s the basic gist:

• Activity – A handful of local presenters are given 5 minutes and 20 slides to talk about whatever they wish. Topics are varied, kept secret until the time of the event, and range from comical to weighty. (Simple, right?)
• Objective – Learn something new, connect with local professionals, and have fun. (Ahhh, refreshingly simple indeed!)

“This wasn’t what I was expecting”, someone enthusiastically babbled next to me. Without realizing it, that person had just summed up the reason for the event’s success.

Randomness seems to be that one multifaceted seasoning in life that brings about entertainment, curiosity, creativity, beauty, ideas, and so on. The Ignite events use it in a disciplined fashion to expose ideas that may otherwise never the get the day of light (like a presentation on peanut butter and jelly), and to cross-pollinate them with other completely unrelated subjects.

Culture and business is hungry for opportunities like these. In a world where everything has become so cookie-cutter and defined, innovation/ideation/creativity/[you fill in the blank] has become a rare premium indeed.

Try something new and unexpected and prepare to be surprised, entertained, bettered, even inspired. The point is to get out of your comfort zone, be challenged, and glean something because of it – what you do with it is up to you. You could perhaps start by researching the origins and cultural relevance of peanut butter and jelly.