Mike Robbins (www.MikeRobbins.com) is the author of two books, Focus on the Good Stuff, and Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken, as well as the forthcoming book Nothing Changes Until You Do. He's an expert in teamwork, leadership, and emotional intelligence who delivers inspirational keynote addresses to audiences throughout the world. His clients include Google, Wells Fargo, Twitter, Gap, Adobe, the US Department of Labor, Stanford University, the San Francisco Giants, and many others. In this heartwarming, humorous, and thoughtprovoking talk at TEDxBellevue, Mike talks about "The Power of Appreciation." As Mike discusses, there is an important distinction between "recognition" and "appreciation." Leaders, teams, organizations, and individuals who understand this distinction can have much more impact, meaning, and productivity in their lives and with the people around them. He also discusses some important research in the field of positive psychology that exemplifies the importance of appreciation.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, selforganized events that bring people together to share a TEDlike experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, selforganized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are selforganized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)