Uploaded October 2015 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
By day, Johnny Staats is a UPS package car driver. The rest of the time, he is a world-class bluegrass mandolin, guitar, and violin player. In this short and charming interview, he explains why he kept his day job between shows at the Grand Ole Opry, and how he incorporated his life’s passion into his life’s work. Followed by infectious bluegrass with electric fingers, he raises a salute to those who follow both dreams and reality.
TED@UPS was a TED-curated event featuring a diverse group of speakers from across the UPS community. Jointly produced by TED and UPS, the event put a spotlight on ideas, projects and insights that will contribute to the importance of pushing forward through obstacles.
About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas.
Learn more at ted.com/ted-institute
Follow TED Institute on Twitter @TEDPartners
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/user/TEDInstitute
By day, Johnny Staats is a UPS package car driver. The rest of the time, he is a world-class bluegrass mandolin, guitar, and violin player. In this short and charming interview, he explains why he kept his day job between shows at the Grand Ole Opry, and how he incorporated his life’s passion into his life’s work. Followed by infectious bluegrass with electric fingers, he raises a salute to those who follow both dreams and reality.
TED@UPS was a TED-curated event featuring a diverse group of speakers from across the UPS community. Jointly produced by TED and UPS, the event put a spotlight on ideas, projects and insights that will contribute to the importance of pushing forward through obstacles.
About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas.
Learn more at ted.com/ted-institute
Follow TED Institute on Twitter @TEDPartners
Subscribe to our channel: youtube.com/user/TEDInstitute
