Secrets of success in 8 words, 3 minutes | Richard St. John

Summary

The speaker recounts a pivotal encounter with a high school student that led to a seven-year quest to understand the essence of success. Through 500 interviews with successful individuals, the speaker identifies key ingredients for success: passion, hard work, practice, focus, pushing through self-doubt, serving others, innovative ideas, and persistence through challenges. The summary emphasizes that success is not accidental but a result of dedication, perseverance, and a mindset geared towards serving and creating value for others.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Passion is the driving force behind success for TED speakers; they do what they love, not just for money.
• 💰 Doing what you love often leads to financial success as well.
• 🔨 Success requires hard work and dedication, as emphasized by Rupert Murdoch.
• 🎉 TEDsters find joy in their work, suggesting a balance between hard work and enjoyment.
• 🧐 Mastery comes from focusing and practicing relentlessly, as Alex Garden suggests.
• 🎯 Focusing on one thing at a time is key to achieving success, according to Norman Jewison.
• 💪 Pushing oneself beyond limits, including overcoming shyness and self-doubt, is crucial for success.
• 👩‍🦳 Support from figures like mothers can be instrumental in pushing through challenges.
• 🤝 Serving others and providing value is a fundamental principle of success and wealth creation.
• 💡 Creativity and ideas are not magical but can be cultivated through simple practices.
• 🔄 Persistence is vital, especially in the face of failure and various forms of adversity.

Q & A

What was the initial motivation behind the speaker's decision to interview successful people?

The speaker was motivated to interview successful people after a high school student from a poor family asked him what leads to success, and he couldn't provide a good answer.

How many interviews did the speaker conduct over the seven years?

The speaker conducted 500 interviews over the seven years.

What is the first key factor mentioned by the speaker that leads to success?

The first key factor mentioned by the speaker that leads to success is passion.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between doing something out of love and financial success?

The speaker suggests that if you do something out of love, the money tends to come anyway, implying that passion can lead to financial success.

What does Rupert Murdoch emphasize as the key to success?

Rupert Murdoch emphasizes hard work as the key to success, stating that nothing comes easily but he has a lot of fun working.

What term does the speaker coin to describe people who work hard and have fun?

The speaker coins the term 'workafrolics' to describe people who work hard and have fun.

What does Alex Garden suggest is the secret to becoming successful?

Alex Garden suggests that the secret to becoming successful is to put your nose down in something and get really good at it through practice and focus.

What does Norman Jewison attribute success to?

Norman Jewison attributes success to focusing oneself on one thing.

What does David Gallo suggest is necessary to push oneself through?

David Gallo suggests that one must push oneself through shyness and self-doubt to achieve success.

What role does the speaker suggest mothers play in pushing individuals towards success?

The speaker suggests that mothers play a crucial role in pushing individuals towards success, as exemplified by Frank Gehry's story.

What does Sherwin Nuland consider a privilege and how does it relate to success?

Sherwin Nuland considers serving as a doctor a privilege, implying that serving others with value can lead to success and wealth.

What does Bill Gates credit as the foundation of his success?

Bill Gates credits having an idea — founding the first micro-computer software company — as the foundation of his success.

What does the speaker suggest is the number one reason for success according to Joe Kraus?

According to Joe Kraus, as mentioned by the speaker, persistence is the number one reason for success.

What acronym does the speaker use to describe the challenges one must persist through?

The speaker uses the acronym 'CRAP' which stands for Criticism, Rejection, Assholes, and Pressure to describe the challenges one must persist through.

What humorous suggestion does the speaker make for achieving success?

The speaker humorously suggests that one way to achieve success is to pay 4,000 bucks and come to TED.