How to get a TEDx Talk? You can get yours the way I got mine. | Raj Shamani | TEDxBabsonCollege

Summary

The speaker recounts being labeled as 'useless' during school, which led to low self-esteem. However, they turned this perception into motivation, building a global network by focusing on giving value to others rather than seeking it. This approach led to opportunities, including a TEDx talk and a successful business. The key takeaway is the power of offering value first to build meaningful connections and achieve success.

Takeaways

• 😔 Being called 'useless' and lazy during school years led to low self-esteem and self-belief.
• 😢 A teacher's rejection in tenth grade was a significant blow, but it also sparked a realization.
• 🤔 Many kids are labeled negatively by those who don't understand their mindset, leading to depression and self-pity.
• 🔗 Building a human network is crucial; connecting with people can open up unexpected opportunities.
• 📱 Reaching out to influential people on social media, despite initial rejections, was a turning point.
• 🌐 Attending a business networking conference in Mumbai was a pivotal moment, even though it started with some challenges.
• 🍽 Offering value first, like suggesting a local food spot, can create meaningful connections.
• 💡 The advice to 'give value first' rather than always asking for more became a life-changing principle.
• 📝 Researching how to offer value to admired individuals led to significant opportunities and global networking.
• 📈 Consistent, value-focused outreach, like messaging one person a day, expanded the speaker's network and opportunities, including a TEDx talk.

Q & A

What was the speaker called during their school times?

The speaker was called a 'useless kid' during their school times.

How did the negative labels affect the speaker?

The negative labels resulted in low self-esteem and a lack of self-belief for the speaker.

What specific incident in tenth grade significantly impacted the speaker?

In tenth grade, the speaker was ridiculed by a teacher when they asked for an opportunity to host the annual school function.

How did the speaker initially try to connect with influential people?

The speaker initially tried to connect with influential people by stalking them on social media and expecting them to reply.

What event did the speaker attend that changed their approach to networking?

The speaker attended a business networking conference in Mumbai, India, which changed their approach to networking.

How did the speaker manage to attend the conference despite not having a business?

The speaker made up a business name, Shivani Industries, and applied for the event under that name.

What key lesson did the speaker learn from the president of a youth organization they met at the conference?

The key lesson learned was that to connect with someone, you need to give them value first rather than just asking for help.

How did the speaker use the lesson about giving value in their networking efforts?

The speaker started researching people they admired to find ways to offer them value, such as helping to publicize a tour for an entrepreneur.

What strategy did the speaker use to build their global network?

The speaker built their global network by messaging one person a day, seven people a week, and 365 people a year, either through social media or email.

What impact did the speaker's strategy have on their career?

The speaker's strategy expanded their work to 18 countries and led to them delivering a TEDx talk.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Overcoming Labels and Building a Network

The speaker begins by revealing a personal secret: despite being labeled as a 'useless kid' during school, they have achieved significant success, including a TEDx talk and a thriving business. The narrative delves into the speaker's early struggles with low self-esteem and lack of self-belief, triggered by being underestimated by teachers and peers. A pivotal moment occurs when the speaker decides to step out of self-pity and start building a human network. They share their initial attempts at networking, which were met with rejection and disappointment. However, the speaker's persistence eventually leads to a transformative realization about the importance of giving value to others, which becomes the cornerstone of their networking strategy.

05:01

🤝 The Power of Giving Value in Networking

In this paragraph, the speaker recounts a specific encounter at a business networking conference in Mumbai, India, which serves as a turning point in their understanding of effective networking. Despite initial isolation and dismissal by other attendees, the speaker connects with a conference-goer over a shared dislike for the food. This chance meeting leads to a deeper conversation and the discovery that the individual is a prominent figure in India's youth organization scene. The key insight gained from this interaction is the principle of giving value to others before expecting anything in return. The speaker applies this principle to their networking efforts, offering help and support to influential figures they admire, which ultimately leads to significant opportunities and global connections.

10:01

🌟 Transforming Life Through the Art of Giving

The speaker concludes the script by emphasizing the transformative power of giving value to others. They share a personal anecdote about how a simple act of offering pani puri (a popular Indian snack) to a conference attendee led to a life-changing opportunity. The speaker reflects on the importance of authenticity and intent when reaching out to others, advocating for a mindset shift from taking to giving. The narrative culminates in the speaker receiving an offer to work on an international project with influential young leaders, illustrating the effectiveness of their networking approach. The speaker's journey serves as an inspiring example of how one person's message at a time can lead to significant personal growth and success.

Keywords

💡Useless Kid

The term 'Useless Kid' is used to describe the speaker's perception of himself during his school years, as labeled by others. It is a negative label that affected his self-esteem and self-belief. The speaker uses this term to illustrate the transformation he underwent from being seen as unproductive to achieving success in business and public speaking. This term is central to the theme of overcoming adversity and self-improvement.

💡Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to the value and respect a person holds for themselves. In the script, low self-esteem is a result of being called a 'useless kid,' which impacts the speaker's confidence and life outlook. The video's narrative shows how overcoming this label and building self-esteem is crucial for personal growth and success.

💡Self-Belief

Self-belief is the confidence one has in their abilities and potential. The speaker mentions a lack of self-belief due to being labeled as 'lazy and useless.' This concept is essential to the video's message, as it highlights the importance of believing in oneself to achieve goals and change one's life trajectory.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity, in the context of the video, is a chance or possibility for advancement or progress. The speaker initially faced a lack of opportunities due to his perceived inadequacies. However, he later seized opportunities, such as attending a business networking conference, which led to significant personal and professional growth.

💡Human Network

The human network refers to the collection of personal connections and relationships one builds throughout life. The speaker emphasizes the importance of building a human network for opportunities and learning. This concept is central to the video's theme of leveraging connections to achieve success.

💡Influencers

Influencers are individuals who have the power to affect the opinions, attitudes, and behaviors of others. The speaker mentions looking up to influencers and connecting with them as a strategy for personal and professional development. This term is key to understanding the speaker's approach to expanding his network and gaining opportunities.

💡Value

Value, in this context, refers to the worth or usefulness that one provides to others. The speaker discovered that by offering value to others, such as taking the president of a youth organization for pani puri, he could build meaningful relationships. This concept is a cornerstone of the video's message about giving before receiving.

💡Pani Puri

Pani puri is a popular Indian street food, and in the script, it serves as an example of offering value to someone. The speaker uses it to connect with a potential mentor, illustrating the idea that small gestures can lead to significant opportunities.

💡Intent

Intent refers to the purpose or goal behind an action. The speaker discusses the importance of having a clear intent when reaching out to others, ensuring that the interaction is meaningful and not solely for personal gain. This concept is integral to the video's theme of authentic and valuable networking.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity is the quality of being genuine and not false or imitation. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being authentic in networking efforts, ensuring that promises and messages are sincere. Authenticity is key to building trust and meaningful relationships in the video's narrative.

💡TEDx Talk

A TEDx Talk is a form of presentation given at a TEDx event, which is an independently organized TED event. The speaker mentions giving a TEDx talk as one of his achievements, symbolizing his transformation from a 'useless kid' to a successful and influential individual. This term highlights the video's theme of personal and professional growth.

Highlights

Overcame being called a 'useless kid' to achieve success with a TEDx talk and a successful business.

Faced low self-esteem and lack of self-belief due to being labeled as 'lazy and useless'.

Realized not being the only one labeled this way, with millions around the world facing similar challenges.

Describes self-pity as a 'spa', beneficial for a short time but detrimental if indulged in for too long.

Advocates for seizing opportunities and building a human network by connecting with more people.

Shares personal experience of trying to connect with influential people but initially facing rejection.

Mentions attending a business networking conference in Mumbai, India, as a turning point.

Recalls being ignored at the conference until offering value in the form of local food.

Learned the importance of giving value first in order to receive value in return.

Started researching people he admired to find ways to add value to their lives.

Gained a global network by consistently giving value to connections, one person at a time.

Emphasizes the power of intent, care, and authenticity when reaching out to others.

Received a project offer from a connection as a result of consistently providing value.

Shares the strategy of messaging one person a day to build a strong human network.

Believes in the idea of spreading value by giving to others without expecting immediate returns.

Inspires the audience to imagine a world where people focus on giving rather than getting.

Concludes with the message that one person and one message at a time can lead to significant life changes.

Transcripts

let me tell you a secret today I was

called a useless kid when I was in

school and yet Here I am I got this TEDx

talk my own successful business and I

was giving speeches in 18 countries so

how did that happen

well this is my story since the

beginning of my school times I was

always tagged as lazy and useless a

child who was good for nothing and will

probably end up doing nothing in his

life and these tags became my reality

because they would result in low

self-esteem and a lack of self belief

one time when I was in tenth grade I

asked my teacher for an opportunity to

host the annual school function and she

ridiculing me and said look at you you

cannot even speak it st. Denton English

fluently you sleep in most of your

classes how can we afford to jeopardize

the image of our school by putting a

useless kid like you on the stage I was

devastated but then I took it in my

stride because as I grew up I realize

then I'm not the only one who has been

tagged as lazy and useless there are

millions like me around the world in

fact most of the kids from of a

generation are tagged as lazy and

useless by the people were either older

than us or don't understand the way we

think and others dolt kids like me often

find ourselves not feeling very powerful

but being depressed about of our lives

and we get into the zone of self-pity

and we tend to stay there now for me

self-pity is like Spa

because it's okay to stay there for a

while but if you stay there for a long

time it can be very detrimental so

instead of wasting time by spending your

time in that zone we could latch on the

opportunities and you may be surprised

to know that the simplest way is by

building the human network it's by

connecting with more people isn't it

confusing let me lead with my own

example since I used to look up to many

influential people from different walks

of life I thought why not I reach out to

them directly that could lead me to

better opportunities so I became the

annoying guy who would stalk all these

influences on every social media

platform and expect them to reply all I

wanted was to be around them which could

help me learn so I tried so hard and he

talked to many people but nobody would

text or talk to me all I wanted to see

was how they can help me but even when I

met them nobody even talked to me or

entertain me for a minute so then I saw

this ad on Google I still remember the

text it was written attend this event to

explore endless opportunities and build

relationships with the world top thought

leaders and it was about a business

networking conference in Mumbai India

and this was my unit come over because

the next line read in verse apply for

free well the only condition to do that

was if you have a business well I was

very happy that the event is for free

but the problem - the adverse I didn't

have a business but I still apply and I

made myself the founder of Shivani

industries well it's my last name so no

one would even question me for that and

I got into that event

so I went to that event there were about

400 business people from different

industries and I met some people who

would not even look at me and just walk

away there were some people who would

talk to me for a while and then

disappeared and there was special

category of people who would come to me

and start selling their products or

services and leave immediately the

moment I denied to buy same thing

happened

nobody valued me enough to give me their

time and then I saw the sky I was

standing in the corner of a dining hall

and I went up to him and asked him why

aren't you eating anything from this

grand buffet of oriental food and he

said I expected some local spicy food I

don't like only enter I was going

through the same problem so I offered

him immediately I offered him something

I said I know a place where we can get

the best pani poni of the city why don't

you come join me now for those of you

who don't know what pani buddy is it's a

crispy challah bread filled with masala

something and then there's a flavored

water

in short Indians are crazy for it so we

went to eat pani puri and then we talked

for a while and then he told me that he

is the president of one of the biggest

youth organizations of India and his

founder of three companies I was shocked

and I asked him like how we're in the

conference out of everyone nobody even

talked to me for a minute

how are you talking to me since an hour

and then what he said became the focal

point of my life he said Raj we're

surrounded by people were constantly

thinking about getting more or keep

asking for more

in fact we most of the time become that

person who keeps asking for more rather

than giving

so if you want someone to value you give

them value first because if you won't

give them value why would even someone

talk to you right now when everyone was

busy in selling you offered me value in

terms of pani poni how can I say no to

that so if you want to connect with

someone give them something they want

give them a reason to talk to you or

value that point if really changed my

life because that's when I started

researching about the people who I

admired to see what could I do for them

for instance I admired an entrepreneur

in Singapore and instead of just texting

him to say would you help me by

explaining how he became successful I

texted him I see that you're coming to

India would you like me to help you

publicize your tour and guess what I got

a reply in fact the same entrepreneur

lated invited me to Singapore to speak

with him after spending around 8 to 10

months connecting with the young leaders

influences entrepreneurs business people

and everyone possible I realize that I

have a global network of people from

different countries based on just one

principle give so before us before

writing them the email I would just ask

myself ten questions first what is my

intent why am i reaching out to this

particular person second why should this

person care why should this person even

give me a minute from his emotional and

third authenticity how attending my

message is because obviously I don't

want to write or promise something which

I won't be able to deliver so one day I

received a letter from the same guy par

Shiva and the letter written voice

thanks for the spicy polyphony and I

remember that he wanted to connect with

like-minded people

I hope this will help you and attached

was the offer letter to do a project

with 50 young influences from 30

different countries in different parts

of Europe

oh boy that funny buddy did change my

life

oh I never asked for any job I never

asked for any business

I just tried to add value in a person's

life by messaging one person a day seven

people a week and 365 people in a year

either to social media or by email and

that's how I paint my human network

called portney did expand each of my

work in 18 countries and got this TEDx

talk and this is how you can do by not

thinking about getting one but by

constantly giving value to every person

you connect with let me put this in a

context for you to understand it better

by telling you about my editions go

innovation imagine a world with not an

intention of getting and wanting but

with the purpose of giving it to each

other and well here's the secret

one day one person and one message at a

time for the rest of your life can make

you go from supposedly useless person to

a person who's standing on a still

delivering a TEDx talk at the age of 21

and that what I believe is the idea what

spreading thank you

[Applause]