Aditya Maheswaran - World Championship of Public Speaking 2017 - Finals
Summary
TLDRAditya Mahesh Ferran shares his journey from being labeled as 'potential guy' to finding fulfillment. He humorously recounts his struggles in academics, music, and love, where he was always told he had potential but never quite achieved excellence. His turning point comes when his father enrolls him in Toastmasters, where he initially fails but eventually learns to lose himself in the process of speaking, rather than trying to find a speaker within. This shift leads him to excel, find love, and embrace the philosophy of losing oneself to truly find one's potential.
Takeaways
- 🔍 The protagonist was constantly searching for his potential in various aspects of life, symbolized by the term 'serial finder'.
- 🎓 He faced the recurring theme of being told he had 'potential' but never quite achieving excellence, which was discouraging.
- 🎸 His attempt to learn guitar ended with him being labeled as having potential, but not being able to play well, which added to his frustration.
- 💔 The rejection from his dream girl, who also told him he had potential, made him question his self-worth and search for identity.
- 🗣️ He was encouraged to join Toastmasters to find his potential as a speaker, which led to another journey of self-discovery.
- 💡 A pivotal moment occurred when he failed at a Toastmasters meeting, leading to a conversation that changed his perspective.
- 🌟 His father's advice to 'lose himself' in activities rather than just trying to find his potential within them was a turning point.
- 🎭 The realization that historical figures like Beethoven and Shakespeare didn't 'find' their talents but lost themselves in their craft was enlightening.
- 💡 He learned that losing oneself in the process of doing something is more important than just trying to find one's potential.
- 🌈 By embracing the idea of losing himself in his pursuits, he started to find success and fulfillment in various areas of life.
- 🌟 The story concludes with a message that potential is realized not by seeking it, but by immersing oneself fully in one's passions and interests.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the speech?
-The main theme of the speech is about realizing one's potential by losing oneself in the pursuit of passion and purpose, rather than merely seeking to find oneself.
Why did the speaker feel like he was a 'serial finder'?
-The speaker felt like a 'serial finder' because he was always searching for different aspects of himself, like being a student, a guitarist, and a speaker, but never fully committing to any of them.
What was the turning point for the speaker in his Toastmasters journey?
-The turning point was when the general evaluator, after praising everyone else, told the speaker that he had potential but did not explicitly say he could be a good speaker.
How did the speaker's father contribute to his Toastmasters experience?
-The speaker's father noticed his good communication skills and enrolled him into Toastmasters, which eventually led to his transformation.
What advice did the speaker receive from the evaluator that changed his perspective?
-The evaluator advised the speaker to stop trying to find the speaker in himself and instead to lose himself on stage.
What did the speaker mean when he said 'lose yourself'?
-The speaker meant that one should fully immerse themselves in their passion or pursuit without the pressure of finding a specific outcome or identity.
Why did the speaker feel devastated when the girl of his dreams told him he had potential?
-The speaker felt devastated because being told he had potential had become a recurring theme in his life, and it felt like a backhanded compliment that never led to actual achievement or recognition.
What historical figures did the evaluator mention to illustrate the concept of losing oneself?
-The evaluator mentioned Beethoven and Shakespeare, emphasizing that they did not find music or poetry but lost themselves in it, which led to their greatness.
How did the speaker's approach to guitar playing change after the Toastmasters experience?
-After the Toastmasters experience, the speaker decided to dust off his guitar and books not to find anything specific but to lose himself in the process.
What is the final message the speaker conveys to the audience?
-The final message is that everyone has potential, but to truly realize it, one must lose themselves in their passion and not just seek to find a specific identity or outcome.
What was the nickname given to the speaker at home and what did it imply?
-The nickname given to the speaker at home was 'the potential guy,' which was a fancy phrase implying that he was good for nothing, always having potential but never achieving it.
Outlines
🎓 The Struggle with Being 'Potential Guy'
The speaker, Aditya Mahesh Ferran, humorously recounts his lifelong quest to find his potential in various pursuits. Despite being told he had potential by teachers and parents, he never quite achieved excellence in academics, music, or relationships. This narrative captures the frustration of being labeled as having potential but never quite reaching it. His story is a relatable one for many who have struggled with the expectations of others and the pressure to find their true calling.
💡 The Transformation from 'Potential Guy' to 'Lost Guy'
Aditya's turning point comes when he meets a mentor who advises him to stop trying to find himself and instead to lose himself in his passions. This advice leads to a profound realization that true success and fulfillment come from immersing oneself fully in what they love, rather than constantly seeking validation or searching for one's identity. The speaker's journey from a 'serial finder' to a 'serial loser' (in the sense of losing himself in his passions) illustrates the power of fully committing to one's interests and the joy that comes from such dedication.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Potential
💡Finding oneself
💡Losing oneself
💡Adrenaline
💡Mentorship
💡Serial finder
💡Guitar class
💡Toastmasters
💡Evaluation
💡Love
Highlights
The speaker humorously describes himself as a 'serial finder', always seeking to discover something new about himself.
The speaker's academic life was a 'treasure hunt', with his report card always hinting at potential but not achievement.
His mother's attempt to find a guitarist in him by enrolling him in guitar class.
The realization that he was nicknamed 'the potential guy', a term that meant he was good for nothing.
The moment he decided to find a girlfriend and the humorous outcome of his romantic confession.
The devastating realization that he was seen as 'potential' even in his romantic pursuits.
The speaker's father recognizing his communication skills and enrolling him in Toastmasters.
The challenge of the table topic 'heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing off' at Toastmasters.
The turning point where the general evaluator's praise leads to a breaking point for the speaker.
The advice from the evaluator to 'lose yourself' rather than trying to find something.
The profound insight that historical figures like Beethoven and Shakespeare lost themselves in their work, not just found it.
The speaker's transformation from a 'serial finder' to someone who loses himself in his passions.
The moment the speaker is recognized as a good speaker after losing himself in the performance.
The discovery of love while losing oneself in the company of another.
The decision to dust off the guitar and books not to find something new, but to lose oneself in them.
The final message that we remain 'potential' until we realize the importance of losing oneself in our passions.
Transcripts
Pesche Veron lost-and-found
lost-and-found Aditya Mahesh Ferran
thank you what are you trying to find in
yourself I'm gonna make you stop finding
that something kinda scare my friends I
must confess I have been a serial finder
all my life when I was in school I
wanted to find a student in me at the
end of each year my sisters report card
would be a treasure chest and mine a
treasure hunt every year my mom would
hear the teachers say your daughter is
an excellent student your son has the
potential so I told my mother mom life
is not all about academics she said I
can say that not you but she enrolled me
in a guitar class and now I wanted to
find a guitarist in me after a year of
practice
many students could play summer of 69 my
guitar would only whine the guitar
teacher afraid that I may not renew for
the class would tell my mother don't
worry he has the potential so I got a
nickname at home I was a potential guy a
fancy phrase that meant he is good for
nothing
so I asked myself what I'd really wanted
to find and it clicked I wanted to find
a girlfriend I met the girl of my dreams
took her out on a romantic date look
deep into her eye and said may her I
love you she looked back at me with her
beautiful eyes and said Aditya
you have the potential a schoolteacher
saying that who cares a guitar teacher
saying that he cares but never saying
that I can I was devastated I hated
being this potential guy a guy who was
good but not good enough
who was talented but not talented enough
have you felt like the potential guy do
you feel like the potential guy so I
started talking and complaining about my
life to my parents I expected sympathy
instead my dad told my mom he's got good
communication skills and enrolled me
into Toastmasters but now I wanted to
find a speaker in me my very second
Toastmasters meeting the table topic
master takes me out young man your topic
heart has its reasons that reason knows
nothing off
I failed for this kind of a topic I
didn't even feel sad that I failed the
general evaluator that there was a
generous evaluator he praised everybody
great body language good vocal variety
and when it came to me he said that was
my breaking point I went to him straight
after the meeting and asked are you
Nahas father what that calm and serene
look had more to offer he took me aside
sat me down and just waited for me to
went out which I did sir
I work hard I'm committed I have always
remained ordinary I've tried to find
myself all my life but I'm lost
lose yourself once you may be found what
what have you come here for Aditya to
find a speaker in me stop trying to find
the speaker in you start losing yourself
on stage you see son Beethoven did not
find music he lost himself in it
Shakespeare did not find the poetry he
lost himself in it
no lover went how to find love no
speaker came here to find the talent
they just lose themselves in it
I realized what my problem was I remain
the potential guy because I was trying
to find myself in everything and in that
process forgot to lose myself in
anything he had opened my eyes so I
asked him what probably all of you at
some point have asked sir can you be my
mentor and he agreed and from that
moment every time my eyes lit up to find
something I would hear his whisper get
lost get lost only I knew what that
meant and suddenly from being a serial
finder I became a serial but not all who
lose themselves are lost are they when I
started losing myself to the adrenaline
of an amazing audience the evaluator
said we have found a good speaker in
Aditya lost when I started losing myself
in Nahas company we found love even
sitting in a coffee shop lust after
yours I brought down my guitar dusted my
books but this time not to find anything
but to lose myself in it
and each time I lost I fall what are you
trying to find my friend what are you
trying to find you are a potential guy
you are a potential girl
we are potential people but we will
remain that way until you realize that
it is only when you can you
Cantus chair
[Applause]
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