Failure is Necessary | Courtney Johnson | TEDxEvansville

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker recounts their fear-conquering skydiving experience, symbolizing the courage to face and overcome personal fears. They emphasize the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity, drawing from their own entrepreneurial journey and founding a non-profit. The speaker encourages the audience to confront their fears, whether it's writing a book, starting a podcast, or pursuing higher education, and to give themselves permission to fail as a means to grow and succeed.

Takeaways

• 😨 The speaker was nervous and scared before skydiving, reflecting on the option to turn back home.
• ⏰ The decision to continue was made after two hours of internal debate while driving and on the airplane.
• 🚀 The fear of failure was a driving force for the speaker to confront their fears by doing something terrifying like skydiving.
• 🤔 The speaker questioned their decision to jump from the plane, comparing it to the comfort of being at home.
• 🎯 The purpose of the skydiving experience was to face and overcome the fear of failure.
• 🙌 The speaker encourages the audience to raise their hands if they've been afraid to fail, showing it's a common fear.
• 📈 Failure is presented as an important part of life and a necessary step for growth and learning.
• 💡 The speaker shares personal stories of failure, such as in theater and starting a non-profit, to illustrate the value of overcoming fear.
• 🚀 The speaker's skydiving experience symbolizes the act of taking risks and the importance of facing fears.
• 💪 The message is to give oneself permission to fail and to not let the fear of failure prevent one from trying.

Q & A

What was the speaker's emotional state before driving to Elizabethtown, Kentucky?

The speaker was nervous and scared, and didn't get any sleep the night before.

Why was the speaker considering turning back while driving to their destination?

The speaker was contemplating turning back because they were nervous and scared, and they felt they didn't have to go through with what they were about to do.

What significant event was the speaker about to participate in?

The speaker was about to participate in skydiving from an airplane at 10,000 feet.

Why did the speaker decide to go through with the skydiving despite their fear?

The speaker decided to go through with the skydiving to confront their fear and to follow their tradition of facing something they are terrified of doing.

What is the speaker's philosophy on failure?

The speaker believes that failure is an important part of life, a way of learning, and a means to grow. They encourage embracing failure as a learning opportunity.

How does the speaker relate the fear of failure to their own life experiences?

The speaker relates the fear of failure to their own life by sharing their struggles with theater and starting a non-profit, emphasizing that overcoming fear is crucial for personal growth.

What advice does the speaker give to the audience regarding failure?

The speaker advises the audience to give themselves permission to fail and not to be afraid of failing, but rather to be afraid of not trying at all.

What is the main message the speaker wants the audience to take away from their talk?

The main message is that it's important to confront and face one's fears, to not let the fear of failure hold you back, and to learn and grow from failures.

Why did the speaker mention their experience with starting a non-profit?

The speaker mentioned their experience with starting a non-profit to illustrate how they overcame their fear and followed their calling, despite being terrified.

What does the speaker suggest as a way to deal with the fear of failure?

The speaker suggests taking risks, facing fears, and embracing failure as a way to learn and grow, which helps in dealing with the fear of failure.