See Problems As Opportunities | Mona Patel | TEDxNewBedford

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker recounts her grandfather's journey from poverty in India to his children's success in America, highlighting the transformative power of education. She shares a personal story of teaching her illiterate grandfather to write his initials, symbolizing the shift from 'can't' to 'can.' The speaker, a designer, emphasizes the importance of reframing problems as opportunities and encourages the audience to embrace creativity through 'what if' questions. She illustrates her points with examples from her work, including redesigning a digital camera and a vitals monitor for hospitals, and challenges the audience to apply this mindset to their own lives, to innovate and make a difference.

Takeaways

• 🏡 The speaker's grandfather, despite being poor and illiterate, believed in the power of education and managed to send his sons to school, which led to their successful careers.
• 🌟 The grandfather's success in lifting his family out of poverty highlights the transformative power of education and the importance of perseverance.
• 📚 An early, poignant memory of teaching her grandfather to write his initials symbolizes the potential for learning and overcoming barriers at any age.
• 🚫 The narrative emphasizes the common human tendency to use 'can't' as an excuse, which can be a barrier to personal and professional growth.
• 💡 The speaker shares her journey of overcoming cultural expectations and personal doubts to pursue higher education, illustrating the importance of following one's aspirations.
• 🛠️ The study of Engineering Psychology provided the speaker with a unique skill set that combines understanding human behavior with product design.
• 🤝 Collaboration in college projects, such as redesigning a camera and improving hospital monitors, taught the speaker about the value of user-centered design and innovation.
• 🔑 The concept of 'can't' as a mindset is introduced as something that can be overcome through creative problem-solving and a shift in perspective.
• 🤔 The speaker encourages reframing problems as opportunities, simplifying complex issues, and focusing on achievable steps towards a solution.
• 💼 The speaker's professional experience in user-experience design underscores the need to bridge the gap between perceived limitations and potential solutions.
• 🌟 The talk concludes with a call to action, challenging the audience to identify problems in their own lives, think creatively, and execute on ideas to make a difference.

Q & A

What was the speaker's grandfather's background?

The speaker's grandfather grew up in a small village in Gujarat, India, in a house made of dirt with a single bedroom for his family of ten. He was dirt poor and believed in the power of education to escape poverty.

How did the speaker's grandfather contribute to his children's education?

Despite being poor, the grandfather managed to send his sons to a nearby city for school, leading them to become professors, engineers, and doctors.

Why did the speaker's grandfather come to the United States?

The speaker's father, who became a doctor, moved to the United States in 1975, and the speaker was born a few years later.

What was a significant memory the speaker had with her grandfather?

The speaker remembers teaching her grandfather to write his initials, 'J, P.', despite his inability to read or write, which led to a moment of joy and accomplishment for him.

How did the speaker's cultural background influence her decision to attend college?

The speaker, being part of a traditional Indian culture, initially faced 'can'ts' and doubts about her ability to attend Tufts University due to cultural expectations and financial concerns, but her father encouraged her to pursue her education.

What was the speaker's major in college and how did it influence her career?

The speaker majored in Engineering Psychology, which combined her interest in psychology with the practical aspects of engineering. This background helped her understand both human capabilities and the challenges of product design.

What was one of the projects the speaker worked on during her college education?

One of the projects was redesigning a camera, specifically the first consumer-facing digital camera, which allowed for easier and more immediate access to captured images.

How did the speaker approach the challenge of redesigning a vitals monitor for hospitals?

The speaker and her team recommended redesigning the vitals monitor with a big bold new font, allowing nurses to read the patient's vitals from outside the room, thus minimizing disturbance to the patients.

What technique does the speaker suggest for generating creative ideas?

The speaker suggests using the 'what if?' technique, which involves asking a series of 'what if?' questions to stimulate creativity and generate innovative ideas.

What is the 'funnel vision' technique mentioned by the speaker?

The 'funnel vision' technique is a method of narrowing down a large number of ideas to a few feasible ones by asking questions such as 'Do you love the idea?', 'Will you pay for it?', and 'Does it have a wow factor?'.

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

The main message is to shift one's mindset from 'can't' to 'can', to see problems as opportunities, and to use creativity and innovative thinking to design solutions and make a difference in the world.