"All Aboard: Staying on Track to Achieve your Goals" | Theodore Ouyang | TEDxTheWeissSchool
Summary
TLDRTheodore Young, a 7th grader, delivers an inspiring speech on setting and achieving goals, using the metaphor of a train from 'The Little Engine That Could'. He emphasizes the importance of setting SMART goals and maintaining motivation through self-reflection, as exemplified by Steve Jobs' routine. Young encourages overcoming obstacles and striving for excellence, reminding listeners to never be average and always pursue their best.
Takeaways
- π The metaphor of a train is used to represent the journey towards achieving one's goals, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and determination.
- π The story of 'The Little Engine That Could' is referenced to illustrate the power of positive self-talk and belief in one's ability to succeed.
- π― The importance of setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely) goals is highlighted to ensure they are realistic and attainable.
- π« Unrealistic goals are discouraged, and the example of wanting a 12-figure paycheck in high school is given to show the need for grounded aspirations.
- π The speaker encourages aiming high, suggesting that if one wants to be a doctor, they should aim to be an attending physician or medical director.
- π€ The necessity of understanding 'why' one is pursuing a goal is emphasized, as it fuels motivation and provides a clear direction.
- π₯ The analogy of a train's engine and coal box is used to explain the foundational elements needed to power one's journey towards their goals.
- π€³ A daily mirror exercise inspired by Steve Jobs is suggested to evaluate whether daily actions align with one's goals and to make necessary adjustments.
- π For those who struggle with focus or procrastination, using a planner and taking breaks are recommended strategies to maintain momentum.
- πͺ The script discusses the importance of seizing opportunities and overcoming obstacles, like closed gates, on the path to success.
- πͺ The final reminders are to never run out of steam (motivation) and to always strive for excellence rather than settling for average.
Q & A
What is the main theme of Theodore Young's speech?
-The main theme of Theodore Young's speech is the importance of setting and pursuing goals, using the metaphor of a train to represent the journey towards one's aspirations.
What book does Theodore reference in his speech?
-Theodore references 'The Little Engine That Could' in his speech, highlighting the importance of determination and self-belief in achieving goals.
What does Theodore suggest as a good approach to setting goals?
-Theodore suggests setting SMART goals, which should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.
Why does Theodore emphasize the importance of the 'engine' and 'coal box' in the train analogy?
-The 'engine' and 'coal box' represent the motivation and fuel needed to move towards one's goals, emphasizing the necessity of a strong drive and purpose.
What question does Theodore recommend asking oneself to maintain motivation?
-Theodore recommends asking oneself, 'Is what I'm doing today going to help me achieve my goal?' to maintain motivation and stay on track.
What advice does Theodore give for overcoming procrastination?
-Theodore advises using a planner to stay organized and taking short breaks to regain focus when working, as strategies to overcome procrastination.
How does Theodore relate the theme of 'steam' to his speech?
-Theodore relates 'steam' to his speech by likening it to the steam engine that powers a train, symbolizing the drive and energy needed to pursue one's goals.
What does Theodore mean when he says 'never run out of steam'?
-When Theodore says 'never run out of steam,' he is encouraging continuous effort and perseverance in the pursuit of one's goals.
What is the significance of the 'lazy villages' and 'mountain chain of success' in the speech?
-The 'lazy villages' and 'mountain chain of success' symbolize the challenges and obstacles one might face on the journey to achieving goals, with the latter representing the ultimate destination of success.
What two reminders does Theodore give at the end of his speech?
-Theodore gives two reminders: to never run out of steam and to never be average, always striving to be the best one can be.
Outlines
π Setting Metaphorical Life Goals
The speaker, Theodore Young, introduces the concept of metaphorical trains to represent the journey towards personal goals. Drawing inspiration from the book 'The Little Engine That Could,' he emphasizes the importance of determination and willpower in achieving one's aspirations. Theodore encourages setting SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. He also stresses the need for realistic and high aspirations, using examples to illustrate the point. The speaker likens the engine and coal box of a train to the driving force and fuel behind one's motivation, suggesting that understanding 'why' one is pursuing a goal is crucial for progress.
π Maintaining Momentum Towards Success
In the second paragraph, Theodore discusses strategies for maintaining the momentum towards one's goals. He suggests a daily self-reflection practice inspired by Steve Jobs, where one asks if the current actions align with long-term goals. For overcoming procrastination, he recommends using a planner and taking short breaks to recharge. Theodore also talks about seizing opportunities and breaking down barriers, using the metaphor of a train passing through various landscapes to represent the journey of personal and professional growth. He concludes with advice to never settle for average and to always strive for excellence, leaving the audience with a call to action to conduct their own metaphorical train towards success.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Metaphorical trains
π‘Disinflation destinations
π‘The Little Engine That Could
π‘STEAM
π‘SMART goals
π‘Engine and Coal Box
π‘Steve Jobs routine
π‘Planner
π‘Breaks
π‘Opportunities
π‘Success
Highlights
The metaphor of trains is introduced to symbolize the journey towards personal goals.
Reference to the book 'The Little Engine That Could' to illustrate the power of determination.
The importance of setting SMART goals is emphasized: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely.
The speaker warns against setting unrealistic goals, using the example of a 12-figure paycheck in high school.
The concept of aiming high is discussed, encouraging to aim to be the best in one's field.
The analogy of a train is used to explain the components necessary for achieving goals.
The significance of the 'engine' and 'coal box' in the train analogy, representing motivation and fuel.
A question to ask oneself to build the 'engine': 'Why am I doing this?'
The necessity of having a clear answer to the 'why' question for progress.
Steve Jobs' morning routine is mentioned as a method to stay aligned with one's goals.
Advice for procrastinators to use a planner and take breaks to maintain momentum.
The idea of breaking down opportunities into manageable parts is discussed.
The story of a friend, Boquete Miller, is shared as an example of someone pursuing opportunities.
Encouragement to overcome closed gates by breaking them down, inspired by the character Harvey Specter.
The journey through the 'villages of laziness' towards the 'mountain chain of success' is described.
Two reminders are given: to never run out of steam and to never be average.
The speech concludes with an encouragement to strive to be the best and to conduct one's own 'train'.
Transcripts
good morning I'm Theodore young and I'm
a 7th grader here at the Y school and
today I'd like to talk to you a little
bit about trains no not literal trains
where they bring your way to
disinflation destinations but
metaphorical trains the idea that you
can toggle away at your goals in order
to get your final destination what you
aspire to be who here has read this book
the little engine that could for those
of you who haven't out put in a nutshell
for you a little mg wants to go over a
big hill however his small engine can
barely get him moving on the tracks
however he keeps on thinking to himself
I think I can I think I can I think I
can and sooner or later he goes over the
top of the hill and he easily glides
downhill he went over the hill he was he
had the drive to do it he had the
willpower to go over the hill he in
summation he had this game to do it
funny enough today's theme is seen as
many of you know steam stands for
science technology engineering the arts
and mathematics when I think of steam I
think of a steam flame like the little
engine that could
barely going over the hill so all aboard
as I take you on a journey to show you
how do you set your own goal I doubt the
drive to follow through with your goal
and what you would discover along the
way let's start by setting your goal
your goal is what you want to be your
goal can be anything do you want to be a
doctor do you want to be a lawyer
scientists politicians engineer the
choice is yours put out that goal you're
a sea horse however your goal can't be
unrealistic I won't hurt a friend state
he wanted a 12 figure paycheck while he
was in high school
sadly enough that's never gonna happen
in the near future unless if he lives in
a country with hyper inflated currency
more importantly how would this kid earn
that much dough without a proper formal
education information this goal isn't
smart specific measurable achievable
relevant and timely but your goal can't
be too low if you aim low
you'll get lured always aim to be the
crime kilogram if you want to be a
doctor aim to be an attending physician
or a medical director if you want to be
a lawyer aim to be a senior partner or
managing partner always aim to be the
best do you want to be that shark the
happy shark or do you want to be the sad
fish obviously you want to be the shark
so I've given you a destination but how
do you get to that destination keep on
their steam train analogy let's put it
in words like a train
you have your train all these train cars
on your train are relevant except for
the first two the first two is your
engine and your coal box these are the
most important because the engine moves
your train and your coal box fuels your
engine so let's build that engine let's
fuel that coal box in order to do that
all you need to do is ask yourself one
simple question why am i doing this why
does this how does this help me how does
help the people I care about which
includes me how does this help society
and more importantly how does this help
the world if the answer is I don't know
then you have to change something your
answer can't be I don't know your answer
has to be a clear defiant on definition
was in set parameters with this your
train will move from a stop to a slow
start but you started your train how do
you keep the scheme going if your friend
starts moving
we have no way of keeping a train moving
then you might as well have not started
it at all so now I'm going to help you
keep this team running how many of you
are familiar it was Steve Jobs routine
his morning routine
a few of you so I'll tell you about it
well actually I don't know if it's a few
of you because I like you to blaring
basically with Steve Jobs we do in the
morning is he'd wake up he'd take a
shower brush his teeth and then he'd
look in his bathroom mirror and ask
themselves is what I'm doing today it
tells my last day what I want to be
doing today what I want to be doing what
I'm doing today if it's Angela's no one
too many times can fit something about
your life so now I told you you you and
all of you to do a similar thing every
day look in the mirror and ask yourself
is what I'm doing today going to help me
achieve my goal and the answer is no fix
something if you're a procrastinator
like me get a planner if you can't focus
while doing your work if you can't focus
while doing your work take a five minute
break and then tack your work was three
times the energy this will help you keep
the steam running now if the gauge of
the opportunity are clothes for you you
have to break them down but a large all
the time they'll be open our friend
boquete Miller he's not in the audience
right now as he's in classes but I
already told him that I'll give a shout
out to him he aspires to be a narcissist
the school the white school is school my
school in this school gives him space
related opportunities so he can be well
versed in the general topic of space
additionally it'll help him get better
formal education in later in life and
finally it'll land him the job that he
wants however sometimes those gates will
be closed do we shut together and
they'll be tied together with a padlock
sometimes you'll feel back against the
wall if that happens just quote
fictional speech attorney Harvey Specter
if your back against the wall break this
thing down
so the train is slowly moving through
the lazy villages of laziness
procrastinate and procrastination you
move into a better part of the country
and you can see the basis amount
professionalism intelligence and
ambition as you see the bottom of the
mountain chain of success I hope you are
on your way to achieving your goal and
you know what you have to do you know
what your good habits are you know what
your bad habits are and you know how to
get rid of your bad habits you know how
to emphasize your good habits and you
want how to decrease the sets of your
bad habits I hope there you know what is
successful and what was bringing you
down so as we move to the last part of
our journey I'd like to give you two
reminders first of all never run out of
steam second of all never be average
always strive to be the very best that
you can be so I tip my conductors hat to
you even though I'm not wearing one but
that would be weird
but I tip it I kept my fake height
that's not even there to you and I
passed the cap on to you so you can
conduct your very own train thank you
[Applause]
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