The Science Behind Mental Toughness | Kolie Crutcher | TEDxMSState

Summary

The speaker, a former electrical engineer, shares his journey into writing about personal development and success. He explains how he applied scientific principles to create a 'science of success,' emphasizing the importance of mental toughness and perseverance. Despite life's unfairness, he argues that success grows exponentially, not linearly, and those who persist through challenges can achieve significant growth. The speaker encourages listeners to embrace the power of exponential growth and not to give up on their dreams.

Takeaways

• 🔧 The speaker transitioned from a career as an electrical engineer to writing personal development articles, despite the disparity in skillsets and career paths.
• ✍️ Writing became the speaker's passion, leading to a significant shift in career focus from engineering to authoring self-help content.
• 🏗️ The speaker found a connection between the principles of electricity and magnetism learned as an engineer and the concepts of personal success and achievement.
• 🤔 The speaker questioned why some people succeed while others do not, despite similar levels of talent and effort, and sought a reliable method for success.
• 💡 The realization that life is not fair and that mental toughness is a key factor in overcoming obstacles and achieving success was a pivotal moment for the speaker.
• 📈 The speaker introduced the concept of exponential growth as a metaphor for success, emphasizing that success grows at an accelerating rate, not linearly.
• 🌟 Success stories like Jeff Bezos' highlight the power of exponential growth, where success is not proportional to effort but can accumulate rapidly over time.
• 🚫 The speaker warns against quitting due to the initial slow and seemingly unfair returns on investment in one's dreams and goals.
• 💪 Persistence and mental toughness are essential to withstand the early stages of slow growth before the exponential growth phase begins.
• 🌱 The speaker encourages embracing the power of exponential growth and maintaining the drive to pursue one's passions despite life's inherent unfairness.

Q & A

Why did the speaker shift from being an engineer to a writer?

The speaker shifted from being an engineer to a writer because they wanted to spend all their time writing personal development, self-help, and success articles.

How did the speaker's career as an engineer influence their writing?

The speaker's engineering background influenced their writing by allowing them to apply scientific principles of electricity and magnetism to develop a workable science of success and personal achievement.

What realization did the speaker come to regarding the principles of electricity and magnetism in their writing?

The speaker realized that they were still using the same scientific principles of electricity and magnetism they learned as an engineer, but in a new and different way to help people achieve success and personal development.

Why did the speaker feel more like an engineer after starting to write?

The speaker felt more like an engineer after starting to write because they were applying engineering principles to a new field, creating a science of success and personal achievement.

What did the speaker observe about people's approach to pursuing success?

The speaker observed that most people were not fully pursuing success, personal achievement, or their true hopes, goals, and dreams, often settling for safe and reliable options instead.

What was the speaker's critique of common explanations for success?

The speaker critiqued common explanations for success, such as luck or being in the right place at the right time, for being unquantifiable and unreliable, as they did not provide a clear path to success.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of mental toughness?

The speaker emphasizes mental toughness because it allows individuals to persist through life's unfairness and obstacles without quitting, which is essential for achieving success.

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between life's unfairness and mental toughness?

The speaker views life's unfairness as a test of mental toughness, where accepting the unfairness of life prevents it from being a reason to quit and allows one to persist towards success.

What did the speaker discover about the power of exponential growth in relation to success?

The speaker discovered that success grows exponentially, not linearly, and that understanding and leveraging the power of exponential growth can lead to significant progress and wealth accumulation over time.

How does the speaker connect the concept of exponential growth to personal success?

The speaker connects exponential growth to personal success by explaining that the prolonged period of seemingly unfair returns, characteristic of exponential functions, is what often causes people to quit before they can experience the significant growth and success that comes with persistence.

What advice does the speaker give to those pursuing their passions?

The speaker advises those pursuing their passions not to quit, as the power of exponential growth is on their side if they persist, despite the initial meager and seemingly unfair returns on their investment.