What is Success, Really? | Jamie Anderson | TEDxLiège

Summary

The speaker reflects on his 20-year journey from growing up in a small Australian town with dreams of becoming a professional cyclist, to pursuing a successful career as a professor, only to realize that it didn’t bring him happiness. He recounts how societal pressures led him to a prestigious academic path, but the ambition to succeed left him feeling unfulfilled. After a turning point, he and his wife redefined success, focusing on family, happiness, and personal passions. He eventually returned to cycling, finding joy in the journey, and shares the lesson of pursuing one's true dreams.

Takeaways

• 🚴 Jamie grew up in a small town in Australia, with six siblings, all of whom left school by the age of 15 due to financial hardships.
• 🌟 Despite facing challenges, Jamie had a dream of becoming a professional cyclist, starting with BMX racing at 9 years old.
• 🎓 At 16, Jamie had to choose between pursuing cycling or accepting a scholarship at the prestigious University of Melbourne, ultimately choosing the latter due to societal pressure.
• 💼 For 20 years, Jamie worked hard in academia, becoming a highly successful business school professor in London, but felt deeply unhappy despite his success.
• 😔 Jamie realized that his pursuit of professional achievement had made him tired, arrogant, unhealthy, and disconnected from his family and personal life.
• 💡 In 2009, Jamie and his wife sat down to redefine what success meant to them, focusing on family, love, and finding balance in life.
• 🚲 Jamie rekindled his passion for cycling and decided to compete in the World Masters Games, a competition for older athletes, while working to rebuild his personal life.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Jamie's journey led him to prioritize being a better father and husband, emphasizing the importance of relationships over career success.
• 🥉 In 2013, Jamie achieved a personal milestone by winning a bronze medal at the World Masters Games, with his family cheering him on.
• 🌙 The final message: It's important to pursue your dreams, but make sure the goals you are striving for are truly your own and aligned with your values.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood dream?

The speaker's childhood dream was to become a professional cyclist. He started racing BMX at the age of 9 and progressed to road cycling by the time he was 16.

What obstacle did the speaker face regarding his dream of becoming a cyclist?

The speaker faced societal and familial pressure to pursue a more 'realistic' career path. His teachers and career advisor, along with the financial struggles of his family, led him to believe that cycling was just a dream and wouldn’t pay the bills.

How did the speaker perform academically, and what opportunity did this provide?

The speaker did exceptionally well in his school exams and was offered a grant to study at the prestigious University of Melbourne. Despite his academic success, he felt conflicted because he didn't want to pursue this path.

Why did the speaker move to Melbourne, and how did this impact his cycling dream?

The speaker moved to Melbourne to attend university, which marked the end of his European cycling dream. He felt that he didn’t have a choice and had to pursue a more conventional career.

What did the speaker achieve professionally in the 20 years after university?

The speaker became highly successful in academia, publishing in top journals, teaching at one of the world’s best business schools, and earning more money than he had ever imagined. However, despite his professional success, he felt unhappy and unfulfilled.

How did the speaker describe himself after achieving professional success?

The speaker described himself as tired, arrogant, and unhealthy. He had spent two decades working hard but lost balance in his life, becoming someone he didn’t want to be.

What did the speaker and his wife do to redefine their idea of success?

In 2009, the speaker and his wife took a sheet of paper and drew a picture of what success meant for them. It included love, a strong relationship, being a good father, having a house with a garden near nature, and reconnecting with his passion for cycling.

What event reignited the speaker's passion for cycling?

The speaker discovered the World Masters Games, which is like the Olympics for older athletes. This reignited his passion for cycling, and he set a goal to compete in the 2013 games in Torino.

What significant decision did the speaker make in pursuit of his new vision of success?

The speaker resigned from his prestigious academic job, despite the fear of losing financial security and status. He chose to pursue a path that aligned with his new vision of success.

What was the outcome of the speaker's participation in the 2013 World Masters Games?

The speaker won a bronze medal in cycling at the 2013 World Masters Games in Torino. Although he didn’t win the race, the journey itself was deeply meaningful to him, and he realized that success is about pursuing one's own goals and dreams.

What key message does the speaker want to convey about success?

The speaker emphasizes that success is not just about reaching a high status or wealth, but about pursuing your own dreams and goals. It's important to ensure that the 'moon' you're shooting for is your own, and not dictated by others' expectations.