Hayal Kur! Harekete Geç! | Abdulkadir ÖZBEK | TEDxAnkara

Summary

This motivational speech recounts a personal journey of growth and self-improvement. The speaker, initially aspiring to be a banker, is guided by a mentor who emphasizes the importance of reading and facing personal fears, such as public speaking anxiety. Through a series of exercises, including greeting strangers, initiating conversations, and confronting embarrassment, the speaker gradually builds confidence. The speaker also shares the value of education and how it led to founding a personal development club, launching educational initiatives, and opening schools. Ultimately, the speaker advocates for the transformative power of education and perseverance in achieving dreams.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker shares how their dream of becoming a banker was influenced by their family, as many relatives worked in banking, and how they pursued this dream by attending Hacettepe University.
• 😀 A turning point occurred when a family friend advised the speaker to improve their reading speed, leading them to join a speed reading course which tripled their reading speed and helped them read more books.
• 😀 The speaker faced a major challenge during university: public speaking anxiety. They initially struggled with presentations, feeling intense nervousness and fear of making mistakes in front of an audience.
• 😀 The speaker was determined to overcome their fear and researched ways to manage public speaking anxiety, eventually attending a training that significantly helped them improve their speaking skills.
• 😀 Four key exercises helped the speaker manage public speaking anxiety: greeting strangers every day, starting short conversations with people, shouting random names in public, and asking an awkward question in a pharmacy.
• 😀 These exercises were designed to challenge the speaker's fears gradually, helping them build confidence and overcome the fear of embarrassment in public speaking situations.
• 😀 After completing these exercises, the speaker experienced a significant improvement in their public speaking abilities, eventually giving a presentation in front of their class with great success.
• 😀 The speaker also focused on improving their memory and learning techniques, attending courses on memory enhancement and brain programming to activate both hemispheres of the brain, which led to better academic performance.
• 😀 Despite challenges in university, the speaker eventually shifted their focus away from banking and decided to dedicate their life to education, founding the Personal Development Club at Hacettepe University and later starting a consulting business.
• 😀 With support from their family and later their spouse, the speaker faced numerous setbacks but continued to pursue their goals, eventually organizing events and offering educational courses across Turkey to help students improve their skills and gain employment.

Q & A

What initial career did the speaker aspire to pursue, and why?

The speaker initially wanted to become a banker, as banking was a family profession. Their grandfather, father, uncle, and cousin were all bankers, which influenced their decision to follow the same career path.

What advice did the speaker receive from a family friend that changed their perspective?

A family friend advised the speaker to read more books if they wanted to be a quality banker or excel in any profession. They recommended attending a speed-reading course to improve reading efficiency.

How did the speed-reading course impact the speaker?

The speaker's reading speed tripled after completing the speed-reading course. This improvement allowed them to read more books and expand their knowledge, which significantly impacted their personal growth.

What problem did the speaker face during their university years, and how did they address it?

The speaker struggled with public speaking, particularly when presenting in front of a class. They felt intense nervousness and fear, which motivated them to find a solution for overcoming their anxiety.

What four exercises did the speaker's mentor suggest to overcome public speaking anxiety?

The mentor suggested the following exercises: 1) Greet 10 strangers every day, 2) Engage in brief conversations with 2-3 people each day, 3) Shout random names in a busy street, and 4) Ask a random question at a pharmacy to intentionally experience embarrassment.

How did the speaker feel after practicing the recommended exercises?

The speaker felt more confident and noticed an improvement in their communication skills. These exercises helped them reduce their fear of public speaking and eventually led to successful presentations.

What was the speaker's turning point in their career ambitions?

The turning point came when the speaker decided to abandon their initial dream of becoming a banker and instead pursued entrepreneurship and education. They were motivated to help others improve their learning and personal development.

How did the speaker contribute to the education field in Turkey?

The speaker founded a personal development club at their university, started an education consultancy, and eventually established schools to spread quality education. They also organized nationwide educational events to help students enhance their skills.

What challenges did the speaker face while trying to expand their educational initiatives?

The speaker faced challenges when trying to grow their consultancy business. Despite initial setbacks, including low attendance at free courses, they persevered with the support of their family, leading to greater success in their educational endeavors.

What is the speaker's ultimate goal in the education sector?

The speaker's ultimate goal is to establish a university and provide high-quality education that prepares students for the modern workforce. They aim to improve Turkey's education system and ensure that more people have access to valuable learning experiences.