Get comfortable with being uncomfortable | Luvvie Ajayi Jones | TED

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker, a self-proclaimed professional troublemaker, emphasizes the importance of challenging the status quo and speaking up against injustice. She shares her journey from aspiring doctor to influential blogger and writer, highlighting the power of being the first to take action, like a domino initiating change. The speaker encourages overcoming fear, using personal anecdotes like skydiving and confronting pay inequality, to illustrate the need for honesty, integrity, and justice. She calls for collective action, urging everyone to be a 'domino' in their own right, advocating for a world that values truth and supports one another.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The speaker identifies as a 'professional troublemaker' whose role is to critique the world and encourage improvement.
• 💡 The concept of being the 'first domino' is introduced as a metaphor for initiating change, inspiring others to follow suit.
• 🤔 The speaker admits to not being fearless, but rather feeling compelled to speak out despite the fear of consequences.
• 🧐 The importance of speaking truth to power is emphasized, even when it's uncomfortable or risky.
• 🎓 A personal anecdote is shared about giving up a dream of becoming a doctor to pursue blogging, illustrating the power of embracing change.
• 📚 The journey to self-identification as a writer took nine years, highlighting the impact of fear on personal growth and professional recognition.
• 🚀 The year 2015 was declared as the 'year of doing it anyway,' symbolizing a commitment to face fears and pursue what scares.
• 🌳 The speaker's first solo vacation and adventurous activities symbolize stepping out of comfort zones as a form of personal challenge.
• 📖 Writing the book 'I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual' represents owning one's voice and using it for societal critique.
• 🛫 Skydiving is used as a metaphor for the act of speaking truth, capturing the fear and exhilaration of taking a bold stand.
• 🌍 The beauty of the Earth seen from the skydive reflects the potential of overcoming fear to see the bigger picture and make a positive impact.
• 🔊 The speaker calls for collective action, urging everyone to be a 'domino,' to disrupt the status quo, and to speak up for justice and integrity.

Q & A

What is the speaker's primary role as described in the script?

The speaker describes herself as a professional troublemaker whose job is to critique the world, including shoddy systems and people who refuse to improve, through her work as a writer, speaker, and commentator.

How does the speaker view her purpose in society?

The speaker sees her purpose as being a catalyst for change by speaking up and inspiring others to do the same, like the first domino in a line that causes others to fall.

What does the speaker suggest about the nature of fear in relation to taking action?

The speaker suggests that fear is a powerful force that often prevents people from taking action, but it's important to overcome it in order to speak the truth and effect change.

How did the speaker's academic experience influence her career path?

The speaker's experience of receiving a poor grade in Chemistry 101 led her to abandon her premed major and instead start blogging, which eventually became her full-time job.

What event in 2010 prompted the speaker to consider blogging as her full-time career?

The speaker lost her marketing job in 2010, which led her to consider blogging as a full-time career.

What does the speaker believe is the key to overcoming fear and achieving one's purpose?

The speaker believes that not letting fear dictate one's actions and decisions is key to overcoming it and achieving one's purpose.

What was the speaker's approach to facing her fears in 2015?

In 2015, the speaker decided to face her fears head-on by actively pursuing anything that scared her, as part of her 'Do it anyway' philosophy.

What personal anecdotes does the speaker share to illustrate her point about confronting fear?

The speaker shares anecdotes of taking her first solo vacation, ziplining in the Dominican Republic, swimming with dolphins in Mexico, writing her book, and skydiving.

How does the speaker connect the act of skydiving to speaking truth to power?

The speaker compares the feeling of speaking truth to power with the moment of jumping out of a plane during skydiving, highlighting the fear and the subsequent realization of the beauty and necessity of the action.

What does the speaker suggest is the role of those who are not the most powerful in a room?

The speaker suggests that even if one is not the most powerful, they can still make a difference by disrupting the status quo, supporting others, and ensuring that everyone's voice is heard.

What advice does the speaker give for determining whether to speak up about a difficult truth?

The speaker advises to ask oneself three questions: Did you mean it? Can you defend it? Did you say it with love? If the answer is yes to all three, then it's important to speak up.

How does the speaker view the importance of being oneself in the face of societal expectations?

The speaker views being oneself as a revolutionary act, especially in a world that often demands conformity and quietness.

What does the speaker believe is the collective responsibility of individuals in relation to speaking truth to power?

The speaker believes it is the collective duty of individuals to speak truth to power, not just when it's easy, but especially when it's difficult, to build bridges to common ground based on truth.