I Seek Failure: Adam Kreek at TEDxVictoria 2013

Summary

In this inspiring talk, the speaker explores the power of non-attainment, illustrating how embracing failure can lead to success and happiness. He recounts his adventure rowing across the Atlantic, where despite flipping their boat, he and his crew found joy in the experience and learned valuable lessons. Drawing on his Olympic journey and a conversation with a rival rower, he emphasizes the importance of seeking failure to grow and find fulfillment. He encourages everyone to set big goals, embrace the happy failure, and unlock their potential.

Takeaways

• 🚣‍♂️ The Power of Nonattainment: The speaker discusses the unexpected benefits of not achieving what you set out to do and remaining happy in the process.
• 🌊 Rowing Expedition: The story of a challenging rowing journey from Africa to Miami, which included various tasks and responsibilities beyond just rowing.
• 🛏️ Limited Space: The sleeping quarters on the boat were as small as a sheet of plywood, highlighting the physical challenges faced during the journey.
• 🔬 Multitasking: The crew was responsible for rowing, conducting scientific experiments, maintaining a blog, and delivering educational content.
• ✈️ Choosing the Slow Route: The decision to row across the ocean instead of flying was deliberate to gain more knowledge and experience.
• 💦 Near-Drowning Experience: A dramatic incident where the boat capsized, leading to a life-threatening situation and a test of survival skills.
• 🏅 Olympic Success and Failure: The speaker contrasts the joy of winning an Olympic medal with the disappointment of not achieving expected results in another competition.
• 📈 Embracing Failure: Learning from failure and using it as a stepping stone to growth, as exemplified by the story of rower Jake Wetzel.
• 🌟 Capacity Bubble: The concept of a personal 'capacity bubble' that can expand or shrink based on how we approach challenges and failures.
• 😄 Happy Failure: The idea that it's possible to fail and still be content, and that this mindset can lead to creativity and emergence.
• 🌍 Emergence in Failure: The theory that significant progress and innovation often occur when people set ambitious goals, fail, but remain positive and make the best of the situation.
• 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 Teamwork and Support: The importance of camaraderie and mutual support in overcoming challenges, as demonstrated by the crew's response to the boat capsize.
• 🎯 Big Goals and Happiness: The encouragement to set big goals, embrace the possibility of failure, and find happiness in the journey, not just the destination.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is the power of non-attainment, emphasizing the importance of finding happiness and learning from failure.

What was the speaker's goal in rowing from Africa to Miami?

The speaker's goal was to row from Desar Sagol to Miami, Florida as part of the CWF Africa to the Americas Expedition, aiming to conduct scientific experiments and deliver educational content along the way.

What were the additional responsibilities of the crew members during the rowing expedition?

The crew members were responsible for rowing 12 hours a day, conducting scientific experiments on human psychology, physiology, and circadian rhythms, maintaining a blog, delivering an educational curriculum, and occasionally speaking to the media.

How did the speaker describe the sleeping quarters on the boat?

The speaker described the sleeping quarters as being very small, about the size of a sheet of plywood, and shared with another person.

What happened on the morning of day 73 of the ocean row?

On the morning of day 73, the boat flipped upside down due to some funky waves, flooding the cabin and leaving the speaker trapped underwater.

How did the speaker react to the boat flipping over?

The speaker pushed his partner Pat out of the cabin to safety and then managed to escape himself, eventually surfacing and checking on the rest of the crew.

What was the speaker's previous experience with failure before the rowing expedition?

Before the rowing expedition, the speaker had experienced failure at the 2004 Olympics where his team did not win as expected, finishing fifth.

Who is Jake Wetzel and what lesson did he teach the speaker?

Jake Wetzel was a fellow rower who beat the speaker in training. He taught the speaker the importance of seeking failure to understand one's limits and to grow, by willingly pushing oneself beyond known limits during training.

What does the speaker mean by 'capacity bubble'?

The 'capacity bubble' refers to an individual's potential to achieve success, fulfillment, and happiness. The speaker suggests that one can either stay in the center and let it shrink or hover around the edges to let it grow.

How does the speaker feel about failing and being happy?

The speaker believes that it's possible to fail and still be happy, and that this state of mind can lead to greater success and personal growth.

What was the outcome of the speaker's rowing expedition, and how did he feel about it?

The speaker's rowing expedition ended in failure as they had to be rescued after the boat flipped, but he felt that they had an incredible time and learned valuable lessons, embracing the power of non-attainment.