Aditya Maheswaran - World Championship of Public Speaking 2017 - Finals

Summary

Aditya Mahesh Ferran shares his journey from being labeled as 'potential guy' to finding fulfillment. He humorously recounts his struggles in academics, music, and love, where he was always told he had potential but never quite achieved excellence. His turning point comes when his father enrolls him in Toastmasters, where he initially fails but eventually learns to lose himself in the process of speaking, rather than trying to find a speaker within. This shift leads him to excel, find love, and embrace the philosophy of losing oneself to truly find one's potential.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The protagonist was constantly searching for his potential in various aspects of life, symbolized by the term 'serial finder'.
• 🎓 He faced the recurring theme of being told he had 'potential' but never quite achieving excellence, which was discouraging.
• 🎸 His attempt to learn guitar ended with him being labeled as having potential, but not being able to play well, which added to his frustration.
• 💔 The rejection from his dream girl, who also told him he had potential, made him question his self-worth and search for identity.
• 🗣️ He was encouraged to join Toastmasters to find his potential as a speaker, which led to another journey of self-discovery.
• 💡 A pivotal moment occurred when he failed at a Toastmasters meeting, leading to a conversation that changed his perspective.
• 🌟 His father's advice to 'lose himself' in activities rather than just trying to find his potential within them was a turning point.
• 🎭 The realization that historical figures like Beethoven and Shakespeare didn't 'find' their talents but lost themselves in their craft was enlightening.
• 💡 He learned that losing oneself in the process of doing something is more important than just trying to find one's potential.
• 🌈 By embracing the idea of losing himself in his pursuits, he started to find success and fulfillment in various areas of life.
• 🌟 The story concludes with a message that potential is realized not by seeking it, but by immersing oneself fully in one's passions and interests.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speech?

The main theme of the speech is about realizing one's potential by losing oneself in the pursuit of passion and purpose, rather than merely seeking to find oneself.

Why did the speaker feel like he was a 'serial finder'?

The speaker felt like a 'serial finder' because he was always searching for different aspects of himself, like being a student, a guitarist, and a speaker, but never fully committing to any of them.

What was the turning point for the speaker in his Toastmasters journey?

The turning point was when the general evaluator, after praising everyone else, told the speaker that he had potential but did not explicitly say he could be a good speaker.

How did the speaker's father contribute to his Toastmasters experience?

The speaker's father noticed his good communication skills and enrolled him into Toastmasters, which eventually led to his transformation.

What advice did the speaker receive from the evaluator that changed his perspective?

The evaluator advised the speaker to stop trying to find the speaker in himself and instead to lose himself on stage.

What did the speaker mean when he said 'lose yourself'?

The speaker meant that one should fully immerse themselves in their passion or pursuit without the pressure of finding a specific outcome or identity.

Why did the speaker feel devastated when the girl of his dreams told him he had potential?

The speaker felt devastated because being told he had potential had become a recurring theme in his life, and it felt like a backhanded compliment that never led to actual achievement or recognition.

What historical figures did the evaluator mention to illustrate the concept of losing oneself?

The evaluator mentioned Beethoven and Shakespeare, emphasizing that they did not find music or poetry but lost themselves in it, which led to their greatness.

How did the speaker's approach to guitar playing change after the Toastmasters experience?

After the Toastmasters experience, the speaker decided to dust off his guitar and books not to find anything specific but to lose himself in the process.

What is the final message the speaker conveys to the audience?

The final message is that everyone has potential, but to truly realize it, one must lose themselves in their passion and not just seek to find a specific identity or outcome.

What was the nickname given to the speaker at home and what did it imply?

The nickname given to the speaker at home was 'the potential guy,' which was a fancy phrase implying that he was good for nothing, always having potential but never achieving it.