Day 3 @ TEDNext: 4 Questions To Shape Your Future Self

Welcome to Day 3 of TEDNext! It’s been such a great event and we can’t believe it’s already over. Before we dive into learnings from today, check out these highlights from the conference thus far. 

It’s been an amazing three days full of great insights from TED speakers. We heard from so many in our community about how they’ll be taking these ideas home and putting them into action.

But change doesn’t happen without a spark of curiosity. You have to ask yourself where you are, where you want to be and how you’ll get there. 

Self-reflection is key. When you question your own motives, fears and habits, you plot the course for your next chapter.

4 Questions you need to answer today:

We caught up with four TEDNext attendees and speakers to hear about how this event inspired them — and what questions they’re left asking themselves. May these questions spark your own journey of self discovery — no matter where you are in our global community. 

1. What skills or talents do I already have?

Tap into your superpowers to create massive change.

Whether you’re thinking about a business you want to start, a field you want to enter or a new hobby you want to nurture, a great place to start is by noticing any interests or passions you aren’t currently mobilizing – but should be.

Long-time TED community member Mary Fajimi, M.S., CPC challenges us to take inventory of our skills and interests, and plan change around them.

“How can you grab onto some of the things that are uniquely yours?” she asked. “How can you continue to learn and grow and change and impact what's around you?”

Your next opportunity will likely be based on what you already love to do but aren’t capitalizing on, Mary said.

“Don't be afraid to show up as yourself and see where you land,” she explained. “What’s meant for you will find you. But if you’re out there trying to be someone else or looking like something else, it will be hard for you to recognize what you’re looking for when you’ve found it.”

You already have the tools you need. You just have to use them. 

2. Am I being responsible with my words and leadership?

What you say matters — speak wisely.

Andrea Saenim , V.P. of Operations at Northwestern Medicine , was struck by Malcolm Gladwell ’s public apology at TEDNext for popularizing the “broken windows” theory of policing in his book The Tipping Point. The theory, created in 1982 by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, posited that small crimes like broken windows lead to more serious crimes. The application of this theory led to harsh, zero-tolerance policing strategies, such as “stop-and-frisk,” that have largely targeted minorities. After New York City dropped those policies, crime rates actually fell, casting serious doubt on the validity of the “broken windows” theory. 

“He was so absolute with his words 25 years ago, not knowing the impact it would have on a certain group,” said Andrea. “And now many years later, so many people were negatively impacted and are grieving that impact, and he has to go up on stage and apologize in a massive way. How do you begin to repair the damage that was done in that 25-year period?”

Questioning how you can speak more responsibly can help avoid unintended consequences. 

“Be careful with your words,” she advised. “Words matter, especially written words. And you won't know which group of individuals could be impacted by your words.” 

This is a reminder that your words are just your perspective, not absolute truths, so leave room for growth to avoid unintended consequences.

3. What am I afraid of?

Face your fears head on and find the courage to act.

YouTuber Jenny Hoyos believes in stepping outside of her comfort zone. Being in a creative field, it’s part of the job description. 

But that doesn’t always mean it comes easily. To overcome her fear of public embarrassment, she often asks herself: What unusual steps can I take to build up a tolerance to embarrassment? The answer: intentionally embarrass yourself. She once recruited her mother to role-play fake arguments in public so she could face her fear of strangers’ negative reactions. 

Overcoming that fear helped Jenny go after her own creative ambitions, including building her own Youtube channel and hiring passionate employees who understood her vision.

“For creatives, chasing your dreams means pursuing a creative field even if it seems out of reach,” she said. “It's very hard to monetize in a creative field, so I think you have to take action and figure out how to make it work.”

To overcome your fear, you have to question it, practice coming to terms with it and find comfort in the journey. 

4. Am I making time to reflect?

Self-improvement starts with introspection.

Atlassian ’s Allison Arcos reminded us that it’s important to reflect on your habits to find practices that will better serve you.

“I think for so many of us, it's easy to fall into a trap of just doing something without taking the time to consider if it's the right way to do it, or even the right thing to be working on,” she shared.  

She said attending events like TEDNext is a great way to start interrogating your own habits. We all tend to stick to the same routine when we’re busy, but pressing the pause button to listen to others and self-reflect can help you reexamine what you’re doing and why, so you can best prepare yourself for your next step.

These are just some of the groundbreaking ideas shared at TEDNext that are inspiring intentional, impactful action. But before you take your next step, inventory your strengths and weaknesses so you can understand how to make your ideas a reality.

Thanks to all our speakers, partners and attendees for helping to inspire new futures, big changes and innovative solutions. We can't wait to see who you become in the future. 

While we are leaving Atlanta, it’s not too late to experience the magic of TEDNext. Inspire your future self with a TEDLive pass and get on-demand access to the full TEDNext archive. 

Tell us in the comments: What’s a question future you is asking today?