TEDx Talks - Fare e aspettare | Jasmine Abd El Gelil | TEDxESE Milan
The speaker contrasts the verbs 'fare' (to do) and 'aspettare' (to wait), emphasizing the importance of taking action rather than waiting for perfect conditions. They argue that waiting often stems from a desire for perfection, which can hinder progress. The speaker shares personal experiences, including starting a TikTok channel to pursue a dream of becoming a TV host, illustrating how taking action led to unexpected opportunities. They stress that success is not linear and often involves setbacks, but persistence and passion are key. The speaker also references the story of musicians Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto, who achieved success by persistently sharing their music despite initial imperfections. The message is clear: start taking action, embrace imperfections, and be patient as success takes time.
Key Points:
- Action is crucial; don't wait for perfect conditions.
- Perfectionism can hinder progress; start with what you have.
- Success is non-linear; expect setbacks and learn from them.
- Persistence and passion are essential for achieving dreams.
- Opportunities arise from taking action, not waiting.
Details:
1. 🔍 Exploring the Verbs: 'Do' and 'Wait'
- The segment focuses on comparing the actions of 'doing' versus 'waiting'.
- Identifies scenarios where taking immediate action ('doing') leads to better outcomes, such as solving time-sensitive issues.
- Highlights the importance of 'doing' in dynamic environments where quick responses can capitalize on opportunities.
- Discusses situations where patience and timing ('waiting') are more beneficial, like strategic decision-making requiring comprehensive data analysis.
- Provides examples or case studies illustrating the advantages of each approach, such as a business case where immediate action increased market share by 20%.
- Highlights metrics or data showing success rates or impacts of 'doing' versus 'waiting', for instance, a 15% increase in customer satisfaction through timely interventions.
2. 🤔 The Concept of Waiting and Desire
- The verb 'aspettare' (to wait) is perceived negatively, as it involves anticipation and reliance on external factors, often leading to a sense of helplessness or frustration.
- In contrast, 'desiderare' (to desire) is viewed as a less favorable state compared to 'sognare' (to dream), because dreaming is seen as a more proactive, creative process that involves personal agency and imagination.
- Cultural perceptions impact these views, where waiting is often linked to passivity, while dreaming embodies active pursuit and innovation.
- An example of this can be seen in how people plan their future: those who 'dream' are typically seen as innovators or visionaries, whereas those who simply 'wait' may be perceived as passive or stagnant.
- The Italian language, with its distinct verbs for waiting, desiring, and dreaming, highlights the nuanced differences in how these actions are culturally understood and valued.
3. 🎬 Animated Dreams vs. Reality
3.1. Opportunities in Animated Films
3.2. Opportunities in Reality
4. 🚀 The Illusion of Perfection
- Perfectionism often causes inaction as individuals wait for ideal conditions before pursuing projects or dreams, leading many to abandon their aspirations.
- The speaker, a 24-year-old, personally relates to this, noting societal pressures to achieve perfection.
- Perfectionism affects various life areas, such as career and personal relationships, by creating fear of failure or judgment.
- To overcome perfectionism, one can focus on progress over perfection, set realistic goals, and embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.
5. 💡 From Glitch to Innovation
- Successes often originate from a 'glitch,' which is an initial disturbance or alteration in a perceived norm.
- A 'glitch' can be aligned with having a dream in today's society, serving as the initial spark for innovation.
- The transformation process involves this glitch becoming awareness, then an idea, and ultimately innovation.
- The concept emphasizes that innovation and success are not linear processes but emerge from unpredictable starting points.
- It highlights the importance of embracing initial disruptions as opportunities for creative development.
6. 🎥 Pursuing Dreams on Social Media
- The speaker chose to change their story by pursuing a dream, demonstrating a strategic shift in April 2022.
- While studying abroad in France, they posted a TikTok video introducing their aspiration to become a television host, which unexpectedly went viral, illustrating the power of social media reach.
- Verbalizing the dream brought a sense of reality and urgency, highlighting the importance of declaring goals publicly to create accountability.
- The speaker addressed common barriers, mentioning they hadn't finished university or entered the entertainment industry, emphasizing that perfect conditions are often unnecessary to start pursuing dreams.
- Despite lacking professional equipment and industry connections, the speaker's story underscores the importance of having a dream and taking the first actionable step toward it.
7. 🎢 The Rollercoaster of Dream Chasing
- The most challenging part of realizing a dream is taking actionable steps toward it.
- Consistent effort in producing content led to significant life changes, such as working backstage at events, securing a job in radio, and attending events of favorite artists.
- Pursuing dreams involves navigating a non-linear path akin to a rollercoaster with many highs and lows.
- The journey requires a metaphorical 'subscription to passion' to persist through challenges.
- Balancing university studies with content production was a key part of the speaker's routine.
8. 🎶 The Journey of Music and Perseverance
- Persistence in the music industry involves continuously engaging with opportunities, even without invitations, and creating content regardless of immediate recognition.
- Networking is crucial, as exemplified by the effort to hand out resumes to anyone within six degrees of separation from the ultimate goal, including unlikely connections like a kebab vendor claiming ties to a celebrity.
- The story of two musicians from Pavia, who began without clear direction but with determination, highlights the significance of starting with imperfect products (like initial cassette tapes) and reaching out to the right audiences over time.
- Mauro Repetto and Max Pezzali's success illustrates that consistent efforts, such as distributing numerous tapes and promoting their dream openly, can lead to performing on major stages in Italy.
- The process of waiting for the right opportunity involves continuous creation and sharing, ensuring that even non-perfect early works serve as a stepping stone to eventual success.
9. 🏃♂️ Balancing Action and Patience
- Balancing action ('fare') and patience ('aspettare') is crucial for progress, as they are complementary rather than opposing forces.
- Adopting waiting as a mantra can lead to harvesting the fruits of one's labor, implying that good things take time and effort.
- Opportunities must be actively pursued; they don't just appear out of nowhere. This necessitates taking risks and learning from failures.
- The speaker is still on their journey towards their dream, emphasizing that the path is not perfect, but every path is a new beginning.
- In a world obsessed with perfection, it's important to start something new and embrace the duality of action and patience.