This is certainly one of the best TED talks I've listened to! It's such a pity that not many people have listened to this. I think the main point is that you are the one who create meanings to everything, including your own life. Once you realize this, you can be free from looking at your life based on the eyes of others, or society in general. It's your personal choice. Time is under your control if you allow it to be. Memories matter. And so do communication. Follow your heart and let's see where it leads you to be. :)
Many have said what a great talk this is. I agree! Derek is tossing each of us the key to the jail where we are holding ourselves in bondage to our projections that don’t actually exist!!
In Russia Quality means that something is performing its original function despite being quite old. It doesn’t mean new, it doesn’t mean without scratches. Quality performs beyond its lifespan, it’s not obvious at first sight.
I loved this. When you go to the Talking Heads, I knew then I was going to hear something really astounding. Because I've been listening to them since The Big White Suit and trying to make sense. This made more to sense to me than just about anything I've read or heard in years. Life really does have no meaning. Except what I want it to mean!
Nurturing your followers is a sure way to make sure that more people feel comfortable joining your team or movement. People want to feel safe and included, but they also don’t want to stand out and most times, they do not want to start the movement. This is where the leader’s role becomes so important. They are the first ones to start doing it. “It” may vary depending on the activity, but leaders are the first ones to put themselves out there and risk embarrassment. Going along with leaders' nurturing aspect, they also must make sure that their first few followers feel comfortable entering into what they are doing. The leader needs to guide them on how and potentially even why they are doing what they are doing. Leaders are meant to be a guiding presence and once enough people join in and start adding to the movement, the leader’s role becomes less important. Their role is more about facilitation than showing people what to do. Leaders then move to keeping everyone on the same page and acting in the appropriate manner. They make sure that the idea, movement, team, etc. does not stray from their original idea. This new role is just as important as nurturing their followers in the beginning.
Loved the message. Re-examining what I have let become the meaning and what is stopping my unused potential. I wonder what the notes from the top of the chair were for. He didn’t explain that part.
mmmmhmmm Tuhdaww!! My little Rabbit; "amygdala" totally went crazy over that super cool show! Thanks Derek! As i sit at my desk and wait for another stupid sales call..... time to make better choices suppose.
I’m a big fan of Derek and a Korean who lives in Japan. But I do not understand the part about “quality” at all. Quality = 質 (a degree of excellence) is the only definition we use in Korea and Japan.
I appreciate this talk. However, I must say that the philosophy is lacking. The "life is what you make it" approach is unsatisfying and often leads to hedonism and nihilism. Yes, we are meaning makers telling our little story, but our stories are not playing out in vacuums. Our stories overlap and our meaning is often shared. Life = patterns. All of our stories amalgamate into a transcendent story - a story of stories. Meaning, like all else, is a hierarchy. Your understanding of simple Chinese is a good example. You had a low resolution understanding of the meaning. Later you learned a higher resolution. It's like climbing a mountain. The higher you climb the closer you are to the point or the summit. Base level or summit, you are still on the mountain of meaning. Life = meaning. Viktor Frankl said. Without meaning, without purpose, the soul fades to despair and nihilism, which is no "life" at all, but perhaps a shell of mere existence. So be meaningful and serve the most meaningful source you can. Well, now I have begun veering towards Logos Theology so I will stop here. I appreciate the talk, but not the philosophical bend in this video. Thanks for your work Derek Sivers. It has helped me in my artistic and business endeavors.
+Pedro Amaral Why not? I think they are more real than his writing. Plus that takes a lot of courage to keep up the enthusiasm like he does when your audience is dead..or doesn't understand your language.
While I do think the message life is what you make of it, it has whatever meaning you ascribe to it has some merit.....I absolutely HATE HATE HATE the fact that he uses the Chinese language as an example to describe/illustrate this. The characters and symbols used to write the Chinese language in Traditional Chinese is full of meaning and the language actual DOES work the way he thinks it does. Characters and radicals are not haphazardly put together but are in fact carefully selected to create a word. The accursed dumbing it down Mao Zedong and the Communist party are the ones who horribly butchered the beautiful language into the way it is written today. The worst example of this is the word "love". In traditional Chinese it is the character to gain or acquire and a heart....thus when you fall in love you both partners acquire and gain each other's hearts. The butchered bastardized Communist word and character for love is written to acquire a friend. Such a Communist word to describe comrade and love in Communist China. I find it interesting he is giving this talk in Taiwan of all places where many of the people there could and do still practice using traditional Chinese writing. The intention of his anecdote is good but the example he uses, using the Chinese language, knowing what it originally was, it an absolutely TERRIBLE example to illustrate his point.
"If you learn that life has no meaning, you will do whatever you want"
"Good enough" is the best word for those who tend to seek the "perfect choice" in the life.
I can't tell whether this guy is literally a genius or just the best I've ever seen at giving a ted talk. There's probably a difference
This is certainly one of the best TED talks I've listened to! It's such a pity that not many people have listened to this. I think the main point is that you are the one who create meanings to everything, including your own life. Once you realize this, you can be free from looking at your life based on the eyes of others, or society in general. It's your personal choice. Time is under your control if you allow it to be. Memories matter. And so do communication. Follow your heart and let's see where it leads you to be. :)
i second to it
This is the best TEDxTalk ever 😮
Derek is so amazing!
很棒的演講，簡短卻令人大受啟發！
True self is without form, Meaning of life is to experience.
Such a joyful personality
Why is it that the best ted talks are those that are 20 minute long and are also the least viewed??
I'm going to have to keep watching this once every year minimum.
Fantastic talk! Life has so much meaning and yet no meaning other than what you project onto it, so you can do whatever you want. Well worth watching!
Always love your talks Derek! Inspirational!
I also like your talks on language learning :). You guys are both amazing.
Many have said what a great talk this is.
I agree!
Derek is tossing each of us the key to the jail where we are holding ourselves in bondage to our projections that don’t actually exist!!
In Russia Quality means that something is performing its original function despite being quite old. It doesn’t mean new, it doesn’t mean without scratches. Quality performs beyond its lifespan, it’s not obvious at first sight.
I love that meaning!
I loved this. When you go to the Talking Heads, I knew then I was going to hear something really astounding. Because I've been listening to them since The Big White Suit and trying to make sense. This made more to sense to me than just about anything I've read or heard in years. Life really does have no meaning. Except what I want it to mean!
原來人生根本沒有意義，just do anything your want ~ nobody care, nobody know, just enjoy now.
i think, "Life is a game we cannot quit, and the goal of the game is to max a self-value."
This guy is awesome
I love his website!
Fantastic talk!
Nurturing your followers is a sure way to make sure that more people feel comfortable joining your team or movement. People want to feel safe and included, but they also don’t want to stand out and most times, they do not want to start the movement. This is where the leader’s role becomes so important. They are the first ones to start doing it. “It” may vary depending on the activity, but leaders are the first ones to put themselves out there and risk embarrassment. Going along with leaders' nurturing aspect, they also must make sure that their first few followers feel comfortable entering into what they are doing. The leader needs to guide them on how and potentially even why they are doing what they are doing. Leaders are meant to be a guiding presence and once enough people join in and start adding to the movement, the leader’s role becomes less important. Their role is more about facilitation than showing people what to do. Leaders then move to keeping everyone on the same page and acting in the appropriate manner. They make sure that the idea, movement, team, etc. does not stray from their original idea. This new role is just as important as nurturing their followers in the beginning.
What he is saying is common sense but I've never thought about these things
I really enjoy your website and the synopsis of books you love. Looking forward to reading your work!
Great talk. I really appreciate it.
No time and choise for everything!
Time and choise imply división!!
Really great talk. Thanks a lot.
Awesome!
thanks
so great,,,
this is so awesome!
Even the audience is a bit sloppy haha he is amazing!
loved It
That was mind shattering... Dam it. Now I need to perfect making choices.
great vid
Best bit is the last 2 mins
Loved the message. Re-examining what I have let become the meaning and what is stopping my unused potential. I wonder what the notes from the top of the chair were for. He didn’t explain that part.
mmmmhmmm Tuhdaww!! My little Rabbit; "amygdala" totally went crazy over that super cool show! Thanks Derek! As i sit at my desk and wait for another stupid sales call..... time to make better choices suppose.
I’m a big fan of Derek and a Korean who lives in Japan. But I do not understand the part about “quality” at all. Quality = 質 (a degree of excellence) is the only definition we use in Korea and Japan.
Great talk Derek, thanks!
Although I don't know exactly what the meaning of your talk is.... ;-)
Perceptions have become projections.... Hmmm
All I could think is "you're paying way too much for your calculators"
I'm not sure he's right about the brain. Nice chap.
Anyone know his email?
"The amygdala" *points to cerebellum*
I appreciate this talk. However, I must say that the philosophy is lacking. The "life is what you make it" approach is unsatisfying and often leads to hedonism and nihilism. Yes, we are meaning makers telling our little story, but our stories are not playing out in vacuums. Our stories overlap and our meaning is often shared. Life = patterns. All of our stories amalgamate into a transcendent story - a story of stories.
Meaning, like all else, is a hierarchy. Your understanding of simple Chinese is a good example. You had a low resolution understanding of the meaning. Later you learned a higher resolution. It's like climbing a mountain. The higher you climb the closer you are to the point or the summit. Base level or summit, you are still on the mountain of meaning.
Life = meaning. Viktor Frankl said. Without meaning, without purpose, the soul fades to despair and nihilism, which is no "life" at all, but perhaps a shell of mere existence. So be meaningful and serve the most meaningful source you can. Well, now I have begun veering towards Logos Theology so I will stop here.
I appreciate the talk, but not the philosophical bend in this video. Thanks for your work Derek Sivers. It has helped me in my artistic and business endeavors.
his book is awesome but his ted talks.. hmm.. nope =(
+Pedro Amaral
Why not? I think they are more real than his writing. Plus that takes a lot of courage to keep up the enthusiasm like he does when your audience is dead..or doesn't understand your language.
16:30 'found this dictionary the wan lin??' what is it called? anybody got an isbn number?
Wenlin I think - ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese By Dr. Axel Schuessler (ISBN 9780824829759)
Sorry to be 2 years late to answer your question though.
salle rc he might have found meaning for his life though
His advice seems pretty obvious and derivative of other people’s ideas. Such as Flow.
While I do think the message life is what you make of it, it has whatever meaning you ascribe to it has some merit.....I absolutely HATE HATE HATE the fact that he uses the Chinese language as an example to describe/illustrate this. The characters and symbols used to write the Chinese language in Traditional Chinese is full of meaning and the language actual DOES work the way he thinks it does. Characters and radicals are not haphazardly put together but are in fact carefully selected to create a word. The accursed dumbing it down Mao Zedong and the Communist party are the ones who horribly butchered the beautiful language into the way it is written today. The worst example of this is the word "love". In traditional Chinese it is the character to gain or acquire and a heart....thus when you fall in love you both partners acquire and gain each other's hearts. The butchered bastardized Communist word and character for love is written to acquire a friend. Such a Communist word to describe comrade and love in Communist China. I find it interesting he is giving this talk in Taiwan of all places where many of the people there could and do still practice using traditional Chinese writing. The intention of his anecdote is good but the example he uses, using the Chinese language, knowing what it originally was, it an absolutely TERRIBLE example to illustrate his point.