The Equation for Personal Growth | Dan Firstenberg | TEDxUCDavis

Core Message - The best way to grow is by jumping into the deep end, doing exactly what you think you can't [1] - Success equals growth, where preparation (habits and mindset) meets opportunity (critical decision moments) [1] Mindset Shift - Replace "I have to" with "I get to" to foster a more positive connotation and better outcomes [3][4] - Good and bad stem from everything in life, and individuals have the privilege to choose which they see [2][3] Habit Formation - Air on the side of doing; start now instead of postponing [6][7] - Practicing the habit of airing on the side of doing prepares you to leap into action during critical decision moments [8][9] Critical Decision Moments - Critical decision moments are characterized by feelings of anxiety, nervousness, or stress, and a voice saying "I don't know if you can do this" [9][10] - In these moments, the habit of airing on the side of doing will help propel you across [10] Practical Application - The speaker applied this philosophy by applying to universities and jobs that seemed out of reach, and ultimately speaking at TEDx [1][11][12][13][14][15]