Hi everyone, my name is Gerjin. Many people know me as the participant in the exciting offer season 6. But today I would like to reintroduce myself.I'm from Malaysia and I'm an ordinary girl who did law caught to the bar in UK and Malaysia and I'm currently working as a litigation lawyer. On social media, I might look like a young and successful person, but if I'm honest, most of my life hasn't felt like a list of achievements. Comparing to the people around me and to myself, I'm not the smartest, the prett ...

Core Concept - The central idea revolves around the potential to transform the external world by changing our inner world [2] - Internal states affect everything around us, influencing how we live, feel, and perceive ourselves [4] Key Examples - Michael Jordan's success exemplifies the power of self-awareness and mental resilience in transforming external reality [6][7][8] - Oprah Winfrey's emotional intelligence enabled her to connect with millions, impacting lives and empowering people [10][11][12] - Malala Yousafzai's resilience and courage demonstrate that true change starts with inner strength and standing up for what's right [13][14] Transformation & Fulfillment - True transformation doesn't come from external circumstances but from internal choices related to mental and emotional resilience [15] - The key to a fulfilled life lies within, emphasizing self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and inner strength [16] - Transforming oneself from the inside out unlocks fullest potential and inspires others [17]

Business Development & Entrepreneurship - Overcoming initial setbacks is crucial for future success, viewing failures as opportunities for growth and learning [1] - Integrity and trustworthiness are fundamental to building strong relationships with clients and partners, leading to financial success [1] - Balancing education, business ventures, and family commitments is achievable with dedication and proper time management [1] - Sharing values, ethics, and vision is essential when forming partnerships, even more so than financial considerations [1] - Starting small, with the founder handling multiple roles (accounting, marketing, sales, and even physical labor), is a viable approach for new businesses [1] - The company expanded from a one-person operation to over 100 employees, demonstrating significant growth and success [1] - The company's operations have extended beyond Palestine to Jordan, Morocco, and Turkey, indicating international expansion [1] Core Values & Social Impact - Supporting one's parents and contributing to the community are vital aspects of Palestinian society [1] - The company aims to provide safe and comfortable housing, contributing to the well-being of the community [1] - The company's expansion to other countries is intended to strengthen its roots in Palestine, not to abandon the homeland [1]

Personal Development & Leadership - The speaker shares a personal journey of self-discovery after a failed project, emphasizing the importance of understanding people [5][6] - The speaker's journey involved traveling, experiencing different lifestyles, and learning from diverse individuals [11][17][18] - The speaker highlights the value of learning through challenges and embracing a life without fixed goals [20][21][22] - The speaker emphasizes that true progress comes from the experiences gained along the way, regardless of reaching the initial destination [25] Entrepreneurial Challenges & Resilience - The speaker recounts the experience of a failed startup and the subsequent decision to embark on a journey of self-discovery [5][7] - The speaker faced setbacks, including theft, but persevered by finding work and creating a small business selling handmade items [13][14][16][17] - The speaker learned valuable lessons about resilience, adaptability, and the importance of human connection through these experiences [18][24] Life Philosophy & Perspective - The speaker questions the conventional pursuit of goals and the neglect of present experiences [8][9][10] - The speaker advocates for living in the moment and finding freedom in the absence of rigid objectives [12][22] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and connecting with people from all walks of life [18][19][24]

Good afternoon everyone. It's truly lovely to be here today. I'd like to thank the TEDex team for this stage and for this honor.I'm Shhagata Mittal. I'm 28 years old, born and brought up in Delhi. Before I walk you through what I'd like to call an ordinarily extraordinary life, I have a question to ask.How many of you have ever said or been told that everything happens for a reason. A lot of us, right, we say it when plans fall out, when life takes a detour. Sometimes to comfort others and sometimes to comf ...

Self-Discovery and Identity - The speaker uses the metaphor of diverse threads to represent the different aspects of one's personality and identity [1] - The speaker shares her personal story of overcoming a severe accident and multiple surgeries to illustrate how life's challenges shape one's identity [1][2][3][4][5] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of staying positive and proactive in the face of crises, highlighting that one's choices define their identity [4][5] Overcoming Adversity - The speaker details a traumatic accident resulting in severe knee injuries, including the shattering of four major ligaments (ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL) and nerve damage, leading to the initial consideration of amputation [2] - The speaker recounts undergoing multiple surgeries, including a failed initial surgery due to hyperflexibility, and the difficult decision to proceed with an allograft (tissue transplant from another person) despite potential complications [3][4] - The speaker describes the long and challenging rehabilitation process, including transitioning from a stretcher to a wheelchair to a walker, and eventually regaining the ability to walk and pursue her passions [2][4] Resilience and Positive Mindset - The speaker highlights the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems during difficult times [4][5] - The speaker emphasizes the power of choice in shaping one's response to adversity, advocating for a mindset of continuous improvement and seeking better outcomes [4][5] - The speaker shares how she returned to her passions of football and art after her accident, eventually collaborating with Real Madrid and meeting David Beckham [1][4]

Personal Background & Challenges - The speaker experienced early life challenges including family tension due to mixed-race parentage and feelings of responsibility for a broken home [3][4] - Faced behavioral struggles and ADHD, leading to difficulties in school and social interactions [5][6] - Experienced racism and was permanently excluded from school, leading to a pupil referral unit [12][13] - Left the pupil referral unit at 16 without qualifications and worked in a supermarket [18][19] Turning Points & Resilience - Martial arts provided community, discipline, and high expectations, leading to personal improvement [20][21] - Demonstrated resilience and determination in martial arts, refusing to give up despite setbacks [23][24][25][26] - Gained admission to college despite initial rejection, driven by determination and willingness to fight for an opportunity [27][28] - Overcame academic challenges, including grammar, to succeed at university and pursue higher education [30][31][32] Advocacy & Impact - Founded "Excluded from School" to change statistics and improve outcomes for excluded or at-risk youth [34] - Advocates for marginalized students, helping them access educational opportunities and rewrite societal narratives [35][36] - Emphasizes the importance of refusing negative expectations and self-limiting beliefs to achieve dreams [39]

Ethereum Network Resilience - Ethereum has been online for ten years with zero pauses and zero maintenance windows [1][2] - Ethereum persists through forks, crashes, bubbles, lawsuits, hacks, wars, and various internet-related issues [1] - Ethereum's continuous operation is attributed to a decentralized community of developers, stakers, researchers, and users [1] Comparison with Centralized Systems - Centralized giants experience downtime and rely on on-call personnel [1] - Facebook experienced a 14-hour outage [3] - AWS Kinesis froze for 17 hours [3] - Cloudflare dropped 19 datacenters [3] Industry Perspective - While traditional financial institutions and cloud services face failures, Ethereum continues to operate [2] - Alternative Layer 1 blockchains also experience downtime [3]

Overview of "Telpi" - "Telpi" refers to letters carrying money and messages from Chinese immigrants to their families in the 19th to early 20th centuries [2][3] - These letters served as a crucial lifeline for families separated by oceans, especially in the absence of reliable postal services [4] - Private carriers ("cers") specialized in safely transporting money and messages across borders, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit of the time [5] Cultural and Historical Significance - "Telpi" reveals family mysteries, such as coded messages warning about local bandits, showcasing the resourcefulness of migrants [6] - The letters often feature artistic elements like ink paintings, reflecting the sender's care and cultural expression [7] - During World War II, "Telpi" documented the struggles of Chinese migrants facing shortages and danger, providing insights into their daily lives [8] - "Telpi" emerged due to massive Chinese migration in the 19th century, driven by poverty and political instability in regions like Chaos [9] - The letters preserved culture through local dialects, poems, and secret codes like "sujoama," passing down values and traditions [10][11] Preservation and Future Opportunities - Digitizing and sharing "Telpi" can preserve these stories and inspire future generations [15] - Modern technology like AI and virtual exhibits can bring "Telpi" to life, decoding hidden messages and connecting them to broader migration stories [15]

Origin & Inspiration - The speaker's journey began in a village known for agriculture and fighting spirit, but not for civil service aspirations [1][2] - Inspiration to pursue civil service came from an NGO session in Madurai [3] - Overcame challenges including Tamil medium education, financial constraints (rent of 200 rupees in Chennai), and initial struggles with English [4][6] Overcoming Obstacles & Achieving Success - Despite initial academic struggles, achieved university top rank and gold medalist status [7] - Faced multiple failures in civil service attempts but persevered [9] - Cleared multiple exams in a single year, securing seven government jobs [10] - Joined the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) in 1998 [10] Transition to Coaching & Impact - After 20 years in government service, transitioned to civil service coaching [11] - Coaching institute started with the motto "by IAS for IAS" and the slogan "we teach you reach" [12] - Produced around 10 achievers in the civil service exam in the first year [12] - Overcame setbacks, including a civil servant taking students and materials to start their own institute [13][14] Key Achievements & Philosophy - Coached India's first 100% visually challenged Indian Foreign Service officer, Beno Zephine [15][16] - Engaged a former UPSC chairman for personality test guidance, attracting students from across India to Chennai [18] - Produced All India Rank 1 in the UPSC civil service examination twice [19] - Started civil service coaching institutes in rural areas [20] - Helped more than 1000 candidates achieve their dream of becoming a civil servant [21] - Emphasizes the importance of thinking big, self-confidence, and a "don't give up" attitude [26][27]