[music] So, my name is Rafiat. I'm uh I run an organization called Footsteps. I am a social entrepreneur by profession. And being a social entrepreneur means being able to take risks.But this wasn't always in my plan. I actually had a life plan when I was young. So when I was young, my plan was to get good grades in school, go to a top IV league university, graduate with like a 4.0% perfect GPA, work at the UN for like 20 years, and then start my own nonprofit once I came back.But at the age of 17 in high s ...

[Music] I think others are yet to join. Principal Dr. . Eskeel, distinguished speakers and my dear dear Indians.It's a matter of honor to me to be speaking to a elite section of Indians. Formality is cut there. Gentlemen, I'll start off.Life is a flow and it's a flow and it's a flow. I'll explain by saying have you people calculated ever that uh 66,000 Indians are born every day. Let's also calculate about 26,000 Indians perish every day. Now to put them together about 40,000 Indians are added to our nation ...

Communication & Connection - Human capacity for honest conversations is a key strength for future generations to thrive [1][31] - Humans have communicated since the beginning through various means, enabling communication across divides [2] - The ability to communicate, collaborate, and innovate was crucial for survival [4] - Disconnection and division are increasing in society, impacting families, generations, and individuals [7][8] - Loneliness affects 15% of people, posing a significant global public health issue [8] - Social isolation is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and impacts longevity similarly to hypertension and obesity [9] Strategies for Better Conversations - Carve out time and space for conversations [20][21][22] - Lead with clear, safe honesty by sharing experiences and feelings [22][23][24] - Listen with genuine curiosity to learn and make others feel heard [25][26] - Ground conversations in action and accountability [27][28]

Japanese educator and author Dr. . Da Sakua has said and I quote, "Happiness is something we build for ourselves. It is not something that someone will give us." I unquote. Life is all about making choices and we are known by the choices we make.Right from choosing the right answer in the MCQs to choosing the dress to wear for a party to choosing the right friend and to choosing the right career options. We make innumerable choices in our life. If made right, these choices lead us to happiness.Then why not ...

[Music] For the last 11 years, I have had the wonderful privilege of sitting with my clients, hearing their stories, and learning from them. It has been and continues to be one of the greatest privileges. And in those times working with my clients, we talk about all kinds of things. We talk about the very best parts of life. We talk about the most challenging parts of life, the wins and the losses, the hope and the pain.And across thousands of hours that I've sat with clients, across hundreds of clients tha ...

Have you ever been told that your dream is too big. That your research project is too vast to so narrow it. That your outreach program is aiming a bit too high, so downscale it since you're not well known.Or maybe that your voice is too loud. Or maybe that you should wait your turn. Well, I have.See, these words may sound very harmless, but in retrospect, they're not. They are instructions to shrink, to fold ourselves into boxes that were never designed for us in the first place. Personally, I know these bo ...

Too many used car salesmen in this space.Honesty and real expectations should always prevail. ...

Personal Development & Goal Achievement - The core message revolves around the importance of embracing change, consistency, and adaptability to achieve personal goals, drawing parallels from mountaineering experiences [1][25][26][27] - Overcoming challenges and failures is presented as a crucial part of personal transformation, emphasizing resilience and continuous learning [23][24][28][30][31] - The speaker advocates for starting small, being consistent, and adapting to failures as key elements in achieving any goal, whether it's in music, sports, or public speaking [26][27][28] Lessons from Mountaineering - Scaling mountains is used as a metaphor for overcoming life's challenges, highlighting the significance of each small step towards reaching the summit [1][2] - The speaker's experiences on various peaks, including Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe), Mount Kosciuszko (Australia), and Mount Denali (North America), illustrate the diverse challenges and adaptations required in different environments [3][11][15][19] - Mental strength is emphasized as being more critical than physical strength in mountaineering, particularly in situations where exhaustion and the urge to give up are overwhelming [22][23] Overcoming Adversity - The speaker's personal story includes her father's diagnosis with terminal lung cancer, which served as a motivation to push her limits and achieve more [15] - The experience of being denied a permit to climb Mount Everest due to age restrictions led to a change in plans and the successful climb of Mount Denali, demonstrating adaptability [18][19] - The speaker shares instances of having to turn back from summits due to illness or bad weather, emphasizing the importance of making smart decisions to preserve life and try again later [29][30] Importance of Continuous Learning - The speaker emphasizes the importance of remaining a learner throughout life, regardless of age or expertise, and being open to gaining knowledge from others [31][32] - The speaker's father, a mental health doctor, is presented as a role model for staying grounded and always being willing to learn from others [33]

Core Message - The speaker redefines "authenticity" as "honesty" for personal and professional growth [3][4] - Honesty fosters deeper connections with loved ones, family, and friends [16][17] Personal Anecdotes - In response to a school shooting, the speaker and colleagues chose to focus on expressing honest feelings on air, providing comfort to the community [5][6][7][8][9][10] - The speaker's father's reaction to a teenage lie about drinking taught a valuable lesson about honesty and unconditional love [11][12][13][14][15] Takeaway - Honesty, like in an orgasm, is more satisfying than pretense [17][18]

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]