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Start Sucking | Alex Weber | TEDxUCDavisSF


[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
anybody ever suck at anything me too big
anybody ever suck at anything me too big time I’d like to consider myself an
time I’d like to consider myself an
time I’d like to consider myself an expert that’s sucking because you know
expert that’s sucking because you know
expert that’s sucking because you know we hear all the time try new things say
we hear all the time try new things say
we hear all the time try new things say yes to life carpe diem
yes to life carpe diem
yes to life carpe diem but what happens when we try new things
but what happens when we try new things
but what happens when we try new things or say yes to life or carpe the diem is
or say yes to life or carpe the diem is
or say yes to life or carpe the diem is that we very well may stumble we’re
that we very well may stumble we’re
that we very well may stumble we’re gonna fail we’re gonna stop so sucking
gonna fail we’re gonna stop so sucking
gonna fail we’re gonna stop so sucking then is really the gatekeeper to that
then is really the gatekeeper to that
then is really the gatekeeper to that happier more fulfilled life and if we
happier more fulfilled life and if we
happier more fulfilled life and if we don’t learn the tricky part of how to
don’t learn the tricky part of how to
don’t learn the tricky part of how to suck well we’ll rob ourselves of a
suck well we’ll rob ourselves of a
suck well we’ll rob ourselves of a chance for that better life so what is
chance for that better life so what is
chance for that better life so what is sucking because there’s quotes from just
sucking because there’s quotes from just
sucking because there’s quotes from just about every successful person commending
about every successful person commending
about every successful person commending how failures lead to success and they do
how failures lead to success and they do
how failures lead to success and they do but I think we can understand failing
but I think we can understand failing
but I think we can understand failing mentally but sucking is the visceral
mentally but sucking is the visceral
mentally but sucking is the visceral moments of wow I am not good at this
moments of wow I am not good at this
moments of wow I am not good at this should I just stop doing this and they
should I just stop doing this and they
should I just stop doing this and they look like they are really good at this I
look like they are really good at this I
look like they are really good at this I think they’re judging me right now and I
think they’re judging me right now and I
think they’re judging me right now and I am sweating a lot sucking is the
am sweating a lot sucking is the
am sweating a lot sucking is the experience of failing so I’d like to
experience of failing so I’d like to
experience of failing so I’d like to take a look at some of these famous
take a look at some of these famous
take a look at some of these famous quotes on failing with a slight update
quotes on failing with a slight update
quotes on failing with a slight update I’ve sucked over and over again and that
I’ve sucked over and over again and that
I’ve sucked over and over again and that is why I succeed Michael Jordan
is why I succeed Michael Jordan
is why I succeed Michael Jordan legend I have not sucked I’ve just found
legend I have not sucked I’ve just found
legend I have not sucked I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work classic
10,000 ways that won’t work classic
10,000 ways that won’t work classic quote success consists of going from
quote success consists of going from
quote success consists of going from sucking to sucking without loss of
sucking to sucking without loss of
sucking to sucking without loss of enthusiasm Sir Winston Churchill an
enthusiasm Sir Winston Churchill an
enthusiasm Sir Winston Churchill an enthusiasm is big so let’s let’s get a
enthusiasm is big so let’s let’s get a
enthusiasm is big so let’s let’s get a little bit goin here today do we have
little bit goin here today do we have
little bit goin here today do we have any people who sucked in the room here
any people who sucked in the room here
any people who sucked in the room here that’s calm yes you’re in good company
that’s calm yes you’re in good company
that’s calm yes you’re in good company same here repeatedly I have the chance
same here repeatedly I have the chance
same here repeatedly I have the chance to work with American Ninja Warrior
to work with American Ninja Warrior
to work with American Ninja Warrior which is an obstacle course competition
which is an obstacle course competition
which is an obstacle course competition series of athletic feats that are highly
series of athletic feats that are highly
series of athletic feats that are highly ambitious and this is a clip from the
ambitious and this is a clip from the
ambitious and this is a clip from the first obstacle I ever tried that sucked
first obstacle I ever tried that sucked
first obstacle I ever tried that sucked humble it uh it can suck to suck I
humble it uh it can suck to suck I
humble it uh it can suck to suck I really wanted that to go well and it
really wanted that to go well and it
really wanted that to go well and it really didn’t and it was for my job and
really didn’t and it was for my job and
really didn’t and it was for my job and a lot of people were there watching and
a lot of people were there watching and
a lot of people were there watching and then later I looked online and over a
then later I looked online and over a
then later I looked online and over a million people I’ve just watched me
million people I’ve just watched me
million people I’ve just watched me stink up the place so that’s really
stink up the place so that’s really
stink up the place so that’s really something and it can suck to suck its
something and it can suck to suck its
something and it can suck to suck its ego bruising fear-inspiring emotionally
ego bruising fear-inspiring emotionally
ego bruising fear-inspiring emotionally painful and sometimes physically painful
painful and sometimes physically painful
painful and sometimes physically painful so I’d like to take a look at someone
so I’d like to take a look at someone
so I’d like to take a look at someone else who really sucks ah that’s me eight
else who really sucks ah that’s me eight
else who really sucks ah that’s me eight years old playing lacrosse
years old playing lacrosse
years old playing lacrosse I mean you can see the ball is on the
I mean you can see the ball is on the
I mean you can see the ball is on the ground behind me I don’t even have the
ground behind me I don’t even have the
ground behind me I don’t even have the ball I just have a Snoopy shirt which is
ball I just have a Snoopy shirt which is
ball I just have a Snoopy shirt which is cool but I’m just bopping around in a
cool but I’m just bopping around in a
cool but I’m just bopping around in a bowl cut and a goofy grin nobody has
bowl cut and a goofy grin nobody has
bowl cut and a goofy grin nobody has ever been killing it in a bowl kind
ever been killing it in a bowl kind
ever been killing it in a bowl kind except maybe that bad Hansen
except maybe that bad Hansen
except maybe that bad Hansen I’m giving little me a hard time because
I’m giving little me a hard time because
I’m giving little me a hard time because look at how happy I am
look at how happy I am
look at how happy I am I didn’t know that I was sucking all I
I didn’t know that I was sucking all I
I didn’t know that I was sucking all I was doing was playing and learning and
was doing was playing and learning and
was doing was playing and learning and growing but as adults were very aware
growing but as adults were very aware
growing but as adults were very aware aren’t we
aren’t we
aren’t we we’re adults we can’t suck we have a
we’re adults we can’t suck we have a
we’re adults we can’t suck we have a reputation and a resume and a LinkedIn
reputation and a resume and a LinkedIn
reputation and a resume and a LinkedIn profile for crying out loud
profile for crying out loud
profile for crying out loud sucking is unacceptable so when we do we
sucking is unacceptable so when we do we
sucking is unacceptable so when we do we beat ourselves up we beat the crap out
beat ourselves up we beat the crap out
beat ourselves up we beat the crap out of ourselves I know I did and sometimes
of ourselves I know I did and sometimes
of ourselves I know I did and sometimes the experience of failing sucking can be
the experience of failing sucking can be
the experience of failing sucking can be so rough that we bail we quit or maybe
so rough that we bail we quit or maybe
so rough that we bail we quit or maybe it’s so daunting that whatever it is
it’s so daunting that whatever it is
it’s so daunting that whatever it is that we want to do from changing a
that we want to do from changing a
that we want to do from changing a career field to moving to a new city to
career field to moving to a new city to
career field to moving to a new city to crossing something off the bucket list
crossing something off the bucket list
crossing something off the bucket list we just lock that up away in a tower of
we just lock that up away in a tower of
we just lock that up away in a tower of how could I ever and we put castle walls
how could I ever and we put castle walls
how could I ever and we put castle walls around it of mystery and doubt and
around it of mystery and doubt and
around it of mystery and doubt and there’s a moat and it’s guarded by a
there’s a moat and it’s guarded by a
there’s a moat and it’s guarded by a dragon just a rare dragon that sounds a
dragon just a rare dragon that sounds a
dragon just a rare dragon that sounds a lot like a chicken very rare I know I
lot like a chicken very rare I know I
lot like a chicken very rare I know I did that with American Ninja Warrior and
did that with American Ninja Warrior and
did that with American Ninja Warrior and stand-up I always always wanted to do it
stand-up I always always wanted to do it
stand-up I always always wanted to do it but I was fearful so I locked it up in
but I was fearful so I locked it up in
but I was fearful so I locked it up in that tower until the building regret was
that tower until the building regret was
that tower until the building regret was too much and I had to just start and
too much and I had to just start and
too much and I had to just start and suck and the notable thing was it was
suck and the notable thing was it was
suck and the notable thing was it was both at the same time so by day I was
both at the same time so by day I was
both at the same time so by day I was sucking an American Ninja Warrior and
sucking an American Ninja Warrior and
sucking an American Ninja Warrior and then I’d head on over to my night shift
then I’d head on over to my night shift
then I’d head on over to my night shift to suck it stand up
to suck it stand up
to suck it stand up tumblin but the most critical thing that
tumblin but the most critical thing that
tumblin but the most critical thing that we can ever do is to start and to not
we can ever do is to start and to not
we can ever do is to start and to not dip our toes in the water of what we
dip our toes in the water of what we
dip our toes in the water of what we want to do but to just dive in and yes
want to do but to just dive in and yes
want to do but to just dive in and yes it’s gonna be a belly flop but just get
it’s gonna be a belly flop but just get
it’s gonna be a belly flop but just get ugly get in there and yeah it may sting
ugly get in there and yeah it may sting
ugly get in there and yeah it may sting and we’ll be in over our heads but the
and we’ll be in over our heads but the
and we’ll be in over our heads but the next day we’re gonna come back and we’re
next day we’re gonna come back and we’re
next day we’re gonna come back and we’re gonna go for that dive and it’ll be a
gonna go for that dive and it’ll be a
gonna go for that dive and it’ll be a belly flop
belly flop
belly flop but day 3 day 3 it’s again a belly flop
but day 3 day 3 it’s again a belly flop
but day 3 day 3 it’s again a belly flop and then day 4 we’re having a rough day
and then day 4 we’re having a rough day
and then day 4 we’re having a rough day so we just go right for the belly flop
but we keep coming and coming and coming
but we keep coming and coming and coming and soon our dive does take form and now
and soon our dive does take form and now
and soon our dive does take form and now in the water we’re swimming and now
in the water we’re swimming and now
in the water we’re swimming and now we’re at the castle wall and yeah we got
we’re at the castle wall and yeah we got
we’re at the castle wall and yeah we got to figure out this part and we will but
to figure out this part and we will but
to figure out this part and we will but we can’t do it from the safety of over
we can’t do it from the safety of over
we can’t do it from the safety of over there we got to get going we got to get
there we got to get going we got to get
there we got to get going we got to get doing we gotta get sucking so with that
doing we gotta get sucking so with that
doing we gotta get sucking so with that I’d like to offer you three ways to suck
I’d like to offer you three ways to suck
I’d like to offer you three ways to suck it’s official number one the play
it’s official number one the play
it’s official number one the play threshold whatever your belly flop is
threshold whatever your belly flop is
threshold whatever your belly flop is from a new career field to learning a
from a new career field to learning a
from a new career field to learning a guitar chord to training for a half
guitar chord to training for a half
guitar chord to training for a half marathon
marathon
marathon whatever your belly flop is the pain
whatever your belly flop is the pain
whatever your belly flop is the pain staking effort of work soon our dive
staking effort of work soon our dive
staking effort of work soon our dive will take form and now it’s a little
will take form and now it’s a little
will take form and now it’s a little less painful to go out and do it the
less painful to go out and do it the
less painful to go out and do it the effort starts to feel a little like play
effort starts to feel a little like play
effort starts to feel a little like play because we’re getting better that’s huge
because we’re getting better that’s huge
because we’re getting better that’s huge when the effort of work becomes play
when the effort of work becomes play
when the effort of work becomes play we’re gonna want to pour ourselves into
we’re gonna want to pour ourselves into
we’re gonna want to pour ourselves into it and we’re still learning and we’re
it and we’re still learning and we’re
it and we’re still learning and we’re still growing put in the belly flops to
still growing put in the belly flops to
still growing put in the belly flops to get to the play threshold doubt is a
get to the play threshold doubt is a
get to the play threshold doubt is a jerk face
jerk face
jerk face doubt doesn’t understand that everything
doubt doesn’t understand that everything
doubt doesn’t understand that everything is a process of small steps doubt just
is a process of small steps doubt just
is a process of small steps doubt just wants to see it we’re building the house
wants to see it we’re building the house
wants to see it we’re building the house of our dream life and we lay down our
of our dream life and we lay down our
of our dream life and we lay down our first brick and out walks by and it’s
first brick and out walks by and it’s
first brick and out walks by and it’s like that’s not a house this is the
like that’s not a house this is the
like that’s not a house this is the worst house I’ve ever seen that house
worst house I’ve ever seen that house
worst house I’ve ever seen that house blows stop quit you’re wasting your time
blows stop quit you’re wasting your time
blows stop quit you’re wasting your time and it’s like well could you give me a
and it’s like well could you give me a
and it’s like well could you give me a second out could you maybe give me a
second out could you maybe give me a
second out could you maybe give me a second while I build you scared
second while I build you scared
second while I build you scared negative fear-based voice and I don’t
negative fear-based voice and I don’t
negative fear-based voice and I don’t need you to see it all yet but I do need
need you to see it all yet but I do need
need you to see it all yet but I do need you to get the heck out of my way and I
you to get the heck out of my way and I
you to get the heck out of my way and I know you may never leave entirely but
know you may never leave entirely but
know you may never leave entirely but right now here’s a juice box and a sippy
right now here’s a juice box and a sippy
right now here’s a juice box and a sippy cup go sit over there and put on a
cup go sit over there and put on a
cup go sit over there and put on a hardhat would you because I got building
hardhat would you because I got building
hardhat would you because I got building to do sideline you’re down a recent
to do sideline you’re down a recent
to do sideline you’re down a recent study by University of Michigan showed
study by University of Michigan showed
study by University of Michigan showed that how we internalize stimulus impacts
that how we internalize stimulus impacts
that how we internalize stimulus impacts our body’s responses and chemical
our body’s responses and chemical
our body’s responses and chemical reactions meaning things are gonna
reactions meaning things are gonna
reactions meaning things are gonna happen that’s a constant but our outlook
happen that’s a constant but our outlook
happen that’s a constant but our outlook upon them how we perceive them has very
upon them how we perceive them has very
upon them how we perceive them has very real impact on what goes on in us and
real impact on what goes on in us and
real impact on what goes on in us and positive outlooks resulted in higher
positive outlooks resulted in higher
positive outlooks resulted in higher energy level sharper motor skills and
energy level sharper motor skills and
energy level sharper motor skills and increased problem-solving our actual
increased problem-solving our actual
increased problem-solving our actual ability to do well so not only is being
ability to do well so not only is being
ability to do well so not only is being negative a downer that was not in the
negative a downer that was not in the
negative a downer that was not in the study but it leads to a worse
study but it leads to a worse
study but it leads to a worse performance change your perspective
performance change your perspective
performance change your perspective choose positivity embrace the suck and
choose positivity embrace the suck and
choose positivity embrace the suck and we may just surprise ourselves
you’re later
you’re later [Applause]
spill jazz fear can make us believe that
spill jazz fear can make us believe that we can’t do it but let me tell you
we can’t do it but let me tell you
we can’t do it but let me tell you something whatever it is that you want
something whatever it is that you want
something whatever it is that you want to do just because you haven’t done it
to do just because you haven’t done it
to do just because you haven’t done it yet doesn’t mean you can’t do it you
yet doesn’t mean you can’t do it you
yet doesn’t mean you can’t do it you want to build a business or move to a
want to build a business or move to a
want to build a business or move to a new city or pursue the person of your
new city or pursue the person of your
new city or pursue the person of your dreams you want to learn Japanese learn
dreams you want to learn Japanese learn
dreams you want to learn Japanese learn Japanese konichiwa hi-yah
we can do whatever it is we really want
we can do whatever it is we really want we just need to start to start suck
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