First of all, I want to tell the world that ted.com is an
excellent resource. It is packed with
wonderful individuals with vision and amazing ideas. Personally, I could get lost for hours just
listening and watching the videos. Upon
watching the video by ted.com’s Executive Director Chris Anderson, I realized
how important a resource for the world this really could become. Chris spoke with the passion of millions and
it was clear that he really believed is the unleashed power of video. It makes one realize that the power of spoken
word in a visual setting is powerful.
Ted.com has a list of videos that it describes as “Best of the Web”. How the website makes the
determination of what qualifies a video as one of the best escapes me, but one
this is for sure, JK Rowling’s speech at the 2008 Harvard University
Commencement had a profound effect on the rest of my life. The speech, entitled “The Fringe Benefits of Failure” on Vimeo, provided a rare first hand glimpse into the life progression
of the author of the Harry Potter series.
I have to admit that, even at the age of 40, I am a HUGE fan of Harry
Potter having read all of the novels often more than once. Every now and then I will see one laying
around the house and I will pick it up and read it again. HUGE FAN.
Going back to the video, the thing that left a lasting impression on my
life is when Rowling told the graduates “not to be afraid of failure.” This statement rung true with me because of
the path from which I came. I have
failed once or twice in life.
Truthfully, I have failed many more times than that. However, I got up and I kept going. It was the struggles in my life that has lead
me to this point in my life. This video
served as a validation that better is on the horizon. The passion that she spoke with still
resonates with me. This video is more
than a motivation to graduates. It is a
motivation to the world.
