What would you attempt to do if you were guaranteed that you would not fail?
The biggest reason most of do not attempt to do amazing things is that we fear failure.
Regina Dugan, former director of DARPA, now with Google, gave this TEDTalk on failure. Her observations about fear of failure and scientific advancement are inspiring, but she also shows new video of some of DARPA’s most ambitious projects and that alone makes it worth watching. She also reminds us that nearly all major scientific advances are created by nerds. So, you should be nice to nerds.
What would you attempt to create if you could refuse to fear failure?
(If this does not play for you: View it on YouTube)
As a fan (and hopeful author) of speculative fiction, it is encouraging to me to know that humankind has not stopped testing the limits of possibility. Although, perhaps “encouraging” is not the best word, as some of what we’re looking at is worrisome, as the interview at the end of the video suggests. Still, when we open our minds and envision new and wondrous places, machines and societies, we are not engaging in mere fancy, we are pioneering the future.
Fantastic, inspirational talk. Fear is a huge barrier in so many lives – and the question is spot on: what could you do if you refused to fear failure?
Thanks for sharing this, Allan. Coming from a family of nerds, and being married to one, I love them immensely. But I’ll be extra nice after hearing this talk!