Press "Enter" to skip to content

Why the Chip on Your Shoulder is Your Greatest Strength | Joey Kim | TEDxUIUC


so when I was in first grade I fell in

so when I was in first grade I fell in love her name was Emily Baker and she

love her name was Emily Baker and she

love her name was Emily Baker and she was the most beautiful girl in my class

was the most beautiful girl in my class

was the most beautiful girl in my class of 25 kids you see our relationship

of 25 kids you see our relationship

of 25 kids you see our relationship started when we went on a field trip to

started when we went on a field trip to

started when we went on a field trip to an industrial bakery and I still

an industrial bakery and I still

an industrial bakery and I still remember very clearly what all

remember very clearly what all

remember very clearly what all transpired she she came up right up next

transpired she she came up right up next

transpired she she came up right up next to me and she did the unthinkable she

to me and she did the unthinkable she

to me and she did the unthinkable she held my hand a sensation of electricity

held my hand a sensation of electricity

held my hand a sensation of electricity flew from my fingertips through my arm

flew from my fingertips through my arm

flew from my fingertips through my arm to my brain where I realized oh my god

to my brain where I realized oh my god

to my brain where I realized oh my god do I have a girlfriend

do I have a girlfriend

do I have a girlfriend I looked at her bewildered demanding an

I looked at her bewildered demanding an

I looked at her bewildered demanding an answer and this cool girl she doesn’t

answer and this cool girl she doesn’t

answer and this cool girl she doesn’t even look back she just stands there not

even look back she just stands there not

even look back she just stands there not saying a word and that’s when I knew I

saying a word and that’s when I knew I

saying a word and that’s when I knew I had a girlfriend

had a girlfriend

had a girlfriend fast forward to second grade and two

fast forward to second grade and two

fast forward to second grade and two very tragic things happen number one on

very tragic things happen number one on

very tragic things happen number one on the first day I realized that Emily

the first day I realized that Emily

the first day I realized that Emily Baker and I are no longer in the same

Baker and I are no longer in the same

Baker and I are no longer in the same class and number two during recess I

class and number two during recess I

class and number two during recess I find out that she left me for another

find out that she left me for another

find out that she left me for another boy I was heartbroken

boy I was heartbroken

boy I was heartbroken you know only if I could only if I could

you know only if I could only if I could

you know only if I could only if I could tell her how much I really really liked

tell her how much I really really liked

tell her how much I really really liked her maybe she’ll take me back except I

her maybe she’ll take me back except I

her maybe she’ll take me back except I couldn’t you see a tiny detail left out

couldn’t you see a tiny detail left out

couldn’t you see a tiny detail left out I emigrated when I was in first grade

I emigrated when I was in first grade

I emigrated when I was in first grade and I couldn’t speak a word of English

and I couldn’t speak a word of English

and I couldn’t speak a word of English so I could not literally tell her how

so I could not literally tell her how

so I could not literally tell her how much I liked her I was absolutely

much I liked her I was absolutely

much I liked her I was absolutely heartbroken and in short I was

heartbroken and in short I was

heartbroken and in short I was absolutely disgusted now stop right

absolutely disgusted now stop right

absolutely disgusted now stop right there right there it’s one of the most

there right there it’s one of the most

there right there it’s one of the most beautiful most meaningful moments in my

beautiful most meaningful moments in my

beautiful most meaningful moments in my life that is when I got my first chip on

life that is when I got my first chip on

life that is when I got my first chip on my shoulder not being able to speak

my shoulder not being able to speak

my shoulder not being able to speak English was the very first chip I ever

English was the very first chip I ever

English was the very first chip I ever had on my shoulder you see this

had on my shoulder you see this

had on my shoulder you see this conversation today is for the losers the

conversation today is for the losers the

conversation today is for the losers the losers who want to become the winners

losers who want to become the winners

losers who want to become the winners this one is for the underdogs the

this one is for the underdogs the

this one is for the underdogs the underdogs who always wanted to change

underdogs who always wanted to change

underdogs who always wanted to change themselves but didn’t know how

themselves but didn’t know how

themselves but didn’t know how this one is for all those who dreamed of

this one is for all those who dreamed of

this one is for all those who dreamed of becoming extraordinary but today are

becoming extraordinary but today are

becoming extraordinary but today are looking down at the road of mediocrity

looking down at the road of mediocrity

looking down at the road of mediocrity and deluding themselves that that’s what

and deluding themselves that that’s what

and deluding themselves that that’s what they wanted all along this one is for

they wanted all along this one is for

they wanted all along this one is for you

you

you so listen very carefully because I’m

so listen very carefully because I’m

so listen very carefully because I’m going to tell it to you very bluntly you

going to tell it to you very bluntly you

going to tell it to you very bluntly you have some deep insecurities you do and

have some deep insecurities you do and

have some deep insecurities you do and if you don’t know what I’m talking about

if you don’t know what I’m talking about

if you don’t know what I’m talking about it’s simply because your insecurities go

it’s simply because your insecurities go

it’s simply because your insecurities go deeper than you can notice see I know

deeper than you can notice see I know

deeper than you can notice see I know this because I am one of these people so

this because I am one of these people so

this because I am one of these people so today we’re going to be talking a lot

today we’re going to be talking a lot

today we’re going to be talking a lot about the theme of creative chaos well

about the theme of creative chaos well

about the theme of creative chaos well right now I want to talk about how to

right now I want to talk about how to

right now I want to talk about how to create something out of this chaotic

create something out of this chaotic

create something out of this chaotic place we call our insecurities now some

place we call our insecurities now some

place we call our insecurities now some people call it in few already complex

people call it in few already complex

people call it in few already complex other people will call it having

other people will call it having

other people will call it having something to prove I call it having a

something to prove I call it having a

something to prove I call it having a chip on your shoulder whatever you want

chip on your shoulder whatever you want

chip on your shoulder whatever you want to call it just know this that chip on

to call it just know this that chip on

to call it just know this that chip on your shoulder will be your single

your shoulder will be your single

your shoulder will be your single greatest asset to building your success

greatest asset to building your success

greatest asset to building your success now here’s the reason why having a chip

now here’s the reason why having a chip

now here’s the reason why having a chip on your shoulder is absolutely crucial

on your shoulder is absolutely crucial

on your shoulder is absolutely crucial to your success you see I work in

to your success you see I work in

to your success you see I work in venture capital and that basically means

venture capital and that basically means

venture capital and that basically means I meet with entrepreneurs and they pitch

I meet with entrepreneurs and they pitch

I meet with entrepreneurs and they pitch me their ideas and it’s really great and

me their ideas and it’s really great and

me their ideas and it’s really great and if it is so great our funds will

if it is so great our funds will

if it is so great our funds will basically invest in the startup now

basically invest in the startup now

basically invest in the startup now here’s one little trick that I like to

here’s one little trick that I like to

here’s one little trick that I like to use to separate the real entrepreneurs

use to separate the real entrepreneurs

use to separate the real entrepreneurs from the fake entrepreneurs go to an

from the fake entrepreneurs go to an

from the fake entrepreneurs go to an accelerator go to an incubator basically

accelerator go to an incubator basically

accelerator go to an incubator basically anywhere where entrepreneurs gather to

anywhere where entrepreneurs gather to

anywhere where entrepreneurs gather to work together but go between the hours

work together but go between the hours

work together but go between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Friday

of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Friday

of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a Friday evening and see what you find

evening and see what you find

evening and see what you find Hustler’s man that’s when you’re going

Hustler’s man that’s when you’re going

Hustler’s man that’s when you’re going to find the hustlers and I’ve talked to

to find the hustlers and I’ve talked to

to find the hustlers and I’ve talked to these hustlers

these hustlers

these hustlers and they really have one thing in common

and they really have one thing in common

and they really have one thing in common even though they come from all walks of

even though they come from all walks of

even though they come from all walks of life from all sorts of different

life from all sorts of different

life from all sorts of different problems that one thing is hunger and

problems that one thing is hunger and

problems that one thing is hunger and I’m not talking about any type of hunger

I’m not talking about any type of hunger

I’m not talking about any type of hunger I’m talking about this unforgiving

I’m talking about this unforgiving

I’m talking about this unforgiving relentless type of hunger that comes

relentless type of hunger that comes

relentless type of hunger that comes from their insecurities their fear of

from their insecurities their fear of

from their insecurities their fear of failure and this desperate need to be

failure and this desperate need to be

failure and this desperate need to be part of something bigger than themselves

part of something bigger than themselves

part of something bigger than themselves it comes from their chip on their

it comes from their chip on their

it comes from their chip on their shoulder where it does not come

shoulder where it does not come

shoulder where it does not come from is some market need it doesn’t come

from is some market need it doesn’t come

from is some market need it doesn’t come from a brilliant idea it doesn’t even

from a brilliant idea it doesn’t even

from a brilliant idea it doesn’t even come from a smart mind it comes from

come from a smart mind it comes from

come from a smart mind it comes from deep within this insecurity place see it

deep within this insecurity place see it

deep within this insecurity place see it comes from this crazy deranged person

comes from this crazy deranged person

comes from this crazy deranged person who refuses to take a salary and a

who refuses to take a salary and a

who refuses to take a salary and a normal job just because you’re obsessed

normal job just because you’re obsessed

normal job just because you’re obsessed to prove something to the world

to prove something to the world

to prove something to the world it comes from their chip on their

it comes from their chip on their

it comes from their chip on their shoulder and if you look at every one of

shoulder and if you look at every one of

shoulder and if you look at every one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time

the greatest entrepreneurs of our time

the greatest entrepreneurs of our time Elon Musk Steve Jobs Jack Ma they all

Elon Musk Steve Jobs Jack Ma they all

Elon Musk Steve Jobs Jack Ma they all have this chip on their shoulder and

have this chip on their shoulder and

have this chip on their shoulder and bigger the chip hungrier they are so

bigger the chip hungrier they are so

bigger the chip hungrier they are so what I want to do today is I want to

what I want to do today is I want to

what I want to do today is I want to walk you through how I’ve been thinking

walk you through how I’ve been thinking

walk you through how I’ve been thinking about my chip on my shoulder and I won’t

about my chip on my shoulder and I won’t

about my chip on my shoulder and I won’t invite you to do the same just walk

invite you to do the same just walk

invite you to do the same just walk alongside with me as I identify mine I

alongside with me as I identify mine I

alongside with me as I identify mine I want you to identify yours and as you’ll

want you to identify yours and as you’ll

want you to identify yours and as you’ll see as I walk mine back to its

see as I walk mine back to its

see as I walk mine back to its characteristics I want you to do the

characteristics I want you to do the

characteristics I want you to do the same and what we’re going to do is we’re

same and what we’re going to do is we’re

same and what we’re going to do is we’re going to try to flip your biggest

going to try to flip your biggest

going to try to flip your biggest liability into your biggest asset so the

liability into your biggest asset so the

liability into your biggest asset so the biggest the first step here is to

biggest the first step here is to

biggest the first step here is to identify your chip on your shoulder and

identify your chip on your shoulder and

identify your chip on your shoulder and this one’s pretty easy I like to think

this one’s pretty easy I like to think

this one’s pretty easy I like to think mine actually is deeply rooted in Who I

mine actually is deeply rooted in Who I

mine actually is deeply rooted in Who I am I’m an immigrant I came from an

am I’m an immigrant I came from an

am I’m an immigrant I came from an immigrant family and it’s true that the

immigrant family and it’s true that the

immigrant family and it’s true that the very first chip on my shoulder is not

very first chip on my shoulder is not

very first chip on my shoulder is not being able to speak English but the true

being able to speak English but the true

being able to speak English but the true story behind it is not some heartbreak I

story behind it is not some heartbreak I

story behind it is not some heartbreak I had in first grade but the very first

had in first grade but the very first

had in first grade but the very first meal I ever had in the United States of

meal I ever had in the United States of

meal I ever had in the United States of America I still remember very clearly it

America I still remember very clearly it

America I still remember very clearly it was very late our family went to this

was very late our family went to this

was very late our family went to this fine sandwich sandwich establishment

fine sandwich sandwich establishment

fine sandwich sandwich establishment called subway and this very exciting

called subway and this very exciting

called subway and this very exciting state called Indiana and I still

state called Indiana and I still

state called Indiana and I still remember my seven year old self my baby

remember my seven year old self my baby

remember my seven year old self my baby sister my parents we all kind of stumble

sister my parents we all kind of stumble

sister my parents we all kind of stumble into the subway with with four luggages

into the subway with with four luggages

into the subway with with four luggages trailing behind this my father and I go

trailing behind this my father and I go

trailing behind this my father and I go right up to the counter and there’s a

right up to the counter and there’s a

right up to the counter and there’s a teenager right on the other side and it

teenager right on the other side and it

teenager right on the other side and it becomes very clear to the three of us

becomes very clear to the three of us

becomes very clear to the three of us that the two of us do not speak English

that the two of us do not speak English

that the two of us do not speak English now if you know anything about trying to

now if you know anything about trying to

now if you know anything about trying to order a subway sandwich

order a subway sandwich

order a subway sandwich from a white teenager in Indiana not

from a white teenager in Indiana not

from a white teenager in Indiana not speaking English is not the way to do it

speaking English is not the way to do it

speaking English is not the way to do it no I was young at the time but I knew

no I was young at the time but I knew

no I was young at the time but I knew exactly what was happening

exactly what was happening

exactly what was happening the teenager grew very frustrated and

the teenager grew very frustrated and

the teenager grew very frustrated and dismissive and my father became very

dismissive and my father became very

dismissive and my father became very small I want to tell you a little

small I want to tell you a little

small I want to tell you a little something about my father he’s a better

something about my father he’s a better

something about my father he’s a better man and a father that not will ever be

man and a father that not will ever be

man and a father that not will ever be you see when I was little he used to be

you see when I was little he used to be

you see when I was little he used to be the best storyteller he would at bedtime

the best storyteller he would at bedtime

the best storyteller he would at bedtime read these bedtime stories and he would

read these bedtime stories and he would

read these bedtime stories and he would record himself on cassette tape so that

record himself on cassette tape so that

record himself on cassette tape so that when he was away during the day I could

when he was away during the day I could

when he was away during the day I could replay his voice and I can just follow

replay his voice and I can just follow

replay his voice and I can just follow along the picture that’s the kind of man

along the picture that’s the kind of man

along the picture that’s the kind of man this my father was I want you to imagine

this my father was I want you to imagine

this my father was I want you to imagine having this hero who lost his own father

having this hero who lost his own father

having this hero who lost his own father when he was in fourth grade who put

when he was in fourth grade who put

when he was in fourth grade who put himself through college having this hero

himself through college having this hero

himself through college having this hero figure in your life being reduced down

figure in your life being reduced down

figure in your life being reduced down to stutters as he’s trying to order a

to stutters as he’s trying to order a

to stutters as he’s trying to order a sandwich from a teenager I was young at

sandwich from a teenager I was young at

sandwich from a teenager I was young at the time too young to articulate it but

the time too young to articulate it but

the time too young to articulate it but I knew what I felt what I felt was

I knew what I felt what I felt was

I knew what I felt what I felt was embarrassment what I felt was shame what

embarrassment what I felt was shame what

embarrassment what I felt was shame what I felt was the weight of my first chip

I felt was the weight of my first chip

I felt was the weight of my first chip on my shoulder and of course it didn’t

on my shoulder and of course it didn’t

on my shoulder and of course it didn’t stop there and I came to actually resent

stop there and I came to actually resent

stop there and I came to actually resent my Korean culture as I grew up I came to

my Korean culture as I grew up I came to

my Korean culture as I grew up I came to resent the fact that my mom she couldn’t

resent the fact that my mom she couldn’t

resent the fact that my mom she couldn’t speak English I resented the fact that

speak English I resented the fact that

speak English I resented the fact that all my American friends and their

all my American friends and their

all my American friends and their parents were invited to dinner parties

parents were invited to dinner parties

parents were invited to dinner parties after their kids football practice but

after their kids football practice but

after their kids football practice but my parents weren’t but you know what I’m

my parents weren’t but you know what I’m

my parents weren’t but you know what I’m talking about because you have your own

talking about because you have your own

talking about because you have your own chip on your shoulder

chip on your shoulder

chip on your shoulder you have your own grudge your own

you have your own grudge your own

you have your own grudge your own resentment your own perplex Minh of why

resentment your own perplex Minh of why

resentment your own perplex Minh of why things are the way they are I want you

things are the way they are I want you

things are the way they are I want you to just hold that in your mind because

to just hold that in your mind because

to just hold that in your mind because we’re going to try to harness that today

we’re going to try to harness that today

we’re going to try to harness that today the second step is to have the courage

the second step is to have the courage

the second step is to have the courage to start asking why and delve deeper

to start asking why and delve deeper

to start asking why and delve deeper into that chip on your shoulder for me

into that chip on your shoulder for me

into that chip on your shoulder for me this is very important because this is

this is very important because this is

this is very important because this is the hard

the hard

the hard our part this is where it gets ugly this

our part this is where it gets ugly this

our part this is where it gets ugly this is where it gets unglamorous and

is where it gets unglamorous and

is where it gets unglamorous and negative for me this really happened in

negative for me this really happened in

negative for me this really happened in high school when I started to ask why

high school when I started to ask why

high school when I started to ask why why was it that I resented my Korean

why was it that I resented my Korean

why was it that I resented my Korean culture so much well it was the reason

culture so much well it was the reason

culture so much well it was the reason why I couldn’t speak English well why

why I couldn’t speak English well why

why I couldn’t speak English well why did it frustrate me so much that I

did it frustrate me so much that I

did it frustrate me so much that I couldn’t speak English well it made me

couldn’t speak English well it made me

couldn’t speak English well it made me feel helpless why did I feel helpless I

feel helpless why did I feel helpless I

feel helpless why did I feel helpless I felt like I couldn’t speak up why was it

felt like I couldn’t speak up why was it

felt like I couldn’t speak up why was it so important that I spoke up and what I

so important that I spoke up and what I

so important that I spoke up and what I found was that when I started to walk

found was that when I started to walk

found was that when I started to walk back my chip on my shoulder I found that

back my chip on my shoulder I found that

back my chip on my shoulder I found that I had this poor characteristic of

I had this poor characteristic of

I had this poor characteristic of wanting to be heard I want to be heard I

wanting to be heard I want to be heard I

wanting to be heard I want to be heard I need to be heard that’s that’s who I am

need to be heard that’s that’s who I am

need to be heard that’s that’s who I am I’m a I’m a loudmouth obnoxious person

I’m a I’m a loudmouth obnoxious person

I’m a I’m a loudmouth obnoxious person but you have your own don’t you you have

but you have your own don’t you you have

but you have your own don’t you you have your own chip on your shoulder that if

your own chip on your shoulder that if

your own chip on your shoulder that if you walk back I can guarantee you that

you walk back I can guarantee you that

you walk back I can guarantee you that you will find your own core

you will find your own core

you will find your own core characteristic within yourself it will

characteristic within yourself it will

characteristic within yourself it will be ugly it will be negative but it will

be ugly it will be negative but it will

be ugly it will be negative but it will sound very right to you now once you

sound very right to you now once you

sound very right to you now once you have identified this core characteristic

have identified this core characteristic

have identified this core characteristic once you’ve been brutally honest with

once you’ve been brutally honest with

once you’ve been brutally honest with yourself I realized this that the best

yourself I realized this that the best

yourself I realized this that the best and the worst versions of ourselves are

and the worst versions of ourselves are

and the worst versions of ourselves are oftentimes the best and the worst

oftentimes the best and the worst

oftentimes the best and the worst versions of that core characteristic so

versions of that core characteristic so

versions of that core characteristic so this is what I mean

for me my core characteristic is wanting

for me my core characteristic is wanting to be heard and its worst form it turns

to be heard and its worst form it turns

to be heard and its worst form it turns me into someone who doesn’t listen

me into someone who doesn’t listen

me into someone who doesn’t listen it turns me into someone who’s

it turns me into someone who’s

it turns me into someone who’s attention-seeking it turns me into

attention-seeking it turns me into

attention-seeking it turns me into someone who needs to be the loudest

someone who needs to be the loudest

someone who needs to be the loudest voice in the room or it can turn me into

voice in the room or it can turn me into

voice in the room or it can turn me into someone who can speak up for others it

someone who can speak up for others it

someone who can speak up for others it can turn me into someone who delivers a

can turn me into someone who delivers a

can turn me into someone who delivers a good message it can turn me into someone

good message it can turn me into someone

good message it can turn me into someone who tells losers that they have what it

who tells losers that they have what it

who tells losers that they have what it takes to be winners and you’ll find that

takes to be winners and you’ll find that

takes to be winners and you’ll find that every core characteristic has a duality

every core characteristic has a duality

every core characteristic has a duality it actually went through this exercise

it actually went through this exercise

it actually went through this exercise with one of my good friends from college

with one of my good friends from college

with one of my good friends from college and his

and his

and his core characteristic is having this

core characteristic is having this

core characteristic is having this obsessive personality and this is really

obsessive personality and this is really

obsessive personality and this is really fascinating because if you take

fascinating because if you take

fascinating because if you take obsessive personality and you mix it

obsessive personality and you mix it

obsessive personality and you mix it with impulse people call that addiction

with impulse people call that addiction

with impulse people call that addiction but if you take the same obsessive

but if you take the same obsessive

but if you take the same obsessive personality and you temper it with a

personality and you temper it with a

personality and you temper it with a sense of purpose a sense of mission

sense of purpose a sense of mission

sense of purpose a sense of mission people happen to call it passion

so what you’ll find is that for every

so what you’ll find is that for every one of these so-called weaknesses

one of these so-called weaknesses

one of these so-called weaknesses there’s just simply an unproductive

there’s just simply an unproductive

there’s just simply an unproductive manifestation of your core

manifestation of your core

manifestation of your core characteristic and the good news here

characteristic and the good news here

characteristic and the good news here that for every one of those there’s a

that for every one of those there’s a

that for every one of those there’s a corresponding productive manifestation

corresponding productive manifestation

corresponding productive manifestation that you can harness as your strengths

that you can harness as your strengths

that you can harness as your strengths now I know I know there are times when

now I know I know there are times when

now I know I know there are times when you wonder to yourself why why is this

you wonder to yourself why why is this

you wonder to yourself why why is this the way that I am I know but I want to

the way that I am I know but I want to

the way that I am I know but I want to challenge you to not throw that away

challenge you to not throw that away

challenge you to not throw that away this is who you are this is who you were

this is who you are this is who you were

this is who you are this is who you were meant to be this is your raw fuel and

meant to be this is your raw fuel and

meant to be this is your raw fuel and your raw material and you were meant to

your raw material and you were meant to

your raw material and you were meant to harness this you see in first grade I

harness this you see in first grade I

harness this you see in first grade I didn’t speak a word of English my very

didn’t speak a word of English my very

didn’t speak a word of English my very first book that I ever read was green

first book that I ever read was green

first book that I ever read was green eggs and ham and in third grade I

eggs and ham and in third grade I

eggs and ham and in third grade I finished Harry Potter in sixth grade I

finished Harry Potter in sixth grade I

finished Harry Potter in sixth grade I tried out for the school play with my

tried out for the school play with my

tried out for the school play with my thick Korean accent and by the end of

thick Korean accent and by the end of

thick Korean accent and by the end of high school I was the captain of my

high school I was the captain of my

high school I was the captain of my speech team and today I’m here speaking

speech team and today I’m here speaking

speech team and today I’m here speaking to all of you in English in case you

to all of you in English in case you

to all of you in English in case you haven’t noticed so when life gives you a

haven’t noticed so when life gives you a

haven’t noticed so when life gives you a chip to play never cash it just take

chip to play never cash it just take

chip to play never cash it just take that chip place it on your shoulder and

that chip place it on your shoulder and

that chip place it on your shoulder and instead of Lading it letting it weigh

instead of Lading it letting it weigh

instead of Lading it letting it weigh you down let it ground you and who you

you down let it ground you and who you

you down let it ground you and who you are and more importantly how you can

are and more importantly how you can

are and more importantly how you can prove wrong every doubt and every

prove wrong every doubt and every

prove wrong every doubt and every self-doubt in your mind

self-doubt in your mind

self-doubt in your mind thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *