Press "Enter" to skip to content

Failing to Succeed | Malcolm Canidate | TEDxYouth@iPoly


hey good evening everyone

hey good evening everyone um so yes mr. Weston my name is Malcolm

um so yes mr. Weston my name is Malcolm

um so yes mr. Weston my name is Malcolm candidate and I just like the start and

candidate and I just like the start and

candidate and I just like the start and reference this presentation with a

reference this presentation with a

reference this presentation with a question how many of you have ever

question how many of you have ever

question how many of you have ever failed in anything that you’ve ever

failed in anything that you’ve ever

failed in anything that you’ve ever tried to do alright so you know we we do

tried to do alright so you know we we do

tried to do alright so you know we we do these things these things called

these things these things called

these things these things called make goals and we try to have these

make goals and we try to have these

make goals and we try to have these goals that we make we oftentimes set

goals that we make we oftentimes set

goals that we make we oftentimes set these achievements

these achievements

these achievements ahead of ourselves as milestones or

ahead of ourselves as milestones or

ahead of ourselves as milestones or things that we want to accomplish going

things that we want to accomplish going

things that we want to accomplish going forward in life and when we have these

forward in life and when we have these

forward in life and when we have these specific you know achievements or

specific you know achievements or

specific you know achievements or milestones we try to reach we hope that

milestones we try to reach we hope that

milestones we try to reach we hope that that can you know lead to more

that can you know lead to more

that can you know lead to more accomplishment

accomplishment

accomplishment then failure now the questions are not

then failure now the questions are not

then failure now the questions are not posed to you is just just to see how

posed to you is just just to see how

posed to you is just just to see how many of you actually thought that you

many of you actually thought that you

many of you actually thought that you failed at something but by the end of

failed at something but by the end of

failed at something but by the end of this presentation I hope to change your

this presentation I hope to change your

this presentation I hope to change your mind on what failure actually is because

mind on what failure actually is because

mind on what failure actually is because typically we see failure is such a bad

typically we see failure is such a bad

typically we see failure is such a bad thing as a sting of being synonymous

thing as a sting of being synonymous

thing as a sting of being synonymous with a lesser of something that we

with a lesser of something that we

with a lesser of something that we should frown upon at all times that we

should frown upon at all times that we

should frown upon at all times that we should not you know be proud of failures

should not you know be proud of failures

should not you know be proud of failures but without failure how would you know

but without failure how would you know

but without failure how would you know how to get better I get the next line

how to get better I get the next line

how to get better I get the next line for me so I’ll start with a quote by one

for me so I’ll start with a quote by one

for me so I’ll start with a quote by one of my favorite people on the planet and

of my favorite people on the planet and

of my favorite people on the planet and probably the greatest basketball player

probably the greatest basketball player

probably the greatest basketball player to ever live Michael Jordan I missed

to ever live Michael Jordan I missed

to ever live Michael Jordan I missed more than 9,000 shots no 3000 excuse me

more than 9,000 shots no 3000 excuse me

more than 9,000 shots no 3000 excuse me lost over 900 games 26 times I’ve been

lost over 900 games 26 times I’ve been

lost over 900 games 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot

trusted to take the game-winning shot

trusted to take the game-winning shot and I missed I failed

and I missed I failed

and I missed I failed over and over and over again in my life

over and over and over again in my life

over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed you know this

and that is why I succeed you know this

and that is why I succeed you know this this quote really inspired me because

this quote really inspired me because

this quote really inspired me because you know I think Michael Jordan in the

you know I think Michael Jordan in the

you know I think Michael Jordan in the first thing

first thing

first thing my mind is oh the man has six rings he

my mind is oh the man has six rings he

my mind is oh the man has six rings he has multiple MVP awards and you have to

has multiple MVP awards and you have to

has multiple MVP awards and you have to wonder yourself how can this great

wonder yourself how can this great

wonder yourself how can this great basketball player be Sony used to

basketball player be Sony used to

basketball player be Sony used to failing and then you know I brought that

failing and then you know I brought that

failing and then you know I brought that tomorrow something I had to ask the

tomorrow something I had to ask the

tomorrow something I had to ask the question how can I be okay with failure

question how can I be okay with failure

question how can I be okay with failure can I get the next slide please ask

can I get the next slide please ask

can I get the next slide please ask myself why is failure so fine apart

myself why is failure so fine apart

myself why is failure so fine apart because of these three things one is

because of these three things one is

because of these three things one is because it’s synonymous with the lesser

because it’s synonymous with the lesser

because it’s synonymous with the lesser we tend to think that if you fail but

we tend to think that if you fail but

we tend to think that if you fail but you’re just not you’re not up to par

you’re just not you’re not up to par

you’re just not you’re not up to par that you’re just not that type of person

that you’re just not that type of person

that you’re just not that type of person that I’m going to seek out to do these

that I’m going to seek out to do these

that I’m going to seek out to do these next things to do these great things

next things to do these great things

next things to do these great things that you know we see all these other

that you know we see all these other

that you know we see all these other great people do because we only see

great people do because we only see

great people do because we only see great people succeed then we have an

great people succeed then we have an

great people succeed then we have an obsession with being the best we always

obsession with being the best we always

obsession with being the best we always have to be the top market we have to be

have to be the top market we have to be

have to be the top market we have to be the number one because if we’re not the

the number one because if we’re not the

the number one because if we’re not the number one then we look at ourselves as

number one then we look at ourselves as

number one then we look at ourselves as being bad and other CEO says you know if

being bad and other CEO says you know if

being bad and other CEO says you know if we see my dad has a saying it’s like if

we see my dad has a saying it’s like if

we see my dad has a saying it’s like if you’re not number one two is not a

you’re not number one two is not a

you’re not number one two is not a winner and three nobody remembers you

winner and three nobody remembers you

winner and three nobody remembers you know I kind of to myself that was kind

know I kind of to myself that was kind

know I kind of to myself that was kind of a motivator for a while but then I

of a motivator for a while but then I

of a motivator for a while but then I understood that you know you have to

understood that you know you have to

understood that you know you have to experience you cannot be number one all

experience you cannot be number one all

experience you cannot be number one all the time and then you have this expert

the time and then you have this expert

the time and then you have this expert expectation of perfection then it just

expectation of perfection then it just

expectation of perfection then it just wonders to yourself that you’re just

wonders to yourself that you’re just

wonders to yourself that you’re just like everything that you have to do at

like everything that you have to do at

like everything that you have to do at every point in time in your life any

every point in time in your life any

every point in time in your life any achievement that you want that you want

achievement that you want that you want

achievement that you want that you want to get it as best as you and it has to

to get it as best as you and it has to

to get it as best as you and it has to be you know 100 percent go the way that

be you know 100 percent go the way that

be you know 100 percent go the way that you want and how it planned out in your

you want and how it planned out in your

you want and how it planned out in your mind the thing you wanted to yourself

mind the thing you wanted to yourself

mind the thing you wanted to yourself how can that happen next slide please so

how can that happen next slide please so

how can that happen next slide please so then ask myself what is failure

then ask myself what is failure

then ask myself what is failure typically failure we associate with like

typically failure we associate with like

typically failure we associate with like I said it before not being on top so

I said it before not being on top so

I said it before not being on top so we’re let’s I’ll use the example of

we’re let’s I’ll use the example of

we’re let’s I’ll use the example of running a marathon your goal is to run a

running a marathon your goal is to run a

running a marathon your goal is to run a marathon to be in first and you’ve come

marathon to be in first and you’ve come

marathon to be in first and you’ve come in a second you still completed the goal

in a second you still completed the goal

in a second you still completed the goal of running a marathon so your goal was

of running a marathon so your goal was

of running a marathon so your goal was accomplished but the aspiration that you

accomplished but the aspiration that you

accomplished but the aspiration that you had

had

had to be number one that was a mistake I

to be number one that was a mistake I

to be number one that was a mistake I was not a failure because you did not

was not a failure because you did not

was not a failure because you did not fail to complete the marathon so we look

fail to complete the marathon so we look

fail to complete the marathon so we look at ourselves as you know failing at

at ourselves as you know failing at

at ourselves as you know failing at these things but then we just mistake

these things but then we just mistake

these things but then we just mistake mistakes for failures when the mistakes

mistakes for failures when the mistakes

mistakes for failures when the mistakes that we made are stepping stones that we

that we made are stepping stones that we

that we made are stepping stones that we should be using to move us to the next

should be using to move us to the next

should be using to move us to the next level and they should be guiding points

level and they should be guiding points

level and they should be guiding points to get us to that next level to reach

to get us to that next level to reach

to get us to that next level to reach the success that we so greatly desire

the success that we so greatly desire

the success that we so greatly desire and so you know I just look at you know

and so you know I just look at you know

and so you know I just look at you know like I referenced earlier in the you

like I referenced earlier in the you

like I referenced earlier in the you know we have media people and there was

know we have media people and there was

know we have media people and there was a commercial that I saw they kind of

a commercial that I saw they kind of

a commercial that I saw they kind of inspired me I wish I could show it

inspired me I wish I could show it

inspired me I wish I could show it tonight but for technical difficulties

tonight but for technical difficulties

tonight but for technical difficulties I’m just going to you know just give you

I’m just going to you know just give you

I’m just going to you know just give you the gist of it it was basically saying

the gist of it it was basically saying

the gist of it it was basically saying what is the key to victory then you have

what is the key to victory then you have

what is the key to victory then you have Michael Jordan go role on the screen and

Michael Jordan go role on the screen and

Michael Jordan go role on the screen and he says not making your high school

he says not making your high school

he says not making your high school varsity team then you have Serena

varsity team then you have Serena

varsity team then you have Serena Williams greatest female tennis player

Williams greatest female tennis player

Williams greatest female tennis player ever she comes out and says being on the

ever she comes out and says being on the

ever she comes out and says being on the wrong side of the greatest upset in your

wrong side of the greatest upset in your

wrong side of the greatest upset in your sport then you have Matt Ryan who MVP of

sport then you have Matt Ryan who MVP of

sport then you have Matt Ryan who MVP of the NFL last year and he comes in has a

the NFL last year and he comes in has a

the NFL last year and he comes in has a 20-point lead on the Patriots and loses

20-point lead on the Patriots and loses

20-point lead on the Patriots and loses the game and you have to wonder in

the game and you have to wonder in

the game and you have to wonder in yourself what is the key to victory if

yourself what is the key to victory if

yourself what is the key to victory if all of these are showing mistakes and

all of these are showing mistakes and

all of these are showing mistakes and failures

failures

failures that’s the key Nikita the key to success

that’s the key Nikita the key to success

that’s the key Nikita the key to success is defeat you have to understand that

is defeat you have to understand that

is defeat you have to understand that you have to fail in order to success in

you have to fail in order to success in

you have to fail in order to success in order to succeed give me next one so

order to succeed give me next one so

order to succeed give me next one so then I looked at my own life and I think

then I looked at my own life and I think

then I looked at my own life and I think back on that lettings back in eighth

back on that lettings back in eighth

back on that lettings back in eighth grade it was my first year playing

grade it was my first year playing

grade it was my first year playing football they were I’ve never played

football they were I’ve never played

football they were I’ve never played football in my life the coaches bring me

football in my life the coaches bring me

football in my life the coaches bring me in they asked me to play quarterback

in they asked me to play quarterback

in they asked me to play quarterback running back wide receiver middle

running back wide receiver middle

running back wide receiver middle linebacker I had no prior knowledge of

linebacker I had no prior knowledge of

linebacker I had no prior knowledge of these positions in playing them on the

these positions in playing them on the

these positions in playing them on the field I had just witnessed them

field I had just witnessed them

field I had just witnessed them we go in we saw we had a lot of young

we go in we saw we had a lot of young

we go in we saw we had a lot of young talent I was better than any other

talent I was better than any other

talent I was better than any other player

player

player that field on my team when we come out

that field on my team when we come out

that field on my team when we come out in that first game we lose okay but then

in that first game we lose okay but then

in that first game we lose okay but then we go to our third game fast forward I’m

we go to our third game fast forward I’m

we go to our third game fast forward I’m trying to do my best to help my team and

trying to do my best to help my team and

trying to do my best to help my team and halftime everything’s looking great

halftime everything’s looking great

halftime everything’s looking great we’re up 20 to nothing we’re doing great

we’re up 20 to nothing we’re doing great

we’re up 20 to nothing we’re doing great there’s something kicks at halftime

there’s something kicks at halftime

there’s something kicks at halftime other team figures out they have the

other team figures out they have the

other team figures out they have the ingredients to beat us they come out

ingredients to beat us they come out

ingredients to beat us they come out they draw together one school to score

they draw together one school to score

they draw together one school to score it’s 14 to 20 then they come back tie it

it’s 14 to 20 then they come back tie it

it’s 14 to 20 then they come back tie it up 20 to 20

up 20 to 20

up 20 to 20 it’s the last play of the game I have

it’s the last play of the game I have

it’s the last play of the game I have the ball in my hand coaches looking at

the ball in my hand coaches looking at

the ball in my hand coaches looking at me saying it’s time for you to make a

me saying it’s time for you to make a

me saying it’s time for you to make a play throw the ball gets intercepted ran

play throw the ball gets intercepted ran

play throw the ball gets intercepted ran back for a touchdown

back for a touchdown

back for a touchdown they win the game 26 to 20 its

they win the game 26 to 20 its

they win the game 26 to 20 its heartbroken cried all the way home

heartbroken cried all the way home

heartbroken cried all the way home wanted to quit sport I told my mom and

wanted to quit sport I told my mom and

wanted to quit sport I told my mom and dad I’m never playing another sport

dad I’m never playing another sport

dad I’m never playing another sport again 5 4 1 2 academics in 9th grade I

again 5 4 1 2 academics in 9th grade I

again 5 4 1 2 academics in 9th grade I was so ahead of myself thinking that I

was so ahead of myself thinking that I

was so ahead of myself thinking that I could just you know go up on myself and

could just you know go up on myself and

could just you know go up on myself and just do whatever it I need to do just go

just do whatever it I need to do just go

just do whatever it I need to do just go with my classes do whatever I needed I

with my classes do whatever I needed I

with my classes do whatever I needed I don’t have to study all the teacher has

don’t have to study all the teacher has

don’t have to study all the teacher has to do is teach me the subject material I

to do is teach me the subject material I

to do is teach me the subject material I absorb it test comes I sit no studying

absorb it test comes I sit no studying

absorb it test comes I sit no studying is involved that’s just me because I did

is involved that’s just me because I did

is involved that’s just me because I did that in grades k-8 because that’s all

that in grades k-8 because that’s all

that in grades k-8 because that’s all that was expected of me regurgitate the

that was expected of me regurgitate the

that was expected of me regurgitate the knowledge that you were giving of me I

knowledge that you were giving of me I

knowledge that you were giving of me I come in my first semester of ninth grade

come in my first semester of ninth grade

come in my first semester of ninth grade year I had three B’s on my report card

year I had three B’s on my report card

year I had three B’s on my report card and I looked at that as a failure

and I looked at that as a failure

and I looked at that as a failure because my mom and dad they were you

because my mom and dad they were you

because my mom and dad they were you know they were sunny you know you should

know they were sunny you know you should

know they were sunny you know you should have tried harder you should have

have tried harder you should have

have tried harder you should have studied me that was a fan and I was so

studied me that was a fan and I was so

studied me that was a fan and I was so used to smiling in my teachers faces and

used to smiling in my teachers faces and

used to smiling in my teachers faces and just you know walking up to these

just you know walking up to these

just you know walking up to these teachers and saying oh hi mr. song so hi

teachers and saying oh hi mr. song so hi

teachers and saying oh hi mr. song so hi mr. so-and-so how are you doing today

mr. so-and-so how are you doing today

mr. so-and-so how are you doing today how was your day I was so used to

how was your day I was so used to

how was your day I was so used to smiling with my teachers having a

smiling with my teachers having a

smiling with my teachers having a relationship built up I’ve forgotten the

relationship built up I’ve forgotten the

relationship built up I’ve forgotten the whole point of going to school was to

whole point of going to school was to

whole point of going to school was to learn the material fast forward to my

learn the material fast forward to my

learn the material fast forward to my ninth grade year again ninth grade year

ninth grade year again ninth grade year

ninth grade year again ninth grade year my first song that I ever produced I

my first song that I ever produced I

my first song that I ever produced I thought it was the greatest song ever

thought it was the greatest song ever

thought it was the greatest song ever just gotten opportunity to use my math

just gotten opportunity to use my math

just gotten opportunity to use my math teachers mic and I just got my laptop I

teachers mic and I just got my laptop I

teachers mic and I just got my laptop I was like okay got the beat let’s go

was like okay got the beat let’s go

was like okay got the beat let’s go let’s drop it recorded it quality was

let’s drop it recorded it quality was

let’s drop it recorded it quality was terrible now that I’m up there enough to

terrible now that I’m up there enough to

terrible now that I’m up there enough to see but I was so happy I was so proud so

see but I was so happy I was so proud so

see but I was so happy I was so proud so I go and I play it on our radio show I

I go and I play it on our radio show I

I go and I play it on our radio show I thought it was the most greatest thing

thought it was the most greatest thing

thought it was the most greatest thing ever and then I go talk to my friends

ever and then I go talk to my friends

ever and then I go talk to my friends they’re like oh girl you did amazing two

they’re like oh girl you did amazing two

they’re like oh girl you did amazing two weeks later my friend comes up to me

weeks later my friend comes up to me

weeks later my friend comes up to me laughing is behind us I’m like oh what’s

laughing is behind us I’m like oh what’s

laughing is behind us I’m like oh what’s up he shows me a screenshot of a Twitter

up he shows me a screenshot of a Twitter

up he shows me a screenshot of a Twitter page of SoCal confessions the caption

page of SoCal confessions the caption

page of SoCal confessions the caption read when a freshman holds the entire

read when a freshman holds the entire

read when a freshman holds the entire school hostage and plays his mixtape it

school hostage and plays his mixtape it

school hostage and plays his mixtape it had 900 retweets

had 900 retweets

had 900 retweets we don’t have 900 kids at our school I

was devastated I didn’t know what to do

was devastated I didn’t know what to do I was just like how is this how am I

I was just like how is this how am I

I was just like how is this how am I supposed to recover so I could have

supposed to recover so I could have

supposed to recover so I could have given up everything that I loved right

given up everything that I loved right

given up everything that I loved right there but luckily I had people on my

there but luckily I had people on my

there but luckily I had people on my path such as the mr. West such as a mr.

path such as the mr. West such as a mr.

path such as the mr. West such as a mr. Australia who is our math teacher

Australia who is our math teacher

Australia who is our math teacher such as all these different peoples my

such as all these different peoples my

such as all these different peoples my mom my dad who told me you need to look

mom my dad who told me you need to look

mom my dad who told me you need to look at these things as mistakes then you

at these things as mistakes then you

at these things as mistakes then you stop and you don’t you don’t get better

stop and you don’t you don’t get better

stop and you don’t you don’t get better eighth grade year athletics we come back

eighth grade year athletics we come back

eighth grade year athletics we come back the very next game that the team that we

the very next game that the team that we

the very next game that the team that we just played instead of focusing on

just played instead of focusing on

just played instead of focusing on myself I focused on the other guys

myself I focused on the other guys

myself I focused on the other guys around me made them play better we came

around me made them play better we came

around me made them play better we came back and won that game 35 to 19 that was

back and won that game 35 to 19 that was

back and won that game 35 to 19 that was the only one we had that fever but we

the only one we had that fever but we

the only one we had that fever but we still were happy because I was the only

still were happy because I was the only

still were happy because I was the only thought and that was the only thing that

thought and that was the only thing that

thought and that was the only thing that we remembered because we came back and

we remembered because we came back and

we remembered because we came back and we did not give up we said we were going

we did not give up we said we were going

we did not give up we said we were going to win at least one game and we brought

to win at least one game and we brought

to win at least one game and we brought it all together and we did it fast over

it all together and we did it fast over

it all together and we did it fast over to academics and that grade I had some

to academics and that grade I had some

to academics and that grade I had some of the same features at ninth grade that

of the same features at ninth grade that

of the same features at ninth grade that I had my junior year so I came back I’m

I had my junior year so I came back I’m

I had my junior year so I came back I’m saying okay so I’m presented with this

saying okay so I’m presented with this

saying okay so I’m presented with this challenge

challenge

challenge I need to do better instead of making a

I need to do better instead of making a

I need to do better instead of making a relationship and trying to smile my way

relationship and trying to smile my way

relationship and trying to smile my way through my grades I need to actually

through my grades I need to actually

through my grades I need to actually study and I need to apply myself use my

study and I need to apply myself use my

study and I need to apply myself use my failures as a stepping-stone to get

failures as a stepping-stone to get

failures as a stepping-stone to get better and then I came out I transformed

better and then I came out I transformed

better and then I came out I transformed my grades to four B’s – for A’s and it

my grades to four B’s – for A’s and it

my grades to four B’s – for A’s and it was that growth from an 86 in matter to

was that growth from an 86 in matter to

was that growth from an 86 in matter to a 96 in math with no help it was just

a 96 in math with no help it was just

a 96 in math with no help it was just only using my intuition learning from

only using my intuition learning from

only using my intuition learning from the mistakes that I made fast forward to

the mistakes that I made fast forward to

the mistakes that I made fast forward to the music I now have three albums that I

the music I now have three albums that I

the music I now have three albums that I have produced myself and released and I

have produced myself and released and I

have produced myself and released and I am proud of it because I have made the

am proud of it because I have made the

am proud of it because I have made the music for me and I made the music for

music for me and I made the music for

music for me and I made the music for someone else and it was that fire that

someone else and it was that fire that

someone else and it was that fire that was lit unto me by the ridicule that I

was lit unto me by the ridicule that I

was lit unto me by the ridicule that I received from people with Jared my music

received from people with Jared my music

received from people with Jared my music from making something great and making

from making something great and making

from making something great and making something better that I could be proud

something better that I could be proud

something better that I could be proud of and that is the whole key to success

of and that is the whole key to success

of and that is the whole key to success the whole point of success is to

the whole point of success is to

the whole point of success is to recognize your failures are yours to

recognize your failures are yours to

recognize your failures are yours to make and they’re your mistakes not

make and they’re your mistakes not

make and they’re your mistakes not predicated upon what someone else

predicated upon what someone else

predicated upon what someone else believes because we get this

believes because we get this

believes because we get this preconceived ideas of our success is

preconceived ideas of our success is

preconceived ideas of our success is based off someone else’s beliefs then

based off someone else’s beliefs then

based off someone else’s beliefs then that’s when we fail because you cannot

that’s when we fail because you cannot

that’s when we fail because you cannot please everyone else around you the goal

please everyone else around you the goal

please everyone else around you the goal is to please yourself until you are

is to please yourself until you are

is to please yourself until you are satisfied and when you make the goal

satisfied and when you make the goal

satisfied and when you make the goal that you are satisfied in reaching that

that you are satisfied in reaching that

that you are satisfied in reaching that is when you can say you have made the

is when you can say you have made the

is when you can say you have made the ultimate success because then no one can

ultimate success because then no one can

ultimate success because then no one can take that away from you and that is to

take that away from you and that is to

take that away from you and that is to the point where stories like mine you

the point where stories like mine you

the point where stories like mine you understand that is just where it comes

one of the greatest innovators mr. Bill

one of the greatest innovators mr. Bill Gates instead it’s fine to celebrate

Gates instead it’s fine to celebrate

Gates instead it’s fine to celebrate your successes but it’s more important

your successes but it’s more important

your successes but it’s more important to hear the lessons of failure and that

to hear the lessons of failure and that

to hear the lessons of failure and that just says embrace your failures embrace

just says embrace your failures embrace

just says embrace your failures embrace your mistakes embrace the things that

your mistakes embrace the things that

your mistakes embrace the things that you call impurities and understand that

you call impurities and understand that

you call impurities and understand that without those impurities without those

without those impurities without those

without those impurities without those failures you cannot get better because

failures you cannot get better because

failures you cannot get better because no teacher is greater to yourself than

no teacher is greater to yourself than

no teacher is greater to yourself than you are and understanding that no one

you are and understanding that no one

you are and understanding that no one else’s experiences you can teach you

else’s experiences you can teach you

else’s experiences you can teach you better

better

better again thank you very much

again thank you very much

again thank you very much [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

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