Adversity is the Father of Ingenuity | Che Stedman | TEDxRedding

have you ever been cold tired dirty wet

have you ever been cold tired dirty wet hungry poor have you ever been all of

hungry poor have you ever been all of

hungry poor have you ever been all of those things at the same time as I have

those things at the same time as I have

those things at the same time as I have and I have come a long way from where I

and I have come a long way from where I

and I have come a long way from where I was to where I am I started in a little

was to where I am I started in a little

was to where I am I started in a little cabin in the hills of humble county and

cabin in the hills of humble county and

cabin in the hills of humble county and graduated to melody trailer park where I

graduated to melody trailer park where I

graduated to melody trailer park where I kicked around in the school of hard

kicked around in the school of hard

kicked around in the school of hard knocks for about a decade before I

knocks for about a decade before I

knocks for about a decade before I managed to get myself to New York went

managed to get myself to New York went

managed to get myself to New York went to the Culinary Institute of America

to the Culinary Institute of America

to the Culinary Institute of America back to the west coast san francisco

back to the west coast san francisco

back to the west coast san francisco honing my skills as a chef and i met a

honing my skills as a chef and i met a

honing my skills as a chef and i met a beautiful woman that I convinced to be

beautiful woman that I convinced to be

beautiful woman that I convinced to be my wife and we are now the co-owners and

my wife and we are now the co-owners and

my wife and we are now the co-owners and I am the Executive Chef of moonstone

I am the Executive Chef of moonstone

I am the Executive Chef of moonstone bistro and I am here to tell you a truth

bistro and I am here to tell you a truth

bistro and I am here to tell you a truth it’s an unpopular truth and it’s a

it’s an unpopular truth and it’s a

it’s an unpopular truth and it’s a provocative truth it’s a truth that you

provocative truth it’s a truth that you

provocative truth it’s a truth that you already know that but we don’t really

already know that but we don’t really

already know that but we don’t really say it in public that often and the

say it in public that often and the

say it in public that often and the truth is a lot of people would rather

truth is a lot of people would rather

truth is a lot of people would rather take rather than earn and not every high

take rather than earn and not every high

take rather than earn and not every high school kid that graduates from high

school kid that graduates from high

school kid that graduates from high school deserves a huge salary and no

school deserves a huge salary and no

school deserves a huge salary and no matter how many laws we pass we will

matter how many laws we pass we will

matter how many laws we pass we will never really be able to protect

never really be able to protect

never really be able to protect ourselves from ourselves and we are not

ourselves from ourselves and we are not

ourselves from ourselves and we are not created equal we are not all the same

created equal we are not all the same

created equal we are not all the same now before you think about sexism racism

now before you think about sexism racism

now before you think about sexism racism or intolerance please understand I’m not

or intolerance please understand I’m not

or intolerance please understand I’m not here to talk about these things these

here to talk about these things these

here to talk about these things these things are born from hey these are

things are born from hey these are

things are born from hey these are narrow-minded cloistered points of view

narrow-minded cloistered points of view

narrow-minded cloistered points of view that come from people who have a lack of

that come from people who have a lack of

that come from people who have a lack of opportunity a lack of education and they

opportunity a lack of education and they

opportunity a lack of education and they just don’t understand the great leaps

just don’t understand the great leaps

just don’t understand the great leaps forward that society makes when it is

forward that society makes when it is

forward that society makes when it is open and it integrates no I’m here to

open and it integrates no I’m here to

open and it integrates no I’m here to talk about love love for ourselves love

talk about love love for ourselves love

talk about love love for ourselves love for our community and how this great

for our community and how this great

for our community and how this great love is pushing society to protect us

love is pushing society to protect us

love is pushing society to protect us from all things real or imagined all the

from all things real or imagined all the

from all things real or imagined all the time

time

time no matter what in fact it’s getting the

no matter what in fact it’s getting the

no matter what in fact it’s getting the point now where we pass laws banning

point now where we pass laws banning

point now where we pass laws banning objects and actions and now we’re

objects and actions and now we’re

objects and actions and now we’re starting to ban emotions feelings loss

starting to ban emotions feelings loss

starting to ban emotions feelings loss hurts loss feels terrible so we ban loss

hurts loss feels terrible so we ban loss

hurts loss feels terrible so we ban loss we also been diving boards we ban peanut

we also been diving boards we ban peanut

we also been diving boards we ban peanut butter and strawberries from school we

butter and strawberries from school we

butter and strawberries from school we ban gluten all right so we ban all sorts

ban gluten all right so we ban all sorts

ban gluten all right so we ban all sorts of feelings we don’t like loss loss

of feelings we don’t like loss loss

of feelings we don’t like loss loss hurts so we ban loss by making sure

hurts so we ban loss by making sure

hurts so we ban loss by making sure everybody gets a trophy everybody wins

everybody gets a trophy everybody wins

everybody gets a trophy everybody wins we throw full on formal graduations for

we throw full on formal graduations for

we throw full on formal graduations for kindergarten like first grade second

kindergarten like first grade second

kindergarten like first grade second grade we ban hurt feelings by telling

grade we ban hurt feelings by telling

grade we ban hurt feelings by telling ourselves that we are all the same that

ourselves that we are all the same that

ourselves that we are all the same that no one is better than anyone else we ban

no one is better than anyone else we ban

no one is better than anyone else we ban rejection and jealousy by making sure

rejection and jealousy by making sure

rejection and jealousy by making sure that everybody gets the same slice of

that everybody gets the same slice of

that everybody gets the same slice of pie or we all get to go to the same

pie or we all get to go to the same

pie or we all get to go to the same parties everybody gets to go to pizza is

parties everybody gets to go to pizza is

parties everybody gets to go to pizza is this wise what’s the message that if you

this wise what’s the message that if you

this wise what’s the message that if you work hard that if you struggle that if

work hard that if you struggle that if

work hard that if you struggle that if you study that if you show up every day

you study that if you show up every day

you study that if you show up every day you get the same reward as those who

you get the same reward as those who

you get the same reward as those who don’t do we really want to instill in

don’t do we really want to instill in

don’t do we really want to instill in discuss our society the idea that

discuss our society the idea that

discuss our society the idea that success is shunned because someone’s

success is shunned because someone’s

success is shunned because someone’s success will hurt someone else’s

success will hurt someone else’s

success will hurt someone else’s feelings hmmm we need to relax we need

feelings hmmm we need to relax we need

feelings hmmm we need to relax we need to step away from this

to step away from this

to step away from this protect ourselves from all things this

protect ourselves from all things this

protect ourselves from all things this micromanaging helicopter parenting

micromanaging helicopter parenting

micromanaging helicopter parenting bubble wrapping all things and we need

bubble wrapping all things and we need

bubble wrapping all things and we need to start telling the truth ourselves to

to start telling the truth ourselves to

to start telling the truth ourselves to our loved ones to our community I guess

our loved ones to our community I guess

our loved ones to our community I guess I’ll go first so if I were to tell you

I’ll go first so if I were to tell you

I’ll go first so if I were to tell you that I mm was an NFL linebacker yeah

that I mm was an NFL linebacker yeah

that I mm was an NFL linebacker yeah you’d have reservations about that why

you’d have reservations about that why

you’d have reservations about that why because I’m not big enough I’m not

because I’m not big enough I’m not

because I’m not big enough I’m not strong enough I’m not fast enough I am

strong enough I’m not fast enough I am

strong enough I’m not fast enough I am not physically equal get over it I had

not physically equal get over it I had

not physically equal get over it I had to lay well what about intellect then

to lay well what about intellect then

to lay well what about intellect then surely we’re all the same smart hey I

surely we’re all the same smart hey I

surely we’re all the same smart hey I don’t really understand string theory I

don’t really understand string theory I

don’t really understand string theory I didn’t invent Microsoft I didn’t create

didn’t invent Microsoft I didn’t create

didn’t invent Microsoft I didn’t create the iphone so I’m not the smartest

the iphone so I’m not the smartest

the iphone so I’m not the smartest person in the room in fact there are

person in the room in fact there are

person in the room in fact there are lots of people smarter than I am and

lots of people smarter than I am and

lots of people smarter than I am and while I’m at it there’s people better

while I’m at it there’s people better

while I’m at it there’s people better looking than I am taller than I am more

looking than I am taller than I am more

looking than I am taller than I am more charismatic more altruistic they have

charismatic more altruistic they have

charismatic more altruistic they have more hair there are hundreds if not

more hair there are hundreds if not

more hair there are hundreds if not thousands of traits ranging from the

thousands of traits ranging from the

thousands of traits ranging from the physical to the psychological that we as

physical to the psychological that we as

physical to the psychological that we as humans have as our differences and there

humans have as our differences and there

humans have as our differences and there are lots of people who have had every

are lots of people who have had every

are lots of people who have had every advantage every opportunity and then I’m

advantage every opportunity and then I’m

advantage every opportunity and then I’m doing that well I can’t seem to keep it

doing that well I can’t seem to keep it

doing that well I can’t seem to keep it together so what motivates us why are we

together so what motivates us why are we

together so what motivates us why are we different what makes us special

different what makes us special

different what makes us special yeah I like that sled so we as children

yeah I like that sled so we as children

yeah I like that sled so we as children learn very early on the tools that we

learn very early on the tools that we

learn very early on the tools that we need to survive in our environment and

need to survive in our environment and

need to survive in our environment and as we grow through adolescence we

as we grow through adolescence we

as we grow through adolescence we continually update this learning

continually update this learning

continually update this learning mechanism with new information in order

mechanism with new information in order

mechanism with new information in order to always achieve an outcome that best

to always achieve an outcome that best

to always achieve an outcome that best suits our needs adversity is the

suits our needs adversity is the

suits our needs adversity is the catalyst to this learning mechanism it

catalyst to this learning mechanism it

catalyst to this learning mechanism it is said that necessity is the mother of

is said that necessity is the mother of

is said that necessity is the mother of invention I propose that adversity is

invention I propose that adversity is

invention I propose that adversity is the father of ingenuity adversity

the father of ingenuity adversity

the father of ingenuity adversity invites us to exercise our intellect to

invites us to exercise our intellect to

invites us to exercise our intellect to challenge our mind to overcome problems

challenge our mind to overcome problems

challenge our mind to overcome problems to develop the talent of being clever

to develop the talent of being clever

to develop the talent of being clever and shrewd or suffer the consequences

and shrewd or suffer the consequences

and shrewd or suffer the consequences because adversity will also punish us it

because adversity will also punish us it

because adversity will also punish us it will force us to be stark to be burdened

will force us to be stark to be burdened

will force us to be stark to be burdened to be weary to be sad to be miserable it

to be weary to be sad to be miserable it

to be weary to be sad to be miserable it is these two outcomes success or failure

is these two outcomes success or failure

is these two outcomes success or failure that define our future selves as an

that define our future selves as an

that define our future selves as an example for me on a platter now I grew

example for me on a platter now I grew

example for me on a platter now I grew up in a little tiny cabin way in the

up in a little tiny cabin way in the

up in a little tiny cabin way in the remote hills of humble county no indoor

remote hills of humble county no indoor

remote hills of humble county no indoor plumbing no electricity no telephone no

plumbing no electricity no telephone no

plumbing no electricity no telephone no HBO hmm no no problems were everywhere

HBO hmm no no problems were everywhere

HBO hmm no no problems were everywhere but my parents loved me and they were

but my parents loved me and they were

but my parents loved me and they were determined when we were cold you can

determined when we were cold you can

determined when we were cold you can just walk into the house and turn on the

just walk into the house and turn on the

just walk into the house and turn on the heater no yet to get a chainsaw he had

heater no yet to get a chainsaw he had

heater no yet to get a chainsaw he had to get a deadfall you had to cut down

to get a deadfall you had to cut down

to get a deadfall you had to cut down the tree yet haul it back to the house

the tree yet haul it back to the house

the tree yet haul it back to the house we had to chop up fire wouldn’t had to

we had to chop up fire wouldn’t had to

we had to chop up fire wouldn’t had to build a fire our wood stove became its

build a fire our wood stove became its

build a fire our wood stove became its own entity within our house that stove

own entity within our house that stove

own entity within our house that stove we learned its intricacies as if it had

we learned its intricacies as if it had

we learned its intricacies as if it had a personality of its own our well-being

a personality of its own our well-being

a personality of its own our well-being and safety were

and safety were

and safety were only linked to that piece of equipment

only linked to that piece of equipment

only linked to that piece of equipment and this became true with all things

and this became true with all things

and this became true with all things tools became sacred and adaptable like a

tools became sacred and adaptable like a

tools became sacred and adaptable like a screwdriver could be a pry bar it could

screwdriver could be a pry bar it could

screwdriver could be a pry bar it could be a bottle opener it could be a plunger

be a bottle opener it could be a plunger

be a bottle opener it could be a plunger and sometimes a key jammed into the

and sometimes a key jammed into the

and sometimes a key jammed into the ignition of our old international truck

ignition of our old international truck

ignition of our old international truck because adversity invites you to adapt

we used kerosene lamps when I got dark

we used kerosene lamps when I got dark if I wanted to do anything I had to

if I wanted to do anything I had to

if I wanted to do anything I had to prove myself worthy of fire and fuel

prove myself worthy of fire and fuel

prove myself worthy of fire and fuel well this is California no fire station

well this is California no fire station

well this is California no fire station where I’m from so a little kid running

where I’m from so a little kid running

where I’m from so a little kid running around with kerosene lamp that should be

around with kerosene lamp that should be

around with kerosene lamp that should be terrifying but I knew that when my

terrifying but I knew that when my

terrifying but I knew that when my parents gave me my own kerosene lamp I

parents gave me my own kerosene lamp I

parents gave me my own kerosene lamp I was afforded zero mistakes not one ever

was afforded zero mistakes not one ever

was afforded zero mistakes not one ever I knew the difference between a toy and

I knew the difference between a toy and

I knew the difference between a toy and a tool and that kind of adversity breeds

a tool and that kind of adversity breeds

a tool and that kind of adversity breeds great responsibility adversity also

great responsibility adversity also

great responsibility adversity also breeds and nurtures independence I was

breeds and nurtures independence I was

breeds and nurtures independence I was 17 I was done like screw this country

17 I was done like screw this country

17 I was done like screw this country living I wanted to move into town so I

living I wanted to move into town so I

living I wanted to move into town so I got a job I rented a trailer right I had

got a job I rented a trailer right I had

got a job I rented a trailer right I had electricity I was on my own I had

electricity I was on my own I had

electricity I was on my own I had running water at toilet that flushed I

running water at toilet that flushed I

running water at toilet that flushed I wanted a girlfriend I wanted to get a

wanted a girlfriend I wanted to get a

wanted a girlfriend I wanted to get a car I wanted a girlfriend

so moving out was anti-climactic it was

so moving out was anti-climactic it was natural it was normal my parents didn’t

natural it was normal my parents didn’t

natural it was normal my parents didn’t put up a fuss I had earned it proven it

put up a fuss I had earned it proven it

put up a fuss I had earned it proven it at that point in time asking for things

at that point in time asking for things

at that point in time asking for things was not how things got done doing things

was not how things got done doing things

was not how things got done doing things was how things got done adversity makes

was how things got done adversity makes

was how things got done adversity makes us strong like our body our mind becomes

us strong like our body our mind becomes

us strong like our body our mind becomes stronger when it has to overcome

stronger when it has to overcome

stronger when it has to overcome problems when it has to create solutions

problems when it has to create solutions

problems when it has to create solutions adversity actually gives us the tools

adversity actually gives us the tools

adversity actually gives us the tools that we need to deal with the complex

that we need to deal with the complex

that we need to deal with the complex emotions of pain sorrow suffering loss

emotions of pain sorrow suffering loss

emotions of pain sorrow suffering loss we need adversity adversity gives us

we need adversity adversity gives us

we need adversity adversity gives us strength of character now too much

strength of character now too much

strength of character now too much adversity will kill an organism it’s

adversity will kill an organism it’s

adversity will kill an organism it’s true you can seriously maim or forever

true you can seriously maim or forever

true you can seriously maim or forever wound something but if we bubble wrap

wound something but if we bubble wrap

wound something but if we bubble wrap every bump if we safety scissor every

every bump if we safety scissor every

every bump if we safety scissor every sharp edge can we actually create an

sharp edge can we actually create an

sharp edge can we actually create an organism so sensitive so fragile that it

organism so sensitive so fragile that it

organism so sensitive so fragile that it cannot endure consequence loss failure

cannot endure consequence loss failure

cannot endure consequence loss failure criticism if you plant grapes on a rocky

criticism if you plant grapes on a rocky

criticism if you plant grapes on a rocky steep hillside and give it just barely

steep hillside and give it just barely

steep hillside and give it just barely enough water to survive those grapes

enough water to survive those grapes

enough water to survive those grapes will create the richest and most complex

will create the richest and most complex

will create the richest and most complex wine so maybe we as a society would

wine so maybe we as a society would

wine so maybe we as a society would rather blame our lack on an unfair

rather blame our lack on an unfair

rather blame our lack on an unfair system then suffer the thought that we

system then suffer the thought that we

system then suffer the thought that we have to work

have to work

have to work harder for what we want work is a

harder for what we want work is a

harder for what we want work is a privilege you’re not owed a job but good

privilege you’re not owed a job but good

privilege you’re not owed a job but good news work is everywhere the question is

news work is everywhere the question is

news work is everywhere the question is do you want to do it will you mop will

do you want to do it will you mop will

do you want to do it will you mop will you sweep will you do dishes will you

you sweep will you do dishes will you

you sweep will you do dishes will you change the oil in a car you know what

change the oil in a car you know what

change the oil in a car you know what the problem with work is it’s hot it’s

the problem with work is it’s hot it’s

the problem with work is it’s hot it’s dirty it’s inconvenient it’s loud it’s

dirty it’s inconvenient it’s loud it’s

dirty it’s inconvenient it’s loud it’s cold it has to be done on your birthday

cold it has to be done on your birthday

cold it has to be done on your birthday holiday oh look the circus is in town

work by its very nature is an adverse

work by its very nature is an adverse condition that’s why it’s called work

look life isn’t fair it’s true and it’s

look life isn’t fair it’s true and it’s a hard truth and the other truth is

a hard truth and the other truth is

a hard truth and the other truth is nobody’s gonna give you anything another

nobody’s gonna give you anything another

nobody’s gonna give you anything another truth is if you want an empire you’re

truth is if you want an empire you’re

truth is if you want an empire you’re going to have to go out and build one

going to have to go out and build one

going to have to go out and build one with your bare hands but that’s cool

with your bare hands but that’s cool

with your bare hands but that’s cool because we love grit oh yeah James Bond

because we love grit oh yeah James Bond

because we love grit oh yeah James Bond La Femme Nikita Rosie the Riveter han

La Femme Nikita Rosie the Riveter han

La Femme Nikita Rosie the Riveter han Solo these are our heroes we love the

Solo these are our heroes we love the

Solo these are our heroes we love the people who never stop the ones who do

people who never stop the ones who do

people who never stop the ones who do what needs to be done so maybe we need

what needs to be done so maybe we need

what needs to be done so maybe we need to step back maybe we need to allow

to step back maybe we need to allow

to step back maybe we need to allow ourselves the grace and dignity of

ourselves the grace and dignity of

ourselves the grace and dignity of suffering the consequences of our

suffering the consequences of our

suffering the consequences of our mistakes because it will make us better

mistakes because it will make us better

mistakes because it will make us better whatever happened to if it doesn’t kill

whatever happened to if it doesn’t kill

whatever happened to if it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger we need to

you it makes you stronger we need to

you it makes you stronger we need to allow ourselves the grace of going

allow ourselves the grace of going

allow ourselves the grace of going through the pain of change and learning

through the pain of change and learning

through the pain of change and learning because it will make us smarter we have

because it will make us smarter we have

because it will make us smarter we have all been for

all been for

all been for by what we have overcome so I’ll ask you

by what we have overcome so I’ll ask you

by what we have overcome so I’ll ask you again have you ever been cold tired

again have you ever been cold tired

again have you ever been cold tired dirty wet hungry loss can make us great

dirty wet hungry loss can make us great

dirty wet hungry loss can make us great thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]