How the incentives we choose define who we are | Raj Desai | TEDxEMWS

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[Applause] so one day my brother who was in his

so one day my brother who was in his

so one day my brother who was in his fourth grade at that time walks up to me

fourth grade at that time walks up to me

fourth grade at that time walks up to me and asks me a very simple question he

and asks me a very simple question he

and asks me a very simple question he said what is an exam and I mean how do

said what is an exam and I mean how do

said what is an exam and I mean how do you answer that right like what is an

you answer that right like what is an

you answer that right like what is an exam an exam is an exam and we all get

exam an exam is an exam and we all get

exam an exam is an exam and we all get the concept of you know you walk into a

the concept of you know you walk into a

the concept of you know you walk into a classroom and there’s a piece of paper

classroom and there’s a piece of paper

classroom and there’s a piece of paper which has questions and you write

which has questions and you write

which has questions and you write answers to those questions and you get

answers to those questions and you get

answers to those questions and you get marks but somehow I never got why did we

marks but somehow I never got why did we

marks but somehow I never got why did we do this right why like how I didn’t get

do this right why like how I didn’t get

do this right why like how I didn’t get it like why did I have to write exams

it like why did I have to write exams

it like why did I have to write exams every three months

every three months

every three months what was it leading to like where did

what was it leading to like where did

what was it leading to like where did exams feature in this map of my life but

exams feature in this map of my life but

exams feature in this map of my life but of course you can’t tell that to

of course you can’t tell that to

of course you can’t tell that to somebody who’s in grade one so I did

somebody who’s in grade one so I did

somebody who’s in grade one so I did something that any responsible elder

something that any responsible elder

something that any responsible elder brother would do I sent him to my mom

brother would do I sent him to my mom

brother would do I sent him to my mom but the story of my brother not knowing

but the story of my brother not knowing

but the story of my brother not knowing what the exam what an exam is stayed

what the exam what an exam is stayed

what the exam what an exam is stayed with me

with me

with me because if you think about it all of us

because if you think about it all of us

because if you think about it all of us at some point didn’t know what an exam

at some point didn’t know what an exam

at some point didn’t know what an exam was all of us at some point didn’t know

was all of us at some point didn’t know

was all of us at some point didn’t know what marks are all of us at some point

what marks are all of us at some point

what marks are all of us at some point didn’t have this entire idea of you know

didn’t have this entire idea of you know

didn’t have this entire idea of you know I always have to be forced or I need to

I always have to be forced or I need to

I always have to be forced or I need to score x marks out of why all of these

score x marks out of why all of these

score x marks out of why all of these things were introduced to us as

things were introduced to us as

things were introduced to us as incentives a parents told us that you’re

incentives a parents told us that you’re

incentives a parents told us that you’re not going to get dessert till you eat

not going to get dessert till you eat

not going to get dessert till you eat your vegetables our bosses told us

your vegetables our bosses told us

your vegetables our bosses told us you’re not going to get your prazer

you’re not going to get your prazer

you’re not going to get your prazer till you work well and we told ourselves

till you work well and we told ourselves

till you work well and we told ourselves that I’m not going to eat cheese til I

that I’m not going to eat cheese til I

that I’m not going to eat cheese til I lose a lot of weight right and it never

lose a lot of weight right and it never

lose a lot of weight right and it never works it works in some cases and it

works it works in some cases and it

works it works in some cases and it doesn’t in others and we thought of the

doesn’t in others and we thought of the

doesn’t in others and we thought of the exact same thing and we realized that

exact same thing and we realized that

exact same thing and we realized that incentives are what it’s a world of

incentives are what it’s a world of

incentives are what it’s a world of incentives that we live in our world is

incentives that we live in our world is

incentives that we live in our world is driven by incentives so when we came

driven by incentives so when we came

driven by incentives so when we came across the issue of garbage collection

across the issue of garbage collection

across the issue of garbage collection and if you have noticed this you know

and if you have noticed this you know

and if you have noticed this you know people will throw trash in every place

people will throw trash in every place

people will throw trash in every place except the garbage bin so we were like

except the garbage bin so we were like

except the garbage bin so we were like why does that happen right why can’t we

why does that happen right why can’t we

why does that happen right why can’t we incentivize good social behavior so we

incentivize good social behavior so we

incentivize good social behavior so we thought about it and we said you know

thought about it and we said you know

thought about it and we said you know what what if we start giving out Wi-Fi

what what if we start giving out Wi-Fi

what what if we start giving out Wi-Fi for every time the trash in the bin so

for every time the trash in the bin so

for every time the trash in the bin so we created this trash bin and every time

we created this trash bin and every time

we created this trash bin and every time you trash into it it gives you free

you trash into it it gives you free

you trash into it it gives you free Wi-Fi so suddenly somebody is a

Wi-Fi so suddenly somebody is a

Wi-Fi so suddenly somebody is a knowledge in your effort for keeping

knowledge in your effort for keeping

knowledge in your effort for keeping your area clean and it was phenomenal

your area clean and it was phenomenal

your area clean and it was phenomenal they people used to queue up to actually

they people used to queue up to actually

they people used to queue up to actually use a trash bin it’s probably the first

use a trash bin it’s probably the first

use a trash bin it’s probably the first time I have seen that happening right

time I have seen that happening right

time I have seen that happening right and that is the idea of incentives

and that is the idea of incentives

and that is the idea of incentives incentives are so inherent to us they

incentives are so inherent to us they

incentives are so inherent to us they are so so imbibed in the way we interact

are so so imbibed in the way we interact

are so so imbibed in the way we interact and the way we socialize in the way we

and the way we socialize in the way we

and the way we socialize in the way we talk to each other that they are almost

talk to each other that they are almost

talk to each other that they are almost second nature to us I mean look at money

second nature to us I mean look at money

second nature to us I mean look at money right all of us at some point are

right all of us at some point are

right all of us at some point are pursuing money in some way because money

pursuing money in some way because money

pursuing money in some way because money is what is the default incentive in this

is what is the default incentive in this

is what is the default incentive in this world so what happens is there’s a

world so what happens is there’s a

world so what happens is there’s a system that is created around this

system that is created around this

system that is created around this incentive of money the system creates

incentive of money the system creates

incentive of money the system creates money which leads to consumption which

money which leads to consumption which

money which leads to consumption which requires money and then it’s a vicious

requires money and then it’s a vicious

requires money and then it’s a vicious cycle so suddenly you start buying

cycle so suddenly you start buying

cycle so suddenly you start buying things that you don’t need you are stuck

things that you don’t need you are stuck

things that you don’t need you are stuck in a job which you don’t really like

in a job which you don’t really like

in a job which you don’t really like because it’s giving you money to buy the

because it’s giving you money to buy the

because it’s giving you money to buy the things that you don’t actually need and

things that you don’t actually need and

things that you don’t actually need and then the system just sucks you in and

then the system just sucks you in and

then the system just sucks you in and the beauty of money is that it’s

the beauty of money is that it’s

the beauty of money is that it’s infinite right so if you can just keep

infinite right so if you can just keep

infinite right so if you can just keep on running more and more money like I’m

on running more and more money like I’m

on running more and more money like I’m sure Bill Gates who’s the richest person

sure Bill Gates who’s the richest person

sure Bill Gates who’s the richest person on earth right now looks at it as bank

on earth right now looks at it as bank

on earth right now looks at it as bank balance and goes like yeah that’s good

balance and goes like yeah that’s good

balance and goes like yeah that’s good but you know I wouldn’t mind a few more

but you know I wouldn’t mind a few more

but you know I wouldn’t mind a few more million dollars but that’s the thing so

million dollars but that’s the thing so

million dollars but that’s the thing so so why are we pursuing a number that is

so why are we pursuing a number that is

so why are we pursuing a number that is you know that is infinite that’s never

you know that is infinite that’s never

you know that is infinite that’s never going to give a satisfaction because no

going to give a satisfaction because no

going to give a satisfaction because no matter how much you get it you always

matter how much you get it you always

matter how much you get it you always gonna be stuck but then so what should

gonna be stuck but then so what should

gonna be stuck but then so what should you pursue right the question is okay so

you pursue right the question is okay so

you pursue right the question is okay so if I stopped pursuing money what else is

if I stopped pursuing money what else is

if I stopped pursuing money what else is there that I can pursue so let’s let’s

there that I can pursue so let’s let’s

there that I can pursue so let’s let’s think of it in a different way right the

think of it in a different way right the

think of it in a different way right the one thing that’s common with all our

one thing that’s common with all our

one thing that’s common with all our lives is death so if you think about it

lives is death so if you think about it

lives is death so if you think about it the only thing which is finite in this

the only thing which is finite in this

the only thing which is finite in this world is your time and it’s running out

world is your time and it’s running out

world is your time and it’s running out literally every second so what if we

literally every second so what if we

literally every second so what if we start thinking about optimizing for time

start thinking about optimizing for time

start thinking about optimizing for time so now we are not looking to make more

so now we are not looking to make more

so now we are not looking to make more money we are trying to save more time so

money we are trying to save more time so

money we are trying to save more time so suddenly a lot of things change right

suddenly a lot of things change right

suddenly a lot of things change right let’s imagine a sci-fi world where time

let’s imagine a sci-fi world where time

let’s imagine a sci-fi world where time would literally be deducted from your

would literally be deducted from your

would literally be deducted from your life for everything that you did wrong

life for everything that you did wrong

life for everything that you did wrong so let’s say you watched a movie that

so let’s say you watched a movie that

so let’s say you watched a movie that was really bad there goes three hours

was really bad there goes three hours

was really bad there goes three hours let’s see you went for a vacation that

let’s see you went for a vacation that

let’s see you went for a vacation that you would really didn’t like there goes

you would really didn’t like there goes

you would really didn’t like there goes a week let’s see

a week let’s see

a week let’s see became an engineer when you didn’t

became an engineer when you didn’t

became an engineer when you didn’t really want to become an engineer

really want to become an engineer

really want to become an engineer there goes your life and the funny part

there goes your life and the funny part

there goes your life and the funny part is this is not even a sci-fi pose this

is this is not even a sci-fi pose this

is this is not even a sci-fi pose this is literally how time works so if you

is literally how time works so if you

is literally how time works so if you think about it you know so why aren’t we

think about it you know so why aren’t we

think about it you know so why aren’t we optimizing for time because that makes

optimizing for time because that makes

optimizing for time because that makes more sense right compared to money but

more sense right compared to money but

more sense right compared to money but somehow we really like quantifying

somehow we really like quantifying

somehow we really like quantifying things I mean the modern culture is

things I mean the modern culture is

things I mean the modern culture is built around quantifying things it’s

built around quantifying things it’s

built around quantifying things it’s around putting numbers to things right

around putting numbers to things right

around putting numbers to things right and it makes sense it’s easier to

and it makes sense it’s easier to

and it makes sense it’s easier to incentivize numbers it’s easier to tell

incentivize numbers it’s easier to tell

incentivize numbers it’s easier to tell a kid that you need to come first it’s

a kid that you need to come first it’s

a kid that you need to come first it’s very difficult to delegate that you are

very difficult to delegate that you are

very difficult to delegate that you are unique in your own little way and you

unique in your own little way and you

unique in your own little way and you are amazing the way you are and just be

are amazing the way you are and just be

are amazing the way you are and just be who you are because you can’t explain

who you are because you can’t explain

who you are because you can’t explain that to a kid what you can explain to a

that to a kid what you can explain to a

that to a kid what you can explain to a kid is if you want a toffy eat your

kid is if you want a toffy eat your

kid is if you want a toffy eat your vegetables so I have one question here

vegetables so I have one question here

vegetables so I have one question here right so let’s take a step back and

right so let’s take a step back and

right so let’s take a step back and let’s think of the innovations that we

let’s think of the innovations that we

let’s think of the innovations that we have seen do you think Einstein Road

have seen do you think Einstein Road

have seen do you think Einstein Road theory of relativity because he wanted a

theory of relativity because he wanted a

theory of relativity because he wanted a promotion do you think most heart you

promotion do you think most heart you

promotion do you think most heart you know when he was composing the

know when he was composing the

know when he was composing the symphonies in his head he’s like I

symphonies in his head he’s like I

symphonies in his head he’s like I better get an a-plus in my music class

better get an a-plus in my music class

better get an a-plus in my music class do you think van Gogh cut off his ear

do you think van Gogh cut off his ear

do you think van Gogh cut off his ear because he wanted to save time so so

because he wanted to save time so so

because he wanted to save time so so these guys weren’t really optimizing for

these guys weren’t really optimizing for

these guys weren’t really optimizing for time neither were they optimizing for

time neither were they optimizing for

time neither were they optimizing for money clearly so what were they in

money clearly so what were they in

money clearly so what were they in pursuit of I would conjecture they were

pursuit of I would conjecture they were

pursuit of I would conjecture they were in pursuit of knowledge and that’s

in pursuit of knowledge and that’s

in pursuit of knowledge and that’s another way to pursue right that’s

another way to pursue right that’s

another way to pursue right that’s another thing to boss you in your life

another thing to boss you in your life

another thing to boss you in your life that’s another incentive your incentive

that’s another incentive your incentive

that’s another incentive your incentive is then knowledge so what happens when

is then knowledge so what happens when

is then knowledge so what happens when you start incentive icing knowledge when

you start incentive icing knowledge when

you start incentive icing knowledge when you start incentivizing curiosity

you start incentivizing curiosity

you start incentivizing curiosity suddenly money is not your aim time is

suddenly money is not your aim time is

suddenly money is not your aim time is not your aim your aim is to just go

not your aim your aim is to just go

not your aim your aim is to just go deeper into things that you’re

deeper into things that you’re

deeper into things that you’re interested in so you’re suddenly going

interested in so you’re suddenly going

interested in so you’re suddenly going to start doing things that really drive

to start doing things that really drive

to start doing things that really drive you right that you’re really passionate

you right that you’re really passionate

you right that you’re really passionate about things that really speak to your

about things that really speak to your

about things that really speak to your soil and I would conjecture that this

soil and I would conjecture that this

soil and I would conjecture that this will definitely lead to more innovation

will definitely lead to more innovation

will definitely lead to more innovation and more exploration as well but the

and more exploration as well but the

and more exploration as well but the thing is right it’s all these incentives

thing is right it’s all these incentives

thing is right it’s all these incentives that I spoke about they all exist in

that I spoke about they all exist in

that I spoke about they all exist in today’s world and we have people who are

today’s world and we have people who are

today’s world and we have people who are pursuing this incentives and the

pursuing this incentives and the

pursuing this incentives and the incentive could be anything it need not

incentive could be anything it need not

incentive could be anything it need not only be time money and curiosity it

only be time money and curiosity it

only be time money and curiosity it could be something as simple as

could be something as simple as

could be something as simple as happiness it could be something

happiness it could be something

happiness it could be something simple as satisfaction right as simple

simple as satisfaction right as simple

simple as satisfaction right as simple as peace of mind because the best things

as peace of mind because the best things

as peace of mind because the best things in life cannot be quantified

in life cannot be quantified

in life cannot be quantified you cannot quantify happiness you cannot

you cannot quantify happiness you cannot

you cannot quantify happiness you cannot quantify love you cannot quantify peace

quantify love you cannot quantify peace

quantify love you cannot quantify peace but somehow somehow all of us I would

but somehow somehow all of us I would

but somehow somehow all of us I would say at least a majority of us are in

say at least a majority of us are in

say at least a majority of us are in pursuit of money by default and I think

pursuit of money by default and I think

pursuit of money by default and I think that happens because we don’t take a

that happens because we don’t take a

that happens because we don’t take a step back we don’t stop we don’t realize

step back we don’t stop we don’t realize

step back we don’t stop we don’t realize the incentives that we are actually

the incentives that we are actually

the incentives that we are actually going towards in fact a lot of us don’t

going towards in fact a lot of us don’t

going towards in fact a lot of us don’t even realize that we’re actually getting

even realize that we’re actually getting

even realize that we’re actually getting incentivize we just think that we are

incentivize we just think that we are

incentivize we just think that we are doing things because that is the way

doing things because that is the way

doing things because that is the way things are done so I would like to leave

things are done so I would like to leave

things are done so I would like to leave you guys with this the next time you are

you guys with this the next time you are

you guys with this the next time you are thinking about your life or you’re

thinking about your life or you’re

thinking about your life or you’re thinking about anything just take a step

thinking about anything just take a step

thinking about anything just take a step back just take a step back and ask this

back just take a step back and ask this

back just take a step back and ask this question am i choosing my incentive or

question am i choosing my incentive or

question am i choosing my incentive or is my incentive choosing me thank