What is confidence? | Ozwald Boateng | TEDxLondon

what’s the best way I could start this

what’s the best way I could start this exercise upon confidence

trying to find the full process on this

trying to find the full process on this do you confidence confidence confidence

do you confidence confidence confidence

do you confidence confidence confidence I’m finding it incredibly difficult to

I’m finding it incredibly difficult to

I’m finding it incredibly difficult to look at myself in a mirror and prepare

look at myself in a mirror and prepare

look at myself in a mirror and prepare for this talk a nice look at myself like

for this talk a nice look at myself like

for this talk a nice look at myself like he getting caught up in everything other

he getting caught up in everything other

he getting caught up in everything other than wanted to say because I don’t think

than wanted to say because I don’t think

than wanted to say because I don’t think I’m it’s a really funny thing actually

I’m it’s a really funny thing actually

I’m it’s a really funny thing actually looking yourself and trying to know how

looking yourself and trying to know how

looking yourself and trying to know how we’re going to do it

we’re going to do it

we’re going to do it Wow okay wanna try again so confidence

Wow okay wanna try again so confidence

Wow okay wanna try again so confidence is about belief

is about belief

is about belief so the idea I’ve got is that I want to

so the idea I’ve got is that I want to

so the idea I’ve got is that I want to have the audience have the light on them

have the audience have the light on them

have the audience have the light on them yeah and I want to show this clip of

yeah and I want to show this clip of

yeah and I want to show this clip of what I’m saying now right yeah why

what I’m saying now right yeah why

what I’m saying now right yeah why because I want them to see the kind of

because I want them to see the kind of

because I want them to see the kind of process okay madam

process okay madam

process okay madam explain what confidence is good night

explain what confidence is good night

explain what confidence is good night and so the idea is there in dark there

and so the idea is there in dark there

and so the idea is there in dark there in light so they will be in darkness now

in light so they will be in darkness now

in light so they will be in darkness now that we got this now if they’re watching

that we got this now if they’re watching

that we got this now if they’re watching us yeah and I’ll be speaking about this

us yeah and I’ll be speaking about this

us yeah and I’ll be speaking about this I have and then what will happen is is

I have and then what will happen is is

I have and then what will happen is is I’ll put the light on them and then what

I’ll put the light on them and then what

I’ll put the light on them and then what they gonna do it they’re going to look

they gonna do it they’re going to look

they gonna do it they’re going to look at the person sitting next to them and

at the person sitting next to them and

at the person sitting next to them and see how they feel meanwhile on the stage

see how they feel meanwhile on the stage

see how they feel meanwhile on the stage right in darkness and I’ll be talking

right in darkness and I’ll be talking

right in darkness and I’ll be talking but where this will be playing there

but where this will be playing there

but where this will be playing there yeah this will know yeah that’s the

yeah this will know yeah that’s the

yeah this will know yeah that’s the point you know so you telling them now

point you know so you telling them now

point you know so you telling them now now a budget nothing a little wires is

now a budget nothing a little wires is

now a budget nothing a little wires is this it has to finish I would say right

this it has to finish I would say right

this it has to finish I would say right they’re not sushi okay right right on

they’re not sushi okay right right on

they’re not sushi okay right right on them in the are build stage yeah and

them in the are build stage yeah and

them in the are build stage yeah and I’ll start talking start my thing with

I’ll start talking start my thing with

I’ll start talking start my thing with confidence and and like I said him start

confidence and and like I said him start

confidence and and like I said him start with this whole thing about belief you

with this whole thing about belief you

with this whole thing about belief you know evidences about belief for men

know evidences about belief for men

know evidences about belief for men believe in myself which is really quite

believe in myself which is really quite

believe in myself which is really quite difficult looking at yourself enjoying

difficult looking at yourself enjoying

difficult looking at yourself enjoying this confidence confidence

this confidence confidence

this confidence confidence Vince is also working out your straps

Vince is also working out your straps

Vince is also working out your straps and don’t need understanding your

and don’t need understanding your

and don’t need understanding your weaknesses together

so you gotta know what’s coming right

so you gotta know what’s coming right so I wanted you to feel a little bit

so I wanted you to feel a little bit

so I wanted you to feel a little bit what I’m feeling so I’m gonna put the

what I’m feeling so I’m gonna put the

what I’m feeling so I’m gonna put the lights on you right now what lights

lights on you right now what lights

lights on you right now what lights where are they lights lights lights from

where are they lights lights lights from

where are they lights lights lights from the audience so I go to stay in darkness

the audience so I go to stay in darkness

the audience so I go to stay in darkness right so I kind of want you to fill this

right so I kind of want you to fill this

right so I kind of want you to fill this thing so I want you to look at the

thing so I want you to look at the

thing so I want you to look at the person sitting next to you in the eyes

person sitting next to you in the eyes

person sitting next to you in the eyes and not say a word you now have to talk

and not say a word you now have to talk

and not say a word you now have to talk all right on out I need to make sure

all right on out I need to make sure

all right on out I need to make sure everyone’s doing this I don’t want you

everyone’s doing this I don’t want you

everyone’s doing this I don’t want you to you know I want you to see how that

to you know I want you to see how that

to you know I want you to see how that feels you can’t talk the whole point is

feels you can’t talk the whole point is

feels you can’t talk the whole point is you can’t speak it’s kind of

you can’t speak it’s kind of

you can’t speak it’s kind of uncomfortable right

uncomfortable right

uncomfortable right okay all right I’ll take the pressure

okay all right I’ll take the pressure

okay all right I’ll take the pressure off my tail approach you put a light

off my tail approach you put a light

off my tail approach you put a light back on me Bo I’m backing me okay I said

back on me Bo I’m backing me okay I said

back on me Bo I’m backing me okay I said right good all right so yeah it’s quite

right good all right so yeah it’s quite

right good all right so yeah it’s quite funny so confidence you had the

funny so confidence you had the

funny so confidence you had the confidence confidence so let’s start so

confidence confidence so let’s start so

confidence confidence so let’s start so özil what does it mean to have creative

özil what does it mean to have creative

özil what does it mean to have creative confidence Oh creative confidence I

confidence Oh creative confidence I

confidence Oh creative confidence I think right confidence is about you

think right confidence is about you

think right confidence is about you having a hundred percent belief in what

having a hundred percent belief in what

having a hundred percent belief in what you’re creating because if you don’t

you’re creating because if you don’t

you’re creating because if you don’t have that it’s just a dream can you get

have that it’s just a dream can you get

have that it’s just a dream can you get confidence from an item of clothing I

confidence from an item of clothing I

confidence from an item of clothing I hope so no so I mean obviously you can

hope so no so I mean obviously you can

hope so no so I mean obviously you can see I’m wearing a white t-shirt and so

see I’m wearing a white t-shirt and so

see I’m wearing a white t-shirt and so the composers of its skitzy right but

the composers of its skitzy right but

the composers of its skitzy right but I’m wearing my free piece and for me as

I’m wearing my free piece and for me as

I’m wearing my free piece and for me as suits like a suit of armor it’s like the

suits like a suit of armor it’s like the

suits like a suit of armor it’s like the kind of warmer protection and I’m kind

kind of warmer protection and I’m kind

kind of warmer protection and I’m kind of known for clothing and tailoring and

of known for clothing and tailoring and

of known for clothing and tailoring and one of the big things for me about the

one of the big things for me about the

one of the big things for me about the suit and what I crit is a relationship

suit and what I crit is a relationship

suit and what I crit is a relationship between the wearer and the piece of

between the wearer and the piece of

between the wearer and the piece of clothing it’s very important to me the

clothing it’s very important to me the

clothing it’s very important to me the line that connects the two points for me

line that connects the two points for me

line that connects the two points for me is confidence right can’t this

is confidence right can’t this

is confidence right can’t this confidence go beyond an individual yeah

confidence go beyond an individual yeah

confidence go beyond an individual yeah now it’s interesting because I want us

now it’s interesting because I want us

now it’s interesting because I want us to think about his talk I was thinking

to think about his talk I was thinking

to think about his talk I was thinking about confidence that the individual was

about confidence that the individual was

about confidence that the individual was one I was curious about confidence as a

one I was curious about confidence as a

one I was curious about confidence as a kind of country up confidence you know

kind of country up confidence you know

kind of country up confidence you know so I’m always blown away by Americans

so I’m always blown away by Americans

so I’m always blown away by Americans and their unimaginable confidence

and their unimaginable confidence

and their unimaginable confidence I mean blown away I’m always blown away

I mean blown away I’m always blown away

I mean blown away I’m always blown away in fact there’s an American coming after

in fact there’s an American coming after

in fact there’s an American coming after me and she looks really confident

me and she looks really confident

me and she looks really confident right so anyway so um so anyway so I’m

right so anyway so um so anyway so I’m

right so anyway so um so anyway so I’m fascinated by this concept of the

fascinated by this concept of the

fascinated by this concept of the American Dream and that anything is

American Dream and that anything is

American Dream and that anything is possible and I suppose they believed in

possible and I suppose they believed in

possible and I suppose they believed in that it actually happens well what it

that it actually happens well what it

that it actually happens well what it happens if there’s a crisis of

happens if there’s a crisis of

happens if there’s a crisis of confidence crisis of confidence well you

confidence crisis of confidence well you

confidence crisis of confidence well you know I put the lights on you so I had a

know I put the lights on you so I had a

know I put the lights on you so I had a law you know how to switch the energy a

law you know how to switch the energy a

law you know how to switch the energy a little no crisis of confidence okay so

little no crisis of confidence okay so

little no crisis of confidence okay so I’m very passionate about Africa and I

I’m very passionate about Africa and I

I’m very passionate about Africa and I think Africa has a crisis of confidence

think Africa has a crisis of confidence

think Africa has a crisis of confidence so much so I made this short film I

so much so I made this short film I

so much so I made this short film I wanna share with you

wanna share with you

wanna share with you Africa’s future is up to Africans the

Africa’s future is up to Africans the

Africa’s future is up to Africans the people of Africa are ready to claim that

people of Africa are ready to claim that

people of Africa are ready to claim that future and in my country

future and in my country

future and in my country African Americans including so many

African Americans including so many

African Americans including so many recent immigrants have thrived in every

recent immigrants have thrived in every

recent immigrants have thrived in every sector of society we’ve done so despite

sector of society we’ve done so despite

sector of society we’ve done so despite a difficult past and we’ve drawn

a difficult past and we’ve drawn

a difficult past and we’ve drawn strength from our African heritage with

strength from our African heritage with

strength from our African heritage with strong institutions and a strong will I

strong institutions and a strong will I

strong institutions and a strong will I know that Africans can live their dreams

know that Africans can live their dreams

know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos Kigali can Sasha

in Nairobi and Lagos Kigali can Sasha

in Nairobi and Lagos Kigali can Sasha Herrera and right here in Accra

as far back as I can remember my father

as far back as I can remember my father told me that every African has an

told me that every African has an

told me that every African has an obligation to build a better Africa he

obligation to build a better Africa he

obligation to build a better Africa he would tell me of our great history are

would tell me of our great history are

would tell me of our great history are not great people a river a promise cost

not great people a river a promise cost

not great people a river a promise cost on the river of time

no I think rich stand up

no I think rich stand up [Music]

so so you’ve got a classroom full of

so so you’ve got a classroom full of kids and they’re basically Africa’s Paul

kids and they’re basically Africa’s Paul

kids and they’re basically Africa’s Paul and you this one kid who puts his hand

and you this one kid who puts his hand

and you this one kid who puts his hand up it’s a bit nervous

up it’s a bit nervous

up it’s a bit nervous it says Africa is rich and the one kid

it says Africa is rich and the one kid

it says Africa is rich and the one kid he puts his hand on the side she correct

he puts his hand on the side she correct

he puts his hand on the side she correct because 60% was all the undiscovered

because 60% was all the undiscovered

because 60% was all the undiscovered source in the planet sits in Africa so

source in the planet sits in Africa so

source in the planet sits in Africa so my question is rich now the big question

my question is rich now the big question

my question is rich now the big question for me is his belief to stand up and do

for me is his belief to stand up and do

for me is his belief to stand up and do this for each other in that classroom

this for each other in that classroom

this for each other in that classroom can it fit the rest of the class and if

can it fit the rest of the class and if

can it fit the rest of the class and if you infect the rest of the class maybe

you infect the rest of the class maybe

you infect the rest of the class maybe can you affect a continent the issue of

can you affect a continent the issue of

can you affect a continent the issue of confidence for me is spreads way beyond

confidence for me is spreads way beyond

confidence for me is spreads way beyond the individual so with all this

the individual so with all this

the individual so with all this technology that we have around us can

technology that we have around us can

technology that we have around us can technology affect confidence yeah I

technology affect confidence yeah I

technology affect confidence yeah I think technology can really affect

think technology can really affect

think technology can really affect confidence right now there’s just so

confidence right now there’s just so

confidence right now there’s just so much noise I mean there’s so much

much noise I mean there’s so much

much noise I mean there’s so much information it’s so difficult for you to

information it’s so difficult for you to

information it’s so difficult for you to be you because again so much information

be you because again so much information

be you because again so much information and you know especially for my son’s in

and you know especially for my son’s in

and you know especially for my son’s in the Orleans here I generally believe

the Orleans here I generally believe

the Orleans here I generally believe that the future is future currency

that the future is future currency

that the future is future currency actually is you being you you’re unique

actually is you being you you’re unique

actually is you being you you’re unique you because we’ve all this annoys going

you because we’ve all this annoys going

you because we’ve all this annoys going on it’s very difficult to find out know

on it’s very difficult to find out know

on it’s very difficult to find out know who you are so I fought end the talk on

who you are so I fought end the talk on

who you are so I fought end the talk on something right now so my son is sitting

something right now so my son is sitting

something right now so my son is sitting in the front here and I was finishing

in the front here and I was finishing

in the front here and I was finishing because he’s 14 years old and I thought

because he’s 14 years old and I thought

because he’s 14 years old and I thought well hey you know who dad’s on this bar

well hey you know who dad’s on this bar

well hey you know who dad’s on this bar I could put my son on the spot

I could put my son on the spot

I could put my son on the spot so because you know he’s trying to find

so because you know he’s trying to find

so because you know he’s trying to find his way you know he’s trying to find his

his way you know he’s trying to find his

his way you know he’s trying to find his confidence right so I thought this would

confidence right so I thought this would

confidence right so I thought this would be a good way to end it so Oscar come on

so so yeah so what it is is you have to

so so yeah so what it is is you have to tell them what you think confidence is

tell them what you think confidence is

tell them what you think confidence is and then after you’ve done that you just

and then after you’ve done that you just

and then after you’ve done that you just have to say thank you so they know it’s

have to say thank you so they know it’s

have to say thank you so they know it’s finished right so I’m gonna leave you

finished right so I’m gonna leave you

finished right so I’m gonna leave you with my son to end this pressure right

with my son to end this pressure right

with my son to end this pressure right okay

so um so what I think confidence is is

so um so what I think confidence is is not to be afraid and to believe in

not to be afraid and to believe in

not to be afraid and to believe in yourself

yourself

yourself thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]