Have the courage to create yourself | Vishesh Gupta | TEDxJaipur National University

The speaker addresses the youth, highlighting a common misconception about the "right" question to ask oneself when growing up. Instead of focusing on career, industry, company, job title, or salary, which look for external answers, the true question is: "What kind of person should I become?" This shift from career to character is where life transformation begins. The speaker shares a personal journey, initially aiming to be a chartered accountant but ending up in engineering. During college, a friend's mother asked what was "special" about him, as his name "Vish" means special. At the time, he was shy and introverted. However, his first sales and marketing job required him to connect with people, leading him to decide to always maintain high energy and a smile. These small changes boosted his career, confidence, and life, which he proudly calls his "human revolution." He then introduces the "Jewel in the Robe" story, where a poor traveler unknowingly carries a valuable jewel stitched into his garment. This symbolizes the immense potential, courage, and creativity within all of us that often remains undiscovered. The journey to discover this "jewel" is arduous. The speaker recounts working for 10 years at an Indian company, then joining a global telecom giant, where he had to reset and prove himself again, opening new markets through hard work and wisdom. The concept of being "twice born" is introduced, similar to a bird hatching from an egg and then taking flight. Humans also have a second birth, which is earned and created, not given. Many, however, remain metaphorically "inside the egg," waiting for the right moment. The speaker emphasizes that we have the power to create our own opportunities. In the age of startups and AI, many ventures fail not due to bad products but because founders weren't ready. The speaker poses a crucial question: "What if the best startup you ever build is you yourself?" Your character is your product, your life is your mission, and you are the first member of your team. He presents the "Design Your Life Framework" with three pillars: 1. **Identity:** Who you are becoming, based on values, not external factors like job titles. He suggests writing down three non-negotiable values and daily asking if you're becoming that person. 2. **Purpose:** Not something to be found, but to be built and evolved through daily actions, solving problems, and caring for others. The speaker suggests identifying what pains your heart in your environment as the first knocking of purpose. 3. **Contribution:** The most important pillar. It involves caring, being present, and having the courage to help others, like a teacher who believed in you or a parent who supported you. He shares an instance of simply listening to a struggling friend as his small contribution. The speaker quotes Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, emphasizing fundamental transformation in our lives that radiates warmth, not showmanship, to our communities. This inner change creates a ripple effect, impacting family, friends, and the environment. The world is impacted by your transformed self, not just products or services. He highlights that while degrees prepare you for work, self-mastery prepares you for life, especially during moments of crisis. Facing challenges like a mother's cancer or a tough job during a recession built perseverance and resilience. The ultimate question in life's darkest moments will be: "What kind of person have I become? Can I fight this out and win?" Discovering this answer brings joy, strength, compassion, empathy, and the ability to contribute to society through peace, harmony, and sustainability. He concludes by reiterating that, like the traveler with the jewel, we already possess the courage to look within, create ourselves, live by our values, and evolve for ourselves and others. "Go and find that jewel and build that most important startup in your life yourself."