Become the Person You Can't Imagine | Norman Bacal | TEDxRyersonU

TEDx Talks・2 minutes read

An individual's career journey is likened to a river by Uncle Harry, leading the narrator to pursue a successful law career after discovering their passion through unexpected opportunities and embracing failure as a teacher. Through determination, seeking help, and learning from mistakes, the narrator overcomes doubts, establishes a national law firm, and emphasizes the transformative power of taking risks and steering one's career with resilience.

Insights

  • Embracing unexpected opportunities rather than fixating on a predetermined goal can lead to a fulfilling and successful career, as seen through the narrator's journey from biology to law and eventually Canadian tax law for the film industry.
  • Overcoming doubts and challenges, learning from failures, seeking guidance, and demonstrating determination are key elements that drive personal growth and success, as exemplified by the narrator's transformative career path from law to establishing a national law firm with international recognition.

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Recent questions

  • How did the narrator discover their passion for law?

    Through a biology lab at McGill University.

  • What led the narrator to open a branch of their law firm in Toronto?

    Meeting Pierre Trudeau, the former Prime Minister.

  • How did the narrator overcome doubts and challenges in their career?

    By learning the importance of single-minded determination through karate.

  • What valuable lessons did the narrator learn from their mistakes?

    Embracing failure as a teacher rather than an adversary.

  • What key principles guided the narrator in achieving personal growth and success?

    Seeking help, taking charge of decisions, embracing mistakes, and being determined.

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Summary

00:00

Career Journey: Embracing Risks, Determination, Success

  • Uncle Harry, a pediatrician and war veteran, advises the narrator to view their career as a river, suggesting to explore unexpected opportunities rather than exhaustively pursuing a predetermined goal.
  • Initially hesitant, the narrator attends a biology lab at McGill University, feeling lost until a course advisor, Barbara, helps them discover a passion for law through a course taught by Bob Cooper, a lawyer.
  • Bob Cooper's influence leads the narrator to pursue law school, eventually becoming a successful lawyer specializing in Canadian tax law for the film industry.
  • Meeting Pierre Trudeau, the former Prime Minister, unexpectedly leads the narrator to take charge of their career, eventually opening a branch of their law firm in Toronto.
  • Joining karate with their son, the narrator learns the importance of single-minded determination, which becomes a guiding principle in overcoming doubts and challenges in their career.
  • Despite initial doubts from consultants, the narrator's determination leads to the successful establishment of a national law firm with international recognition, representing major Hollywood studios.
  • Embracing failure as a teacher rather than an adversary, the narrator learns valuable lessons from mistakes, including a significant failure when their law firm collapses, leading to job losses.
  • After the collapse, the narrator starts over by finding solace in writing, initially lacking confidence but gradually improving through self-study, mentorship, and perseverance.
  • Reflecting on their journey, the narrator emphasizes the importance of seeking help, taking charge of decisions, embracing mistakes, and being determined to overcome doubts to achieve personal growth and success.
  • The narrator's story serves as a testament to the transformative power of taking risks, learning from failures, seeking guidance, and steering one's career with determination and resilience.

17:34

"Dr. Harry Lyon Bakul: A Legacy Remembered"

  • Uncle Harry is leaving the stage with a bent back, his gown hanging low, and a cigarette in his mouth.
  • Dr. Harry Lyon Bakul was a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1946 for distinguished military service.
  • The speech is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Harry Lyon Bakul, wishing his memory to be a blessing and his legacy to live on through his words.
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